Importance of the conal branch of the right coronary artery in patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction: electrocardiographic and angiographic correlation.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed prospectively the correlation between the conal branch of the right coronary artery and the pattern of ST segment elevation in leads V1 and V3R during anterior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: The traditional electrocardiographic (ECG) definition of anteroseptal AMI-ST segment elevation in leads V1 to V3-has recently been challenged. The significance of ST segment elevation in lead V1 during anterior wall AMI is unclear. METHODS: The admission 12-lead ECG with additional lead V3R and the coronary angiograms performed within 10 days of hospital admission were evaluated in 28 consecutive patients (mean age +/- SD 62 +/- 9 years) admitted to the coronary care unit with anterior wall AMI. Patients were classified into two groups according to the magnitude of ST segment elevation in lead V1: group A (elevation > or = 1.5 mm, n = 12) and group B (elevation < 1.5 mm, n = 16). Two types of conal branch were identified: small (not reaching the interventricular septum [IVS]) and large (reaching the IVS). RESULTS: ST segment elevation in lead V3R was found in 11 (92%) and 6 (37%) patients from group A and group B, respectively (p < 0.001); a small conal branch was seen in 10 (83%) and 3 (19%) patients, respectively (p < 0.001). Ten patients (all from group B) had a large conal branch. CONCLUSIONS: ST segment elevation in lead V1 in the admission ECG of patients with anterior wall AMI is strongly related to ST segment elevation in lead V3R and is associated with a small conal branch. Our findings suggest that lead V1 reflects the right paraseptal area supplied by the septal branches of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), alone or together with the conal branch. The absence of ST segment elevation in lead V1 during anterior AMI suggests that the IVS is protected by a large conal branch in addition to the septal branches of the LAD (double circulation).

Pharmaco-economics of levosimendan in cardiology: a European perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure places a significant economic burden on health care. Acute heart failure requires hospitalization and often frequent re-hospitalization in expensive wards where vasoactive rescue therapy is often added on top of standard medications. In these lean times, there is a growing need for cost-effective therapeutic options that supply superior support and in addition shorten the length of stay in hospital and reduce re-hospitalization rates. The inodilator levosimendan represents the latest addition to the vasoactive treatments of acute heart failure patients, and it appears to meet these expectations. Our aim was to answer the question whether the treatment efficacy of levosimendan - when selected as therapy for patients hospitalized for acute heart failure - brings savings to hospitals in various European countries representing different economies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We took a conservative approach and selected some a fortiori arguments to simplify the calculations. We selected seven European countries to represent different economies: Italy, Spain, Greece, Germany, Sweden, Finland and Israel. Data on the costs of medications and on the cost per day were collected and fed in a simple algorithm to detect savings. These saving varied from country to country, from a minimum of €0.50 in Germany to a maximum of €354.64 in Sweden. CONCLUSIONS: The use of levosimendan as a therapy for patients hospitalized for acute heart failure provides a net saving to hospitals driven by a reduction in the length of hospital stay. This finding is true in each of the countries considered in this study.

Preoperative and perioperative use of levosimendan in cardiac surgery: European expert opinion.

In cardiac surgery, postoperative low cardiac output has been shown to correlate with increased rates of organ failure and mortality. Catecholamines have been the standard therapy for many years, although they carry substantial risk for adverse cardiac and systemic effects, and have been reported to be associated with increased mortality. On the other hand, the calcium sensitiser and potassium channel opener levosimendan has been shown to improve cardiac function with no imbalance in oxygen consumption, and to have protective effects in other organs. Numerous clinical trials have indicated favourable cardiac and non-cardiac effects of preoperative and perioperative administration of levosimendan. A panel of 27 experts from 18 countries has now reviewed the literature on the use of levosimendan in on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and in heart valve surgery. This panel discussed the published evidence in these various settings, and agreed to vote on a set of questions related to the cardioprotective effects of levosimendan when administered preoperatively, with the purpose of reaching a consensus on which patients could benefit from the preoperative use of levosimendan and in which kind of procedures, and at which doses and timing should levosimendan be administered. Here, we present a systematic review of the literature to report on the completed and ongoing studies on levosimendan, including the newly commenced LEVO-CTS phase III study (NCT02025621), and on the consensus reached on the recommendations proposed for the use of preoperative levosimendan.

Long-term prognosis of 210 patients who underwent coronary angiography before 40 years of age.

We report on a follow-up of 210 patients who underwent coronary angiography before age 40. We found that young patients with normal coronary arteries have an excellent prognosis, whereas those with single-vessel disease have an unfavorable outcome resembling that of patients with multivessel disease.

Effectiveness of coronary stent deployment without predilation.

The feasibility of coronary stenting without predilation is demonstrated in 240 patients. In all, 249 stents were placed. Primary implantation was successful in 93% of cases. In 17 lesions the stents could not be advanced through the stenotic lesion. The unexpanded stents were removed through the guiding catheter, and stenting was performed after prediction. Minor complications (side branch compromise and intimal dissection), which were successfully treated, occurred in 26 patients (10.6%).

Relation between evolutionary ST segment and T-wave direction and electrocardiographic prediction of mycardial infarct size and left ventricular function among patients with anterior wall Q-wave acute myocardial infarction who received reperfusion therapy.

In the prethrombolytic era it was found that infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction could be predicted using the Selvester QRS score. We evaluated whether infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction could be predicted by the predischarge QRS score in patients who had received reperfusion therapy and whether considering the configuration of the ST segments and T waves would increase the accuracy of these predictions. We evaluated 51 patients with first anterior wall myocardial infarction who had received reperfusion therapy and predischarge resting technetium-99m-sestamibi scan. The electrocardiograms recorded on the same day of the scan were analyzed for the QRS score and were divided into 3 groups: A, isoelectric ST and negative T waves; B, ST elevation (> or =0.1 mV) and negative T waves; and C, ST elevation (> or =0.1 mV) and positive T waves. Groups A, B, and C included 12, 23, and 16 patients, respectively. The myocardial perfusion defect extent increased from groups A to C (median 21%, 37%, and 43.5% in groups A, B, and C, respectively; p = 0.023). Similarly, left ventricular ejection fraction decreased (44%, 38%, and 34%, respectively; p = 0.042) from groups A to C. Overall, the correlation between the QRS score and the myocardial perfusion defect extent (rho 0.249; p = 0.08) and ejection fraction (rho -0.229; p = 0.11) was poor. A statistically significant correlation between myocardial perfusion defect size and QRS score was found only in group A (rho 0.599, p = 0.04). Among patients with anterior myocardial infarction who received reperfusion therapy, the predischarge QRS score was predictive of infarct size only in those in whom ST elevation resolved completely. In patients with residual ST elevation there was no correlation between QRS score and infarct size.

Deglutition syncope with coexistent carotid sinus hypersensitivity.

A 63-year-old man had symptomatic deglutition-induced atrioventricular (A-V) block. There was also a coexistent mixed type carotid sinus hypersensitivity presenting as A-V block. No A-V nodal dysfunction was revealed during electrophysiologic studies. The vasodepressor response to carotid massage implies a central vagal hyperresponsiveness, which can also explain the cardioinhibitory responses to swallowing and carotid sinus massage, both possibly unmasked by posterior myocardial infarction.

Intraarticular minocycline injection in experimental synovitis.

Minocycline, a semi-synthetic tetracycline, was injected into one hind joint of twenty-two rabbits with zymosan-induced arthritis, while the contralateral joint served as a control. A local inflammatory reaction was observed a few days after the zymosan injection. Most clinical parameters such as knee diameter, systemic temperature, sedimentation rate and blood cell count did not change throughout the experiment both in control and minocycline treated rabbits. However, the zymosan platelet counts rose from 3.4x10(5)/microL to 5x10(5)/microL, as well as the level of serum fibrinogen (from 99 mg% to 370 mg%). Microscopically, a perivascular infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells was seen. Lymphoid follicles as well as plasma cells epitheloid and giant cells were also observed. A mild tendency to fibrosis and lesser inflammatory reaction in the minocycline treated knees was noted. Our data suggest that intraarticular minocycline treatment did not alleviate the course of the rheumatoid-like inflammatory reaction of the knee joint.

Value of T-wave direction with lead III ST-segment depression in acute anterior wall myocardial infarction: electrocardiographic prediction of a "wrapped" left anterior descending artery.

BACKGROUND: Lead III ST-segment depression during acute anterior wall myocardial infarction (AMI) has been attributed to reciprocal changes. However, the value of the T-wave direction (positive or negative) in predicting the site of obstruction and type of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery is not clear and has not been studied before. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to assess retrospectively the correlation between two patterns of lead III ST-segment depression, and type of LAD artery and its level of obstruction during first AMI. METHODS: The study group consisted of 48 consecutive patients, admitted to the coronary care unit for first AMI, who showed ST-segment elevation in lead a VL and ST-segment depression in lead III on admission 12-lead electrocardiogram. The patients were divided by T-wave direction into Group 1 (n = 31), negative T wave, and Group 2 (n = 17), positive T wave. The coronary angiogram was evaluated for type of LAD ("wrapped", i.e., surrounding the apex or not), site of obstruction (pre- or postdiagonal branch), and other significant coronary artery obstructions. RESULTS: Mean lead III ST-segment depression was 1.99 +/- 1.32 mm in Group 1 and 1.13 +/- 0.74 mm in Group 2 (p = 0.004); mean ST-segment elevation in a VL was 1.35 +/- 0.84 mm and 1.23 +/- 0.5 mm, respectively (p = 0.5). A wrapped LAD was found in 12 patients (38.7%) in Group 1 and in 13 in Group 2 (76.4%) (p = 0.02). The sensitivity of lead III ST-segment depression with positive T wave to predict a wrapped LAD was 52%, and the specificity was 82% with a positive predictive value of 76%. On angiography, 25 patients (80%) in Group 1 and 13 (76%) in Group 2 had prediagonal occlusion of the LAD (p = 0.77). No significant difference between groups was found for right and circumflex coronary artery involvement or incidence of multivessel disease. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of lead III ST-segment depression with positive T wave associated with ST-segment elevation in a VL in the early course of AMI can serve as an early electrocardiographic marker of prediagonal occlusion of a "wrapped" LAD.

Acute anterior wall myocardial infarction entailing ST-segment elevation in lead V1: electrocardiographic and angiographic correlations.

BACKGROUND: The correlation between ST elevation in lead V1 during anterior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the culprit lesion site in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery is poor. HYPOTHESIS: The study was undertaken to assess the electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics and angiographic significance of ST-segment elevation in lead V1 during anterior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Data from 115 patients with anterior wall AMI, who underwent coronary angiography within 14 days of hospitalization, were studied. The admission 12-lead ECG was examined and the coronary angiogram was evaluated for the nature of the conal branch of the right coronary artery (RCA) and for the culprit lesion site in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. RESULTS: Mean ST-segment deviation and the frequency of patients with ST-segment elevation > 0.1 mV were significantly lower in lead V1 than in lead V2 (0.136 +/- 0.111 mV vs. 0.421 +/- 0.260 mV, and 37 vs. 96%, for leads V1 and V2, respectively). A small conal branch not reaching the interventricular septum (IVS) was more prevalent among patients with ST-segment elevation > 0.1 mV in lead V1 (67%), whereas a large conal branch was more prevalent in patients with ST-segment deviation (1 mV in that lead (83%, p < 0.001). No relation was found between ST-segment deviation in lead V1 during anterior wall AMI and the culprit lesion site in the LAD. CONCLUSION: ST-segment elevation in lead V1 during first anterior wall AMI was found in one third of the patients, and its magnitude was lower than that in the other precordial leads. ST-segment elevation in lead V1 favors the presence of a small conal branch of the RCA that does not reach the IVS.

Coronary stent deployment without predilation in acute myocardial infarction: a feasible, safe, and effective technique.

Direct percutaneous transcatheter revascularization (PTCR) is becoming an acceptable therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Stenting in the setting of AMI, once considered contraindicated, is emerging as a suitable option in this situation. Coronary stenting without predilation (SWOP) may potentially shorten the procedure and radiation time, reduce costs, and decrease procedural complications such as coronary dissection and distal embolization. It is expected to cause less vascular injury, with a reduction in the rate of in-stent restenosis. In this preliminary study the authors evaluated the feasibility of the SWOP procedure in 22 selected patients with AMI. Indications for catheter-based myocardial reperfusion were the following: extensive anterior wall MI (68%), inferior wall and right ventricular MI (23%), and inferior wall MI with contraindication for thrombolytic therapy (9%). Patients with cardiogenic shock or with contraindications for aspirin or ticlopidine were excluded. SWOP was successful in 21 attempts (95%), and final procedural success was achieved in all. Proximal or distal dissections were seen in three cases and were treated by additional three stents. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow 3 was restored in all patients. There were no distal embolizations, side branch occlusions, coronary perforations, procedure-related emergency bypass operations, or deaths. It is concluded that in selected patients with AMI, coronary artery stenting without predilation is feasible and safe and does not introduce additional risk to the patients.

Coronary stent deployment without predilation: prevention of complications of venous graft angioplasty.

Saphenous vein graft stenting without predilation may potentially decrease procedural complications such as distal embolization and no-reflow phenomenon. In this report the authors describe the deployment of stents (three Wallstents, one Palmaz-Schatz, one Multilink, and one NIR) without predilation in five patients with unstable angina pectoris due to high-grade stenosis in old saphenous vein grafts. Stent deployment was successful in all patients without procedure-related complications. Stenting without predilation appears to be feasible in old bypass grafts with significant stenosis. The potential of this new stenting technique to reduce the risk of stenting complications should be tested by a randomized trial.

The utility and potential cost-effectiveness of stress myocardial perfusion thallium SPECT imaging in hospitalized patients with chest pain and normal or non-diagnostic electrocardiogram.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of hospitalized patients with chest pain and non-diagnostic electrocardiogram is problematic and the optimal cost-effective strategy for their management controversial. OBJECTIVES: To determine the utility of myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium-201 for predicting outcome of hospitalized patients with chest pain and a normal or non-diagnostic ECG. METHODS: On pain cessation, 109 hospitalized patients, age 61 +/- 14 years (mean +/- SD), with chest pain and non-diagnostic ECG underwent stress myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging with thallium-201. Costs related to their management were calculated. The occurrence of non-fatal myocardial infarction or cardiac death was recorded at 12 +/- 5 months follow-up. RESULTS: A normal SPECT was found in 84 patients (77%). During one year follow-up, only 1 (1.2%) compared to 7 (28%) cardiac events (6 myocardial infarctions, 1 cardiac death) occurred in patients with normal versus abnormal scans respectively (P < 0.0001). Negative predictive value and accuracy of the method were 99% and 83% respectively. Multivariate regression analysis identified an abnormal SPECT as the only independent predictor of adverse cardiac event (P = 0.0016). Total cost from admission until discharge was 11,193 vs. 31,079 shekels (P < 0.0001) for normal and abnormal scan. Considering its high negative predictive value, shortening the hospital stay from admission until scan performance to 2 days would result in considerably reduced management costs (from NIS 11,193 to 7,243) per patient. CONCLUSION: Stress SPECT applied to hospitalized patients with chest pain and a normal or non-diagnostic ECG is safe, highly accurate and potentially cost effective in distinguishing between low and high risk patients.

Repetitive use of levosimendan for treatment of chronic advanced heart failure: clinical evidence, practical considerations, and perspectives: an expert panel consensus.

BACKGROUND: The intravenous inodilator levosimendan was developed for the treatment of patients with acutely decompensated heart failure. In the last decade scientific and clinical interest has arisen for its repetitive or intermittent use in patients with advanced chronic, but not necessarily acutely decompensated, heart failure. Recent studies have suggested long-lasting favourable effects of levosimendan when administered repetitively, in terms of haemodynamic parameters, neurohormonal and inflammatory markers, and clinical outcomes. The existing data, however, requires further exploration to allow for definitive conclusions on the safety and clinical efficacy of repetitive use of levosimendan. METHODS AND RESULTS: A panel of 30 experts from 15 countries convened to review and discuss the existing data, and agreed on the patient groups that can be considered to potentially benefit from intermittent treatment with levosimendan. The panel gave recommendations regarding patient dosing and monitoring, derived from the available evidence and from clinical experience. CONCLUSIONS: The current data suggest that in selected patients and support out-of-hospital care, intermittent/repetitive levosimendan can be used in advanced heart failure to maintain patient stability. Further studies are needed to focus on morbidity and mortality outcomes, dosing intervals, and patient monitoring. Recommendations for the design of further clinical studies are made.