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Background: The acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the western world. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) documents inpatients with all types of ACS and a follow-up at three months in Germany and worldwide., Methods: The data of the German Cluster Detmold were compared with data from the worldwide GRACE registry (31,070 patients). Data from 849 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA) were collected from October 2001 to September 2005 in eight participating hospitals in the GRACE2 Cluster Detmold., Results: Compared with the worldwide GRACE data the patients in the Cluster Detmold had longer pre-hospital admission times (STEMI patients < 1 h: 13.9 % vs. 17.0 %; p < 0.05); more frequent interventions (PCI 60.1 % vs. 48.7%; p < 0.001) and less thrombolysis (17.9 vs. 42.5%; p < 0.001) in STEMI patients; more frequent use of platelet inhibitors (clopidogrel and ticlopidine, 93.4 % vs. 89.4%; p < 0.001) and unfractionated heparin (69.8 % vs. 36.5; p < 0.001), and less frequent use of low molecular weight heparin (31.1 % vs. 51.2%; p < 0.001); more frequent use of RAS blocking agents (80.2 vs. 66.6, p < 0.001) and beta blockers (87.4 vs. 78.8, p < 0.001) and less frequent use of lipid lowering agents (23.5 vs. 72.5%; p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Current management of ACS in Germany closely follows the recommendations of the German society of Cardiology. Differences in practice may account for the observed substantially lower event rates in Germany during hospitalization, but there is still room for improvement in the pre-hospital phase und in the degree to which pharmacotherapy is used for secondary prevention.

Background and Objective: Symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the accuracy of non-invasive tests differ between men and women. This study sought to evaluate the difference between the predictive value of a stress test in clinical practice for the diagnosis of significant coronary heart disease (CHD: stenosis > 50%) between women and men with stable angina., Patients and Methods: 143,848 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography at 99 hospitals during 2002 were included in the prospective cardiac catheter registry of the Working Party of Senior Hospital Cardiologists (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Leitende Kardiologische Krankenhausärzte [ALKK]). All patients with stress test and stable angina CCS class I-III (n=27387; 20.4%) were included, 10,911 (39.8%) of them female. 70.6% of women and 73.2% of men had a positive stress test., Results: In 46.1% of women and 71.5% of men with positive test and stable angina had relevant CHD (p<0,001). Diabetes increased the prevalence of CHD in patients with a positive test both in women (65.5%) and men (80.5%), with CCS class III angina to 63.3% and 85.8%, respectively., Conclusions: In clinical practice a positive stress test in women with stable angina is associated significantly less often with clinically relevant CHD than in men. The low positive predictive value of 46.1% underlines the need for additional clinical features like diabetes or cardiac symptoms (CCS class) before invasive diagnosis is performed.

Background: Drugeluting stents (DES) are currently judged to be a "break-through" technology for the prevention of restenosis after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). However, experience is limited to randomised controlled clinical trials (RCT) in selected lesions and the currently available DES are more expensive compared to conventional "bare" stents. Therefore, actual clinical practice may be very different to RCT., Methods: We analysed the data of the German Cypher trade mark Registry, a nationwide registry which was initiated in parallel to the launch of the first DES, the Cypher trade mark sirolimus-eluting coronary stent, in April 2002., Results: From April 2002 until March 2003, 1638 procedures at 88 hospitals were included in the German Cypher trade mark Registry. The mean inclusion rate per centre and month remained low (<3 procedures/month and participating hospital) during the whole inclusion period. Most patients presented with stable angina pectoris (45.8%); however, 6.4% of patients were treated for a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, 10.3% of patients for ST elevation myocardial infarction and 1.7% in cardiogenic shock. In patients without ST elevation myocardial infarction, a de novo stenosis was treated in 68.4% of cases, a restenosis in 4.1%, and an in-stent restenosis in 25.5% of cases. Chronic total occlusions were treated in 6.1% of patients. Predilatation was performed in 68.3% of patients and 1.05 +/- 0.35 Cypher trade mark stents were implanted per patient with a median (quartiles) stent length of 18 (13-21) mm. PCI-related death occurred in 0.1% of patients and a Q-wave myocardial infarction in 1.1%. Urgent re-PCI before hospital discharge was performed in 1.3% and urgent bypass surgery in 0.1% of cases., Conclusions: The use of the sirolimus-eluting coronary stents in this "real life" registry was found to be safe concerning acute complications. In about one half of the registry patients, the DES was implanted in lesions that were excluded from RCTs.

Background: Coronary artery stents are used for the treatment of acute or threatening vessel occlusion complicating coronary angioplasty or for prevention of restenosis after angioplasty. The current randomized trial compared the procedural outcome and long-term patency of 2 different flexible stents in unselected lesion morphology., Methods: The study population consisted of consecutive patients undergoing coronary angioplasty for symptomatic coronary artery disease followed by high-pressure stent implantation. The poststent treatment consisted of antiplatelet therapy. The primary hypothesis was an assumed restenosis rate of 30% in the group receiving NIR stents (Boston Scientific Europe SPRL, Parc Industriel de Petit-Rechain, Belgium) and a reduction of the restenosis rate (defined as >50% vessel diameter at follow-up) by 50% in the group undergoing J&J Crown stent (Cordis, Johnson & Johnson Interventional Systems, Warren, NJ) implantation: the restenosis rate and minimal luminal diameter at follow-up. Follow-up angiography was performed 6 months after the initial procedure., Results: A total of 203 patients were randomized to receive either the J&J Crown stent (n = 103) or the NIR stent (n = 100). The procedural success was similar in both groups (96.1% vs 99% in the NIR stent group, respectively; P =.19). There were 4 cases of crossover from the J&J Crown to the NIR stent group. In one patient, stent implantation of either stent model did not succeed. One patient died from fulminant pulmonary embolism. Restenosis, defined as >50% diameter stenosis at follow-up 5.8 +/- 1.3 months after the initial procedure occurred in 19 patients (18.4%) in the J&J Crown stent group compared with 22 patients (22.0%) in the NIR stent group (P =.42). There was a significantly higher rate of crossover from the J&J Crown stent to the NIR stent (3.9% vs 0%, respectively, P =.047), whereas reverse crossover did not occur. The one lesion in which NIR stent implantation was not successful had an extremely tortuous proximal part. This patient underwent only balloon angioplasty. Clinical events were rare during 6 months of follow-up and the incidence did not differ between both groups (nonfatal myocardial infarction: J&J Crown stent 1.0% vs 0% in the NIR stent group, P =.32; all-cause mortality: J&J Crown stent 1.0% vs 0% in the NIR stent group, P =.32)., Conclusions: There were no significant angiographic and clinical differences between the J&J Crown and NIR stents. Both stents had a similar procedural success rate, although the implantation of NIR stents was successful even in vessels in which previous attempts at J&J Crown stent placement had failed.

Background: Coronary stenting was initially designed to treat a bailout scenario. Prospective randomized trials comparing stent implantation with standard techniques, including emergency coronary artery bypass grafting, are lacking. The aim of this trial was to test the superiority of immediate stent implantation compared with standard techniques for the treatment of abrupt or threatening closure after coronary balloon angioplasty., Methods: In a prospective trial, 100 patients with abrupt vessel closure or symptomatic dissections causing objective signs of ischemia were randomly assigned to treatment with immediate placement of stents (n = 51) versus standard techniques such as prolonged dilatation or emergency bypass surgery (n = 49). The primary end point was the achievement of successful stabilization not requiring crossover to the other study group. Secondary end points included event-free survival and restenosis., Results: Successful stabilization was achieved in 94% of patients in the stent group compared with 78% of patients in the standard treatment group (P =.038). Two patients died in each group, and there was a trend toward a higher incidence of myocardial infarction (16% vs 8%; P =.163) and a significantly increased creatine phosphokinase level (245 IU/L [95% confidence interval, 217-265 IU/L] vs 179 IU/L [confidence interval 140-212 IU/L]; P =.0002) in the standard treatment group. Event-free survival after 250 days was 72% in the stent group compared with 29% in the standard treatment group (P =.001). The angiographic restenosis rate was 30% in the stent group versus 59% in the standard treatment group (P =.01)., Conclusions: Immediate stenting, if technically feasible, shows superior short- and long-term results compared with standard treatment options.

In cases with protected left main stenosis by previous bypass surgery or as an emergency intervention in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is performed as an alternative treatment strategy to bypass surgery. A review of 262 left main angioplasties revealed a procedure-related mortality in cases without protection of the left main coronary artery of 9.1% (4/44), in cases with partially protected left main stenosis by collaterals to either left coronary artery of 4.8% (1/21) and 0.5% (1/187) in cases with nonobstructed bypass grafts to either left coronary artery. Coronary angioplasty of an unprotected left main coronary artery, had an unacceptably high procedure-related mortality rate and should therefore not be performed even in cases of emergency intervention. The risk stratification of the procedure can be evaluated by the proposed grading of left main artery protection.

Background: Coronary artery stents are used for the treatment of acute or threatened vessel occlusion complicating coronary angioplasty or for the prevention of restenosis after angioplasty. Improvements in stent design made the stenting of complex and small vessels feasible. We prospectively evaluated the safety, efficacy and long-term patency of NIR stent (Boston Scientific, Maple Grove, Minnesota) implantation in small vessels with complex lesion morphology., Methods: The study population consisted of patients with complex (type OCO) lesions under 3 mm vessel diameter who were undergoing coronary angioplasty for symptomatic coronary artery disease followed by high-pressure NIR stent implantation and antiplatelet therapy only. Follow-up angiography was performed six months after the initial procedure., Results: Of 143 patients fulfilling the angiographic criteria and undergoing stent implantation between October 1995 and November 1997, 67 patients (46.9%) received NIR stents. In 58 patients (86.6%), angiographic 6-month follow-up was available. In one patient (1.7%), stent implantation was unsuccessful. Procedural success of the NIR stent implantation was 98.2%. Implantation of other stents failed in 12 cases. NIR stent implantation was successful in all of them. No patient required urgent bypass surgery. No patient died. Restenosis occurred 5.8 +/- 1.3 months after the initial procedure in 21 patients (36.2%)., Conclusions: Coronary high-pressure stenting of small (< 3 mm) type OCO (AHA/ACC) lesions in patients with symptomatic coronary heart disease is a feasible treatment option with a high procedural success rate and low complication rate. The new flexible NIR stent showed an acceptable restenosis rate. The implantation was successful even in vessels in which previous attempts of Palmaz-Schatz stent placement had failed.

Background: Balloon inflation during coronary angioplasty results in shear stress-induced vessel wall injury with development of restenosis. This randomized trial compared the impact of two different balloon inflation strategies (slow versus fast) on restenosis after coronary angioplasty., Methods: Two hundred seven patients were randomized to undergo either fast or gradually increased slow inflation after successful placement of the balloon catheter inside the target lesion. One hundred six underwent fast, and 101 underwent gradually increased slow balloon inflation. Coronary angiograms were quantitatively analyzed before angioplasty, after angioplasty, and at follow-up 5.9+/-1.6 months after the initial procedure., Results: Both groups had an identical primary success rate (98.1% vs 98%; p = 0.96) and a similar minimal luminal diameter before (0.49+/-0.26 mm vs 0.48+/-0.22 mm; p = 0.8) and after (2.22+/-0.97 mm vs 2.26+/-0.66 mm; p = 0.7) angioplasty. Slow balloon inflation did not reduce late luminal loss (0.58+/-0.77 mm vs 0.74+/-0.87 mm; p = 0.2), net gain (1.33+/-0.84 mm vs 1.19+/-0.81 mm; p = 0.3), or minimal luminal diameter at follow-up (1.80+/-0.97 mm vs 1.72+/-1.0 mm; p = 0.6) significantly. Restenosis, defined as >50% diameter stenosis at follow-up, occurred in 24% in the slow inflation group versus 36% in the fast inflation group (p = 0.09). Clinical events during 6-month follow-up were similar in both groups (repeat angioplasty, fast 5.6%, slow 4.8%, p = 0.8; nonfatal myocardial infarction, fast 2.2%, slow 1.2%, p = 0.6; death, fast 1.1%, slow 0%, p = 0.3)., Conclusion: The present randomized trial of two different balloon inflation strategies shows no statistically significant difference in net gain, minimal luminal diameter, or restenosis after coronary angioplasty. The difference in net gain, minimal luminal diameter, and restenosis rate were not statistically significant, but may represent a trend toward a reduction of smooth muscle cell proliferation and intimal hyperplasia induced by careful dilation of the stenotic lesion with gradually increased slow balloon inflation and reduction of shear stress-related vessel wall injury.

Background: The VERAS study (VErringerung der Restenoserate nach Angioplastie durch ein Somatostatin-analogon [Prevention of Restenosis Following Angioplasty With a Somatostatin Analogue]) was a placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of octreotide for the prevention of restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Octreotide is a somatostatin analogue with antiproliferative properties on smooth muscle cell growth in vitro that limits myointimal thickening of arteries in balloon injury models., Methods and Results: Patients received either octreotide or placebo, starting 1 hour before angioplasty and continued for 3 weeks. The minimal luminal diameters before and after angioplasty and at 6-month follow-up were analyzed with a digital quantitative algorithm. Of the initial 274 patients recruited, 217 (108 in the octreotide group and 109 in the placebo group) could be analyzed after a complete 6-month evaluation: the minimal luminal diameters were 1.67+/-0.57 mm in the octreotide-treated group and 1.66+/-0.64 mm in the placebo group (two-paired P=.70), and the relative losses were 0.16+/-0.22 and 0.13+/-0.21 (two-paired P=.27). The restenosis rates were also identical in both treatment groups: final diameter stenosis > or =50% (34.3% versus 33.9%, two-paired P=1.0), loss of > or =50% of the initial gain (34.3% versus 33.9%, two-paired P=1.0), and absolute reduction of minimal luminal diameter >0.72 mm (29.6% versus 24.8%, two-paired P=.45). Likewise, there was no difference with regard to the incidence of clinical events (death, myocardial infarction, bypass operations, reintervention). Octreotide was well tolerated, with the exception of gastrointestinal side effects, which were three times more common than in the placebo group., Conclusions: Octreotide did not reduce the angiographically determined restenosis rate or the incidence of major clinical events after coronary angioplasty.

The development of percutaneous wire-guided endoprostheses (stents) has expanded the possibilities for treating acute vascular occlusion within the field of coronary angioplasty (PTCA). A balloon-expandable Palmaz-Schatz stent was implanted in a total of 14 patients. The coronary arteries involved were the right coronary artery (seven cases), the anterior interventricular branch (five cases), and the circumflex branch (two cases). In seven cases the stent was inserted on an emergency basis to deal with treatening occlusion during PTCA, in one case of occlusion following coronary angiography, and in three cases to recanalize the infarcted vessel. Seven of these eleven patients were submitted to a follow-up angiography three months later, when none was shown to have a restenosis of more than 50%. Stent placement was followed by anticoagulation therapy comprising coumarin combined with acetylsalicylic acid. The Palmaz-Schatz stent represents an alternative to emergency bypass surgery in the treatment of acute dissection during PTCA.

A study was designed to quantify the influence of the Hemopump on myocardial metabolism in regional myocardial ischemias induced by repetitive balloon-occlusions (3.5 minutes) of the LAD in 12 sheep (b.w. 49-61 kg). In order to make immediate comparisons and obtain paired-couples, ischemias were carried out with and without the Hemopump in operation. An energetic unloading of the left ventricle was achieved by the Hemopump already under preocclusion conditions, reducing myocardial O2-consumption from 7.52 to 5.98 ml/min/100 g LV (= 20%) as well as lowering the LVEDP from 13.3 to 9.8 mmHg (p less than or equal to 0.01). During ischemia a clear increase of LVEDP (13.3 to 21.0 mmHg) occurs, which was prevented in the group with Hemopump-assist (9.8 to 12.1 mmHg). Combined with a sustained higher diastolic aortic pressure, a better myocardial perfusion pressure resulted. Energetic unloading and improvement of perfusion conditions might be the cause of the significantly lowered release of lactate and potassium. Due to theses fibrillation (n = 3) only occurred during occlusions without Hemopump-support. In summary, a significant reduction of the ischemic burden on the myocardium was found. Thus the Hemopump could be of benefit to patients who fail to be weaned from CPB or who are suffering from instable cardiovascular performance.

According to several reports of close correlations between pulmonary artery pressure and ANF plasma levels it would be convenient to replace invasive pressure monitoring by ANF determination. Mean pulmonary artery and right atrial pressures and pulmonary artery as well as peripheral venous ANF plasma concentrations were measured in 24 patients before and after coronary angioplasty (PTCA) continuously at rest and during exercise: At rest, both pressure and ANF-values remained unchanged before and after PTCA. At exercise, there was a decrease of mean pulmonary artery pressure (from 41.3 +/- 8.6 to 31.5 +/- 7.4 mmHg, p less than 0.001), mean right atrial pressure (from 11.9 +/- 3.0 to 9.0 +/- 2.3 mmHg, p less than 0.001), pulmonary artery (282.5 +/- 191.0 to 207.3 +/- 157.2 pg/ml, p less than 0.05) and peripheral venous (112.7 +/- 48.0 to 97.1 +/- 53.2 pg/ml, n.s.) ANF concentration after PTCA. We found no correlation between PTCA-induced changes of right arterial pressures and ANF concentrations, while changes of pulmonary artery pressures were significantly correlated to changes of peripheral venous (r = 0.79, p less than 0.001) as well as pulmonary artery (r = 0.59, p less than 0.01) ANF concentrations at exercise. In 6 of the 24 patients, however there was an inverse relationship between changes of pulmonary artery pressures and ANF concentrations. - Our data demonstrate a significant correlation between changes of ANF plasma level and pulmonary artery pressure values at exercise after PTCA. In the individual case however invasive pressure monitoring cannot be replaced by determination of ANF plasma levels.

Plasma concentrations of the recently isolated potent vasoconstrictory peptide endothelin were measured in 382 patients. The investigations were performed by means of a sensitive radioimmunoassay specific for Endothelin-1, 2. The results from 110 healthy volunteers displayed a normal range of 44.67 +/- 3.51 pg/ml. Significantly raised levels were found in 33 patients with chronic end-stage renal failure both before and after hemodialysis. In contrast, 35 patients with compensated renal insufficiency did not differ from the normals. Sixty-five patients after kidney transplantation revealed significantly elevated levels, as did 27 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 8 after coronary bypass surgery, and 5 with liver cirrhosis. The mean values of 27 patients with untreated hypertension, 22 with secondary hypertension, of various causes and 16 with coronary artery disease were comparable to the normal population. The values were significantly decreased in 9 pregnant women with hypertension and proteinuria. A marked decline was found in 5 patients with systemic lupus erythematodes, while 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated only a slight decrease. The pathophysiological role of endothelin as a local or circulating hormone in regulating systemic blood pressure or release of other hormones remains to be determined.

One approach in the therapy of cardiac insufficiency is the administration of vasodilator substances for afterload reduction. Ketanserin selectively blocks the serotonin-2 receptors and thus inhibits the vasoconstrictor effect of serotonin. A hypotensive action of ketanserin has been documented in several studies. In 10 patients with coronary heart disease and cardiac insufficiency we investigated the haemodynamic effects of ketanserin after 24 h of intravenous administration (4 mg/h) and after 4 weeks of oral therapy (80 mg/day). Five patients received ketanserin for 12 months and were then re-examined. The resting mean arterial pressure dropped from 97.1 to 89.3 mm Hg after intravenous administration (p less than 0.05) and to 89.3 mm Hg after 4 weeks of oral intake (p less than 0.05). The resting mean pulmonary arterial pressure dropped from 15.2 to 12.0 mm Hg after intravenous administration (p less than 0.05) and to 11.7 mm Hg after 4 weeks of oral ingestion (p less than 0.01). Under exercise the pressure dropped from 35.3 to 28.1 mm Hg after intravenous administration (p less than 0.0025) and to 29.9 mm Hg after 4 weeks of oral intake (p less than 0.0025). Heart rate and cardiac output did not show any significant differences. The measured values after 12 months (in 5 patients) did not differ significantly from those measured after 4 weeks. In view of its low side effect liability ketanserin could be used as an afterload-lowering agent in patients with cardiac insufficiency.

In a 42-year-old patient with an acute inferior infarction the right coronary artery was recanalised by intracoronary streptokinase 4 hours after the onset of symptoms. In spite of early reperfusion the patient developed an extensive myocardial infarction and died three days later from cardiogenic shock. Autopsy revealed an almost complete necrosis of the right ventricle including the inferior interventricular septum and the adjacent left ventricular wall. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in the so-called dominant right ventricular infarction are discussed.

The total occlusion of the left main coronary artery is rarely observed (approximately 0.05% of coronary angiographic studies). We have tried to draw the clinical and pathophysiological outline of this condition, starting from our experience and reviewing the published reports. A hard selection, principally by the high mortality in patients with left main coronary stenosis, limits the number of those who present total occlusion. These subjects show a remarkable variability in their clinical presentation. It is not possible to find out a significant correlation with a single risk factor, clinical manifestation or electrocardiographic picture. Therefore, these patients cannot be distinguished from other subjects affected by severe atherosclerotic ischemic heart disease. The angiographic finding of a dominant right coronary artery is most frequent. A rich collateral circulation to the left coronary is usually observed. From a pathophysiological point of view, the efficiency of coronary collateral circulation is confirmed by the significant correlation of its extent with the left ventricular function. An important role is also played by the rate of progression of left main stenosis in total occlusion and by the presence of right coronary lesions. Even if statistical evidence is still lacking, surgical treatment is unanimously indicated and achieves satisfying results. The use of nonsurgical recanalization techniques, such as intracoronary thrombolysis and transluminal angioplasty, may be lifesaving in those patients in whom left main coronary occlusion suddenly occurs.

Unlabelled: Left ventricular diastolic pressure-volume relations (PVR) were analysed from biplane ventriculograms and simultaneous pressure measurements in 33 patients at rest (R) and during ergometer exercise (E) (8 normals [N], 8 patients with coronary artery disease [CAD], 8 patients with congestive cardiomyopathy [COCM], 5 patients with aortic insufficiency [AI] and 5 patients with pressure overload (4 with aortic stenosis [A-St.] and 1 coarctation of the aorta). In N and AI diastolic PVR was essentially unchanged with E, the time constant of isovolumic relaxation (T) decreased significantly (N: delta T = -24.4 +/- 11.6%, p less than 0.001; AI: delta T = -27.3 +/- 6.8%, p less than 0.005). In CAD diastolic PVR was shifted upwards in all cases with angina pectoris during E (7/8), minimal rate of left ventricular pressure change (dp/dtmin) and T did not change significantly. In COCM diastolic PVR was shifted upwards in 4 cases, while dp/dtmin increased significantly (R = -1107 +/- 327, E = -1508 +/- 626 mm Hg-s-1, p less than 0.05), T on the average was unchanged (R = 53 +/- 10.5, E = 51 +/- 14.2 msec). In A-St. in 3 of 4 cases diastolic PVR was significantly shifted upwards with E, dp/dtmin increased (R = -1633 +/- 93, E = -2093 +/- 170 mm Hg-s-1, p less than 0.001), T in contrast to N and AI was prolonged (R = 33.8 +/- 4, E = 39.9 +/- 1.9 msec)., Conclusion: In N and AI diastolic ventricular function is not altered with exercise. In COCM and especially in A-St., however, there are similar alterations like in CAD with angina pectoris. Changes in T indicate that shifts of the PVR with exercise in non-ischemic heart disease are related to a disturbed ventricular relaxation.

An emergency aorto-coronary bypass grafting operation was performed within 12 hours after the development of acute myocardial ischemia due to partial or complete vascular occlusion in 34 of 950 (3.6%) patients who had received elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Of the 34 patients, three (= 8.8%) died postoperatively in irreversible cardiogenic shock. Half of the surviving patients developed a Q-wave infarction after the operation, whereas the other half remained without transmural infarct. With comparable clinical data and times of operation up to placement of the aorto-coronary bypass vessel, an adequate residual perfusion must still have been present in the cases with non Q-wave infarction. Since in many cases a myocardial necrosis is unavoidable despite relatively early operative revascularization, the decisive role will be played by the remaining perfusion of the vessel concerned and any collaterals. It follows that treatment of an early PTCA complication, occurring in the catheter laboratory, ought to be the earliest possible aorto-coronary bypass operation unless available cardiological methods can reliably assure reperfusion. Treatment of a PTCA complication occurring later, however, e.g. after hours in the intensive-care unit, should be a repeat PTCA attempt: surgery at this stage will not prevent the transmural infarction but will increase risk of lethal complications.

A 74-year-old woman with refractory congestive heart failure due to long-standing calcific mitral stenosis who refused surgical intervention was treated with percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. After an uneventful procedure, hemodynamic results were satisfactory with an increase in the mitral valve area from 0.4 to 1.1 cm2. Five hours after the procedure, the patient had a bout of vomiting followed by pulmonary aspiration. Electrocardiography, and in the further course, creatine kinase MB elevation, showed anterior myocardial infarction. Necropsy disclosed embolic material in the mid left anterior descending artery which unequivocally consisted of valvular material. This case demonstrates embolism of valvular debris as a life-threatening, procedure-related complication of percutaneous valvuloplasty of calcific mitral stenosis.

In 11 normals and 43 patients with coronary artery disease left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressure-volume (P-V) curves were obtained from biplane ventriculograms and simultaneous high fidelity pressure measurements. During exercise ventriculography 20 patients had angina pectoris (group B), and 16 patients were asymptomatic (group A). At rest there were no akinetic segments in 28 patients (group C), and an akinetic segment was found in 15 (group D). With different total work loads (951 +/- 134 and 2100 +/- 245 kpm in groups B and A), LV minimal and end-diastolic pressures and corresponding ventricular volumes increased to a similar extent in patients with and without angina during exercise ventriculography. With comparable work loads (1,296 +/- 221 and 1,494 +/- 195 kpm in groups C and D) the mean increase in diastolic pressure and volume was larger in group D, which corresponded to the more depressed LV resting function.

In 15 cases of 350 consecutive coronary angioplasties conventional low profile balloon catheters did not traverse the stenosis or occlusion over the guide-wire. A balloon on a wire device ("Microprobe", 2 mm) passed the stenosis or occlusion easily with a good primary result in 14 cases. The angioplasty procedure could then be completed with a larger standard balloon catheter. Use of the balloon on a wire device expands the technical facilities of angioplasty and increases the primary success rate in technically difficult cases.

Renewed severe angina occurred in a 57-year-old patient 14 months after a quadruple aortocoronary graft. Angiography demonstrated acute occlusion of a posterolateral graft. After 120 minutes of local streptokinase infusion (2000 IU/min) there was partial recanalization, with complete thrombolysis and graft recanalization after subsequent intravenous streptokinase infusion (30 000 IU/min for 90 minutes). Contrary to the situation in early postoperative graft thrombosis, acute late occlusion can be successfully lysed without increased risk of bleeding (haemopericardium).

Quantitative myocardial scintigraphy was performed in 40 patients with a medium prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), i.e. in cases with diagnostic difficulties. The results were compared with those of coronary angiography and ventriculography performed within 6 months thereafter. Sensitivity of scintigraphy in 16 patients with CAD was 88% and specificity in 14 individuals without heart disease was 93%. But in 10 patients with non-coronary heart disease specificity decreased to 30%. Scintigraphic evidence of ischemia increased specificity to nearly 100% including patients with non-coronary heart disease but sensitivity was reduced to 69%. The results demonstrate that myocardial scintigraphy with 201Tl is useful in cases with suspected CAD if diagnostic difficulties arise during the early phase of investigation. But there are limitations due to a rather high prevalence of non-coronary heart disease in such groups.

Verapamil improved the ischemic tolerance of the myocardium in experiments in animals. Therefore, 20 patients were examined during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of a proximal LAD stenosis in order to evaluate the ability of verapamil to improve the ischemic tolerance in man. Before the second dilatation, 1 mg verapamil was given intracoronarily to 10 patients, the other 10 patients received placebo ic. Before and after each of the three inflations, blood samples were obtained from the coronary sinus in five patients of each group to analyze the contents of lactate, pyruvate, and pH. Verapamil caused a significant prolongation of the inflation from 58 +/- 12 s to 83 +/- 20 s. This effect was persistent also during the following inflation (96 +/- 19 s). The onset of angina was delayed (p less than 0.05). ST-wave elevations and T-wave amplitudes were smaller after verapamil, in spite of the increased duration of inflation, as compared with the control group. The time until ST elevations of 0.1 mV occurred was increased from 17 +/- 3 s to 57 +/- 18 s (p less than 0.05). The increase in lactate in coronary sinus blood was less pronounced after verapamil (48% of control; p less than 0.05). Intracoronary verapamil before PTCA of the LAD improved the ischemic tolerance of the poststenotic myocardium significantly as evaluated by measurements of electrocardiographic and metabolic parameters. No side effects occurred during the injection of verapamil into the left coronary artery.

In 10 controls and 43 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressure-volume (P-V) curves were obtained from biplane ventriculograms and simultaneous high fidelity pressure measurement at rest and during bicycle exercise. During exercise ventriculography 20 patients had angina pectoris, and 16 patients were asymptomatic. At rest there were no akinetic segments in 28 patients, and at least one akinetic segment was found in 15 patients. Shifts in the diastolic P-V relationship with exercise were quantitated from the constants a and b of the linear log P-V relationship. In the control group a and b did not change significantly, but in all CAD groups a significant decrease in a and a significant increase in b were observed during exercise. While no patient with angina had an unchanged diastolic P-V relationship, as many as 12 patients had significant P-V shifts in the absence of angina. A similar correlation was found for the diastolic P-V alterations and the exercise ECG. Fourteen patients without any ST-segment change during exercise showed significant P-V shifts, while no patient with signs of ischaemia in the ECG had an unchanged P-V curve. In another 20 patients with CAD the relative contribution of the Frank-Starling mechanism, diastolic compliance and the pericardium to the filling pressure rise during exercise was analyzed. Left ventricular and right atrial pressures--as an index of pericardial pressure--were measured simultaneously during rest and exercise ventriculogram. This was done when filling pressures exceeded 30 mmHg or when angina pectoris occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) was employed between 1977 and 1988 in 132 patients (37 women and 95 men; mean age 60 +/- 9.9 years) with coronary heart disease. Indications for IABP were cardiogenic shock in 93, markedly impaired left ventricular function in 13, and treatment-refractory angina in 26. The hospital mortality rate among those patients in cardiogenic shock was 54%. The mortality rate among the 47 patients who had additional procedures (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or operation) was 40%, significantly lower than that in 46 patients without further procedure (67%). Complications of IABP occurred in 20% of patients (bleeding, vascular injury, ischaemia in the legs, embolism or infection). The complication rate was, however, reduced to 10% in the last few years by improvements in placement technique and materials. Introduction and placement of the balloon catheter is simple, rapid and reliable. The initially high success rate is particularly valuable for those patients in whom further therapeutic measures can be undertaken.

In a 60-year-old male patient thrombotic occlusion of a dominant right coronary artery was recanalized by means of a Sones-Catheter (8F) two hours after the clinical onset of myocardial infarction. Before recanalization the inferior wall of the left ventricle was akinetic. After recanalization this akinesia and the clinical symptoms of myocardial infarction was almost completely relieved. As evidenced by ECG and enzymes there was only a minor necrosis of the inferior wall. After one week ventricular function angiographically was completely normal. In the right coronary artery there was a 50 percent proximal stenosis, thrombi were completely abolished. Possible implications of this case are discussed.