Hasan Fehmi Töre

Treatment of an Iatrogenic Left Internal Mammary Artery to Pulmonary Artery Fistula with a Bovine Pericardium Covered Stent

We report a case with an acquired fistula between the left internal mammary artery and the pulmonary artery following coronary bypass surgery treated with a bovine pericardium covered stent. We also reviewed similar cases reported previously.

Late hemodynamic changes in percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty

Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) was performed in 57 patients with mitral stenosis. Twenty-three women and 34 men (mean age 28 +/- 10 mean +/- SD) were included in the study. A single-balloon (trefoil or bifoil) technique was used in 49 patients and a double-balloon (trefoil + monofoil) technique in eight. After a 3-month follow-up period, right- and left-sided cardiac catheterization was repeated. In the single-balloon group there was improvement in the mitral valve gradient (16.10 +/- 5.99 to 4.41 +/- 2.03 mm Hg), mean left atrial pressure (22.65 +/- 6.13 to 9.76 +/- 3.01 mm Hg), and mitral valve area (0.89 +/- 0.22 to 1.95 +/- 0.46 cm2/m2). Mean pulmonary artery pressure and mean pulmonary wedge pressure decreased to 19.33 +/- 4.19 mm Hg and 10.73 +/- 2.60 mm Hg from 32.94 +/- 7.90 mm Hg and 21.49 +/- 5.98 mm Hg. Cardiac output increased to 6.86 +/- 0.56 L/min from 5.57 +/- 0.66. All improvements were statistically significant (p less than 0.001). In the double-balloon study group, mitral valve gradient (23.75 +/- 2.77 to 4.50 +/- 1.94 mm Hg), mean left atrial pressure (31.63 +/- 3.57 to 9.50 +/- 1.94 mm Hg), mean pulmonary artery pressure (44.00 +/- 6.36 to 18.88 +/- 7.10), and mean pulmonary wedge pressure (29.25 +/- 3.73 to 10.25 +/- 1.85 mm Hg) all improved significantly (p less than 0.001). Mitral valve area and cardiac output increased from 0.89 +/- 0.15 to 2.44 +/- 0.44 cm2/m2 (p less than 0.001) and from 5.46 +/- 0.76 to 7.15 +/- 0.52 L/min (p less than 0.002), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Safety of gadodiamide mixed with a small quantity of iohexol in patients with impaired renal function undergoing coronary angiography

Gadolinium-based contrast agents can be used in diagnostic and interventional angiography, and are safe in recommended doses in patients with impaired renal function, but the image quality is usually unsatisfactory. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the safety of gadolinium mixed with a small quantity of iodine-based contrast agent and the image quality of this mixture in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Forty-two patients with baseline creatinine level >1.5 mg/dl were randomized into gadolinium or iodine groups. In the gadolinium group gadodiamide was mixed with 1 : 3 iohexole and in the iodine group only this agent was used as contrast material. Peak creatinine levels 48–72 h after the procedure were measured. The primary end point was the development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), defined as >25% increase of baseline creatinine levels, and the secondary end points were absolute and relative changes in baseline creatinine levels. Total contrast volumes used were not different between groups (57 ± 11 ml in gadolinium and 55 ± 10 ml in iodine; P = 0.68). Mean creatinine level did not increase significantly in the gadolinium group (from 1.9 ± 0.3 to 1.9 ± 0.4 mg/dl; P = 0.06), but did in the iodine group (from 2.0 ± 0.4 to 2.3 ± 0.5 mg/dl; P = 0.001). No patient had CIN in the gadolinium group whereas 5 (23%) patients had this phenomenon in the iodine group (P = 0.048). Contrast regimen was very well tolerated in the gadolinium group, with only transient headache in two patients. Gadodiamide mixed with a small quantity of iohexol is safe in patients with azotemia undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. The image qualities obtained with this combination are also satisfactory in all of the cases. Further evaluation of the safety of this technique is warranted, especially in other types of diagnostic and interventional procedures in which a higher amount of contrast dye is needed.

Impedance cardiographic monitoring during pericardiocentesis: comparison with echocardiography

Objective — Thoracic impedance cardiography (TIC) is a noninvasive method which has proved to be useful in monitoring the haemodynamic status of the patients. In this study, we evaluated the TIC findings in patients with pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. Methods and results — The study consisted of patients with pericardial effusion with (group A) or without (group B) cardiac tamponade (CT).The stroke volume, cardiac output and ejection fraction was measured by both echocardiography and TIC.The measurements were done at baseline in both groups and following pericardiocentesis in group A.The variables were compared by linear regression analysis, paired sample’s t test and chi-square test.The study included 32 patients. Group A consisted of 16 patients and group B of 14 patients.Two patients were excluded from comparisons because of insufficient quality of the echocardiographic examination. There were no significant differences between group A and B with regard to demographic features. Both echocardiographic and TIC measurements at baseline revealed decreased cardiac output, EDV and SV in group A and EF was not different. Linear regression analysis revealed that echocardiography and TIC were in significant correlation with regard to cardiac output, enddiastolic volume, stroke volume (p < 0.01) but not ejection fraction (p = 0.8910).The correlation was also present after pericardiocentesis. Conclusions — TIC can be safely used in patients with pericardial effusion. It provides suggestive data for the diagnosis of CT and can be used as a means of monitoring the results of the pericardiocentesis.

Impedance Cardiographic Findings in Electrocardiographically Diagnosed Acute Right Ventricular Infarction

Background: Thorax impedance cardiography (TIC) can provide important information about the hemodynamic state of patients. In this study, we aimed at finding out if TIC can be used in the early follow‐up of acute right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI).