[Long term survival with the Bentall button operation in 150 patients]. / Suivi à long terme de l'opération de Bentall avec collerettes sur 150 patients.

Between May 1980 and May 2000, 150 patients (123 males and 27 females) underwent surgery with the same surgeon for ascending aortic replacement with a valvular conduit and coronary reimplantation with the aid of a collar of aortic wall (button technique). The average age was 50 +/- 16 years. Within this population, 114 patients had isolated annulo-ectasial disease, 36 had Marfan syndrome and 20 had dissection (5 acute and 15 chronic). A carbon fibre valve with 2 leaflets was implanted in 124 patients, a mono-leaflet valve in 20 and 6 others required a heterograft due to their age or a contra-indication to anticoagulation. The associated procedures were: 12 arch replacements, 5 myocardial revascularisations, 4 mitral replacements, 1 tricuspid plasty, 1 inter-atrial communication closure. In 30 patients (20%) there was a cardiovascular surgical re-intervention. The operative and first month mortality amounted to one sudden death on the 19th day, ie 0.6%. Three patients were lost to follow up. The average survival was 7.87 +/- 5.37 years (minimum 1, maximum 20 years). The actuarial survival was 85% at 10 years and 60% at 20 years. These figures are much higher than those reported in our previous statistics from 1994 when the percentage of survivors at 12 years was only 61%. In the group of patients undergoing surgery before 60 years of age, the survival at 14 years was 94% and 81% at 20 years. Only four late re-interventions were attributable to the Bentall procedure, of which 2 were left coronary ostium stenoses. The rate of thrombosis and embolism was 0.42 per 100 patient-years and the rate of haemorrhagic accidents was identical, including minor accidents. This considerable improvement in long-term prognosis is explicable by the adoption of a single operative technique, considered to be the best, with the best myocardial protection thanks to coronary retro-perfusion and cold or hot cardioplegia, and also without doubt with the best medical survival.

[Coronary surgery of the beating heart. First year of experience in a series of 317 non-selected coronary patients]. / Chirurgie coronaire à coeur battant. Première année d'expérience sur une série de 317 patients coronariens non sélectionnés.

From May 1999 to May 2000, 317 unselected patients, representing 92.7% of all coronary artery surgery procedures, underwent open heart surgery of the beating heart by median sternotomy with the aid of a cardiac stabilising device. The main preoperative characteristics were: mean age = 66.1 years; men = 78.9%; left main stem disease = 31.8%; mean left ventricular ejection fraction = 54.1%; mean Parsonnet index = 16.9. These 317 patients were compared with a group of 303 patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery the year before by the same surgical team with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardiac standstill. Seven hundred and eighty-six distal anastomoses were carried out in the beating heart group (2.48 grafts per patient) compared with 2.91 in the CPB group: p < 0.001). There were 10.1% single bypass, 37.5% double bypass, 47.3% triple bypass and 5% quadruple bypass procedures. A cardiopulmonary bypass was required in 13 patients (4.1%). The mortality at 30 days was 3.1% versus 4.6% in the CPB group (p = NS). The need for blood transfusion was reduced by nearly 40% in the beating heart group (23.7% versus 39.9%, p < 0.001). The incidence of cerebrovascular complications was reduced from 3% in the CPB group to 0.6% in the beating heart group (p = 0.06). The peak postoperative troponine I levels were much lower in the beating heart group (2.5 versus 6.4 ng/ml, p < 0.001). The authors conclude that surgery on the beating heart is feasible in most patients. Compared with conventional surgery under CPB, there seems to be less requirement for blood transfusion and a tendency to reduce the cerebral risk. Nevertheless, a large prospective randomised trial is required to validate the potential advantages and limitations of this technique with respect to conventional surgery and to determine the optimal indications of surgery on the beating heart.

[Postoperative infections after heart surgery under extracorporeal circulation]. / Infections postopératoires après chirurgie cardiaque sous circulation extracorporelle.

Postoperative infection is still an important cause of mortality and morbidity after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to assess its incidence and causes in order to optimise treatment. Between January 1996 and December 1997, 1,000 consecutive patients (253 women and 747 men) were operated for cardiac aortic pathology under cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean age was 66 +/- 11 years. The initial pathology was coronary artery disease (N = 663), valvular heart disease (N = 193), an association of the two (N = 94), thoracic aortic pathology (N = 38) or other pathologies (N = 12). The global postoperative infection rate was 4.9% (N = 49). The incidence of sternal and/or mediastinal infections was 0.7%, of bronchopneumonia 0.9%, urinary infection 2.1%, and septicaemia 1.7%. Nine patients died of the consequences of an infection. The hospital stay was significantly longer in infected patients, irrespective of the site of infection. Statistical analysis of the whole population did not show any predictive factor related to the preoperative clinical status of the patients. The only predictive factor demonstrated was the day on which surgery was performed: the infection rate in patients operated during the first 4 days of the week was 2.2% compared with 7.3% for the patients operated during the last 3 days (p = 0.004, odds ratio (OR) = 3.57). In those patients who had an urinary infection, the two identified risk factors were the female gender (p = 0.006, OR = 3.34) and an operation performed at the end of the week (p = 0.017, OR = 3.77). In patients with sternal and medistinal infections, the only identified predictive factor was combined coronary artery and valvular surgery (p = 0.009, OR = 7.43). With respect to pulmonary infections, the only predictive factor was recent preoperative myocardial infarction (< 1 month) (p = 0.004, OR = 7.5). Finally, no predictive risk factors were identified in those patients who developed septicaemia. In conclusion, this study showed that postoperative infection remains a serious complication of cardiac surgery. The prevention of these complications should be a priority for quality health care.

[Mitral valvuloplasty for asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic mitral insufficiency]. / Valvuloplastie mitrale pour insuffisance mitrale asymptomatique ou paucisymptomatique.

The aim of this study was to assess the results of mitral valvuloplasty for chronic asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic mitral regurgitation. Of 584 patients operated for chronic mitral regurgitation between January 1989 and December 1994, 175 were in NYHA Classes I and II and made up the study population. All had chronic grade 3 or 4/4 mitral regurgitation suitable for mitral valvuloplasty. The average follow-up was 34.3 months. Mitral valvuloplasty was performed in 174 patients, the other patient requiring mitral valve replacement. Three patients died (1.7%) and the actuarial 5 year survival was 98.2 +/- 1.0%. The probability of absence of reoperation and absence of thrombo-embolic complications at 5 years were 97 +/- 0.8% and 96.3 +/- 1.7% respectively. The residual regurgitation at Doppler echocardiography was minimal or absent in 94% of patients at the last follow-up control. The mean end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricular dimensions decreased from 40.0 +/- 6.8 mm and 64.8 +/- 7.0 mm before surgery to 34.6 +/- 6.7 mm (p < 0.001) and 52.7 +/- 7.4 mm (p < 0.001) at the last control. The authors conclude that conservative mitral valve surgery for NYHA Classes I and II patients with chronic mitral regurgitation is feasible with a low risk and is associated with a significant reduction in ventricular volumes and stability of valvular continence at medium-term. When performed by teams trained in techniques of mitral valvuloplasty, these results suggest that surgery should be performed early.

[Initial results of mitral valvuloplasty using the Physio-Carpentier-Edwards ring]. / Résultats préliminaires de la plastie mitrale avec l'anneau physio-carpentier-edwards.

The Physio-Carpentier-Edwards ring is a new prosthetic ring developed to allow mitral annuloplasty associating remodelling and flexibility of the native mitral annulus. The object of this study was to assess the feasibility and reliability of mitral valvuloplasty with the Physio ring. Between December 1992 and October 1995, 100 patients with an average age of 56.8 years suffering from mitral insufficiency underwent mitral valvuloplasty with a Physio ring. The mitral insufficiency was degenerative in 94% of cases. The degree of regurgitation was scored 3+ or 4/+4/+ in 94 patients. Mitral valve prolapse was observed in 83 patients. Mitral reconstruction was undertaken using Carpentier's techniques. One patient died in the immediate postoperative period. Two patients were reoperated for valve replacement because of systolic anterior motion (SAM). One patient had SAM which regressed with medical treatment. There were no deaths after the hospital period. There were no late reoperations of thrombo-embolic complications. The average follow-up period was 19 +/- 8 months; 77 patients were followed up for over 1 year and all underwent control Doppler echocardiography. Sixty-one patients had no residual mitral insufficiency: 15 patients had grade 1/4 regurgitation and one patient had grade 2/4 regurgitation. The average mitral valve surface area was 2.8 +/- 0.3 cm2. The average left ventricular end diastolic volume decreased from 186 +/- 59 cm3 before surgery to 129 +/- 37 cm3 at the last control (p < 0.001). The authors conclude that the Physio ring enables reliable and effective mitral valvuloplasty with excellent short term results. The benefits of the flexibility of the Physio ring remain to be evaluated by a randomised trial.

Effects of piroximone on the right ventricular function in severe heart failure patients.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of piroximone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on right ventricular function in patients with heart failure. DESIGN: Randomized study: patients were randomly assigned to the piroximone infusion rate of 5 or 10 micrograms/kg/min. SETTING: Cardiologic intensive care unit. PATIENTS: 12 consecutive patients with severe heart failure. INTERVENTIONS: Right heart catheterization was performed using a Swan-Ganz ejection fraction thermodilution catheter. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Measurements of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), end-diastolic and end-systolic right ventricular volumes were obtained using the thermodilution principle. To determine contractility indexes, the relationships between end-systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (ESPAP) over right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV) and ESPAP over RVEF were calculated during the infusion of prostacyclin at incremental infusion rates of 2, 4, 6 and 8 ng/kg/min. The slope of the relation between ESPAP over RVESV shifted during piroximone therapy from 7.635 +/- 1.632 to 1.975 +/- 0.432 (p < 0.01) and from 6.092 +/- 1.99 to 1.028 +/- 0.853 (p < 0.05) at 5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min piroximone infusion, respectively. The slope of the relation between ESPAP over RVEF decreased from -0.414 +/- 0.296 to -0.821 +/- 0.257 (p < 0.01) and from -0.127 +/- 0.048 to - 0.533 +/- 0.135 (p < 0.05) at 5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min piroximone infusion, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a positive action of piroximone on right ventricular contractility at these 2 dosages. This approach using this type of catheter allowed us to determine right ventricular inotropic indexes.

Additive haemodynamic effects of piroximone and prostacyclin in severe chronic heart failure.

This study was undertaken to assess the haemodynamic effects of the combined infusion of prostacyclin and piroximone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, in 18 patients with severe congestive heart failure. Right heart catheterization was performed with a Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter and arterial blood pressure was monitored using a radial line. After baseline haemodynamic measurements, prostacyclin was administered in all patients at the incremental infusion rate of 2, 4, 6 and 8 and 10 ng.kg-1.min-1 during 15 min each. After recovery of baseline haemodynamics, patients were randomly assigned to the piroximone infusion rate of 5 or 10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 or placebo. After 24 h piroximone or placebo infusion, the same prostacyclin protocol was applied. Prostacyclin infusion added to piroximone resulted in a significant improvement in haemodynamics, as compared to the group receiving prostacyclin added to placebo. As compared to the curve observed with the placebo infusion, 10 ng.kg-1.min-1 prostacyclin infusion resulted in a further increase in cardiac index, by 41 and 38% (P < 0.01) at the piroximone-infusion rates of 5 and 10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, respectively, whereas systemic vascular resistance decreased by 25 and 21%, respectively (P < 0.01). Additionally, a further decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure by 13 and 11% (P < 0.05) and in pulmonary vascular resistance by 21 and 19% (P < 0.05) was observed at the piroximone-infusion rates of 5 and 10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, respectively. Consequently, stroke work index increased significantly, as compared to the group receiving prostacyclin added to placebo. This haemodynamic improvement occurred without significant changes in heart rate and mean arterial pressure. Thus, this study shows that in patients with severe congestive heart failure, short-term infusion of prostacyclin is safe and has additive haemodynamic effects on phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

Hemodynamic effects of a new calcium antagonist, SR 33557, in patients with coronary artery disease and normal left ventricular function.

SR 33557 is a new calcium antagonist which in vitro demonstrated selectivity for smooth muscle over cardiac muscle. To assess the hemodynamic effects of SR 33557 in humans, SR 33557 was administered intravenously (i.v.) in 9 patients with normal systolic left ventricular function [LV ejection fraction (EF) = 63.7 +/- 8%] undergoing right and left catheterization. Baseline measurements were recorded before and during right atrial pacing (100 beats/min), after which 5 mg SR 33557 was infused in 10 min and hemodynamic parameters were continuously recorded until 30 min after discontinuation of the infusion. Effects of SR 33557 were evident from discontinuation of the infusion, maximal between the tenth and twentieth min after discontinuation of the infusion. Without atrial pacing, the main effect of SR 33557 infusion was to decrease heart rate (HR) from 77.7 +/- 10.7 to 61.9 +/- 9.3 beats/min (p < 0.001). Cardiac index (CI) did not change; stroke volume index (SVI) increased from 44.2 +/- 13 to 50.4 +/- 15 ml.m-2, (p < 0.05). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased from 104.7 +/- 29.6 to 94.3 +/- 22.9 mm Hg (p < 0.05) with no change in filling pressures or systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Consequently, rate-pressure product (RPP) decreased from 8,211 +/- 3,092 to 5,906 +/- 2,025 mm Hg.beat-1 (p < 0.01). Peak positive LVdP/dt decreased from 1,711 +/- 257 to 1,533 +/- 194 (p < 0.01). During the pacing phase, none of the hemodynamic parameters differed from baseline; especially peak positive LVdP/dt remained unchanged. SR 33557 has negative chronotropic action but shows no direct negative inotropic effect in patients with normal systolic LV function.

Assessment of coronary reserve in man: comparison between positron emission tomography with oxygen-15-labeled water and intracoronary Doppler technique.

This study compared positron emission tomography (PET) using oxygen-15-labeled water for measurement of coronary reserve with intracoronary Doppler in patients with left anterior descending artery stenosis and patients with no coronary lesion and a coronary reserve 3 as assessed by the invasive technique. To determine whether PET measurement of coronary reserve is altered by partial volume effect, patients with left ventricular dysfunction due to idiopathic cardiomyopathy were studied with both techniques. Direct ultrasonic measurement of coronary reserve was performed the day prior to the PET study: a Doppler catheter was placed in the proximal left anterior descending artery; mean velocity was recorded at baseline and after dipyridamole administration. Using a time-of-flight PET system, patients underwent: (1) an intravenous bolus of oxygen-15-labeled water at baseline and 4 to 6 min after intravenous infusion of dipyridamole using the same protocol as for Doppler study and (2) a 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) myocardial imaging. Oxygen-15 time-activity curves were recorded in myocardial regions of interest (ROIs) drawn on a static FDG image. Using the left ventricular time-activity curve as an input function, a standard model with a single-tissue compartment was fitted to the PET data; myocardial blood flow was estimated as the blood-to-tissue transfer rate constant. Coronary reserve measured by PET was well correlated with the measured by intracoronary Doppler (r = 0.98, p < 0.001 for global population). This PET method is an accurate and reliable tool to noninvasively measure coronary reserve in patients, even in those with left ventricular dysfunction.

Coronary vasodilating action of dobutamine in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

To assess the coronary hemodynamic effects of dobutamine in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, dobutamine was infused at the incremental infusion rates of 25, 50, 100, and 200 micrograms/min into the left main coronary artery of nine patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. In response to dobutamine infusion, systemic hemodynamic effects were dose related. At the highest infusion rate cardiac index and left ventricular peak positive rate of rise in ventricular pressure increased from 2.33 +/- 0.54 to 2.97 +/- 0.65 L/min/m (p = 0.001) and from 690 +/- 177 to 1157 +/- 275 mm Hg/sec (p = 0.001), respectively. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure decreased from 17 +/- 8 to 8 +/- 7 mm Hg (p = 0.001) and a trend toward decrease in left ventricular wall stress was observed (from 166 +/- 75 to 148 +/- 66 gm/cm2, not significant). Heart rate and mean arterial pressure remained unchanged. The coronary hemodynamic response to dobutamine infusion was also dose related. At the highest infusion rate coronary sinus blood flow increased from 133 +/- 35 to 179 +/- 47 ml/min (p < 0.01) and was associated with an increase in coronary oxygen blood content from 4.5 +/- 0.6 to 7.8 +/- 1.7 ml per 100 ml (p < 0.01) whereas myocardial oxygen consumption remained unchanged. During dobutamine infusion norepinephrine decreased in the femoral artery and in the coronary sinus from 1.03 +/- 0.34 to 0.641 +/- 0.179 ng/ml (p < 0.05) and from 1.76 +/- 0.98 to 1.38 +/- 0.65 ng/ml (p < 0.05), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Regression of coronary atherosclerosis evaluated by angiography. A review of principal trials and critical study]. / La régression de l'athérosclérose coronaire évaluée par l'angiographie. Revues des principaux essais et étude critique.

The concepts of acceleration of atherosclerosis with fat rich diets and the regression or at least stabilisation of atherosclerosis by suppressing the cholesterol, introducing exercise programmes or administering calcium antagonists or aspirin, have been validated in the animal model. In the clinical situation, repeat coronary angiography has demonstrated that hyperlipidemia and the interval between two investigations are the main factors influencing the progression of atherosclerosis. However, the factors underlying the appearance and progression of atheromatous plaques remain unknown. Interventional trials based on the principle of introducing treatment after reference angiography have been undertaken. The results were assessed after variable time intervals. The general conclusion is that there is a direct relationship between the lowering of plasma cholesterol, the intensity of exercise and the slowing of progression of atherosclerosis as far as can be evaluated by repeat angiography. The data concerning the effect of calcium antagonists is confusing. The main criticism of these trials is the instrument of measurement and the practical significance or even the reality of the observed changes. In the present state of our knowledge, trials of the regression of atherosclerosis can not replace longitudinal studies of the long-term effects of drugs on cardiovascular and general morbidity and mortality.

Pharmacological bridge to cardiac transplantation: current limitations.

Addition of intravenous enoximone to sympathomimetic agents permits a rapid and drastic improvement in the clinical and hemodynamical condition of patients in cardiogenic shock referred for a mechanical bridge to transplantation. The present experience, based on the management of 52 patients, permits us to point out the current limitations of this pharmacological bridge: the rate of sudden death, the incompleteness of the physical rehabilitation of the patients, and the vanishing effect of intravenous enoximone.

[Converting enzyme inhibitors and coronary failure]. / Inhibiteurs de l'enzyme de conversion et insuffisance coronaire.

Nearly 15 years ago, it has been shown that myocardial infarction is accompanied by left ventricular dilatation. In the following years more details were obtained on morphological changes consecutive to myocardial infarction, now grouped together under the term left ventricular remodelling. These changes enable the patients to survive despite reduction of the contractile ventricular mass, but they expose the ventricles to constraints resulting in excessive work load. It has been shown that these changes can be reduced by early myocardial reperfusion and by administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These findings were established first in animals, then in man. Administering ACE inhibitors to patients with symptomatic heart failure consecutive to advanced ischaemic cardiopathy prolongs the patients' survival. When ACE inhibitors are given to patients with severe asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction which started soon or long after a myocardial infarction, they reduce the frequency of ischaemic events, passage to symptomatic heart failure and, at least in one study, mortality. ACE inhibitors have also been shown to reduce the size of myocardial necrosis when administered in the acute phase of experimental myocardial infarction. Preliminary data have demonstrated that ACE inhibitors given in the acute phase of myocardial infarction reduce the left ventricular dilatation which follows infarction. However, a study of ACE inhibitors administered to a large number of patients in the acute phase of myocardial infarction had to be interrupted because of the over-mortality in the treated group. These facts are reviewed in this article, and attempts have been made at deducing from them the current indications of ACE inhibitors in patients with coronary heart disease.

[Hemodynamic study of intravenous milrinone in 26 patients with NYHA class III or IV cardiac failure]. / Etude hémodynamique de la milrinone par voie intraveineuse chez 26 patients en insuffisance cardiaque de classe III ou IV de la NYHA.

The hemodynamic effects of milrinone (WIN 47203) were studied in 26 NYHA Class III or IV patients. The compound was administered intravenously using a protocol including an initial push dose of 50 micrograms/kg in 10 min, followed by a 24 hour infusion at the dose of 0.5 microgram/kg/min. Maximal response was obtained after 15 min and persisted during the infusion: cardiac index increased from 2.08 +/- 0.36 l/min/m2 to 3.09 +/- 0.68 l/min/m2, while capillary pressure fell from 25 mmHg to 16-17 mmHg. These variations were significant (p = 0.01). Heart rate was stable. Mean peripheral blood pressure fell modestly (6%). Systemic vascular resistance fell by 30% and pulmonary vascular resistance by 20%. All these results confirmed the beneficial effect of this inotropic agent administered intravenously. The increase in ventricular premature contractions noted by many justifies the careful surveillance of these patients by monitoring.

[Role of antithrombotic agents after myocardial infarction]. / La place des antithrombotiques après un infarctus du myocarde.

Thrombosis is the causal mechanism of myocardial infarction: severe atherosclerotic narrowing, ulceration of the atherosclerotic plaque and disequilibrium between pro and antithrombotic factors, predispose to this complication. Recurrent myocardial infarction is a common complication in the year following an initial event: the risk is higher when the diseased artery has been recanalized in the acute phase. Reocclusion of the recanalized artery without signs of infarction is also a common occurrence. It was therefore logical to have striven over the years to prevent reinfarction and/or rethrombosis after reperfusion. Mechanical methods have not been crowned with resounding success and antithrombotic drugs are the only products associated with real benefits in this prevention. In this article, the authors review the efficacy of aspirin and vitamin K antagonists in the prevention of recurrent myocardial infarction; the data in favour of an efficacy of aspirin in preventing early reinfarction is also analysed; finally, results suggesting a benefit of platelet antiaggregant therapy (Flurbiprofen or aspirin) on the risk of reocclusion after therapeutic recanalisation are also assessed.

[Which medical treatment after myocardial infarction?]. / Quel traitement médical après un infarctus du myocarde?

Patients leaving the hospital after a myocardial infarction are given a prescription containing several drugs. The purpose of this paper is to determine which of these drugs have a proven value and for which types of patients. Antithrombotic agents (be it acetyl-salicylic acid or antivitamin K drugs) have been shown to be efficient after a myocardial infarction. Beta-blockers are certainly useful, notably in cases with severe necrosis. Conversely, the usefulness of calcium antagonists for secondary prevention has not been demonstrated and indeed, it seems probable that the drugs of this class might be harmful in patients who had severe infarction. There is little divergence concerning the necessity to control the risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis after a myocardial infarction. The evidence is strong concerning giving up smoking; it is intuitive as regards controlling arterial hypertension and more controversial as regards the need for lowering blood cholesterol levels. The systematic prescription of antiarrhythmic agents after myocardial is certainly noxious. Finally, prospects are now opened by the prevention of left ventricular remodelling under treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

[Prehospital thrombolytic therapy]. / Thrombolyse préhospitalière.

The objective of pre-hospital thrombolytic therapy is to reduce the delay between the time of initial contact with a patient with acute myocardial infarction and the administration of thrombolytic therapy. To validate feasibility and utility. Its feasibility has been demonstrated in many pilot studies throughout the world. The utility of the technique is the gain of nearly 60 minutes compared with patients treated on hospital admission; another advantage is the fact that emergency medical teams are alerted to their new medical responsibility. On the other hand, there are no published reports showing a decreased infarct size or mortality when compared with in-hospital thrombolysis. The results of studies currently under way are expected in the near future and should throw new light on the value of this technique. Nevertheless, pre-hospital thrombolysis is only one facet in the improved management of acute myocardial infarction.

Coronary hemodynamics during hemopump left-intraventricular assistance.

Hemopump left intraventricular pumping (HP) can permit percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) in high-risk patients. Benefits may be related to left ventricular unloading or myocardial perfusion improvement, or both. Direct ultrasonic measurements of coronary blood flow were made in the dilated vessel after a successful PTCA in five patients. A 3 Fr intracoronary Doppler catheter was placed in the coronary artery to measure flow velocities (maximal or diastolic velocity; minimum or systolic velocity and mean velocity). A SwanGanz catheter was used to measure the cardiac index and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Mean aortic pressures were monitored through an 8 Fr guiding catheter. Measurements were made after a 5-min period of minimal speed (T0) of the HP to avoid retrograde regurgitation through the turbine; during the increase from minimum to maximal speed (T1); after a 5-min period of maximal HP flow (3l/min) (T2) and after HP was pulled back (T3). From T0 to T2, cardiac index rose from 1.93 +/- 0.38 to 3.26 +/- 0.35 l/min/m2 and capillary wedge pressure decreased from 18 +/- 6 to 13 +/- 5 mmHg (p less than 0.05); from T2 to T3, cardiac index decreased to 2.4 +/- 0.4 while capillary wedge pressure increased to 17 +/- 5 (p less than 0.05). Mean arterial pressure and heart rate did not change significantly throughout the study. When the hemopump flow was raised to high speed, coronary blood flow increased immediately but returned shortly to baseline values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Artificial hearts. The experience of Henri Mondor University Hospital]. / Les coeurs artificiels. L'expérience du CHU Henri Mondor.

Results obtained with 52 patients referred for urgent heart transplantation or when transplantation was impossible because no graft, mechanical assistance or circulatory support were available, are reported. These suggest that the protocol used to select the indications of assistance and transplantation, based on the response to the introduction of enoximone into the medical treatment, allows reconciling the patients' interest-their survival-with the community's interest-i.e. the control of the costs of implemented treatments.

[Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the common trunk during the acute phase of myocardial infarction]. / Désobstruction du tronc commun par angioplastie à la phase aiguë de l'infarctus.

The prognosis of cardiogenic shock in the acute phase of myocardial infarction has been transformed since the introduction of techniques of myocardial revascularisation. We report the case of a patient in cardiogenic shock after a large anterior myocardial infarct in whom failure of early thrombolytic therapy led to referral for emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The success of the procedure on the patient's haemodynamic condition was life-saving. The originality of this case resides in the fact that revascularisation concerned the left main coronary stem.