SIGNIFICANCE OF ANGIOGRAPHIC ABSENCE OF LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING CORONARY ARTERY IN A LEFT VENTRICLE WITH INTACT ANTERIOR WALL

Fifteen patients having total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery were studied. All fifteen had normal left ventricular anterior walls. The electrocardiogram was normal in eight patients; old inferior wall infarction was evident in one; anterior ischemia in five; and left anterior hemiblock in one. Collateral circulation was found in twelve patients (80%). These findings suggest that an angiographically non-visualized left anterior descending (LAD) vessel is patent and bypassable in patients where the anterior ventricular wall is intact, thus representing an additional criterion for aortocoronary bypass surgery.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation and hybrid coronary artery revascularization: time to combine them

We report on simultaneous off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting to the left anterior descending artery, modified transapical aortic valve implantation, and stenting of the circumflex and right coronary arteries in an 84-year-old patient. The poly-morbid patient with a logistic EuroSCORE of 85% experienced recent myocardial infarction; the left ventricular ejection fraction was reduced to 20%. Postoperative recovery was fast and short. The strategy described is the next logical step in broadening the indication for transcatheter aortic valve interventions.     

急性心肌梗死患者脑钠肽水平与血管病变的关系

目的:探讨急性心肌梗死患者血浆脑钠肽(BNP)水平与梗死相关动脉及病变血管的关系。方法:选取2010.7-2011.7于上海市第一人民医院诊断为急性心肌梗死的患者。分为ST抬高型心梗患者和非ST抬高型心梗患者两组,比较BNP水平与血管病变的关系。结果:(1)两组患者的年龄、男女比例、高血压病与糖尿病患病率、吸烟患者比例之间无显著差异。NSTEMI患者中,既往心梗和既往经皮冠状动脉成形术(PTCA)的比例和左室射血分数明显高于STEMI患者。(2)NSTEMI患者多支血管病变比例显著高于STEMI患者并且梗死相关动脉为左回旋支(LCX)的比例显著高于STEMI患者。(3)病变血管支数与心梗患者BNP水平无关,STEMI患者左冠状动脉前降支(LAD)为IRA的患者BNP水平显著高于LCX和右冠状动脉(RCA)分别为IRA的患者。NSTEMI患者LAD、LCX和RCA分别为IRA的患者其BNP水平无显著差异。结论:STEMI患者前壁心梗BNP水平较高,NSTEMI患者BNP水平对血管病变支数和IRA无预测价值。     

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TOTAL PROXIMAL ANTERIOR DESCENDING VESSEL OCCLUSION

A series of 100 consecutive patients demonstrating total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery by cineangiography were analyzed. Forty-five showed occlusion proximal to the first septal branch. Collaterals to the anterior descending vessel were present in 83 cases. Left ventriculography revealed normal contractility in 16 cases and localized aneurysms in twenty-two. In 18 instances the left anterior descending lesion was the only occlusion demonstrated. Double and triple vessel involvement was present in 35 and 45 respectively. Normal EKGs were seen in 22 cases and signs of transmural anterior infarction in forty-two. Neither the development of ventricular aneurysm nor the presence of anterior wall infarction by EKG appeared to be influenced by the site of occlusion with respect to the septal branch. All the patients with normal left ventricular contractility had demonstrable collaterals.     

Criteria for Internal Mammary Artery Implantation Based on Cine Coronary Arteriography

Preoperative coronary arteriograms were correlated, in a group of 50 patients, with left internal mammary angiograms obtained from 11 to 32 months, with a mean of 17 months, after mammary artery implantation. In all patients in whom the internal mammary artery was patent and considered functional with good angiographic opacification of the anterior descending coronary artery, the preoperative coronary angiogram showed total or subtotal obstruction of the latter vessel, with indirect evidence of decreased flow and pressure distal to the obstruction. This evidence was provided by the presence of a collateral circulation or, in a few cases of subtotal obstruction, delayed opacification of the vessel distal to the obstruction.In patients in whom the internal mammary artery was patent but showed no anastomotic connection with the anterior descending coronary artery or only opacification of small coronary branches, the degree of coronary obstruction was, in most cases, less than 90% of the lumen of the coronary artery in the absence of any collateral circulation or delayed opacification of the vessel distal to the obstruction.Occlusion of the internal mammary artery was seen as often in the presence of total or subtotal obstructions as with lesser degrees of anterior descending coronary artery obstruction, and is believed unrelated to the degree of pre-existing coronary artery disease.Successful internal mammary artery implantation can be related to specific coronary angiographic patterns recognizable before operation; these may serve as reliable criteria for the selection of patients.     

心肌带收缩率与急性心肌梗死患者左心室收缩功能关系

目的:急性前壁心肌梗死明显影响室间隔收缩率和左心室射血分数(left ventricular ejection fraction LVEF)。本文旨在探讨心肌带降段及升段收缩率与急性前壁心肌梗死患者LVEF的相关性。方法:收集2015年4月-2017年2月在心内科住院的急性前壁心肌梗死患者36例,正常对照组患者39例。所有患者取左心室长轴M型超声心动图,测量室间隔收缩率、升段收缩率及降段收缩率。心肌梗死左心室射血分数采用双平面Simpson's法计算。结果:与正常对照组相比,心肌梗死组患者舒张末期心肌带升段厚度没有统计学差异(P=0.69),收缩末期升段厚度(P=0.014)更薄、升段收缩率(P0.01)明显降低;心肌梗死组舒张末期降段厚度(P0.01)更薄、收缩末期降段厚度(P0.01)更薄、降段收缩率(P0.01)明显降低;心肌梗死组左心室射血分数与降段收缩率(r~2=0.13,P=0.026)、室间隔增厚率(r~2=0.19,P0.01)呈正相关,与升段收缩率没有相关性(P0.05)。正常对照组左心室射血分数与室间隔增厚率、降段增厚率及升段增厚率无相关性。经过相关分析,筛选出与心肌梗死LVEF的相关因素,进一步经逐步回归分析,得多元线性回归方程为LVEF=48.206+18.914*LVDD(cm)-25.414*LVSD(cm)。结论:急性前壁心肌梗死室间隔降段收缩率明显受损,与左心室射血分数降低有关。多元线性回归方程可估算前壁心肌梗死LVEF。     

选择性冠状静脉动脉化搭桥术中不同移植物的应用疗效比较

目的:对比选择性冠状静脉动脉化(SCVBG)搭桥治疗弥漫性右冠状动脉狭窄病变中选择乳内动脉和大隐静脉作为桥血管的治疗效果。方法:选择2008年10月到2014年10月在我院行SCVBG搭桥的84例患者资料,其中选择大隐静脉作为桥血管进行冠状静脉动脉化搭桥患者46例(大隐静脉桥组),选择乳内动脉作为桥血管进行冠状静脉动脉化搭桥患者38例(乳内动脉桥组)。随访记录两组患者的生存情况、近期复查超声心动图、冠状动脉CTA及心绞痛复发率。结果:乳内动脉桥组患者总生存率(100%)明显高于大隐静脉桥组(82.6%)(P0.05)。乳内动脉桥组患者桥血管和心中静脉通畅率(100%)明显大于大隐静脉桥组(54.35%)(P0.05)。两组患者左心室射血分数(LVEF)较治疗前明显增加,左心室舒张期末内径(LVEDD)较治疗前明显减小(P0.05)。治疗后,乳内动脉桥组患者心绞痛复发率明显小于大隐静脉桥组(P0.05)。结论:SCVBG搭桥治疗弥漫性右冠状动脉狭窄病变中,选择乳内动脉桥效果优于大隐静脉桥,能明显提高桥血管和心中静脉通畅率,降低心绞痛复发率。     

Left ventricular function during graded exercise in patients with coronary artery disease and in control subjects.

The left ventricular function of 30 patients with coronary artery disease and 11 control subjects was studied by electrocardiography gated cardiac blood pool scintigraphy as the participants lay on their backs and either rested or exercised on a cycle ergometer at graded levels on intensity. The control subject showed a progressive increase in ejection fraction from rest (51% +/- 7%) to intermediate (56% +/- 10%, P less than 0.05) and maximum levels of exercise (64% +/- 10%, P less than 0.001). All the patients showed a decrease in ejection fraction from rest (42% +/- 16%) to their maximal level of exercise (36% +/- 11%, P less than 0.001). However, the response of some of the patients to intermediate exercise ranged from a decrease or no change to an increase in ejection fraction. Thus, exercise at maximal intensity is necessary to induce the left ventricular dysfunction that is diagnostic of coronary artery disease.     

Assessment of atrial regional and global electromechanical function by tissue velocity echocardiography: a feasibility study on healthy individuals

Background

Myocardial contrast echocardiography and coronary flow velocity pattern with a rapid diastolic deceleration time after percutaneous coronary intervention has been reported to be useful in assessing microvascular damage in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Aim

To evaluate myocardial contrast echocardiography with harmonic power Doppler imaging, coronary flow velocity reserve and coronary artery flow pattern in predicting functional recovery by using transthoracic echocardiography.

Methods

Thirty patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction underwent myocardial contrast echocardiography at rest and during hyperemia and were quantitatively analyzed by the peak color pixel intensity ratio of the risk area to the control area (PIR). Coronary flow pattern was measured using transthoracic echocardiography in the distal portion of left anterior descending artery within 24 hours after recanalization and we assessed deceleration time of diastolic flow velocity. Coronary flow velocity reserve was calculated two weeks after acute myocardial infarction. Left ventricular end-diastolic volumes and ejection fraction by angiography were computed.

Results

Pts were divided into 2 groups according to the deceleration time of coronary artery flow pattern (Group A; 20 pts with deceleration time ≧ 600 msec, Group B; 10 pts with deceleration time < 600 msec). In acute phase, there were no significant differences in left ventricular end-diastolic volume and ejection fraction (Left ventricular end-diastolic volume 112 ± 33 vs. 146 ± 38 ml, ejection fraction 50 ± 7 vs. 45 ± 9 %; group A vs. B). However, left ventricular end-diastolic volume in Group B was significantly larger than that in Group A (192 ± 39 vs. 114 ± 30 ml, p < 0.01), and ejection fraction in Group B was significantly lower than that in Group A (39 ± 9 vs. 52 ± 7%, p < 0.01) at 6 months. PIR and coronary flow velocity reserve of Group A were higher than Group B (PIR, at rest: 0.668 ± 0.178 vs. 0.248 ± 0.015, p < 0.0001: during hyperemia 0.725 ± 0.194 vs. 0.295 ± 0.107, p < 0.0001; coronary flow velocity reserve, 2.60 ± 0.80 vs. 1.31 ± 0.29, p = 0.0002, respectively).

Conclusion

The preserved microvasculature detecting by myocardial contrast echocardiography and coronary flow velocity reserve is related to functional recovery after acute myocardial infarction.     

Reduction of heart rate by chronic beta1-adrenoceptor blockade promotes growth of arterioles and preserves coronary perfusion reserve in postinfarcted heart

Adequate growth of coronary vasculature in the remaining left ventricular (LV) myocardium after myocardial infarction (post-MI) is a crucial factor for myocyte survival and performance. We previously demonstrated that post-MI coronary angiogenesis can be stimulated by bradycardia induced with the ATP-sensitive K(+) channel antagonist alinidine. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that heart rate reduction with beta-blockade may also induce coronary growth in the post-MI heart. Transmural MI was induced in 12-mo-old male Sprague-Dawley rats by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Bradycardia was induced by administration of the beta-adrenoceptor blocker atenolol (AT) via drinking water (30 mg/day). Three groups of rats were compared: 1) control/sham (C/SH), 2) MI, and 3) MI + AT. In the MI + AT rats, heart rate was consistently reduced by 25-28% compared with C/SH rats. At 4 wk after left anterior descending coronary ligation, infarct size was similar in MI and MI + AT rats (67.1 and 61.5%, respectively), whereas a greater ventricular hypertrophy occurred in bradycardic rats, as indicated by a higher ventricular weight-to-body weight ratio (3.4 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.1 mg/g in MI rats). Analysis of LV function revealed a smaller drop in ejection fraction in the MI + AT than in the MI group ( approximately 24 vs. approximately 35%). Furthermore, in MI + AT rats, maximal coronary conductance and coronary perfusion reserve were significantly improved compared with the MI group. The better myocardial perfusion indexes in MI + AT rats were associated with a greater increase in arteriolar length density than in the MI group. Thus chronic reduction of heart rate induced with beta-selective blockade promotes growth of coronary arterioles and, thereby, facilitates regional myocardial perfusion in post-MI hearts.     

A left ventricle model to predict post-revascularization ejection fraction based on cine magnetic resonance images

The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is an important clinical indicator of the cardiac function and long-term outcome for patients with coronary artery disease. A biomechanical model of the left ventricle was developed to quantitatively predict post-revascularization LVEF based on noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging. The myocardium was categorized into normal, hibernating, and infarcted regions from the ventricular short-axis images. Assuming that hibernating tissue would potentially regain contractility after revascularization, the expected maximum post-revascularization LVEF was calculated for four patients with chronic left ventricular dysfunction. The predictions were within three ejection fraction points of the follow-up LVEFs. This model may be useful to estimate the outcome and efficacy of revascularization plans.     

Cold pressor test in diagnosis of coronary artery disease: echophonocardiographic method.

The cold pressor test was used to induce myocardial ischaemia in patients with coronary artery disease and the rise in left ventricular filling pressure used as the index of myocardial ischaemia. Left ventricular filling pressure was derived from a non-invasive echophonocardiographic method. A study group of 19 consecutive patients with chest pain underwent the cold pressor test before coronary angiography. Eighteen responded with a rise in filling pressure exceeding 30% and, of these, 17 had serious coronary artery disease (three single vessel, one two vessel, and 13 triple vessel disease; one had coronary artery spasm only). The remaining patient, who showed no rise in filling pressure, did not have coronary artery disease. None of 15 normal controls showed a rise greater than 5% (patients with coronary artery disease versus normal controls p less than 0.001). The cold pressor test would be suitable for patients who cannot or should not exercise and may be combined with exercise electrocardiograms to improve the information content, as it uses a different marker of myocardial ischaemia.     

Rapid disappearance of a massive iatrogenic haematoma of the left hand following radial coronary angiogram

A 73-year-old man with a medical history of coronary artery disease and status post coronary artery bypass grafting underwent elective coronary angiography for progressive left ventricular systolic dysfunction using the radial artery access.     

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator: an update

Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator is now a well established therapy to prevent sudden cardiac death. In secondary prevention (patients with a previous cardiac arrest) defibrillator can be considered as a class I indication, if there is no transient or reversible cause. The level of proof is A. in primary prevention the defibrillator is indicated in coronary artery disease patients with or without symptoms of mild to moderate heart failure (NYHA II or III), an ejection fraction lower than 30 %, measured at least one month after a myocardial infarction and 3 months after a revascularisation, surgery or angioplasty (level of proof B). It is also indicated in symptomatic spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardias with underlying heart disease (level of proof B), in patients with spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardia, poorly tolerated, without underlying heart disease for which pharmacological treatment or ablation can not be performed or failed (level of proof B). Finally it is also indicated in patients with syncope of unknown cause with sustained ventricular tachycardia or inducible ventricular fibrillation, with an underlying heart disease (level of proof B). The guidelines proposed by the different societies have also proposed class IIa recommendations which are the following: coronary artery disease patients with left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction between 31 or 35 %) measured at least one month after a myocardial infarction and 3 months after a revascularisation with an inducible ventricular arrhythmia. It can be also indicated in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathies with an ejection fraction lower than 30% and NYHA class II or III. It can be also indicated in familial or inherited conditions with a high risk of sudden cardiac death by ventricular fibrillation without any other efficient known treatment and finally in heart failure patients remaining symptomatic, in class III or IV NYHA, with an optimal medical therapy, an ejection fraction lower than 35 % and a QRS complex duration higher than 120 ms: in this case it is an indication of cardiac resynchronization therapy device associated to the defibrillator. All these class IIa indications have a level of proof B.     

慢阻肺伴左心衰竭临床特征与影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨慢阻肺伴左心衰竭临床特征与影响因素。方法：回顾性选择2019年1月至2020年12月来我院诊治的慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者150例。根据是否合并心衰,将150例患者分为慢阻肺伴左心衰竭组（A组）与慢阻肺未伴左心衰竭组（B组）。分析150例患者中慢阻肺伴左心衰竭的占比,分析对比两组一般资料、习惯和疾病病史、肺功能、心脏彩超、心电图结果、血液指标水平与动脉血气指标,采用Logistic回归分析慢阻肺伴左心衰竭的影响因素。结果：（1）150例患者中,慢阻肺伴左心衰竭者占比为32.00 %,慢性阻塞性肺疾病未合并左心衰竭者占比为68.00 %。（2）两组性别、年龄、患病时间、糖尿病史、吸烟史、高血压史、冠心病史、FEV1/FVC、左房内径、左心室舒张末内径、左室重量分数、左室后壁厚度、肺动脉压、血小板计数、C反应蛋白、降钙素原、凝血酶原时间、D-二聚体、白蛋白、肌酸激酶同工酶、N末端脑钠肽前体、PaCO₂、PaO₂、SaO₂对比有差异（P<0.05）。（3）Logistic回归分析结果表明、性别、年龄、糖尿病史、吸烟史、高血压史、冠心病史、左心室舒张末内径、肺动脉压是影响慢阻肺合并左心衰竭患者的影响因素（P<0.05）。结论：慢阻肺伴左心衰竭的占比较高,其与性别为男性、年龄偏大、有糖尿病史、吸烟史、高血压史、冠心病史、左心室舒张末内径升高、肺动脉压升高相关,需对以上因素给予积极干预及治疗。     

大鼠心肌梗死模型的建立及梗死后心电生理和左室功能的变化

目的建立具有稳定性高,重复性强,存活时间长的大鼠心肌梗死模型,探讨采用心电图（ECG）和心脏超声心动图（UCG）监测心梗后心电生理和左室功能变化的可行性。方法Wistar大鼠经10%水合氯醛麻醉后,气管切开插管及连通呼吸机,开胸后结扎冠状动脉左前降支。于手术后4、8和12周行ECG检测和UCG检查,术后12周取出心脏行病理检查。结果采用本法建立大鼠心肌梗死模型,术后72h内大鼠存活率为83.3%,术后12周以上大鼠存活率为73.3%。术后48、和12周ECG监测示心梗后PR间期,QRS时限,QT间期和QTc间期均较假手术组延长,同期行UCG监测示心梗后左室舒张末期内径和左室收缩末期内径显著增加,左室射血分数值和左室短轴缩短率值显著降低,12周后组织病理HE染色符合慢性心肌梗死的病理改变。结论本技术操作简单、创伤轻、成功率高,术后采用ECG和UCG可有效监测心梗后不同时期心电变化和左室功能变化。     

小鼠心梗模型的建立与无创评价

目的建立小鼠的心肌梗死模型,提高动物存活率,并使用心脏超声进行无创心功能评价。方法昆明雄性小鼠20只,气管插管后由左侧第4肋间进胸,结扎冠状动脉左前降支建立小鼠心肌梗死模型,在模型建立的前1 d和术后1 d、1周分别使用心脏超声检测左室收缩末直径、舒张末直径、缩短分数和射血分数,并于术后第8天进行病理检查。结果小鼠心肌梗死模型建立过程中早期死亡率10%（2/20）,术后1周内死亡率15%（3/20）,经过超声评价,造模成功率为75%（15/20）。小鼠心功能明显下降,射血分数由手术前的（92.1±3.45）%下降到术后1周的（49.8±14.20）%,缩短分数由手术前的（61.4±2.85）%下降到（26.1±9.01）%;心室明显扩大,左室收缩末直径由（13.9±1.98）μm扩大到（36.5±7.37）μm,舒张末直径由（35.9±3.12）μm扩大到（48.9±6.05）μm。病理学检查见明显瘢痕形成。结论通过结扎冠状动脉左前降支的方法建立了小鼠心肌梗死模型并可以使用超声心动图评价这一模型。     

Human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is present in atherosclerotic plaques and induces death of vascular smooth muscle cells: a laboratory study

Background

A diverse range of factors influence clinicians' decisions regarding the allocation of patients to different treatments for coronary artery disease in routine cardiology clinics. These include demographic measures, risk factors, co-morbidities, measures of objective cardiac disease, symptom reports and functional limitations. This study examined which of these factors differentiated patients receiving angioplasty from medication; bypass surgery from medication; and bypass surgery from angioplasty.

Methods

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted on patient data from 214 coronary artery disease patients who at the time of recruitment had been received a clinical assessment and were reviewed by their cardiologist in order to determine the form of treatment they were to undergo: 70 would receive/continue medication, 71 were to undergo angioplasty and 73 were to undergo bypass surgery.

Results

Analyses differentiating patients receiving angioplasty from medication produced 9 significant univariate predictors, of which 5 were also multivariately significant (left anterior descending artery disease, previous coronary interventions, age, hypertension and frequency of angina). The analyses differentiating patients receiving surgery from angioplasty produced 12 significant univariate predictors, of which 4 were multivariately significant (limitations in mobility range, circumflex artery disease, previous coronary interventions and educational level). The analyses differentiating patients receiving surgery from medication produced 14 significant univariate predictors, of which 4 were multivariately significant (left anterior descending artery disease, previous cerebral events, limitations in mobility range and circumflex artery disease).

Conclusion

Variables emphasised in clinical guidelines are clearly involved in coronary artery disease treatment decisions. However, variables beyond these may also be important factors when therapy decisions are undertaken thus their roles require further investigation.     

Distributing and delivering vessels of the human heart

The branching characteristics of the right coronary artery, acute marginal, posterior descending, left anterior descending, circumflex, and obtuse marginal arteries are compared with those of diagonal branches, left and right ventricular branches, septal, and higher-order branches, to test a newly proposed functional classification of the coronary arteries in which the first group rank as distributing vessels and the second as delivering vessels. According to this classification, the function of the first type is merely to convey blood to the borders of myocardial zones, while the function of the second is to implement the actual delivery of blood into these zones. This functional difference is important in the hemodynamic analysis of coronary heart disease, as it provides an assessment of the role of a vessel within the coronary network and hence an assessment of the functional importance of that vessel in a particular heart. Measurements from casts of human coronary arteries are used to examine the relevant characteristics of these vessels and hence to test the basis of this classification.     

Effects of intra-coronary administration of leukotriene D4 in the anaesthetized dog

The left anterior descending coronary artery in anaesthetized greyhounds was perfused at constant pressure with blood pumped from the carotid artery. Phasic and mean coronary flow, left ventricular pressure, dP/dt, cardiac output, ECG, heart rate and systemic pressure were measured. Leukotriene (LT) D₄ was administered into the left anterior descending coronary artery as a bolus injection. LTD₄ caused dose-related reductions in coronary flow. Other parameters showed little immediate change although a gradual decrease in left ventricular pressure, dP/dt, cardiac output and systemic pressure occurred after administration of LTD₄. Following intracoronary administration of LTD₄ small surface haemorrhages were observed over the area perfused. The reduction in coronary flow was not inhibited by indomethacin.