Left ventricular end-systolic volume response post-stress echocardiography: Dilation as a marker of multi-vessel coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Transient ischemic dilation of the left ventricle (LV) during stress echocardiography indicates extensive myocardial ischemia. It remains unclear whether the change of LV end-systolic volume (ESV) or end-diastolic volume (EDV) better correlated with significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Meanwhile, the clinical significance of the extent of the volumetric change post-stress has not been investigated. METHODS: One hundred and five individuals (62 ± 12 years and 75% men) who underwent coronary angiography following exercise treadmill echocardiography were enrolled retrospectively. An additional 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included for comparison. LV dilation was defined as any increase in LV volume from rest to peak exercise. Patients who had at least two coronary arteries with significant stenosis were considered as having multi-vessel CAD. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients had ESV dilation during exercise echocardiography. On the contrary, ESV decreased at peak exercise in all healthy subjects. Forty-one patients had multi-vessel CAD, and its prevalence was higher in patients with ESV dilation (65% vs 27%, p = 0.001). The extent of ESV increase correlated with CAD severity. ESV dilation is associated with multi-vessel CAD (Odds ratio [OR] 5.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.09 - 12.07, p < 0.001). After adjustment for EDV increase, clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic variables, the association remained significant (adjusted OR 5.57, 95% CI 1.37-22.64; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: ESV dilation independently correlated with multi-vessel CAD, whereas EDV dilation did not. The amount of ESV increase correlated with the severity of CAD. Our findings provide a rationale for incorporating volume measurements into stress echocardiography practice.

An unusual case of bilateral subclavian-carotid artery graft occlusion with coronary steal syndrome managed in the cath lab.

A 65-year-old man, s/p coronary bypass surgery (CABG) with left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending (LAD) artery 12 years previously, presented to his local hospital with left upper extremity pain, dizziness, falls, and chest pain. At the outside hospital, a proximal total left subclavian occlusion was found and the patient underwent left subclavian artery to common carotid artery (SCA-CCA) bypass surgery. Shortly thereafter, the patient developed right subclavian thrombosis, and underwent right SCA-CCA bypass surgery. Twenty days later, coronary steal symptoms recurred; troponin levels were elevated and ultrasound exam revealed bilateral SCA-CCA graft occlusion. The patient was then transferred to a tertiary care facility with a diagnosis of non-ST elevation myocardial infarct (NSTEMI). A successful endovascular procedure was performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory with the use of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) devices, to treat the coronary steal syndrome.

Topical nitroglycerin and lidocaine to dilate the radial artery prior to transradial cardiac catheterization: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial: the PRE-DILATE Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Transradial access (TRA) is being increasingly used for both diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures. Use of TRA offers many advantages: decreased bleeding, vascular complications, reduced length of hospital stay, and reduced cost. However, the small size of the radial artery limits the size of the equipment that can be used via this approach. We sought to determine whether pre-procedural administration of topical nitroglycerin and lidocaine increases the size of the radial artery. METHODS: Patients undergoing transradial cardiac catheterization were randomized in a double-blind fashion to a topical combination of nitroglycerin+lidocaine or placebo ointment. The primary endpoint was change in radial artery size. Secondary endpoints included radial artery spasm and radial artery patency. RESULTS: 86 patients were enrolled (43 allocated to treatment group and 43 to placebo group). Patients underwent ultrasound of the radial artery at baseline and before the catheterization. Complications were rare: one hematoma (placebo group) and one radial artery occlusion (placebo group). Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were similar. The baseline radial artery cross-sectional area (CSA) was similar in both groups (4.95 ± 0.24 mm(2) in placebo group and 5.14 ± 0.34 mm(2) in the treatment group). However, the final CSA decreased to 4.66 ± 0.25 mm(2) in the placebo group and increased to 5.78 ± 0.38 mm(2) in the treatment group (p=0.02), which corresponded to a decrease in CSA by -5.6 ± 2.1% and an increase in CSA by 16.5 ± 4.2% (p<0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-procedural administration of topical mixture of nitroglycerin+lidocaine increases the size of the radial artery in patients undergoing transradial cardiac catheterization. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01155167.

The Impella 2.5 L for percutaneous mechanical circulatory support in severe humoral allograft rejection.

Heart transplant recipients who experience humoral rejection are at risk for hemodynamic instability. We report a case of a 64-year-old male with cardiogenic shock due to allograft rejection requiring mechanical support while undergoing intense immunosuppression. He underwent implantation of a micro-axial endovascular pump (Impella). To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of successful Impella device deployment as a bridge-to-recovery strategy.