[The best of interventional cardiology in 2006]. / L'essentiel de l'année 2006 en cardiologie interventionnelle.

The year 2006 was a landmark in interventional cardiology. Confirmations of results of large-scale trials and meta analyses, the commercialisation of new drug-elution stents, discussions about well established methods, questions about long-term outcomes of dilated patients, have made 2006 a particularly rich year in controversy, especially during its last three months.

[Perception and understanding chronic heart failure by the patient. The impact of therapeutic education on the level of knowledge of patients. About 350 cases]. / Perception et compréhension de l'insuffisance cardiaque chronique par le patient. Impact d'une formation éducative sur les connaissances des patients. Etude médico-infirmière à propos de 35 cas.

UNLABELLED: Heart failure is a severe disease with a poor prognosis despite major therapeutic progresses achieved recently. A key factor is the high number of hospitalizations for heart failure, considered as being avoidable, since they are related to a lack of adequate management of the patients. Several therapeutic education programs focused on heart failure are in progress. Even though these programs aim at making patients an active agent managing the disease, data on patient's level of knowledge and experience regarding heart failure are scarce. The aim of our study was to analyze the patient's perception of the disease and his/her practices about this disease, as well as the treatments used. METHODS: we included 350 consecutive patients and analyzed their level of knowledge and experience using a questionnaire, as well as interviews performed by nurses and physicians. This initial assessment was followed by a second assessment after an 8-hours course in 2 days, made by the multidisciplinary education team of R. Dubos hospital (including physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, dietician). RESULTS: in contrast to tests assessing the knowledge on the disease, which were in overall satisfactory, the results on the level of knowledge on treatments and heart failure pathways were poor. The courses improve significantly the level of knowledge in all domains, whatever would the age and the level of patient's demand for information be. The analysis of the patient's conception of his/her own disease reveals the lack of knowledge on the severity of heart failure. Frequently, the effect of treatments is considered as poorly efficient, and a substantial fraction of these patients have underlying depressive moods. CONCLUSION: the understanding of the level of knowledge and the perception of the patient regarding his/her disease is primordial for setting educational structures and programs. However, the patient's conception of the disease is different from care providers. It is therefore essential to assess the patient's conception by an educational diagnosis prior to implement adapted education programs, in order to improve durably the patient's knowledge, at every age.

[BNP and dyspnea: proposition of a diagnostic strategy based on two cut-off]. / BNP et dyspnée: proposition d'une stratégie diagnostique basée sur deux seuils décisionnels de BNP.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cut-off value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) assayed with AxSYM BNP assay (Abbott). 86 patients have been included (mean age of 66 years). The clinical sensibility was 100% at 100 ng/L versus 80% at 250 ng/L. The clinical specificity was 66% at 100 ng/L versus 92% at 250 ng/L. The positive predictive value was 80% at 100 ng/L versus 92% at 250 ng/L. The negative predictive value was 100% at 100 ng/L versus 88% at 250 ng/L. The double cut-off strategy is more suitable to diagnose a dyspnea of cardiac origin than the usual strategy based on a single cut-off.value. With such a strategy, the two cut-off strategy improve the diagnosis of 9% in the total population.

[Characteristics and management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction in France: Regional variations in 2010]. / Prise en charge du syndrome coronaire aigu avec sus-décalage de ST en France : variations régionales en 2010.

Data on regional variations in the characteristics, management and early outcome of patients admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in France are limited. We used data from the FAST-MI 2010 registry to determine whether regional specificities existed, dividing the French territory into 6 larger geographical regions. Variations in the patients' characteristics were found, partly related to regional variations in demography. Acute reperfusion strategy showed more use of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in the greater Paris area, compared to other regions, which would be expected owing to geography and local availability of catheterization laboratories. Overall, however, in-hospital management showed more similarities than differences across regions. Complications, and in particular in-hospital mortality, did not differ significantly among regions.

Direct stent implantation without predilatation using the MultiLink stent.

The standard coronary stent implantation technique requires routine predilatation of the target lesion with a balloon catheter. In this study, we prospectively studied the feasibility and efficiency of elective coronary stent implantation without predilatation. In 94 patients who presented with various ischemic syndromes, direct implantation of 100 balloon expandable ACS MultiLink stents (7 over-the-wire, 93 rapid exchange) was attempted in 100 coronary lesions selected to have favorable characteristics. The stent crossed the lesion without predilatation in 97 cases (97%) and was successfully deployed in 93 (95.8%). In 4 patients, adjunctive high-pressure postdilatation was necessary to achieve optimal stent expansion. Reference vessel diameter was 3.12+/-0.77 mm and lesion length 8.8+/-2.7 mm. Minimal luminal diameter increased from 0.95+/-0.38 mm to 2.98+/-0.28 mm and diameter stenosis decreased from 71+/-11% to 8+/-11% after stenting. One occlusive dissection was treated by a second stent. There were no major in-hospital complications. At 1 month follow-up, 1 subacute thrombotic occlusion occurred. These results indicate that in a carefully selected coronary lesion subset, elective stent implantation without predilatation can be safely and effectively performed. The long-term results of this approach and possible advantages over the conventional implantation techniques remain unclear and need to be evaluated in further clinical studies.

Can we optimize our angiographic views every time? Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of a new functionality.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: For determining the optimum angulations of the x-ray beam with respect to the vascular morphology of a given patient, the authors present a solution combining a single-plane angiographic system and a dedicated procedure. METHODS: The clinical evaluation of the vessel profiling acquisitions focuses on qualitative appraisal and quantitative analysis of conventional and optimum projections. RESULTS: The qualitative evaluation demonstrates the pitfall for an operator to discern optimum from conventional projections. The 70% of preferences for vessel profiling bear witness to the constraints imposed occasionally by the optimum angulations, which may be impracticable for various reasons. However, vessel profiling yields lesions inspection at an optimum view, free of geometric foreshortening. Moreover, there is less risk of superimposition with other branches. From a quantitative standpoint, vessel profiling unveils the lesion with a length significantly longer than in conventional view. CONCLUSIONS: Vessel profiling offers a qualitative optimization of angiographic images and more exact quantitative analysis.

Bedside B-type natriuretic peptide and functional capacity in chronic heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement could be useful in determination of functional capacity in patients suffering from chronic heart failure. BACKGROUND: Evaluating functional capacity is a crucial factor in the follow-up of patients with chronic heart failure. There are numerous methods for measuring functional capacity and their relative merits remain under discussion. Clinical classifications are very subjective and other methods are difficult to use in clinical practice. METHODS: We evaluated functional capacity in 151 consecutive patients using the 6-min walk test. All patients were clinically classified using the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. We measured BNP plasma levels using a bedside BNP test. RESULTS: Six minute walk test performance decreased through NYHA classes 1 to 4 (469+/-87, 411+/-82, 325+/-83 and 196+/-63 m, respectively, P<0.01) and BNP levels increased through NYHA classes 1 to 4 (26.3+/-7.2, 73+/-13, 401+/-74 and 924+/-84 pg/ml, respectively, P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between 6-min walk test performance and BNP plasma levels (R=0.69 P<0.001) and a weaker correlation between BNP and left ventricular ejection fraction (R=0.45 P<0.04). In some patients there was a mismatch between NYHA classification and 6-min walk test performance. In all cases BNP could correct the clinical estimation of functional capacity. When we divided the patients into three sub-groups within each NYHA class, we showed that using BNP could better define functional capacity in patients suffering from chronic heart failure in NYHA classes I to III. CONCLUSION: The measurement of BNP levels thus usefully supplements the clinical examination. The existence of bedside BNP testing methods facilitates its use in routine clinical practice. It also permits easier follow-up of patients with chronic heart failure.

Short-term effects of sinus rhythm restoration in patients with lone atrial fibrillation: a hormonal study.

It is well known that atrial fibrillation can lead to heart failure, and is attributed to rapid ventricular rate (tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy). Some recent studies suggest the possible existence of an intrinsic left-ventricular factor related to atrial fibrillation, irrespective of other elements. In order to demonstrate the implication of this factor, we measured B-type Natriuretic Peptide, known as a functional marker of left-ventricular dysfunction, in 40 consecutive patients with chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation, with low ventricular rate and absence of clinical heart failure or echocardiographic left-ventricular dysfunction. In all patients, Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) plasma level was high and dramatically decreased 24 h after external electrical cardioversion (61.4 pg/ml before cardioversion, 23.5 pg/ml 1 day after cardioversion, P<0.002). Our study demonstrates that atrial fibrillation, in absence of high ventricular rate, induces an asymptomatic cardiac alteration that is not detectable by echocardiography.

Myocardial contractile reserve under low doses of dobutamine and improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction with treatment by carvedilol.

To examine the ability of myocardial contractile reserve (MCR) assessment to predict the improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction with treatment by carvedilol, a prospective study was undertaken in 85 patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction < 45%. Low dose dobutamine echocardiography (DSE), a 6-min walk test and measured brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were assessed in all the patients. Patients were separated into two groups. Group A were patients without any myocardial reserve and group B patients with a myocardial contractile reserve defined as an increment of more than 20% of the resting left ventricular ejection fraction during dobutamine infusion. The two groups differed for percentage of ischemic cardiomyopathy (67.8 in group A vs. 29.7% in group B P = 0.028), 6-min walk test performance (respectively, 343 vs. 415 meters P < 0.05) and BNP plasma levels (respectively, 184.5 vs. 70.1 P < 0.02) but not for left ventricular ejection fraction or NYHA class. During DSE, MCR and heart rate variation was higher in group B than in group A. At the end of the follow up, LVEF increased and NYHA class decreased in group B but not in group A. In multivariate analysis the existence of MCR could predict the improvement of LVEF with treatment by carvedilol. In our study, studying MCR could help to predict patients who will improve their LVEF with carvedilol prior to the administration of the treatment.

[Recurrent bronchogenic cyst with rupture into the pericardium. A case report]. / Kyste bronchogénique récidivant rompu dans le péricarde. A propos d'un cas.

A case of tamponnade due to intrapericardial rupture of a recurrent bronchogenic cyst, presenting as pericarditis, is described. This case is unique because it demonstrates the possibility of rupture of a bronchogenic cyst into the pericardium and by the unusual mode of presentation. It also shows that bronchogenic cysts may recur many years after incomplete ablation. Bronchogenic cysts are benign dysembrioplasic formations characterised by their respiratory epithelial lining. The usual presentation in the adult is by haemorrhage or infection, but our case shows that recurrent pericarditis without an obvious cause may be due to bronchogenic cyst, which should be systematically excluded. The diagnosis suspected after medical imaging (chest X-ray, scanner, magnetic resonance imaging) is confirmed by histology. Total surgical ablation is the treatment of choice and may be curative.

[Anaphylactic shock and myocytic necrosis after treatment with Artotec]. / Réaction anaphylactique et nécrose myocytaire consécutives à la prise d'Artotec.

Treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs associated with a prostaglandin analogue is common, but the potential cardiovascular effects are largely unknown. The authors report a case of myocardial necrosis and anaphylactic shock due to treatment with diclofenac and misoprostol. The reintroduction of the treatment in hospital led to the recurrence of the initial cutaneous and cardiac symptoms in this patient.

[Phase variations in the left coronary transstenotic pressure gradient before and after dilatation by percutaneous coronary angioplasty]. / Variations phasiques du gradient de pression transsténotique coronaire gauche avant et après dilatation par angioplastie coronaire percutanée.

The concept of significant coronary stenosis may be approached by studying the effects of the narrowing not in absolute values of pressure and flow but by studying the mode of blood flow across the stenosis. Ten patients with isolated stenosis of the LAD were studied for phasic variations of the transstenotic pressure gradient before and after dilatation. The material used was a ST 3.7 catheter with a 0.12 inch guide. Instantaneous pressure recording throughout the cardiac cycle were obtained using a computer. After dilatation, the area of the stenosis minus the area of transverse section of the dilating catheter increased from 0.5 +/- 0.3 to 2.2 +/- 0.3 mm2, the average gradient between the aorta and the post stenotic LAD decreased from 75 +/- 10 to 12 +/- 8 mmHg, and the ratio between the mean diastolic gradient and mean gradient increased from 75 +/- 7 to 245 +/- 30% (p less than 0.01 for the 3 parameters, paired t test). These results show that the LAD transstenotic pressure gradient is not phasic in severe stenosis. It becomes phasic, only in diastole, after dilatation of the stenosis (slight residual stenosis due to the catheter). This difference may be due to the type of flow, continuous and dependent on the stenosis before dilatation, or phasic dependent on the distal coronary circulation after dilatation. Analysis of the phasic changes of coronary flow may be useful for the evaluation of the severity of left coronary stenosis in the absence of pressure measurements.

[Recurrent syncope during deglutition. An uncommon form of sinusal dysfunction]. / Syncopes itératives lors de la déglutition. Une forme rare de dysfonction sinusale.

The authors report the case of a 69 year old man with a 16 year history of syncope occurring only while swallowing liquids. Two episodes were observed during a hospital admission to the intensive care unit for unstable angina and allowed documentation of prolonged sinus arrest (7 sec) causing syncope. In the light of this case and a review of the literature, the physiopathological role of deglutition in the genesis of cardiac conduction defects and arrhythmias is discussed and the new classification of sinus node dysfunction proposed by Bashour in 1985 is recalled.

[Spasm of the left main coronary artery resistant to intracoronary vasodilators. Apropos of a case]. / Spasme du tronc commun coronaire gauche, résistant aux vasodilatateurs intracoronaires. A propos d'un cas.

Coronary spasm is essentially and angiographic diagnosis. Catheter-induced spasm is frequent during coronary angiography and usually regresses after the administration of intracoronary vasodilators. The authors report a case of coronary spasm with subocclusion of the left main coronary artery: the coronary narrowing remained significant after intracoronary vasodilator therapy, suggesting an organic component. The spasm was relieved only after a prolonged intravenous infusion of isosorbide dinitrate.

[Coronary angioplasty combining rotational atherectomy and balloon dilatation. Results in 67 complex stenoses]. / Angioplastie coronaire associant athérectomie rotative et ballon. Résultats sur 67 sténoses complexes.

The treatment of complex coronary stenoses by conventional angioplasty is limited by a relatively low angiographic success rate, associated with a high risk of major complications. The role of new angioplasty techniques in the treatment of these lesions has not yet been determined. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the systematic association of rotational atherectomy (Rotablator) with balloon angioplasty on coronary stenoses characterised by at least 2 type B criteria of the ACC/AHA classification (type B2 lesions). The procedures was begun with rotational ablation with a medium-sized burr (50 to 70% of the reference diameter of the artery) and completed systematically by balloon angioplasty (balloon/artery ratio = 1), using the lowest possible inflation pressures for successful dilatation. This technique was used in 61 patients who had 67 coronary stenoses with a primary success rate (residual stenosis < 50% and no major complications) of 93.4% (57 patients). One emergency coronary bypass procedure was necessary and another patient developed transmural infarction on the 3rd day after the procedure. There were two technical failures (3.3%). The mean inflation pressure of the balloon was 4.1 +/- 1.2 atmospheres. There were no fatalities. During atherectomy, transient conduction defects were observed in 4 patients (6.6%): severe hypotension in 2 patients (3.3%) and complete spasm in 3 stenoses (4.5%). A significant increase in cardiac enzyme levels was observed in 4 patients (6.6%). The authors conclude that rotational atherectomy with a medium-sized burr, followed by systematic low pressure balloon dilatation allows treatment of certain complex coronary stenoses with a high primary success rate and few major complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Hemodynamic effects on intravenous propafenone in hypertrophic myocardiopathy]. / Effets hémodynamiques de la propafénone intraveineuse dans la myocardiopathie hypertrophique.

None of the medical treatments of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is perfect. In the present study conducted on 11 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in whom the usual treatments were either ineffective or badly tolerated, the haemodynamic effects of propafenone administered intravenously were investigated. The drug was injected centrally in doses of 2 mg/kg over 10 minutes, then by continuous intravenous infusion of 1.5 mg/min during 30 minutes. Various parameters were recorded before and after propafenone treatment by right and left cardiac catheterization. This anti-arrhythmic drug, which has beta-blocking and amiodarone-like properties, reduced left intraventricular obstruction but had no beneficial effect on diastolic function. The baseline and induced left intraventricular gradients were reduced from 30.4 to 17.7 mmHg and from 74 to 43 mmHg respectively. Diastolic function values showed a fall in dp/dt min from 1470 to 1307 mm/sec and an increase in T value from 0.066 to 0.084. The use of propafenone in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy must be accurately determined by long-term oral studies.

[Predictive value of the exercise test after primary infarction]. / Valeur prédictive de l'épreuve d'effort après un primo-infarctus.

The predictive value of exercise stress testing was assessed by correlating the results with coronary angiography in a group of 100 patients 50 with inferior and 50 with anterior wall infarction. The following observations were made: --The exercise ECG was positive in 57 p. 100 of cases, more commonly in the inferior infarction group (74 p. 100), ST depression representing over 3/4 of the responses to exercise. On the other hand, the test was only positive in 40 p. 100 of anterior wall infarctions, ST depression again being the most commonly recorded response (65 p. 100). --The overall incidence of post-infarction angina was 45 p. 100; it was more common after inferior (70 p. 100) than anterior infarction (22 p. 100). --Multivessel disease was also more severe in the inferior infarction group (86 p. 100) than in anterior infarction (46 p. 100). However, ventricular aneurysms were twice as common in the anterior infarction group. --Exercise testing detected 80 p. 100 of cases with multivessel disease, especially when the LAD artery was involved, in the inferior infarction group. In the anterior infarction group, almost 50 p. 100 of patients with multivessel disease were not diagnosed. Despite an overall sensitivity of 73 p. 100 the predictive value of exercise stress testing was excellent (84 p. 100). In conclusion, in the presence of persisting angina after myocardial infarction coronary angiography should be performed to determine the severity of the multivessel disease. Exercise stress testing is a useful but imperfect method of detecting this high risk group. Its predictive value is however better in inferior (94 p. 100) than in anterior wall infarction (65 p. 100). Persisting angina was found to be a parameter of very high specificity (100 p. 100) for the presence of multivessel disease.

[Single coronary artery arising from the right coronary sinus. Report of two cases]. / Artère coronaire unique naissant du sinus coronaire droit. A propos de deux cas.

The authors report two cases of single coronary artery arising from the right coronary sinus. Both patients had angina with reversible myocardial ischaemia on exercise Thallium scintigraphy. Coronary angiography showed single coronary artery arising from the right coronary sinus in both cases with severe stenosis of the right coronary artery in the first and occlusion of the right coronary artery in the second patient. Both underwent surgical revascularisation with a good result. Single coronary artery is a rare congenital abnormality (approximately 0.36 per 1,000) diagnosed at autopsy until 1963, and thereafter at coronary angiography. A review of the literature shows that an equal number of single coronary arteries arise from the right as from the left coronary sinus: there does not seem to be an increased risk of complication when a branch runs between the aorta and pulmonary artery. On the other hand, single coronary arteries arising from the right coronary sinus seem to be more commonly associated with atherosclerosis than a network with two coronary arteries, but when the lesions are proximal, the risk is high. Revascularisation is indicated only when myocardial ischaemia has been documented.

[Value of type B natriuretic peptide in the emergency management of patients with suspected cardiac failure. Report of 125 cases]. / Apports du peptide natriurétique de type B dans la prise en charge aux urgences des patients suspects d'insuffisance cardiaque. A propos de 125 patients.

Shortness of breath is a common cause of consultation in the emergency unit. Therefore, it is essential to diagnose cases of cardiac failure. This may be difficult in some cases. The authors set out to assess the value of measuring brain natiuretic peptide in this context. Brain natiuretic peptide (BNP) was measured by an ultrafast method (Biosite/BMD) on arrival of 125 patients to the emergency unit. The results were then compared with the diagnoses made in the emergency unit and those of the hospital discharge summary. Nearly 18% of patients were wrongly classified in the emergency room; 1/3 were falsely diagnosed as cardiac failure and 2/3 were not recognised initially as having cardiac failure. In 90% of patients, in particular in the group wrongly considered as not having cardiac failure, BNP measurement could have helped correct the mistake. The optimal threshold value of BNP for diagnosis of cardiac failure in this study was 300 pg/mL, with positive and negative predictive values of 92.4 and 90.2%, respectively.

[Coronary angiography by left radial approach. A bi-center prospective pilot study]. / Coronarographie par voie radiale gauche. Une étude pilote prospective bicentrique.

The aim of this study was to assess prospectively the feasibility, safety and quality of coronary angiography performed by a left radial arterial approach. The investigation was performed under local anesthesia with a Lidocaine gel using Judkins 5f catheter. A bolus of heparin was injected intravenously at the start of the procedure (no heparin in phase 0.2 to 3.000 IU during phase 1 and 5.000 IU in phase 2). Between March 1994 and January 1996, after exclusion of 108 patients (15.1%) mainly because of an abnormal Allen test, coronary angiography was carried out in 540 patients aged 58.4 +/- 11.7 years, 85% of whom were men. The failure rate was 8%. The quality of opacification of the left coronary artery (scale 1 to 3) was 2.91 +/- 0.27 and of the right coronary artery was 2.96 +/- 0.18. There were no complications during the procedure. Analysis of the learning curve showed a failure rate decreasing to less than 5% after 60 procedures/operator. In the last 100 procedures, the failure rate fell to 3%, the canulation time was 2.2 +/- 2.5 min, the duration of fluoroscopy was 6.5 +/- 3.9 min and the duration of the procedure was 17.5 +/- 4.7 min (14.7 +/- 3.8 min, p < 0.01, by the femoral approach). Clinical and Doppler ultrasonographic follow-up revealed one in-hospital complication (a spontaneously regressive compressive haematoma). No clinical complications were observed at 3 months. Doppler ultrasonography showed the radial artery occlusion rate to be 71% in phase 0.32% in phase 1 and 3.2% in phase 2 (p < 0.0001). These results show that the left radial arterial approach for coronary angiography is safe and effective but requires a period of training. A 5.000 IU dose of heparin limits the risk of radial artery occlusion to 3%. The absence of complications in this large series which included the training period and the patient comfort suggest that this technique may be an excellent alternative to the femoral approach and especially the brachial approach when the Allen test is normal.