[Tako-Tsubo syndrome (transient apical dyskinesia). An entity that can mimic a myocardial infarction]. / Síndrome de Tako-Tsubo (discinesia apical transitoria). Un síndrome que simula un infarto de miocardio.

Tako-Tsubo syndrome or transient apical dyskinesia, is an entity that can mimic an acute coronary event. It is characterized by anginal chest pain with ST-T changes in precordial leads, no coronary obstruction on angiography and a characteristic left ventricular antero-apical dyskinesia that recovers to normal in a few days. This syndrome has been described in Japan, but few cases have been reported in Western countries. We report a case of Tako-Tsubo syndrome after thyroid surgery.

Transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring of percutaneous mitral balloon valvulotomy.

This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of performing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during percutaneous mitral balloon valvulotomy (PMBV). TEE was performed in 35 consecutive patients with symptomatic severe mitral stenosis during PMBV (group A). Another group of 27 patients with mitral stenosis who underwent PMBV without TEE was used for comparison (group B). TEE was most helpful in guiding transseptal puncture, aiding in proper positioning of the balloon during the dilatation procedure and enabling early detection of complications. The results show that PMBV when aided by TEE has a tendency to decrease the frequency of significant mitral regurgitation without compromising the final mitral valve area. TEE decreased the x-ray exposure time and was well-tolerated. Thus, TEE provides information that makes this interventional catheterization procedure safer and easier to perform.

Heparin-coated Wiktor stents in human coronary arteries (MENTOR trial). MENTOR Trial Investigators.

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of elective stenting with heparin-coated Wiktor stents in patients with coronary artery disease. In experimental studies, heparin coating has been shown to prevent subacute thrombosis and restenosis. Recently, a new method of heparin coating was developed, resulting in a more stable and predictable heparin layer on stent devices. This trial constitutes the first in-human use of this coating procedure, applied on the well-known Wiktor stent device. Heparin-coated Wiktor stent implantation was performed in 132 consecutive patients (132 lesions) in a multicenter international trial from September 1996 to February 1997. Forty-three percent of patients had unstable angina, 33% had previous myocardial infarction, and 10% had diabetes mellitus. Patients were followed for 12 months for occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events, and 96% of the eligible patients underwent quantitative angiographic control at 6 months. Stent deployment was successful in 95.5% of lesions. Minimal lumen diameter increased by 1.67 +/- 0.48 mm (from 1.02 +/- 0.38 mm before to 2.69 +/- 0.37 mm after the stent implantation). Mean percent diameter stenosis decreased from 67.4 +/- 11.3% before to 18.9 +/- 7.7% after the intervention. A successful intervention (<50% diameter stenosis and no major adverse cardiac events within 30 days) occurred in 97% of the patients. The subacute thrombosis rate was 0.8%, which compares favorably with historical controls of this stent, and a low incidence of postprocedural increase in creatine kinase-MB was noted. At 6 months, event-free survival was 85% and angiographic restenosis rate was 22% with late loss of 0.78 +/- 0.69 mm and a loss index of 0.48 +/- 0.44. Heparin-coated Wiktor stents appeared to be an efficacious device to treat Benestent-like lesions, yielding angiographic and clinical results comparable to a heparin-coated Palmaz-Schatz stent. Despite its use in more complex lesions, the incidence of subacute thrombosis appeared to be lower than historical controls with a similar noncoated stent.

[Registry of activities of the Hemodynamics and Interventional Cardiology Section in 1993]. / Registro de actividad de la Sección de Hemodinámica y Cardiología Intervencionista del año 1993.

Results of the Spanish Registry for Interventional Cardiology 1993 are presented, as previous years, by the Section of Haemodinamics and Interventional Cardiology of Sociedad Española de Cardiología. There are 72 participating cardiac catheterization laboratories. That represents 100% of those laboratories who had activity in 1993, Public medicine (51 centers) and Private practice (21 centers). From those, 8 laboratories exclusively performed pediatric cases. There have been performed 47353 diagnostic procedures and 2647 endomiocardial biopsies. In diagnostic cases greater proportion corresponds to coronariography (37591, 75.2%). Therapeutic interventionalism is also accomplished in 61 laboratories, on which 7807 balloon PTCA, 535 coronary atherectomies, 825 mitral valvotomies were performed, and 503 endocoronary prostheses were implanted. Mean rate of coronary interventionalism was 222 procedures by a million of inhabitants. This activity represents approximately a 17% increase from 1992, in diagnostic as well interventional procedures. Results of therapeutic cases did not show any significant changes, balloon PTCA primary success rate is 91.5%, with an incidence of 4.2% of complications that includes 0.7% mortality rate.

[Influence of prolonged inflation on coronary restenosis after balloon angioplasty]. / Influencia del inflado prolongado sobre la restenosis postangioplastia coronaria con balón.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous noncontrolled studies yield conflicting data about the influence of long inflation times on restenosis rate after PTCA. To clear these differences, we designed an open, prospective and randomized study to assess the effect of long versus standard balloon inflations in the incidence of restenosis. METHODS: 153 consecutive patients selected for one-vessel PTCA (62 LAD, 43 LCx, 48 RCA), were randomized to prolonged inflation (13.5 +/- 3.3 min) at 6 atmospheres using an autoperfusion catheter (72 patients) or to standard inflations (3.1 +/- 1.6 min) using conventional catheters (81 patients). Vessel diameter < 2.5 mm, lesions located at distal segments, complete occlusions, tortuous, long, bifurcated or thrombotic lesions were excluded. RESULTS: No significant differences in age, gender, coronary risk factors, ejection fraction, incidence of unstable angina or previous myocardial infarction existed between the two groups. There were no differences either between the dilated vessel, type of lesion (A, B, C) or the segment (proximal, mid) attempted. Successful dilation was obtained in 77/81 (95.0%) cases with standard inflation and in 58/72 (80.5%) with prolonged inflations (p = 0.01), leading to a decrease in the percentage of stenosis from 79.1 +/- 10.6% to 20.2 +/- 15.8% and from 81.4% +/- 9.9% to 21.0 +/- 13.0%, respectively (p = NS). A follow-up coronary arteriogram was obtained in 72/77 patients (93.5%) with standard inflation (mean: 18 +/- 6 weeks) and in 54/58 patients (93.1%) with prolonged inflation (mean: 17 +/- 3 weeks). Restenosis (arterial diameter reduction > 50%) was present in 23/72 (31.9%) of the standard inflation and in 22/54 (40.7%) of the prolonged inflation group (p = 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that longer balloon inflation periods do not reduce the restenosis rate after balloon coronary angioplasty.

[Immediate results of coronary angioplasty in elderly patients. Experience at the Gregorio Marañón General Hospital]. / Resultados inmediatos de la angioplastia coronaria en pacientes geriátricos. Experiencia del Hospital General Gregorio Maranón.

In order to assess the results of PTCA in geriatric patients we retrospectively analysed the coronary angiographic findings and the indication, results and major complications (non-fatal myocardial infarction, emergent surgery and death) in 105 consecutive patients aged 65 or more who had PTCA as a part of a whole group of 600 patients. Among the older patients there were more female gender (p less than 0.001), severe angina (Canadian functional class III or IV) (p less than 0.05), unstable angina (p less than 0.05) and multivessel disease (p less than 0.05) in comparison with the younger group (495 patients). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the success rate (78.7% in patients aged 65 or more versus 84.1% in younger patients) or in the complication rate (8.6% versus 7.9%). A tendency was observed toward a higher complication rate (14%) and a lower success rate (72%) in patients aged 70 or more, but without reaching statistical significance. There were two deaths (1.9%). All the patients with a successful PTCA were improved at hospital discharge, including 21 with multivessel disease that underwent "incomplete vascularization" (single vessel PTCA). Thus, PTCA is feasible in selected old patients with severe angina with an incidence of success and of major complications similar to that obtained in younger patients. On the other hand, the complication rate and the in-hospital mortality of PTCA advantageously compares with those reported for coronary bypass surgery. PTCA could be considered as the first therapeutic option in old patients with an adequate coronary anatomy in whom a myocardial revascularization procedure is required.

[Mitral valve aneurysm. Its diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography]. / Aneurisma de la válvula mitral. Diagnóstico por ecocardiografía transesofágica.

Aneurysm of the mitral valve is a rare complication of infectious endocarditis. We report a 65-years-old woman with left heart failure and mitral regurgitation secondary to a mitral valve aneurysm. The diagnosis was made by transesophageal echocardiography.

[The rupture of a cardiac hydatid cyst located in the right ventricle]. / Rotura de un quiste hidatídico cardíaco situado en ventrículo derecho.

Heart involvement in echinococcal disease is rare, but it is more infrequent the location of cysts in the right ventricle. We report a case of a male 35 years old with hydatid cysts located in the right ventricle. The condition was diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiogram performed after the rupture of the cysts leading to massive pulmonary embolism and subsequently right heart failure. Early diagnosis appears mandatory in an attempt to modify, applying the appropriate therapy, the natural evolution of this potentially lethal condition.

[Intravenous leiomyomatosis with cardiac extension]. / Leiomiomatosis intravenosa con extensión a cavidades cardíacas.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis is a very rare uterine neoplasm, characterized by histological benignity. In some cases, it could extend through the ovaric or iliac veins up to the vena cava and the right chambers of the heart. We report a patient with symptoms of right heart failure, who was diagnosed by transesophagic echocardiography of intravenous leiomyomatosis with extension to the right ventricle. Complete excision was achieved employing simultaneous sternotomy and laparotomy with echocardiographic intraoperative monitorization.

[Wiktor coronary stent for elective placement with an antiaggregation regimen. WINE study. WINE Group Study]. / Stent coronario Wiktor por indicación electiva con régimen de antiagregación. Estudio WINE. Grupo de Estudio WINE.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The main problems associated with coronary stent implantation are subacute thrombosis and vascular and hemorrhagic complications due to the intensive anticoagulant regime. We studied the complications and the six-month restenosis rate after the elective implantation of a Wiktor stent in patients treated only with antiplatelet drugs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The WINE study is an open, observational, multicenter study that included 368 patients (380 lesions) from 11 Spanish hospitals. All patients were treated with aspirin (125-325 mg/day) and ticlopidine (250 mg/12 h for 4 weeks). After hospitalization, a clinical control and clinical and angiographic controls were performed at one and six months respectively. RESULTS: 27 patients were excluded after the procedure because of failed delivery of the stent (5 cases), suboptimal angiographic result (15 cases) or lack of adherence to the antithrombotic regime (7 cases). Among the 341 patients with an adequate result most lesions (76.2%) were type B, including 39.1% type B2 and 8.5% type C. Subacute stent occlusion occurred in two patients (0.6%). Seven patients (2.1%) had vascular complications related to the arterial puncture. No major hemorrhagic complications needing transfusion were found. At six months 64 patients (19.8%) showed angiographic restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: When the angiographic result after Wiktor stent placement is adequate, the therapy with aspirin and ticlopidine is associated with a very low stent thrombosis rate as well as with a low rate of vascular complications and 6 month angiographic restenosis.

[The placement of a Wiktor stent for the treatment of vasospastic angina: a case report]. / Colocación de stent de Wiktor para el tratamiento de angina vasoespástica: presentación de un caso.

A 46-year-old male with a fixed stenosis in the mid-segment of the left anterior descending artery underwent balloon angioplasty. The procedure included the placement of two Wiktor stents because of severe dissection. Five months later he complained of Prinzmetal angina with ST elevation in the anterior wall. A metilergobasine test during the coronary arteriogram showed a discrete, severe spasm on the proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery. Because of a lack of symptomatic improvement with high-dose nitrates and calcium blockers, a Wiktor coronary stent was successfully implanted in the proximal left anterior descending artery, resulting in complete relief of the angina.

[Myocardial revascularization in angina pectoris. Study Group on Angina Pectoris of the Ischemic Cardiopathy and Coronary Units Section of the Spanish Society of Cardiology]. / Revascularización miocárdica en la angina de pecho. Grupo de Estudio de Angina de Pecho de la Sección de Cardiopatía Isquémica y Unidades Coronarias de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología.

Ischemic pain relief and survival are the targets of the revascularization treatment in angina pectoris. The authors describe the clinical and anatomic indications for revascularization in angina and the reasons for the election between surgery and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

[Coronary angioplasty in acute coronary syndrome]. / Angioplastia coronaria en los síndromes coronarios agudos.

PTCA is a widely used technique in patients post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as well as in unstable angina (UA). The precise timing of its application and some aspects of the indication nowadays remains a matter of controversy. Primary PTCA is not generally considered to be the initial treatment of AMI. In contrast, immediate PTCA after thrombolysis has been proposed attempting to decrease the incidence of early reocclusion, improve myocardial salvage, decrease the incidence of postinfarction angina and improve survival. Nevertheless, three recent controlled studies (TAMI, TIMI II and ECSG) have demonstrated that an "aggressive" strategy with obligatory, invasive intervention following thrombolysis does not provide any advantage in terms of survival, rate of reocclusion or improved ventricular function and is, in fact, likely to be harmful. Emergent coronary arteriography after AMI should be reserved for unstable patients with continued or recurrent ischemia in the CCU. In elective basis it should be indicated in all patients with spontaneous or provocable ischemia prior to hospital discharge. If high grade coronary stenoses are identified, the patient should be considered for PTCA or surgical revascularization. In our own experience with coronary arteriography 24 hours to 15 days after intravenous thrombolysis with SK, PTCA is anatomically feasible in 44% of all the patients and in 60% of those showing a patent vessel. However, when indicated because of postinfarction angina or a positive stress test, PTCA was performed only in 22%, some of them presenting with a totally occluded vessel. In case of stenosis lesser than 100% the dilation success rate is slightly lower than that of out entire series (84% vs 88%), but the incidence of acute occlusion is significantly higher (10% vs 6%), particularly in patients with angiographic evidence of intracoronary thrombi. The incidence of "non-significant" (less than 70%) stenosis spontaneously increases when the coronary arteriography is performed late during hospitalization (34% vs 17% when the patient is studied in the first 24-48 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)