Motoaki Hirazawa

A case of delayed occlusive dissection of the right coronary artery during coronary intervention of the left anterior descending artery.

Abstract Catheter-induced coronary artery dissection occurs rarely during selective coronary angiography but generally progresses to complete coronary occlusion. We present a case of delayed occlusive dissection of the right coronary artery during coronary intervention of the left anterior descending artery. Bailout stenting was employed to treat the giant hematoma quickly using a unique technique. The use of two guidewires created a high probability that the true lumen was selected, and aspiration of the hematoma with the microcatheter and indeflator effectively repaired a catheter-induced coronary artery dissection.

Fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in the left atrial appendage of a patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

A 69-year-old man with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and subsequent cerebral infarction was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal accumulation of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in the left atrial appendage (LAA) that was detected on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging during a health screening. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) demonstrated thrombus formation in the LAA. Even after the thrombus disappeared by strictly guided oral anticoagulant therapy, intense abnormal FDG uptake in the LAA on PET-CT imaging persisted. In low-risk patients such as this, inflammation may have played some role in LAA thrombus formation.

The Rho/Rho-kinase Systems Are Involved in Rapid Pacing-induced Changes of Atrial Refractory Period in a Canine Model

Introduction: The Rho/Rho‐kinase pathway has been related to various physiological responses of the cardiovascular system. Previous reports have suggested a significant effect of Rho signals on the electrophysiological characteristics of the heart. We hypothesized that the Rho/Rho‐kinase system would contribute to the rapid pacing‐related change of atrial effective refractory period (AERP).