[Dissection of the aorta complicated by aorto-pulmonary fistula]. / Dissection aortique compliquée de fistule aorto-pulmonaire.

The authors report the case of chronic dissection of the aorta presenting with congestive cardiac failure. The diagnosis was made for the first time by transoesophageal echocardiography which showed both the dissection of the aorta and its fistulalisation into the pulmonary artery. Aortography confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent surgery which consisted of suture of the fistula and replacement of the ascending aorta with a prosthetic tube. The outcome was favourable after 8 months follow-up.

Coronary-to-bronchial artery communication: report of two patients successfully treated by embolization.

We report two cases of coronary-to-bronchial artery communication responsible for coronary steal. In both cases the anastomosis originated from the proximal circumflex artery and developed because of bronchiectasis. In both cases closure of the anastomosis was achieved successfully by embolization. To date, the patients remained free from symptoms.

[Drug therapy of ventricular tachycardia]. / Traitement médicamenteux des tachycardies ventriculaires.

Despite the introduction of new therapeutic techniques such as radiofrequency ablation and the implantable defibrillator, the classical opposition of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in apparently normal hearts and that arising from documented cardiac disease remains useful. In the first case, treatment is only symptomatic whereas, in the second, lethal progression to sudden death must be prevented. Generally speaking, in chronic post-infarct situations, betablockers are underused although they have been shown beyond doubt to reduce cardiovascular mortality. This is probably explained by the fear of possible haemodynamic decompensation in patients who often have left ventricular dysfunction. Nevertheless, different randomised studies of the use of betablockers in cardiac failure have reported reduced mortality with no serious side effects. The use of beta-blockers is therefore advisable, and possible inpatients with or without sustained ventricular tachycardia and underlying cardiac disease. In cases at high risk of sudden death, amiodarone may be associated. Recent randomised studies (MADIT, AVID), comparing the use of implantable defibrillators with those of antiarrhythmic therapy, have shown better results with the implantable defibrillator. However, in these studies, only about 10% of patients received betablockers in the antiarrhythmic treatment groups. This factor has introduced some doubt as to the real benefit of implantable defibrillators. Therefore, a randomised study comparing the efficacy of betablockers with amiodarone against implantable defibrillators is desirable in order to determine the respective indications of each of these two therapeutic modalities.

Familial incidence of late ventricular potentials and electrocardiographic abnormalities in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.

Familial forms of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) have been described. Signal-averaged electrocardiograms (SAECGs) and standard electrocardiograms have been used to detect ARVD. The purpose of this prospective study, for a given family member, was to evaluate the risk of having ARVD or only belonging to an affected family. To address these issues, we assessed the incidence of late ventricular potentials and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in the families of our patients with ARVD. SAECGs and electrocardiograms were recorded in 101 eligible family members and compared with those recorded in ARVD patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia (13 patients in 12 families), and in 37 control subjects with a normal electrocardiogram. The incidence of late ventricular potentials was significantly higher in family members than in control subjects (16% vs 3%, p <0.05). The incidence of ECG abnormalities was 34% in family members. When the incidence of late ventricular potentials and/or ECG abnormalities were added up, results were 38% abnormal findings in family members. Late ventricular potentials and/or ECG abnormalities were found in members of all 7 families; these abnormalities were initially thought to be sporadic forms, and thereafter were classified as familial forms. Thus, SAECGs and standard ECG recordings in ARVD family members showed 38% abnormal findings, and that all cases of ARVD could be classified as familial forms. The incidence of familial forms of ARVD was greater than was previously believed, which is highly suggestive of a genetic transmission of the disease in our geographic area.

Effect of the direct nitric oxide donors linsidomine and molsidomine on angiographic restenosis after coronary balloon angioplasty. The ACCORD Study. Angioplastic Coronaire Corvasal Diltiazem.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) donors, in addition to their vasodilator effect, decrease platelet aggregation and inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. These actions could have beneficial effects on restenosis after coronary balloon angioplasty. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective multicenter, randomized trial, 700 stable coronary patients scheduled for angioplasty received direct NO donors (infusion of linsidomine followed by oral molsidomine) or oral diltiazem. Treatment was started before angioplasty and continued until 12 to 24 hours before follow-up angiography at 6 months. The primary study end point was minimal lumen diameter, assessed by quantitative coronary angiography, 6 months after balloon angioplasty. Clinical variables were well matched in both groups. However, despite intracoronary administration of isosorbide dinitrate, the reference diameter in the NO donor group was significantly greater than in the diltiazem group on the preangioplasty, postangioplasty, and follow-up angiograms. Pretreatment with an NO donor was associated with a modest improvement in the immediate angiographic result compared with pretreatment with diltiazem (minimum luminal diameter, 1.94 versus 1.81 mm; P = .001); this improvement was maintained at the 6-month angiographic follow-up (minimal lumen diameter, 1.54 versus 1.38 mm; P = .007). The extent of late luminal narrowing did not differ significantly between groups (loss index in the NO donor and diltiazam groups, 0.35 +/- 0.78 and 0.46 +/- 0.74, respectively; P = .103). Restenosis, defined as a binary variable (> or = 50% stenosis), occurred less often in the NO donor group (38.0% versus 46.5%; P = .026). Combined major clinical events (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization) were similar in the two groups (32.2% versus 32.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with linsidomine and molsidomine was associated with a modest improvement in the long-term angiographic result after angioplasty but had no effect on clinical outcome. The improved angiographic result related predominantly to a better immediate procedural result, because late luminal loss did not differ significantly between groups.

[Angiography of coronary arteries by nuclear magnetic resonance]. / Angiographie des artères coronaires par résonance magnétique nucléaire.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate magnetic resonance imaging of the coronary arteries. METHODS: The study was conducted in 18 healthy volunteers (mean age 26 years, range 22-32). A superconducting magnet operating at 1.5 Tesla was used with an in-phase matrix surface coil. Images were obtained with 2D acquisition with flow compensation on ultra-rapid echo gradient sequences coupled with the electrocardiogram and segmentation of the Fourier plane. A coronary image was obtained during a 15 to 20 sec apnea. Frontal slices were used to identify cardiac structures before selecting axial slices starting from the origin of the aorta to the coronary ostia. Orthogonal, oblique and radial slices were then obtained starting from the axial slices. Slice thickness was 3 to 5 mm separated by 0.5 mm with a 30 degrees angle and a 320 mm field. Echo times were 5.8 and 10.3 msec with 2 excitations. Heart rate varied from 59 to 85 sec giving 15 to 18 ms repetition and 96 to 144 msec time resolution. RESULTS: The proximal, middle and disatal segments of the right coronary artery were seen in 100% of the subjects, the common left coronary artery in 100%, the proximal anterior interventricular artery in 83% and the proximal circumflex artery in 80%. All the coronary arteries were visualized on at least two slices with different incidences. The proximal measurements were: common trunk 3.75 +/- 0.66 mm; anterior interventricular 3.25 +/- 0.43 mm; circumflex 2.62 +/- 0.48; right coronary 3.37 +/- 0.51. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance angiography provides good visualization of the coronary arteries.

[Pulmonary embolism and thrombus trapped in a patent foramen ovale. Cure by heparin therapy]. / Embolie pulmonaire et thrombus enclavé dans un foramen ovale perméable. Guérison sous héparinothérapie.

The authors report the case of a 84-year old patient admitted to hospital for pulmonary embolism. The diagnosis was made by ventilation and perfusion pulmonary scintigraphy. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed routinely and showed a thrombus wedged across a patient foramen ovale, confirmed at transoesophageal echocardiography. Spiral thoracic computerised tomography showed thrombus in the two main pulmonary arteries and the inferior vena cava. Thrombolysis or thrombectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass, was thought to carry an excessive risk at that age and with the left-sided position of the thrombus. The alternative was therefore anticoagulation which led to dissolution of the thrombus without recurrence of pulmonary embolism or cerebrovascular accident.

[Delayed angioplasty of residual coronary stenosis after thrombolysis of myocardial infarction: prognostic factors of left ventricular function]. / Angioplastie différée de la sténose résiduelle après thrombolyse de l'infarctus du myocarde: facteurs déterminant l'évolution de la fonction ventriculaire gauche.

The aim of this study was to analyse the prognostic factors of long term left ventricular function after successful delayed angioplasty of residual coronary stenosis after thrombolysis for myocardial infarction. The left ventricular function of fifty patients, aged 54 +/- 10 years, who underwent intravenous thrombolysis 2.9 +/- 1.3 hours after the onset of myocardial infarction (28 anterior, 22 inferior wall) was assessed by angiography at the 6.1 +/- 1.7th day and 6.1 +/- 2.5 months after successful angioplasty undertaken on the 8.3 +/- 5.2nd day. In cases without reocclusion (n = 44), the ejection fraction and the wall motion of the infarcted region improved significantly from 56.8 +/- 12.2% to 59.5 +/- 15.4% (p < 0.002) and from 8.4 +/- 14.8% to 18.3 +/- 24.3% (p = 0.0001), respectively. These parameters did not change in cases with reocclusion (n = 6). When the dilated artery remained patent, an improvement in motion of the infarcted region was observed in 69.5% of hypokinesis (n = 23), 50% of akinesis (n = 10) and 9.1% of dyskinesis (n = 11) (p < 0.005). The improvement in motion of the infarcted zone was negatively correlated with the delay of thrombolysis (r = 0.36; p < 0.02) and peak CPK levels (r = 0.31; p < 0.04). Over 60% restenosis on digitalised densitometry (n = 11) did not compromise the possibilities of improvement, the evolution of wall motion of the infarcted zone and volumes with respect to cases without restenosis (n = 33).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Coronary angioplasty and electric alternans of the ST segment]. / Angioplastie coronaire et alternance électrique du segment ST.

Alternans of the ST segment is a rare phenomenon during coronary angioplasty. The authors report three cases. It is usually observed in left anterior descending arteries without collateral circulation. Alternans is not accompanied by haemodynamic changes and does not initiate malignant ventricular arrhythmias. It is a transient phenomenon. Electrical alternans is thought to be due to changes in the configuration of the transmembrane action potential and modifications of calcium exchanges.

[Left ventricular function and secondary angioplasty after anterior infarction in simple coronary vessel disease]. / Fonction ventriculaire gauche et angioplastie secondaire après un infarctus antérieur chez le monotronculaire.

Arterial patency is a good prognostic factor in terms of survival and left ventricular function after myocardial infarction. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the benefit of secondary angioplasty of the infarct-related artery in single vessel, left anterior descending disease, on regional and global left ventricular function. Initial coronary angiography was undertaken at the 7th +/- 2 days after the onset of infarction. Arterial patency was assessed by the TIMI criteria and by percentage stenosis on quantitative angiography. Forty consecutive patients (Group I) underwent conventional angioplasty of the left anterior descending artery at the 9th +/- 2 days. Twelve consecutive patients (Group II) did not undergo angioplasty. A repeat coronary angiographic study was performed at 3 months. The results showed no difference between the two groups of patients in base line values. A significant improvement in arterial patency was observed in Group I (TIMI Grades II or III) and in residual stenosis at 3 months (54.7 +/- 13% versus 80.6 +/- 13%, p < 0.05). In addition, a significant improvement in ejection fraction of +4.7% (p < 0.02), of left anterior descending myocardial regional wall motion of +7.6 (p < 0.02) and a reduction of induced left ventricular end systolic volume of -2.2 ml/m2 (p < 0.05) were observed in Group I. Initial segmental hypokinesia or akinesia improved in 67.5% of patients. However, 50% of patients in Group II improved their segmental wall motion abnormalities at 3 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Spontaneous and isolated dissection of the coronary arteries, apropos of 8 cases with favourable outcome]. / Dissection spontanée et isolée des artères coronaires, à propos de 8 observations d'évolution favorable.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is rare compared with the high incidence of atheromatous coronary artery disease. Eight new clinical and angiographic cases diagnosed between 1984 and 1990 are reported. The patients were 6 men and 2 women with an average age of 44.1 +/- 10.7 years. The initial presentation is angina in half the cases, and myocardial infarction in the other half. Clinical signs and the results of non-invasive investigations are non-specific. Diagnosis is made by coronary angiography. The dissection is usually observed on a proximal segment of one of the main coronary arteries. In 5 cases, the disease was confined to a single vessel left anterior descending (3) and right coronary arteries (2). One patient had double vessel disease (left anterior descending and left retroventricular arteries); one patient had triple vessel disease (left anterior descending left circumflex and right coronary arteries), and finally, one patient had left main stem disease extending to the left anterior descending and first diagonal arteries. There was no aetiological factor in 5 cases whereas 3 had coronary atherosclerosis. After a period of 25 months all patients are alive. Five have drug therapy and 3 have undergone coronary bypass surgery. Six patients are asymptomatic and 2 have mild angina. One patient's coronary circulation has returned to normal. The extension of the indication of coronary angiography explains the diagnosis of an increasing number of spontaneous coronary artery dissection. The condition is serious but there are more and more long-term survivors as in our series.

[Delayed angioplasty for residual stenosis following thrombolyzed infarction: arterial permeability and left ventricular function after 6 months]. / L'angioplastie différée de la sténose résiduelle après infarctus thrombolysé: devenir à 6 mois de la perméabilité artérielle et de la fonction ventriculaire gauche.

At medium term, the results of delayed angioplasty (DA) following intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in terms of arterial permeability but particularly of left ventricular function (LVF) is still poorly understood and is the subject of this prospective study. Over 18 months, 76 patients underwent DA for the residual stenosis on day 8 +/- 5 with complete and partial success rates of 88.2% and 11.8% respectively. Rapid reocclusion (< 48 hours) was documented in 9.2% of cases. After 6 months, there had been no deaths and no recurrence of infarction but a recurrence of angina in 23.7% of cases. Angiographic monitoring, carried out in 56 cases (73.7%) after 6 +/- 2.4 months identified 21 restenosis (37.5%) and 6 re-occlusions (10.7%). 12 of the restenosis were successfully re-dilated. The effect on LV function was investigated in 50 patients. In the absence of reocclusion, the ejection fraction and the kinetics of the infarcted territory were improved; significant restenosis (> 60% by digital densitometry) did not appear to offset these improvements. In addition to the maintenance of arterial permeability, the possibility of functional recovery appears to be conditioned by the degree of contractile abnormality observed during the initial ventriculography. Despite the absence of restenosis after 6 months, the occurrence on day 6 of akinesia or above all of dyskinesia reduces the chances of contractile improvement with as a corollary more marked LV changes.

[Free-wall rupture during the acute phase of myocardial infarction. Apropos of 2 cases surgically treated with success]. / Rupture pariétale à la phase aiguë de l'infarctus du myocarde. A propos de 2 cas opérés avec succès.

The authors report two cases of cardiac rupture during acute myocardial infarction successfully treated surgically. In the first case, rupture occurred 7 days after hospital admission for anteroseptal myocardial infarction. The patient developed sudden cardiogenic shock with signs of venous hypertension without left ventricular failure. The second patient was admitted for syncopal chest pain with transient hypotension which regressed after volume repletion and pressor amine therapy. On admission, the patient had signs of cardiac tamponade. The ECG showed recent inferolaterobasal myocardial infarction. In both cases the diagnosis was made by 2D echocardiography which showed voluminous circumferential pericardial effusions probably due to haemorrage, with an image very suggestive of a blood clot in the effusion of the second patient. The two patients underwent emergency cardiac surgery and both survived with a 4 and 1.5 month follow-up respectively. These two cases confirm the value of 2D echocardiography as an emergency bedside procedure for the diagnosis of cardiac rupture, especially when images of intrapericardial thrombosis are observed, as in our second patient. In addition, the first case raises once again the question of the role of late thrombolysis as a predisposing factor of cardiac rupture at a time when this technique is proposed up to 24 hours after the onset of symptoms.

[Postoperative iatrogenic left coronaroventricular fistula. Demonstration by color two-dimensional Doppler]. / Fistule coronaroventriculaire gauche iatrogène postopératoire. Mise en évidence par le Doppler bidimensionnel à codage couleur.

The authors report the case of an asymptomatic 67 year old patient, in whom, 6 years after aortic valve replacement, Doppler color flow mapping showed the presence of a coronary artery--left ventricular fistula. The normality of preoperative coronary angiography suggested that this fistula was created during peroperative left ventricular purging: the implantation of a needle through the right ventricle and interventricular septum. A iatrogenic lesion of a septal branch probably caused the communication between the left anterior descending artery and the left ventricle. Postoperative normalisation of the left ventricular end diastolic dimension, the absence of dilatation of the left main coronary on 2D echocardiography, the narrowness of the Doppler color jet and the absence of a significant end diastolic Doppler signal in the aortic isthmus indicated a fistula of small size and simple Doppler echocardiographic follow-up was decided upon.

[Myocardial infarction caused by closed thoracic injury: pathogenic and angiocoronarographic aspects. Apropos of 4 cases and review of the literature]. / Infarctus du myocarde par traumatisme fermé du thorax: aspects angiocoronarographiques et pathogéniques. A propos de quatre observations et revue de la littérature.

The 4 cases of transmural myocardial infarction by closed chest trauma reported by the authors bring the number of angiographically documented and published cases to 52. This group serves as a basis for a detailed review of coronary and myocardial anatomical lesions and their pathophysiological mechanism is suggested. Long controversial, direct traumatic coronary damage has been confirmed by coronary angiography and is the essential mechanism of transmural infarctions. Myocardial contusion, much commoner, is responsible for non transmural lesions which remain difficult to diagnose. The authors stress the twin value of coronary arteriography: pathophysiological with its medicolegal consequences, and also therapeutic since a revascularisation procedure may be particularly beneficial in situations where thrombolysis is generally contraindicated.

[EPIM. Survey of myocardial infarction in Picardie]. / EPIM. Enquête sur l'infarctus du myocarde en Picardie.

The aim of this prospective study carried out in picardy (Aisne, Oise and Somme Departments) between October 1st 1985 and September 30th 1986, was to determine the incidence and outcome of recent myocardial infarction (less than 1 month) hospitalised in the region, to assess the time delay before hospital admission, the mode of management, treatment in the acute phase and at discharge, and the attitudes to exercise stress testing and coronary angiography. All public and private hospitals of the 3 departments who admitted patients with acute myocardial infarction accepted to fill out the questionnaire. A total of 1260 infarcts in patients with an average age of 66.7 +/- 12.6 years were collected. Nearly 3 out of 4 patients were male, and the men generally 10 years younger (64 +/- 12.6 years) than the women (73.4 +/- 10 years). The time delay to hospital admission was very long: 16.6 +/- 47.5 hours. Two thirds of patients were transferred by non medicalised transport; 82 per cent of patients were directed to the casualty department which redirected 71 per cent to the cardiology department. Myocardial infarction was inaugural in 46.5 per cent of cases. The incidence of anterior and inferior infarction was almost identical (44 ans 45.5 per cent respectively). Treatment in the acute phase included Heparin (94 per cent), nitrate derivatives (93.7 per cent) and calcium inhibitors (78 per cent). Thrombolytic and betablocker therapy was only prescribed in 8.3 and 23.5 per cent of cases respectively. During the hospital period, average 17 +/- 9 days, the mortality rate was 22.3 per cent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Doppler echocardiographic study of hemodynamic changes of double stimulation mode and atrial detection in patients with dual chamber pacemaker. Value of hysteresis of the atrioventricular delay]. / Etude par écho-Doppler des variations hémodynamiques entre modes double stimulation et détection de l'oreillette chez des patients porteurs d'un stimulateur double chambre. Intérêt d'un hystérésis du délai auriculo-ventriculaire.

This Doppler echocardiographic study of patients with a dual chamber pacemaker was undertaken to assess the changes in mitral and aortic flow induced by passing from the double stimulation to the atrial detection mode. Thirteen patients totally dependent on ventricular pacing were examined and mitral and aortic blood flow recorded by pulsed wave Doppler. The chronology of left atrial contraction as assessed by the Doppler mitral A wave was measured with respect to the ventricular stimulation. The A wave was recorded on average 177 ms after the right atrial stimulation artefact. For an average AV delay of 168.8 ms and an identical pacing frequency, the passage from the double stimulation to the atrial detection mode led to left atrial contraction occurring on average 70 ms earlier with respect to ventricular stimulation, reflecting prolongation of the programmed AV delay related to the delay in detection of the sinus atrial wave. This earlier atrial systole shortened the total duration of mitral flow from 363 to 317 ms, decreased the early diastolic mitral flow and increased the atrial end diastolic flow; the stroke volume and cardiac output calculated from the aortic velocity time integral decreased significantly from 73 +/- 11 ml to 67 +/- 10 ml and 5.4 +/- 1.11/mn to 4.9 +/- 1.01/mn respectively. The initial parameters were restored (average 74 +/- 9 ml and 5.5 +/- 1.11/mn respectively) when the AV delay in the atrial detection mode was reduced by a value close to that of the calculated increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Iatrogenic coronary stenosis after angioplasty]. / Sténoses coronaires iatrogènes après angioplastie.

Restenosis is the usual mechanism of recurrent myocardial ischaemia in the months following successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Control coronary arteriography may occasionally show another cause: the constitution of a new stenosis near the dilated segment or in the left main coronary stem after angioplasty in a branch of this artery. The authors report 4 cases of patients who developed new coronary stenoses within a few weeks of PTCA, interpreted as traumatic complications of the initial procedure due to a lesion of the intima with a secondary fibrotic reaction and luminal narrowing. The guiding catheter was probably responsible for the trauma to the left main coronary stem whereas the tips of either the balloon catheter or the guide wire were thought to have been responsible for the endothelial effraction of the dilated vessels.

[Thrombolysis and intravenous beta-blockaders in the acute phase of myocardial infarction]. / Thrombolyse et bêtabloquant intraveineux à la phase aiguë de l'infarctus du myocarde.

Since proof exists of the individual efficacy of thrombolytics and intravenous beta-blockers in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI), it seemed to us logical and interesting to combine them. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and potential benefit of this drug combination for left ventricular function. We compared 40 patients (group I) of mean age 53.9 +/- 8.5 years admitted for MI in the six hours following the onset of symptoms treated by thrombolysis and intravenous beta-blockers (metoprolol or atenolol), with 27 patients (group II) of mean age 57.1 +/- 9.4 years treated within the same time lapse by thrombolysis alone. All patients underwent coronary arteriography and only two in group I were not examined by ventriculography. The two groups were comparable in terms of age, coronary history, localization of MI, clinical status at the outset, and time lapse before administration of the thrombolytic. Only heart rate differed at the outset (lower in group II; p = 0.05). A significant reduction in heart rate of 18% was seen in group I. When administration of the two drugs was simultaneous (less than or equal to 30-min lapse between each drug) this reduction was greater (22%) than when they were given separately (13%). In group II, the drop in heart rate was not significant (63%). In contrast, the decrease in systolic pressure in both groups was significant and comparable (group I: 16.6%; group II: 14.5%) even in the case of simultaneous administration (22%). There was no between-group difference in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)