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We describe a complex case of liver transplant in a 70-year-old male patient with no known history of coronary artery disease, normal preoperative left ventricular function, and negative preoperative cardiac workup who developed progressive intra-operative left ventricular myocardial dysfunction secondary to class I acute myocardial infarction, ultimately requiring intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump insertion to optimize myocardial perfusion. Management of myocardial ischemia was complicated by bleeding in the setting of coagulopathy necessitating correction. Once hemostasis was achieved, the patient immediately underwent coronary angiography and bare metal stent placement in the mid-left anterior descending coronary artery for an acute plaque rupture.

Background Non-coplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (ncVMAT) is proposed to reduce toxicity in heart and lungs for locoregional radiotherapy of left-sided breast cancer, including internal mammary nodes (IMN). Patients and methods This retrospective study included 10 patients with left-sided breast cancer who underwent locoregional radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery. For each patient, the ncVMAT plan was designed with four partial arcs comprising two coplanar arcs and two non-coplanar arcs, with a couch rotating to 90°. The prescribed dose was normalized to cover 95% of planning target volume (PTV), with 50 Gy delivered in 25 fractions. For each ncVMAT plan, dosimetric parameters were compared with the coplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (coV-MAT) plan. Results T here were improvements in conformity index, homogeneity index and V55 of total target volume (PTVall) comparing ncVMAT to coVMAT (p < 0.001). Among the organs at risk, the average V30, V20, V10, V5, and mean dose (Dmean) of the heart decreased significantly (p < 0.001). Furthermore, ncVMAT significantly reduced the mean V20, V10, V5, and Dmean of left lung and the mean V10 and V5 and Dmean of contralateral lung (p < 0.001). An improved sparing of the left anterior descending coronary artery and right breast were also observed with ncVMAT (p < 0.001). Conclusions Compared to coVMAT, ncVMAT provides improved conformity and homogeneity of whole P TV, better dose sparing of the heart, bilateral lungs, left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), and right breast for locoregional radiotherapy of left-sided breast cancer with IMN, potentially reducing the risk of normal tissue damage.

The de Winter electrocardiography (ECG) pattern is a sign that implies proximal left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion in patients with chest pain. We report a case of a 34‐year‐old man with a history of smoking who presented to the local emergency department with a 49 min history of chest pain. The first ECG of the patient indicated that ST‐segment elevation was noted in the lead V2–V4; 57 min later, a second ECG revealed a typical de Winter syndrome when the patient was transferred to the emergency chest pain centre of our hospital. A percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed approximately 8 h later because the patient initially refused the PCI. Acute coronary artery angiography showed that the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery was completely occluded. Our case suggests that ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction may evolve in the direction of de Winter, which reflects a coronary thrombus in formation, so the de Winter ECG pattern should not be considered static.

Background Evidence is limited regarding the role of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CGS). In particular, the role of MCS in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is unknown. Methods The National Cardiogenic Shock Initiative (NCSI) is a multicenter United States registry of patients with ACS complicated by CGS treated with MCS. We compared the rate of survival to hospital discharge among patients with OHCA, in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), or no cardiac arrest. We subsequently used multivariable analyses to determine independent predictors of OHCA survival. Results Survival to hospital discharge occurred in 85.7% (42/49) of OHCA, 72.4% (50/69) of IHCA, and 74.5% (111/149) of non-cardiac arrest patients. By multivariable analysis, pre-procedural predictors of survival included younger age, female sex, fewer diseased vessels, left anterior descending coronary artery culprit, lower troponin, higher lactate, and delayed initiation of MCS. Procedural and post-procedural predictors of survival included fewer vessels treated, complete revascularization, higher post-MCS cardiac power output, and fewer inotropic medications required. Conclusions This study demonstrates that excellent outcomes may be achieved following OHCA when MCS is employed for patients appropriately selected by prognostic demographic, anatomic, and health status characteristics. A larger study population, currently being enrolled, is needed to validate the observation further.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to analyze the association between coronary artery vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression and systemic coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA) risk factors. METHODS Female cynomolgus monkeys (n = 39) consumed atherogenic diets containing the women's equivalent of 1000 IU/day of vitamin D3. After 32 months consuming the diets, each monkey underwent surgical menopause. After 32 postmenopausal months, CAA and VDR expression were quantified in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Plasma 25OHD3, lipid profiles and serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) were measured. RESULTS In postmenopausal monkeys receiving atherogenic diets, serum MCP-1 was significantly elevated compared with baseline (482.2 ± 174.2 pg/ml vs. 349.1 ± 163.2 pg/ml, respectively; p

Cardiac patches can help to restore the electrophysiological properties of the heart after myocardial infarction. However, scaffolds for the repair of heart muscle typically require surgical implantation or, if they are injectable, they are not electrically conductive or do not maintain their shape or function. Here, we report the performance, as demonstrated for the repair of infarcted heart muscle in rats and minipigs, of injectable and conductive scaffolds consisting of methacrylated elastin and gelatin, and carbon nanotubes that display shape-memory behaviour, a hierarchical porous structure and a negligible Poisson’s ratio. In rats, the implantation of cell-free patches or patches seeded with rat cardiomyocytes onto the myocardium after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery led to functional repair after 4 weeks, as indicated by increases in fractional shortening and the ejection fraction, and by a decrease in the infarcted area. We also observed measures of functional recovery in minipigs with infarcted hearts after the delivery of cell-free patches or patches incorporating cardiomyocytes differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells. Injectable and electrically conductive scaffolds displaying shape-memory behaviour and a hierarchical porous structure enhance the functional repair of infarcted heart muscle in rats and minipigs.

We report our technique for the surgical revascularization of symptomatic severe in-stent restenosis of a "full metal jacket" (≥60 mm overlapping stents) of the left anterior descending coronary artery without suitable distal targets: on-pump cardioplegic-arrest stent removal (stentectomy) with endarterectomy and skeletonized left internal mammary artery onlay patch reconstruction. We also describe our follow-up protocol, including antiplatelet/anticoagulation and angiography. With proper patient selection, multidisciplinary collaboration, and surgical expertise, this advanced coronary procedure can be beneficial to a growing population of patients otherwise deemed to be untreatable.

We report a rare case of a ruptured giant left anterior descending coronary artery pseudoaneurysm that necessitated salvage operative repair. This case affirms the life-threatening nature of this clinically significant pathology, as well as the need for emergent repair before pseudoaneurysm rupture to maximize the likelihood of patient survival.

Background Z score utility is emphasized in classifying coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease patients. The present study is the largest such multicenter Chinese pediatric study about coronary artery diameter reference values and Z score regression equation to date. It is useful in Chinese pediatric echocardiography. Methods A multicenter cohort was assembled, which consisted of 852 healthy children between 1 month and 17 years of age, ten children were excluded because their ultrasound images were not clear, or lost in following up. Diameters of the right coronary artery, left coronary artery, and left anterior descending coronary artery were assessed using echocardiography. Data were body surface area (BSA)-corrected using BSA calculated via either the Stevenson BSA formula or the Haycock BSA formula. Coronary artery diameter reference values and Z score regression equations were established for use in the Chinese pediatric population. Results No difference was observed between coronary artery diameter data corrected using BSAste or BSAhay. Of the five assessed regression models, the exponential model exhibited the best fit and was therefore selected as the basis for derivation of the SZ method. When comparing Z scores, those produced by the SZ method conformed to the standard normal distribution, while those produced by the D method did not. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between Z scores produced by the SZ and D methods (P Conclusions Coronary artery diameter reference values for echocardiography were successfully established for use in the Chinese pediatric population, and a Z score regression equation more suitable for clinical use in this population was successfully developed.

Background Ischemic heart disease and the resulting heart failure continue to carry high morbidity and mortality, and a breakthrough in our understanding of this disorder is needed. The adult spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) has evolved the remarkable capacity to regenerate full-thickness skin tissue, including microvasculature and cartilage, without fibrosis or scarring. We hypothesized that lack of scarring and resulting functional regeneration also applies to the adult Acomys heart. Methods and results We compared responses of the Acomys heart to CD1 outbred Mus heart following acute left anterior descending coronary artery ligation to induce myocardial infarction. Both Acomys and Mus hearts showed decreased ejection fraction (EF) after ligation. However, Acomys hearts showed significant EF recovery to pre-ligation values over four weeks. Histological analysis showed comparable infarct area 24-h after ligation with a similar collateral flow in both species' hearts, but subsequently, Acomys displayed reduced infarct size, regenerated microvasculature, and increased cell proliferative activity in the infarcted area. Conclusions These observations suggest that adult Acomys displays remarkable cardiac recovery properties after acute coronary artery occlusion and may be a useful model to understand functional recovery better. Translational perspective Adult Acomys provides a novel mammalian model to further investigate the cardioprotective and regenerative signaling mechanisms in adult mammals. This opens the door to breakthrough treatment strategies for the injured myocardium and help millions of patients with heart failure secondary to tissue injury with irreversible damage.

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores for coronary artery lesions and in-hospital prognosis of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods A total of 524 patients who were diagnosed with STEMI from January 2016 to August 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The correlation between CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores with the patients’ clinical data, number of coronary lesions, Gensini scores, the target vessel and hospitalization time and in-hospital adverse events (AEs) was analyzed. Results The number of coronary lesions in STEMI patients was mainly single and double lesions. The CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were not meaningful for predicting the number of coronary lesions. However, for left main coronary artery lesion, CHADS2 score was significantly increased when the number increased (P 2DS2-VASc score showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The incidence of target lesions in STMEI patients was mainly left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and right coronary artery (RCA). The two scores were not meaningful for predicting target lesions (P > 0.05). For the severity of coronary lesions, there was positive correlation between CHADS2 score with Gensini score (P 2DS2-VASc score and Gensini score (P > 0.05). The stratifications of CHADS2 score and CHA2DS2-VASc score were significantly associated with hospitalization time and adverse events during hospitalization (P P Conclusion CHADS2 score had a certain value to predict the severity of coronary lesion and the presence of left main coronary artery in STEMI. The CHA2DS2-VASc score had no predictive ability to do it. There was no significant value in predicting the number of coronary lesions and the location of the target lesions in STEMI patients. However, both scores had the predictive ability for patient hospitalization and AEs during hospitalization.

Aim The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of ABCDE-SE in a prospective, large scale, multicentre, international, effectiveness study. Stress echocardiography (SE) was recently upgraded to the ABCDE protocol: step A, regional wall motion abnormalities; step B, B lines; step C, left ventricular contractile reserve; step D, Doppler-based coronary flow velocity reserve in left anterior descending coronary artery; and step E, electrocardiogram-based heart rate reserve. Methods and results From July 2016 to November 2020, we enrolled 3574 all-comers (age 65 ± 11 years, 2070 males, 58%; ejection fraction 60 ± 10%) with known or suspected chronic coronary syndromes referred from 13 certified laboratories. All patients underwent clinically indicated ABCDE-SE. The employed stress modality was exercise (n = 952, with semi-supine bike, n = 887, or treadmill, n = 65 with adenosine for step D) or pharmacological stress (n = 2622, with vasodilator, n = 2151; or dobutamine, n = 471). SE response ranged from score 0 (all steps normal) to score 5 (all steps abnormal). All-cause death was the only endpoint. Rate of abnormal results was 16% for A, 30% for B, 36% for C, 28% for D, and 37% for E steps. During a median follow-up of 21 months (interquartile range: 13–36), 73 deaths occurred. Global X2 was 49.5 considering clinical variables, 50.7 after step A only (P = NS (not significant)) and 80.6 after B–E steps (P, Graphical Abstract This study recruited 3,574 patients from 13 stress echo laboratories of 5 countries and shows the prognostic value of the new state-of-the art cardiac functional testing with stress echo ABCDE protocol: Step A for regional wall motion abnormalities; step B for B-lines obtained with 4-site simplified scan and lung ultrasound; step C for contractile reserve with volumetric echocardiography; step D for Doppler-based assessment of coronary flow reserve in mid-distal left anterior descending coronary artery; step E for EKG-based heart rate reserve.

Background Spontaneous ventricular premature contractions (PVCs) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) in the acute post infarct milieu is assumed to be due to automaticity. However, the mechanism has not been studied with intramural mapping. Objective To study the mechanism of spontaneous PVCs with high density intramural mapping in a canine model, and to test the hypothesis that post-infarct PVCs and VT are due to re-entry rather than automaticity. Methods In 15 anesthetized dogs, using 768 intramural unipolar electrograms, simultaneous recordings were made. After 20 mins of stabilization, recordings were made during the first 10 minutes of ischemia, and activation maps of individual beats were constructed. Acute ischemia was produced by clamping the left anterior descending coronary artery proximal to the first diagonal branch. Results In all experiments ST-T alternans was present. Spontaneous ventricular beats occurred in 5 of 15 dogs where the earliest ectopic activity was manifested in the endocardium, well within the ischemic zone. From there, activity spread rapidly along the subendocardium, with endo-to epicardial spread along the non-ischemic myocardium. Epicardial breakthrough always occurred at the border of the ischemic myocardium. In 3 dogs, delayed potentials were observed, which were earliest at the ischemic epicardium and extended transmurally with increasing delay towards the endocardium, where they culminated in a premature beat. A similar sequence was observed in VT that followed. Conclusion Graded responses that occur with each sinus beat intramurally, when able to propagate from epicardium to endocardium is the mechanism of PVCs and VT in post-infarct myocardium. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Stress-echocardiography can rightly be considered one of the champions of cardiac functional imaging, thanks to its real-time imaging, high temporal resolution, high safety and very low cost. When stress-echocardiography is performed at top technical quality, hence taking advantage of ultrasound contrast media for endocardial border delineation at least for suboptimal cases, subjectivity is minimized, and with the routine use of coronary flow reserve measurement (left anterior descending coronary artery, stress/rest ratio reduced or normal, i.e. 2.0) diagnostic sensitivity is strengthened. The true competitor of any type of functional imaging, stress-echocardiography included, is nowadays coronary computed tomography angiography, which is instead a diagnostic method directly, noninvasively assessing coronary anatomy, apparently the holy grail for any cardiologist. The new 2019 Guidelines on chronic coronary syndrome of the European Society of Cardiology change the existing landscape and clinical practice, while they probably cannot clarify which type of test, functional or anatomic, should be first chosen in different clinical scenarios of suspected chronic coronary syndrome. We review the existing data and the authors' personal view in order to assess how functional stress-echocardiography compares with coronary computed tomography angiography regarding three main aspects: diagnosis of coronary artery disease, guidance of therapy (coronary revascularization versus medical therapy) and risk stratification.

Background: Elevated Low density Lipoprotein (LDL) levels have been traditionally associated with development of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). As LDL-cholesterol levels are not always raised in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, sd-LDL is an emerging risk factor. The purpose of the present study was tri-fold. Firstly, it aimed to investigate the association of sd-LDL as a risk factor in ACS patients. Secondly, it aimed to correlate the presence of sd-LDL with severity of coronary artery disease as determined by coronary angiography. Lastly, it aimed to correlate the presence of sd-LDL with short-term outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective, hospital-based, cross-sectional, case-control study conducted over a 1-year study duration. Patients above the age of 18 years diagnosed with ACS within 24 h of admission were studied. Blood samples were collected after all patients had undergone coronary angiography and sd-LDL levels were measured. Results: ACS patients had significantly higher sd-LDL levels than non-ACS patients (16.10 ± 1.42 mg/dL vs. 12.67 ± 0.71 mg/dL, P = 0.036). Males had significantly higher sd-LDL levels than females (16.79 ± 1.55 mg/dl vs. 10.77 ± 2.62 mg/dl, P=0.047). Patients with non-left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) involvement had significantly higher sd-LDL levels compared to patients with LAD involvement (21.92 ± 3.55 mg/dL vs. 14.03 ± 1.35 mg/dL, P = 0.007). Conclusion: These results suggest that sd-LDL is a risk factor for the development of ACS in an Indian population. Cardiol Res. 2021;12(4):251-257 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cr1254

Mean heart dose (MHD) over 10 Gy and left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery volume (V) receiving 15 Gy (V15Gy) greater than 10% can significantly increase the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We sought to characterize the discordance between MHD and LAD dose and the association of this classification on the risk of MACE after radiation therapy.The coefficient of determination for MHD and LAD V15Gy was calculated in this retrospective analysis of 701 patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with radiation therapy. Four groups were defined on the basis of high or low MHD (≥10 Gy vs10 Gy) and LAD V15Gy (≥10% vs10%). MACE (unstable angina, heart failure, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and cardiac death) cumulative incidence was estimated, and Fine and Gray regressions were performed.The proportion of variance in LAD V15Gy predictable from MHD was only 54.5% (RMHD is insufficient to predict LAD V15Gy with confidence. When MHD and LAD V15Gy dose exposure is discordant, isolated low LAD V15Gy significantly reduces the risk of MACE in patients with locally advanced NSCLC after radiation therapy, suggesting that the validity of whole heart metrics for optimally predicting cardiac events should be reassessed.

Aims Enhanced sympathetic activity during acute ischaemia is arrhythmogenic, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. During ischaemia, a diastolic current flows from the ischaemic to the non-ischaemic myocardium. This ‘injury’ current can cause ventricular premature beats (VPBs) originating in the non-ischaemic myocardium, especially during a deeply negative T wave in the ischaemic zone. We reasoned that shortening of repolarization in myocardium adjacent to ischaemic myocardium increases the ‘injury’ current and causes earlier deeply negative T waves in the ischaemic zone, and re-excitation of the normal myocardium. We tested this hypothesis by activation and repolarization mapping during stimulation of the left stellate ganglion (LSG) during left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion. Methods and results In nine pigs, five subsequent episodes of acute ischaemia, separated by 20 min of reperfusion, were produced by occlusion of the LAD and 121 epicardial local unipolar electrograms were recorded. During the third occlusion, left stellate ganglion stimulation (LSGS) was initiated after 3 min for a 30-s period, causing a shortening of repolarization in the normal myocardium by about 100 ms. This resulted in more negative T waves in the ischaemic zone and more VPBs than during the second, control, occlusion. Following the decentralization of the LSG (including removal of the right stellate ganglion and bilateral cervical vagotomy), fewer VPBs occurred during ischaemia without LSGS. During LSGS, the number of VPBs was similar to that recorded before decentralization. Conclusion LSGS, by virtue of shortening of repolarization in the non-ischaemic myocardium by about 100 ms, causes deeply negative T waves in the ischaemic tissue and VPBs originating from the normal tissue adjacent to the ischaemic border., Graphical Abstract

Background Myocardial bridging (MB) is associated with various forms of arrhythmia. However, whether MB is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) remains unknown. This study aimed to identify the relationship between myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery (MB-LAD) and AF in patients with HOCM. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 1925 patients diagnosed with HOCM at Fuwai Hospital from January 2012 to March 2019. Patients with coronary artery disease, a history of heart surgery, and those who had not been subjected to angiography were excluded. Finally, 105 patients with AF were included in this study. The control group was matched in a ratio of 3:1 based on age and gender. Results Forty-three patients were diagnosed with MB-LAD in this study. The presence of MB was significantly higher in patients with AF than in those without AF (19.0% vs. 7.3%; p = 0.001), although MB compression and MB length did not differ between the two groups. In conditional multivariate logistic analysis, MB (odds ratio [OR] 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–5.01; p = 0.03), pulmonary arterial hypertension (OR 2.63; 95% CI 1.26–5.47; p = 0.01), hyperlipidemia (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.12–3.00; p = 0.016), left atrial diameter (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.05–1.13; p p = 0.037) were independent risk factors for AF in patients with HOCM. Conclusions The presence of MB is an independent risk factor for AF in patients with HOCM. The potential mechanistic link between MB and the development of AF warrants further investigation.

A 57-years-old man presented in our department of emergency with an acute chest pain infarct-like. The electrocardiogram realised showed an ST elevation in the infero-latero-basal leads suggesting an occlusion of the right coronary artery or the left circumflex coronary artery. However, the coronary angiography that was performed showed a subocclusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, in contrast to the expected results. This case was reported using electrocardiography and coronary angiography data and the electrocardiogram changes after a percutaneous coronary intervention. The particularity of this case lies in the lack of correlation between the electrocardiographic Changes and the Coronary Angiographic Findings.

Introduction: Left internal mammary artery (LIMA) grafts should be used in patients undergoing CABG. No other procedure results in patency equivalent to that of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD)–LIMA bypass graft. The CHA2DS2-Vasc-HS scoring system can be used to successfully predict CAD severity in stable CAD patients. We aimed to investigate the relationship between LIMA flow and the CHA2DS2-Vasc-HS score. Methods: A total of 684 patients, who underwent CABG surgery, were included in this study. Previous history of bypass surgery, emergency operations, patients with Leriche syndrome and patients with severe obstructive pulmonary and subclavian artery disease were excluded from our study. Patients with a LIMA flow that was suitable for bypass grafting, as determined during the intraoperative evaluation, were included in the low LIMA flow group, and the CHA2DS2-Vasc-HS score was calculated for all patients. Results: Patients in the low LIMA flow group (Group 1) were older. The CHA2DS2-Vasc-HS score (P < 0.001), presence of mild or moderate COPD (P = 0.022), number of severely diseased vessels (P = 0.036), and BMI (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of poor LIMA flow. The cutoff value of the CHA2DS2-VASc-HS score for the prediction of poor LIMA flow was >5.5, with a sensitivity of 92.9% and specificity of 83.4% (AUC: 0.938, 95% Cl: 0.906 – 0.970, P < 0.001). Conclusion: A preoperative high CHA2DS2-Vasc-HS score can be used to predict low intraoperative LIMA flow. The CHA2DS2-Vasc-HS score is an easy-to-use and reliable estimation method and can be used as an additional preoperative of LIMA flow in patients undergoing CABG due to severe CAD.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an inflammatory disease associated with coronary vasculitis in children. In this study, we explored the correlation between Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and coronary artery lesions (CAL) in children with KD. Methods: Ninety-three children with KD were divided into a normal coronary artery (NCA, 54 cases) group and coronary artery lesions (CAL, 39 cases) group, according to the results of echocardiography. Another 42 healthy children were selected as the control group. The serumal levels of Lp-PLA2, Interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level were analyzed. The left main coronary artery (LMCA), diameters of left anterior descending coronary artery (LADC), right proximal coronary artery (PRCA), and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were obtained by color Doppler ultrasound. The correlation between the above indexes and KD was analyzed. Results: The levels of white blood cell counts (WBC), ESR, CRP, IFN-γ, IL-6 and Lp-PLA2 as well as IMT were significantly increased in KD children (P < 0.05), and the levels of CRP, IFN-γ, IL-6 and Lp-PLA2 as well as IMT in the CAL group increased more significantly (P < 0.05). An increasing trend also has been described in the diameters of LMCA, LADC and PRCA for KD children with CAL compared with with NCA. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the elevated levels of CRP, IFN-γ, IL-6 and Lp-PLA2 were independent risk factors for KD with CAL. Correlation analysis showed that Lp-PLA2 level was positively correlated with the levels of IFN-γ, IL-6 and CRP in CAL group and NCA group (respectively, all P < 0.01). In addition, a similar correlation was also described between Lp-PLA2 level and the diameters of LMCA, LADC and PRCA in CAL group (respectively, all P < 0.01). Conclusion: Lp-PLA2 may participate in the pathological mechanism of KD. Detection of the serum Lp-PLA2 level can be used in the diagnosis of KD disease and the assessment of coronary artery lesions in KD children.

Background: Absolute hyperaemic coronary blood flow (Q, in mL/min) and resistance (R, in Wood units [WU]) can be measured invasively by continuous thermodilution. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess normal reference values of Q and R. Methods: In 177 arteries (69 patients: 25 controls, i.e., without identifiable coronary atherosclerosis; 44 patients with mild, non-obstructive atherosclerosis), thermodilution-derived hyperaemic Q and total, epicardial, and microvascular absolute resistances (R tot, R epi, and R micro) were measured. In 20 controls and 29 patients, measurements were obtained in all three major coronary arteries, thus allowing calculations of Q and R for the whole heart. In 15 controls (41 vessels) and 25 patients (71 vessels), vessel-specific myocardial mass was derived from coronary computed tomography angiography. Results: Whole heart hyperaemic Q tended to be higher in controls compared to patients (668±185 vs 582±138 mL/min, p=0.068). In the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), hyperaemic Q was significantly higher (293±102 mL/min versus 228±71 mL/min, p=0.004) in controls than in patients. This was driven mainly by a difference in R epi (43±23 vs 83±41 WU, p=0.048), without significant differences in R micro. After adjustment for vessel-specific myocardial mass, hyperaemic Q was similar in the three vascular territories (5.9±1.9, 4.9±1.7, and 5.3±2.1 mL/min/g, p=0.44, in the LAD, left circumflex and right coronary artery, respectively). Conclusions: The present report provides reference values of absolute coronary hyperaemic Q and R. Q was homogeneously distributed in the three major myocardial territories but the large ranges of observed hyperaemic values of flow and of microvascular resistance preclude their clinical use for inter-patient comparison.

BACKGROUND Myocardial bridge (MB) is generally considered as a benign condition, but it may trigger atherosclerosis, especially in the adjacent proximal coronary artery segment. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the Framingham risk score (FRS) or atherogenic indices are risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis in patients with MB in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). METHODS We performed a retrospective study evaluating 155 patients who have MB in LAD. The patients were evaluated in two groups according to the presence of atherosclerosis (74 patients in atherosclerotic group vs. 81 patients in non-atherosclerotic group). Baseline characteristics, FRS and atherogenic indices were reviewed between groups. Significant independent risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis were investigated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Patients in atherosclerotic group were significantly older (58.15 ± 10.04 vs. 50.22 ± 9.27 years, p

Background This study aimed to assess the correlation between the standard of care, the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) versus the novel microvascular resistance (Rmicro) and to determine the pathologic cut-off value in a selected population with suspected coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). Methods One-hundred and twenty patients with high clinical suspicion of CMD due to ischemic symptoms in the absence of significant epicardial coronary lesions were prospectively included. Following a standardized systematic protocol, coronary flow reserve, IMR, fractional flow reserve, Q and Rmicro were measured in the left anterior descending coronary artery using a temperature/pressure sensor-tipped guidewire and a dedicated infusion catheter. Results There was a high prevalence of CMD with 50 (42%) patients showing an IMR ≥ 25. Median IMR was 23 [IQR: 14–34] and median Rmicro was 464 Woods Units (WU) [IQR: 354–636WU]. ROC analyses identified 500 WU as the optimal Rmicro cut-off to identify patients with an IMR ≥ 25, with an area under the ROC curve (C statistic) of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.74 to 0.89, p Conclusions Rmicro derived from continuous intracoronary thermodilution is an accurate index to measure microvascular resistances enabling the invasive diagnostic of CMD.

Background Quantitative myocardial perfusion mapping using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is validated for myocardial blood flow (MBF) estimation in native vessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, perfusion defects are often detected in territories supplied by the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft, but their interpretation and subsequent clinical management is variable. Methods We assessed myocardial perfusion using quantitative CMR perfusion mapping in 38 patients with prior CABG surgery, all with angiographically-proven patent LIMA grafts to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and no prior infarction in the LAD territory. Factors potentially determining MBF in the LIMA–LAD myocardial territory, including the impact of delayed contrast arrival through the LIMA graft were evaluated. Results Perfusion defects were reported on blinded visual analysis in the LIMA–LAD territory in 27 (71%) cases, despite LIMA graft patency and no LAD infarction. Native LAD chronic total occlusion (CTO) was a strong independent predictor of stress MBF (B = − 0.41, p = 0.014) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) (B = − 0.56, p = 0.005), and was associated with reduced stress MBF in the basal (1.47 vs 2.07 ml/g/min; p = 0.002) but not the apical myocardial segments (1.52 vs 1.87 ml/g/min; p = 0.057). Extending the maximum arterial time delay incorporated in the quantitative perfusion algorithm, resulted only in a small increase (3.4%) of estimated stress MBF. Conclusions Perfusion defects are frequently detected in LIMA–LAD subtended territories post CABG despite LIMA patency. Although delayed contrast arrival through LIMA grafts causes a small underestimation of MBF, perfusion defects are likely to reflect true reductions in myocardial blood flow, largely due to proximal native LAD disease.

In a patient with variant angina of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, myocardial ischemia changed the QRS-ST-T configurations without J-waves into those resembling “lambda” waves at maximal ST-segment elevation, and couplets or triplets of supraventricular extrasystole (SVE) changed the ischemia-induced “lambda” waves into QRS-ST-T configurations resembling a “tombstone” morphology or “monophasic QRS-ST complex.” At the resolution phase of coronary spasm, the QRS-ST-T configurations returned to those without J-waves and were changed by SVE into “lambda” waves. Interestingly, neither ischemia- nor SVE-induced “lambda” waves or SVE-induced “tombstone” morphology or “monophasic QRS-ST complex” were complicated by ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

espanolIntroduccion y objetivos: Los pacientes con una reserva fraccional de flujo (FFR) reducida tras intervencion coronaria percutanea (ICP) tienen mayor riesgo de futuros eventos cardiacos adversos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar predictores especificos de pacientes y procedimientos para el valor de FFR tras una ICP. Metodos: El estudio FFR-SEARCH es un registro prospectivo de un solo centro que incluyo 1.000 pacientes consecutivos que se sometieron a una evaluacion de la FFR tras una ICP con exito angiografico utilizando un microcateter especifico. Se utilizaron modelos de efectos mixtos para buscar predictores independientes de FFR tras la ICP. Resultados: La media de presion distal dividida entre la presion aortica tras la ICP fue de 0,96 ± 0,04, y la media de la FFR tras la ICP fue de 0,91 ± 0,07. Tras ajustar por predictores independientes de FFR tras la ICP, la arteria descendente anterior izquierda como vaso medido fue el predictor mas fuerte (β ajustado = −0,063; IC95%, −0,070 a −0,056; p Conclusiones: Se identificaron diversos predictores independientes relacionados con los pacientes y con los vasos para la FFR posprocedimiento, incluyendo el sexo, la arteria descendente anterior izquierda como vaso medido y el diametro luminal minimo posprocedimiento. EnglishIntroduction and objectives: Patients with a low post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) fractional flow reserve (FFR) are at a higher risk for future adverse cardiac events. The objective of the current study was to assess specific patient and procedural predictors of post-PCI FFR. Methods: The FFR-SEARCH study is a prospective single-center registry of 1000 consecutive all-comer patients who underwent FFR measurements after an angiographically successful PCI with a dedicated microcatheter. Mixed effects models were used to search for independent predictors of post-PCI FFR. Results: The mean post-PCI distal coronary pressure divided by the aortic pressure (Pd/Pa) was 0.96 ± 0.04 and the mean post-PCI FFR, 0.91 ± 0.07. After adjusting for the independent predictors of post-PCI FFR, the left anterior descending coronary artery as the measured vessel was the strongest predictor of post-PCI FFR (adjusted β = –0.063; 95%CI, –0.070 to –0.056; P Conclusions: Multiple independent patient and vessel related predictors of postprocedural FFR were identified, including sex, the left anterior descending coronary artery as the measured vessel, and postprocedural minimum lumen diameter.

A 54-year-old man with recurrent, persistent atrial fibrillation was found dead unexpectedly. He was reportedly non-compliant with his medications and was not on anti-coagulant therapy. He was found dead in his residence after complaining of abdominal discomfort a day prior to death. Postmortem examination revealed a thromboembolus occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery that originated from a mural thrombus in the left appendage, in addition to kidney infarcts. Although atrial fibrillation-related thromboembolism is often speculated to be a cause of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries, supporting pathological evidence is rare. This case documents radiological, macroscopic and microscopic images of this important complication from atrial fibrillation.

A novel coronary anatomy in the form of anomalous left anterior descending coronary artery from pulmonary artery with a retroaortic left circumflex arising from the right coronary artery is presented. This unreported anatomy was discovered in a 7-month-old girl with failure to thrive. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.), Central Illustration

Background Preclinical models that resemble the clinical setting as closely as possible are essential in translating promising therapies for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Closed chest pig left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ischemia reperfusion (I/R) models are valuable and clinically relevant. Knowledge on the influence of experimental design on infarct size (IS) in these models is a prerequisite for suitable models. To this end, we investigated the impact of several experimental features (occlusion and follow-up time and influence of area at risk (AAR)) on IS. Methods A total of fifty-one female Landrace pigs were subjected to closed chest LAD balloon occlusion and evaluated in three substudies with varying protocols. To assess the relationship between time of occlusion and the IS, 18 pigs were subjected to 60-, 75- and 90 min of occlusion and terminated after 24 h of follow-up. Influence of prolonged follow-up on IS was studied in 18 pigs after 75 min of occlusion that were terminated at 1, 3 and 7 days. The relation between AAR and IS was studied in 28 pigs after 60 min of occlusion and 24 h of follow-up. The relation between VF, number of shocks and IS was studied in the same 28 pigs after 60 min of occlusion. Results Increasing occlusion time resulted in an increased IS as a ratio of the AAR (IS/AAR). This ranged from 53 ± 23% after 60 min of occlusion to 88 ± 2.2% after 90 min (P = 0.01). Increasing follow-up, from 1 to 3 or 7 days after 75 min of occlusion did not effect IS/AAR. Increasing AAR led to a larger IS/AAR (r2 = 0.34, P = 0.002), earlier VF (r2 = 0.32, P = 0.027) and a higher number of shocks (r2 = 0.29, P = 0.004) in pigs subjected to 60 min of occlusion. Conclusions These experiments describe the association of occlusion time, follow-up duration, AAR and VF with IS in closed chest pig LAD I/R models. These results have important implications for future I/R studies in pigs and can serve as a guideline for the selection of appropriate parameters and the optimal experimental design.

Background Pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (PSCAD) is an important cause of chest pain and acute myocardial infarction in pregnant and postpartum women. Pregnancy is considered an isolated risk factor for spontaneous coronary artery dissection. The etiology, pathogenesis, and incidence of PSCAD are not known. Case summary We present a case of a 33-year-old postpartum female who presented with sudden onset chest pain and was diagnosed with spontaneous coronary artery dissection and needed urgent catheterization revealing left anterior descending coronary artery dissection. She underwent emergent coronary artery bypass graft surgery with good post-operative recovery. Conclusion Most patients with PSCAD can be managed conservatively with medical management and have good outcomes. Patients with high-risk presentations benefit from the invasive approach. Coronary artery bypass graft may be required in select few patients based on angiography findings. Due to the risk of recurrent spontaneous coronary artery dissection, subsequent pregnancies are discouraged.

A 61-year-old woman suffered chest pain and was admitted to a nearby hospital emergency department. She was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction probably due to thromboembolism in the left anterior descending coronary artery and aspiration thrombectomy was performed. Afterwards, she developed refractory heart failure with severe global left ventricular dysfunction and was transferred to our hospital. An 18F-FDG-PET/CT scan revealed abnormal 18F-FDG uptake in non-infarcted regions of the left ventricle. Non-caseating granulomas were detected by biopsy from a skin eruption. She was diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis. In cases of refractory heart failure which cannot be explained only by myocardial infarction, evaluation of other undiagnosed cardiomyopathies is important for optimal management.

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) atresia is a rare congenital heart disease and can be fatal in pediatric patients. We report an adult case of LMCA atresia, in which heart failure developed without episodes suggesting angina. A 40-year-old man presented with difficulty breathing. Echocardiography revealed diffuse hypokinesis of the left ventricle with an ejection fraction of 22% in the absence of significant valvular disease. A diagnosis of heart failure was made, and diuretics, enalapril, bisoprolol and warfarin were administered. Coronary angiography demonstrated no trace of the ostium of the LMCA in the sinuses of Valsalva; the middle to distal part of the LMCA was visualized by rich collateral flow from the right coronary artery to the left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery. No trace of the ostium of the LMCA from the aorta or main pulmonary artery was detected on computed tomography angiography or echocardiography. The patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and a final diagnosis of congenital atresia of LMCA was made. The clinical course was uneventful and computed tomography angiography, performed 5 days after surgery, showed a patent bypass graft. This case demonstrates the importance of considering LMCA atresia even in the absence of chest symptoms suggesting angina in patients with heart failure. J Med Cases. 2021;12(6):233-237 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3681

Objectives Whether there are prognostic links between coronary morphologies and coronary functional abnormalities was examined in ischemia and nonobstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) patients. Background Although INOCA has attracted much attention, little is known about the prognostic impact of coronary morphologies in this disorder. Methods A total of 329 consecutive INOCA patients were enrolled and underwent spasm provocation testing combined with lactate sampling for diagnosis of epicardial and microvascular spasm (MVS). On the basis of the functional tests, the patients were classified into 4 groups: a control group without epicardial spasm or MVS (n = 32), MVS alone (n = 51), diffuse spasm in ≥2 coronary segments (n = 204), and focal spasm in 1 segment (n = 42). In this population, optical coherence tomography imaging of the left anterior descending coronary artery was performed for evaluation of adventitial vasa vasorum (AVV) and intraplaque neovessels (IPN). Index of microcirculatory resistance was also measured. Results MVS frequently coexisted with diffuse (70%) and focal spasm (68%) with a good correlation between AVV and index of microcirculatory resistance (R = 0.353; p = 0.022). For a median follow-up of 1,043 days, focal spasm showed the worst prognosis (log rank p = 0.005), for which IPN was a significant prognostic factor. By contrast, diffuse spasm showed the greatest AVV with an intermediate prognosis. The prognostic value of INOCA was significantly enhanced by adding AVV and IPN to the physiological indices (area under the curve = 0.88 vs. 0.76; p = 0.048). Conclusions These results provide the first evidence that there are important prognostic links between coronary morphologies (evaluated by optical coherence tomography) and coronary functional abnormalities in patients with INOCA, indicating the importance of both evaluations in this population.

Background : Breast radiotherapy is associated with a cardiotoxicity risk which could be decreased by optimizing radiation dose to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA). However, precise delineation of the LADCA on non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scans is complex and poorly reproducible. Purpose : This study aimed to define a reproducible “high risk cardiac zone” (HRCZ) which could straightforwardly replace LADCA delineation on non-contrast CT scans for treatment planning optimization. Additionally, we compared standard dosimetric parameters (mean and maximum doses) of the proposed HRCZ and of the LADCA. Materials/methods : Forty breast cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were randomly selected from our institutional database. The LADCA was manually delineated on the non-contrast simulation CT scans according to ESTRO guidelines (Duane et al., 2017), to ensure reproducibility, and each contour was validated by a staff of three radiation oncologists. “High risk cardiac zones” (HRCZ) were defined as segments of the anterior cardiac wall, geometrically centered around the inter-ventricular groove where the LADCA anatomically lies (from top to bottom) with a constant 1cm-thickness and a symmetrical lateral expansion on both sides of the groove (HRCZ width). For each patient, eight “high risk cardiac zones” (HRCZ) were delineated differing by their width, ranging between 1 cm and 8 cm (by steps of 1cm). Mean and maximum doses to the LADCA and to the HRCZ were retrieved, and relative variations were calculated as follows, as a function of the HRCZ width: Mean dose relative variation = [mean dose (HRCZ) - mean dose (LADCA)]/mean dose (LADCA) Max. dose relative variation = [max. dose (HRCZ) - max. dose (LADCA)]/max. dose (LADCA) Results : Mean and maximum dose relative variations between HRCZ and LADCA are reported in table 1 as a function of HRCZ width, for left-sided and right-sided irradiation. For a given HRCZ width, LADCA radiation exposure can be straightforwardly deducted from HRCZ dosimetric parameters, by applying the corresponding dose adjustments. HRCZ had higher maximum doses than LADCA, independently of the width. However, for a HRCZ width larger than 4 cm, dosimetric adjustments for the maximum doses drastically increased for right-sided irradiation with a potential risk of non-representativeness. Conclusion : When planning breast radiotherapy on non-contrast CT scans, delineating a segment of the anterior cardiac wall centered on the inter-ventricular groove from top to bottom, with a 1cm thickness and a 3-4cm width, can replace LADCA uncertain contouring and can be conveniently used for indirect coronary sparing. Table 1: maximum and mean dose relative variation between the LADCA and the proposed HRCZHRCZ width (cm)Max. dose var. (left-sided RT)Mean dose var. (left-sided RT)Max. dose var.(right-sided RT)Mean dose var. (right-sided RT)15.3%-13.0%7.8%-1.4%212.6%-19.1%16.3%-2.4%319.1%-22.6%26.4%-2.8%424.8%-26.0%38.6%-2.8%529.0%-28.5%52.2%-2.2%629.0%-32.3%71.3%-1.1%729.9%-36.0%92.4%0.5%829.9%-38.8%118.3%2.8%Table 1: maximum and mean dose relative variation between the LADCA and the proposed HRCZ, as a function of the HRCZ width. HRCZ: “high risk cardiac zone”. LADCA: Left anterior descending coronary artery. Citation Format: Pierre Loap, Nicolas Tkatchenko, Eliot Nicolas, Youlia Kirova. Definition of a high risk cardiac zone on non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scans for indirect optimization of left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) dosimetry for breast radiotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS15-08.

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are very rare a relatively uncommon, diverse group of congenital disorders of coronary arterial anatomy with a clinical presentations. Though most commonly detected incidentally finding during routine catheter, CT angiograms or at autopsy, these anomalies have generated considerable interest as they constitute the second most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young competitive athletes after hypertrophic cardiomyopathy1. Their prevalence ranges from 0.2% to 1.3% based published series 2-4. The most common coronary artery anomaly is origination of the left circumflex coronary (LCX) artery from the proximal of right coronary artery (RCA) or right sinus of Valsalva. The second is separate origination of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and LCX artery from the left sinus of Valsalva. Herein, we present five cases that the anomalous RCA arises from the left main coronary artery or the mid of left left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). These cases are extremely rare. we bring forth them in an attempt to highlight their significance, and make cardiologist to understand what important the anomalies are, and how to diagnosis and treatment these bifurcation lesions of coronary anomalies.

Myocardial infarction is one of the common types of coronary heart disease in the clinic. Its morbidity, lethality and disability are high, and it has become a serious threat to human health. At present, it is shown that in the early stage of acute myocardial infarction, myocardial cells are mainly apoptotic, suggesting that effectively blocking myocardial apoptosis in the early stage of myocardial infarction is of great significance for reducing tissue necrosis in the infarcted area. Recent studies have shown that NG nano-protein complexes have a better therapeutic effect on acute myocardial infarction and can inhibit left ventricular remodeling in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, there are few studies on the effect of NG nano-protein complexes on myocardial cell apoptosis after ischemia. This study used a rat model of acute myocardial infarction to analyze its effect on apoptotic proteins of myocardial cells in rats with acute myocardial infarction in order to provide a certain theoretical basis for its clinical application. In this study, 45 SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a myocardial infarction group, and a NG nano-protein complex group, with 15 in each group. The sham operation group only underwent thoracotomy, and received normal saline gavage postoperatively; the myocardial infarction group and the NG nano-protein complex group were ligated to the left anterior descending coronary artery of the rat to establish an acute myocardial infarction model, and were performed separately treatment with saline and NG nanoprotein complexes. Finally, we conclude that this nano-protein complex can significantly reduce the expression level of myocardial apoptosis-related proteins in rats with acute myocardial infarction, and is of great significance in inhibiting the apoptosis of acute myocardial infarction cells.

A 46-year-old man complained of chest pain at rest for the past three months. His symptoms gradually exacerbated and were suspected of being due to unstable angina. A coronary angiogram revealed focal tight stenosis at the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery with gross spastic coronary findings. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed layered low-intensity structures with microvessels and the accumulation of macrophages, which indicated progressive stenosis with multiple-layered organized thrombus caused by coronary erosion. We treated the stenosis using a drug-coated balloon instead of drug-eluting stents. There was no restenosis, and OCT revealed good plaque healing at follow-up. This case suggests that the pre-interventional OCT plaque morphology can have a positive impact on the revascularization strategy.

Inferior ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) is often due to acute occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA) or left circumflex artery (LCx). Anatomically, distal occlusion of a dominant left anterior descending artery (LAD) wrapping around the apex supplying posterior descending artery (PDA) can also lead to inferior wall MI. The occurrence of inferior MI with LAD occlusion is underappreciated. We are presenting a case of proximal LAD occlusion leading to inferior wall MI in the presence of non-occlusive right coronary artery (RCA). Physicians should keep in mind the possibility of inferior myocardial infarction with LAD occlusion and interventional cardiologists should perform a complete angiogram to identify the faulty lesion in inferior STEMI before deciding on a RCA or LCx as the culprit artery. Isolated IWMI (inferior wall myocardial infarction) from proximal occlusion of the wrapped around LAD as noted in our patient is a rare occurrence.

Introduction and objectives Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an uncommon cause of acute coronary syndrome. The characteristics and in-hospital clinical course of patients with SCAD in Spain remain unknown. Methods We present data from consecutive patients included in the national prospective SCAD registry. Angiographic analysis was performed in a centralized core laboratory. Results Between June 2015 and April 2019, we included 318 patients with SCAD (358 lesions) from 31 centers. Median age was 53 years, and 88% were women. The most frequent presentation was non–ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (53%). The most frequently involved artery was the left anterior descending coronary artery (44%), predominantly affecting the distal segments (39%) and secondary branches (54%). Most lesions (62%) appeared on angiography as intramural hematoma, without double lumen. Conservative management was selected as the initial approach in most patients (78%). During the index admission, 6% of patients had a major adverse event and 4 patients (1.3%) died. Independent predictors of adverse events were initial management with percutaneous coronary intervention (OR, 5.97; P = .004) and angiographic presentation as intramural hematoma (OR, 4.96; P = .028). Conclusions In Spain, SCAD affects mainly middle-aged women. In most patients, the initial management strategy was conservative with excellent in-hospital survival. Initial management with percutaneous coronary intervention and angiographic presentation as intramural hematoma were related to the presence of in-hospital adverse events. Registered at ClnicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03607981).

Coronary artery anomalies are found in 0.6%–1.55% of patients who undergo coronary angiography, and the increasing use of diagnostic coronary angiography is unveiling even more complex coronary anomalies. We report an interesting rare case of a single coronary artery from the left coronary sinus with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the mid-segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Such a variant case of a single coronary artery is not reported on computed tomography (CT) scan coronary angiography to the best of our knowledge.

Congenital anomalies of coronary arteries (CAAS) are very rare and usually documented as an incidental finding during routine catheter or CT angiograms performed for other reasons. Their prevalence ranges from 0.2% to 1.3% based published series. The most common coronary artery anomaly is origination of the left circumflex coronary (LCX) artery from the proximal of right coronary artery (RCA) or right sinus of Valsalva. The second is separate origination of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and LCX artery from the left sinus of Valsalva. Herein, we present three cases that the anomalous RCA arises from the mid of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The bifurcation lesions of first case was treated using two-stent strategies of DK culotte, excellent angiography results was observed. The last two cases were treated using simple provisional stenting strategy: one stent was deployed crossover the ostium of the anomalous coronary artery, final angiographic results were excellent. These cases are extremely rare. We bring forth them in an attempt to highlight their significance, and make cardiologist to understand what important the anomalies are, and the strategy how to treatment these bifurcation lesions.

Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are rare congenital heart diseases in which there is a communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or a great vessel. Its diagnosis can be made noninvasively by echocardiography. We report a case of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) to right ventricle fistula where the diagnosis was made by 2D and Doppler echocardiography. The fistula was an incidental finding in an asymptomatic 5-year-old child who underwent echocardiography because of a loud cardiac murmur on physical examination. The Doppler study allowed to accurately evaluate the haemodynamic consequences of the fistula. With this case report, we want to highlight how the typical flow pattern of a left coronary artery to RV fistula can be studied by a comprehensive Doppler echocardiography examination. The knowledge of the Doppler appearance in these cases can help to appreciate the pathophysiology of the fistula and to differentiate between other concomitant abnormalities such as muscular ventricular septal defects (VSDs).

New cardiogenic shock classifications allow prompt recognition and management of complications of acute coronary syndrome. A 59-year-old man presented after a delayed left anterior descending coronary artery ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions stage E cardiogenic shock and ventricular tachycardia storm. He underwent revascularization of the left anterior descending artery, percutaneous left ventricular assist device bridged to permanent assist device placement, epicardial and endocardial ventricular tachycardia ablation, and iatrogenic closure of an atrial septal defect. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.), Graphical abstract

Wellens’ syndrome is a pattern of ECG changes typically seen in patients with unstable angina that has a high positive predictive value for critical left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. Recognition of this syndrome can allow for intervention before the patient develops myocardial infarction. We report a case of Wellens’ syndrome that was observed after an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, which highlights risk factors that needs consideration in evaluating patients with these ECG findings after undergoing procedures even when asymptomatic.

Myocardial Elastography (ME) is an ultrasound-based strain imaging method. A survival canine model (n=11) was employed to investigate ME’s ability to image myocardial infarction (MI) formation and recovery. Infarcts were generated by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Canines were survived and imaged for four days (n=7) or four weeks (n=4), allowing sufficient time for recovery via collateral perfusion. A radial strain-based metric, percentage of healthy myocardium by strain (PHM(ε)), was developed as a marker for healthy myocardial tissue. PHM(ε) was strongly linearly correlated with actual infarct size as determined by gross pathology (R(2) = 0.80). Mean PHM(ε) was reduced 1–3 days postinfarction (p

Purpose To determine the effect of the deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique on left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) region and heart dose in left breast cancer irradiation. Materials and Methods Twenty-five left breast cancer patients who previously received breast-conserving surgery underwent computed tomography (CT) simulation with both free-breathing (FB) and DIBH techniques and four radiation treatment plans. The plan comprised the following with both the FB and DIBH techniques: whole breast (WB), and WB with internal mammary lymph nodes (WB+IMNs). The prescription dose was 50 Gy in 25 fractions. The doses to the LAD region, heart and lungs were compared. Moreover, in-field maximum heart distance (maxHD) and breast volume were analyzed for correlations with the mean heart dose (MHD). Results In the WB plan with DIBH vs. FB techniques, the mean radiation doses to the LAD region, MHD, and the left lung V20 were 11.48 Gy vs. 19.84 Gy (p < 0.0001), 2.95 Gy vs. 5.38 Gy (p < 0.0001), and 19.72% vs. 22.73% (p = 0.0045), respectively. In the WB+IMNs plan, the corresponding values were 23.88 Gy vs. 31.98 Gy (p < 0.0001), 6.43 Gy vs. 10.24 Gy (p < 0.0001), and 29.31% vs. 32.1% (p = 0.0009), respectively. MHD correlated with maxHD (r = 0.925) and breast volume (r = 0.6). Conclusion The use of the DIBH technique in left breast cancer irradiation effectively reduces the radiation doses to the LAD region, heart and lungs. MHD is associated with maxHD and breast size.

Surgical treatment of coronary artery disease in the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has not been comprehensively addressed. The present review aimed to give an overview of coronary artery disease in the SLE patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The study materials were based on comprehensive literature retrieval, which recruited 17 pertinent articles with 30 patients. No differences were found in the graft patencies between the arterial and venous grafts; and between the early and late patency rates. Pathological inspections revealed that all graft vessels were normal with no signs of SLE-related atherosclerosis or vasculitis, one coronary artery was pathologically normal, and another coronary artery showed vasculitis. The coexisting disorders, including diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and nephropathy in the SLE patients cause early deterioration of the saphenous vein grafts. Early occlusion of the saphenous vein grafts was also observed in SLE patients. The left anterior descending coronary artery was most commonly affected by SLE and was the most common coronary artery requiring a CABG procedure. The graft vessels, both arterial and venous, rarely degenerated; whereas, early and late graft failure was usually caused by technical failures. The lack of vasculitis and atherosclerosis in the arterial grafts encourage surgeons to prefer to use the arterial grafts in SLE patients. Less invasive surgical technique would favour the patients in terms of long-term outcomes. Key Words: Coronary artery bypass grafting, Graft occlusion, Vascular, Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background and purpose This study presents Danish consensus guidelines for delineation of the heart and cardiac substructures across relevant Danish Multidisciplinary Cancer Groups. Material and methods Consensus guidelines for the heart and cardiac substructures were reached among 15 observers representing the radiotherapy (RT) committees of four Danish Multidisciplinary Cancer Groups. The guidelines were validated on CT scans of 12 patients, each with five independent contour sets. The Sorensen-Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), the distance between the centers of the arteries and the mean surface distance were used to evaluate the inter-observer variation. Results National guidelines for contouring the heart and cardiac substructures were achieved. The median DSC was 0.78–0.96 for the heart and the four cardiac chambers. For the four substructures of the left ventricle, the median DSC was 0.35–0.57. The coronary arteries were contoured in ten segments, with the best agreement for the left anterior descending coronary artery segments, with a median distance between the arteries ranging from 2.4–4.4 mm. The median variation was 3.7–12.8 mm for the right coronary artery segments and 3.7–6.2 mm for the left circumflex coronary artery segments, with the most pronounced inter-observer variation in the distal segment for all three coronary arteries. Conclusion National guidelines for contouring the heart and cardiac substructures were developed across relevant Danish Multidisciplinary Cancer Groups, where RT dose to the heart is of concern. The inter-observer contour overlap was best for the heart and chambers and decreased for smaller structures.