V. Gangadharan

Sequence of mechanical, electrocardiographic and clinical effects of repeated coronary artery occlusion in human beings: Echocardiographic observations during coronary angioplasty

The direct manipulation of coronary blood flow to induce regional myocardial ischemia has been almost entirely limited to experimental animal models. Thus, the detection of ischemia-induced left ventricular dysfunction in human subjects has been generally limited to observations made under conditions of diagnostic loading or during spontaneous clinical events. Percutaneous coronary angioplasty requires repeated interruptions of coronary blood flow for periods as long as 1 minute. The resulting appearance of or increase in ischemia-produced changes in myocardial function were detected by two-dimensional echocardiography in 18 patients undergoing angioplasty of 22 coronary stenoses. Accordingly, left ventricular contraction was studied during 52 episodes of regional coronary blood flow interruption and reperfusion in the process of inflating and deflating the angioplasty balloon. Before angioplasty, left ventricular wall motion was normal in 14 patients. There was mild anteroapical hypokinesia in two patients, anteroapical akinesia in one and mild inferior hypokinesia in one. Balloon inflations repeatedly produced new or increased wall motion abnormalities in the distribution of the instrumented coronary artery in 19 (86.4%) of the 22 procedures, but did not alter wall motion during angioplasty of one left circumflex artery lesion, one highly collateralized left anterior descending artery stenosis and one left anterior descending stenosis that had already caused severe anteroapical dyssynergy. Hypokinesia, usually rapidly progressing to dyskinesia, began 19 +/- 8 seconds (mean +/- SD) after coronary occlusion. Wall motion began to normalize 17 +/- 8 seconds after reperfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of intravenous streptokinase and angioplasty versus lone angioplasty therapy of acute myocardial infarction.

BackgroundThe value of routine administration of intravenous thrombolytic agents during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) therapy of acute myocardial infarction (MI) has not been determined. Therefore, we prospectively randomized 122 patients with evolving MI to PTCA therapy with or without adjunctive intravenous streptokinase therapy. Methods and ResultsPatients with ECG ST segment elevation who presented within 4 hours of symptom onset, had no contraindication to thrombolytic therapy, and were not in cardiogenic shock were enrolled. They were treated immediately with intravenous heparin (10,000 units) and oral aspirin (325 mg) and randomized to treatment with placebo or streptokinase (1.5 M units) administered intravenously over 30 minutes. Patients then were taken immediately to the catheterization laboratory, and those with suitable coronary anatomy underwent immediate PTCA. Subsequent clinical course, serial radionuclide ventric-ulography, and 6-month repeat angiography were analyzed. A total of 106 patients were treated with PTCA. Use of PTCA was similar for placebo (92%) and streptokinase (83%) groups. Angioplasty was successful in 95% of patients, with no difference in placebo (93%) and streptokinase (98%) groups. Serial radionuclide ventriculography demonstrated no difference in 24-hour (52 ± 12% versus 50 ± 12%) or 6-week (51 ± 12% versus 51 ± 13%) ejection fraction values for placebo and streptokinase groups, respectively. Contrast ventriculography demonstrated improvement in immediate (54 ± 12%) versus 6-month (60 ± 15%, p < 0.05) values for the overall group. No differences in 6-month values were present (58 ± 15% versus 62 ± 15%, p=NS) for placebo and streptokinase groups, respectively. Coronary angiography was performed in 75% of the 90 patients eligible for restudy. Arterial patency was 87% at 6 months, and coronary restenosis was present in 38% of patients. No differences in chronic patency or restenosis were detected for the two treatment groups. Although adjunctive intravenous streptokinase therapy did not improve outcome, it did complicate the hospital course. Hospitalization was longer (9.3 ± 5.0 versus 7.7 ± 4.4 days, p=0.046) and more costly (

A randomized trial of low osmolar ionic versus nonionic contrast media in patients with myocardial infarction or unstable angina undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

25,191 ± 15,368 versus

Randomized prospective evaluation of prolonged versus abbreviated intravenous heparin therapy after coronary angioplasty

19,643 ± 7,250, p < 0.02). Transfusion rate was higher (39%o versus 8%, p=0.0001) and need for emergency coronary bypass surgery was greater (10.3% versus 1.6%, p=0.03) for the streptokinase-treated patients. ConclusionsAdjunctive intravenous streptokinase therapy does not enhance early preservation of ventricular function, improve arterial patency rates, or lower restenosis rates after PTCA therapy of acute MI. Hospital course is longer, more expensive, and more complicated. For these reasons, PTCA therapy of acute MI should not be routinely performed with adjunctive intravenous streptokinase therapy.

Intracoronary streptokinase in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively whether the differences in anticoagulant and antiplatelet effects of ionic and nonionic contrast media after angiographic or clinical outcomes in patients with unstable ischemic syndromes undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. BACKGROUND The interaction of platelets and thrombin with the endothelium of injured vessels contributes to thrombosis and restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Case reports and retrospective observations have reported an increased risk of thrombosis with the use of nonionic contrast media. METHODS A total of 211 patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina undergoing coronary angioplasty were randomized to receive nonionic or ionic low osmolar contrast media. Coronary angiograms were assessed by a technician blinded to the study contrast media, and clinical events were monitored by an independent nurse for 1 month. RESULTS Patients receiving the ionic media were significantly less likely to experience decreased blood flow during the procedure (8.1% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.04). After the angioplasty, residual stenosis, vessel patency, the incidence of moderate to large thrombi and use of adjunctive thrombolytic therapy were similar between the two groups. However, patients receiving ionic media had fewer recurrent ischemic events requiring repeat catheterization (3.0% vs. 11.4%, p = 0.02) and repeat angioplasty during the initial hospital stay (1.0% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.06). One month after angioplasty, patients receiving ionic contrast media reported significantly fewer symptoms of any angina (8.5 vs. 20.0%, p = 0.04) or of angina at rest (1.4% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.01) and a reduced need for subsequent bypass surgery (0% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.04), compared with patients receiving the nonionic media. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that in patients with unstable ischemic syndromes undergoing coronary angioplasty, the use of ionic low osmolar contrast media reduces the risk of ischemic complications acutely and at 1 month after the procedure. Therefore, low osmolar ionic contrast media should be strongly considered when performing interventions in patients with unstable angina or myocardial infarction.

Aneurysm of the atrial septum as diagnosed by echocardiography: Analysis of 11 patients

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to prospectively evaluate the routine use of continuous heparin therapy after successful uncomplicated coronary angioplasty. BACKGROUND The use of such therapy varies among institutions and may increase the incidence of complications. Evaluation of the risks and benefits of abbreviated heparin therapy combined with early sheath removal after coronary angioplasty is necessary to determine optimal postprocedure care. METHODS We prospectively studied 284 patients who were scheduled for elective coronary angioplasty. Historical, clinical, physiologic and angiographic data were gathered. All patients received an initial bolus of heparin and then were randomized during the procedure to receive either no additional heparin therapy or an adjusted 24-h infusion. On the basis of specific criteria, additional heparin was not withheld if procedural results suggested an increased risk for complications. RESULTS Two hundred thirty-eight patients completed the study; 46 others were excluded in the catheterization laboratory because of unfavorable procedural results. The patients with abbreviated (n = 118) and 24-h (n = 120) therapy did not differ with respect to demographic and angiographic findings. However, the former had fewer bleeding complications (0% vs. 7%, p < 0.001) and were discharged earlier (mean +/- SD 23 +/- 11 h vs. 42 +/- 24 h, p < 0.001). One patient in this group had a major complication shortly after angioplasty. The mean savings in hospital charges in the abbreviated therapy group was

Hemorrhage and the products of fibrinogen digestion after intracoronary administration of streptokinase.

1,370 (

The basis for differences in ethanol-induced myocardial depression in normal subjects.

6,093 +/-

Early hospital discharge after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

1,772 vs.

Safety and efficacy of urokinase during elective coronary angioplasty

7,463 +/-