[Post-implant antithrombotic treatment after intracoronary stents. Thrombotic occlusion]. / Tratamiento antitrombótico postimplante intracoronario de stent. Oclusión trombótica.

The stent has been demonstrated to be a useful device in the treatment of complicated coronary angioplasty and in the prevention of restenosis. However, its efficacy was seen to be initially limited due to a high incidence of thrombotic occlusion of the stent in the first month after implantation and a high rate of hemorrhagic complications when a severe antithrombotic treatment with antiplatelet drugs (aspirin and dypiridomole) was associated with anticoagulation therapy with intravenous sodium heparin and dicumarol. Both phenomena increased morbidity and the post-implantation costs of stenting. The development of new strategies in stent implantation and post-implantation management have significantly reduce these complications. The objective of this study is to review the physiopathology of thrombotic occlusion following intracoronary stent implantation and the efficacy of various antithrombotic pharmacological strategies being used for its prevention. Although certain factors existing prior to implantation (thrombus, severe dissection, and the size of the vessel) augment the probability of occlusion in the stent, the result of the implantations is a good predictor of the development of this complication. Recent studies have shown that when optimal coronary stent implantation (high pressure, strict angiographic or ultrasound criteria) resulting in a minimal or absent residual stenosis and adequate apposition of the stent against the arterial wall is associated with new antithrombotic strategies, the rate of thrombotic occlusion should be less than 1.5% and the rate or hemorrhagic complications should not be greater than what has been described for conventional angioplasty. The most consolidated current antithrombotic therapy is the association of aspirin and ticlopodine which has demonstrated its efficacy in both observational and randomized studies. The combination of antiplatelet drugs and low molecular weight heparin has also demonstrated its efficacy in non-randomized studies and may constitute an alternative in some clinical or angiographic situations. The development of stents with a smaller thrombogenic surface contact with blood (made of materials which are not thrombogenic or are coated) hopefully provides another possibility for the near future. All of these advances have minimized the problem of thrombotic occlusion of the stent and have contributed to the great expansion in the use of this technique in current interventional cardiology.

[Disease of the left coronary trunk. Our experience. An analysis of surgical morbimortality]. / Enfermedad del tronco de la coronaria izquierda. Nuestra experiencia. Análisis de la morbimortalidad operatoria.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The superiority of surgical treatment over other procedures in the left main coronary artery stenosis is well known, being today the therapy of choice. The purpose of this work is to analyze the clinical characteristics and the immediate results of surgery in our patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this paper we under-took a retrospective study of 147 consecutive patients, 129 men and 18 women with a 50% or more left main coronary artery stenosis without associated valvular disease, operated on at our institution during a period of 3.5 years, between January 1992 and May 1995. Thirty-one variables were analyzed under Chi-square, comparison of proportions and Student's t-tests. Then, it has been developed into a multivariant logistic regression of significant variables (p less than 0.05) of factors influencing mortality and rhythm disturbances which have been the most frequent postoperative complication. RESULTS: The mean age was 65 years. Sixty-two per cent had unstable angina and 51.7% had previous myocardial infarction. An average of 3.1 grafts were performed. Total mortality was 6.8%. The complications were 17% arrhythmias, 8% low cardiac output and 6% perioperative myocardial infarction. In the multivariate analysis, mortality has been strongly related to the presence of perioperative myocardial infarction and also with moderate to severe cardiomegaly and a high left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Arrhythmias were related to an advanced age. CONCLUSIONS: 1) In hospital mortality remains within acceptable limits and is influenced by the presence of perioperative myocardial infarction, cardiomegaly and a high left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and 2) elderly patients have more damaged vessels, more diseased coronary segments, and more complications, especially rhythm disturbances.

[The safety of the treatment of an acute myocardial infarct by immediate intravenous fibrinolysis in the regional hospital environment]. / Seguridad del tratamiento del infarto agudo de miocardio mediante fibrinólisis intravenosa inmediata en el ámbito hospitalario comarcal.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate the utility of thrombolytic therapy administered outside tertiary hospital. METHODS: We analyzed 80 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to the emergency area of primary hospital within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms and lastly transported to a coronary care unit (CCU) of a reference hospital. The thrombolytic protocol was performed by medicine department of primary hospital and the CCU of reference hospital. RESULTS: 23 patients without (group A) and 57 with (group B) fibrinolytic therapy (APSAC 50 patients and streptokinase 7 patients) were analyzed. Group A patient were older (mean: 67 +/- 11 vs mean: 62 +/- 10 years; p = 0.01), and arrived later to emergency area (mean 254 +/- 284 vs mean 163 SD 161 min; p = 0.04) and to the coronary care unit (mean 561 +/- 371 vs mean 334 +/- 177 min; p = 0.0002). The guard physician decision to start or not the fibrinolytic therapy, was adequate in 86% of the patients (sensitivity 87%, predictive positive value 95%, specificity 83%). Complications on emergency area or during transport in group B were ventricular fibrillation in 9%, AV block (2-3 degree) in 9%, severe nonsustained ventricular arrhythmia in 11% and transitory hypotension in 23%. No death occurred before CCU admission. In group B, 35% patients was treated within the first 2 hours. The average time gain was 124 min (thrombolysis administration--CCU admission). CONCLUSION: On emergency area of primary hospital, thrombolytic therapy is feasible and safe when administered by well-equipped and well-trained medical emergence area and ambulance staff.

[Prognostic implications of early discharge from the coronary unit in patients with acute myocardial infarction]. / Implicaciones pronósticas del alta precoz de la unidad coronaria en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The high demand for health care has obliged Coronary Units to hasten the discharge of patients in less serious condition and this might be an influence on their prognosis. Our objective have been: a) to analyse the characteristics and the evolution (death or readmission) during the first month of patients with myocardial infarction and very early discharge from the Coronary Unit (stay of 2 days or less), and b) to assess the profile of very low risk group patients for complications who could be discharged early from the Coronary Unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A study of 978 consecutive patients who had been admitted for acute myocardial, in faration were divided into two groups according to their length of stay in the Coronary Unit (A < or = 2 and B > 2 days). Their baseline characteristics, course of stay and vital status at month, were compared. A subgroup of patients at low risk was studied and complications that might have arisen from their early discharge from the Coronary Unit were assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (7.5%) died within the first two days. Of the remaining 905, the stay was 2 days or less for 336 patients (group A); and longer than 2 days for 569 (group B). Group A had a higher frequency of dyslipemia, Killip class I on admission, uncomplicated myocardial infarction in the Coronary Unit and the use of beta-blockers and had less frequency of diabetes, Q wave myocardial infarction, anterior infarction or the use of fibrinolytics. In the first month after discharge from the Coronary Unit, 10 patients from group A and 18 patients from group B died, the rate of death or readmission into the Coronary Unit within 30 days was similar between both groups (group A = 13% and group B = 13%). A multiple regression showed that Killip class on admission (p < 0.001) and an uncomplicated course (p < 0.001) were independently related with the length of stay in the coronary unit. A subset of 378 low risk patients (Killip I on admission, uncomplicated course in the ICU and age < 71 years) had no mortality at 30 days and their readmission rate in the first month was 4%. In this subgroup, those patients whose stay was equal to or less than two days were more frequently readmitted in the first week. (group A = 9/197 [5%] and group B = 1/181 ([0.5%]; p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Selected patients with myocardial infarction can be discharged very early from the Coronary Unit with a low risk of death. A readmission rate following discharge of some 5% must be allowed for these patients.

[Influence of the degree of aortic valve calcification on the estimate of valvular area using planimetry with transesophageal echocardiography]. / Influencia del grado de calcificación de la válvula aórtica en el cálculo del área valvular mediante planimetría con ecocardiografía transesofágica.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Continuity equation to measure aortic valve area is limited by poor acoustic window or difficulty in obtaining acceptable Doppler signal. Our aim has been to analyze the accuracy of planimetry by transesophageal echocardiography to calculate aortic valve area and the impact of calcification on results. METHODS: Planimetry of aortic valve area by transesophageal echocardiography has been compared to continuity equation by transthoracic approach and the Gorlin formula in 26 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis. Degree of calcification was qualitatively estimated by the 3 methods and 2 groups were distinguished: group A (mild or moderate calcification) and group B (severe calcification). RESULTS: An excellent agreement between continuity equation and the Gorlin formula was found (mean difference: 0.03 +/- 0.15 cm2). Agreement between transesophageal planimetry and the Gorlin formula was poor (mean difference: 0.14 +/- 0.25 cm2). Planimetry and the Gorlin formula demonstrated an excellent agreement in group A (mean difference: -0.03 +/- 0.17 cm2). By contrast, agreement in group B was not acceptable (mean difference: 0.27 +/- 0.22 cm2). CONCLUSIONS: 1) continuity equation by transthoracic echocardiography is useful in calculating aortic valve area. 2) aortic planimetry by transesophageal echocardiography is an excellent method in noncalcified aortic valves, and must not be used on severely calcified valves.

[Preoperative coronary angiography in valve patients. Criteria for indication in a determined population]. / Coronariografía preoperatoria en pacientes valvulares. Criterios de indicación en una determinada población.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The indication for preoperative coronary angiography in patients with valvular heart disease depends on the prevalence of coronary disease in these patients, which differs among different geographical areas. Our aim was to determine the indication criteria for preoperative coronary angiography in our population. METHODS: We studied retrospectively the prevalence of significant coronary disease in 511 consecutive patients with valvular disease diagnosed by non-invasive methods, who underwent preoperative coronary angiography from August/1991 to July/1996. We analyzed in each patient: demographic data, symptoms and presence of risk factors for coronary artery disease. We considered that preoperative coronary angiography had to be performed on patients who had a coronary artery disease prevalence > or = 5%. RESULTS: Mean age was 64 +/- 10 years (51% male). There was mitral valvulopathy in 135 patients, aortic in 234 and combined mitro-aortic in 142. Angina was present in 30% of patients, and risk factors for coronary artery disease in 52%. The prevalence of significant coronary disease was 20.3%. It was significantly higher in patients with angina (35.3% versus 13.8% in patients without angina) and in those with risk factors (28% versus 12.2% in patients without risk factors); no differences between valvulopathies were found. Age was significantly higher in patients with coronary disease (69 +/- 8 versus 63 +/- 10 years). Multivariate analysis showed three independent predictors for significant coronary disease: 1) age; 2) previous angina, and 3) risk factors. Regarding the prevalence of significant coronary disease in patients neither angina nor risk factors was < 5% in males who were under 60 years old (1 man; 3.3%) and in females under 65 years old (2 women; 3.5%). CONCLUSIONS: In our reference population and in others with a similar cardiovascular profile, preoperative coronary angiography is indicated in males who are > or = 60 years old and in females who are > or = 65 years old, and in younger patients who present angina or risk factors, regardless of the valvulopathy present.