Coronary arteriovenous-arterial fistula

A case of multiple arteriovenous fistulae is described in an adult with coronary artery disease. One of these fistulae drained into the anterior interventricular vein, which in turn communicated with and perfused an obstructed left anterior descending coronary artery.     

Coronary artery aneurysms

There is no consensus on the best management of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) in adults. We describe two patients with CAA and review transcatheter approaches to exclude them from the circulation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

An Additional Angiographic Sign for Determining Coronary Artery Dominance in Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

An additional angiographic sign for determining coronary artery dominance is proposed. This sign is based on the anatomic pattern of the infraventricular branches in the left anterior oblique view. It is especially helpful in patients in whom the right coronary and/or left circumflex coronary arteries are completely occluded and distal vessels are filled via collaterals.     

Woven Coronary Artery Anomaly Associated with Acute Coronary Syndrome

The woven coronary artery anomaly is a rare congenital anomaly in which a coronary artery is divided into thin channels that merge again into the distal lumen. Only a few cases of woven coronary artery have been reported in the literature. This anomaly is accepted as a benign condition. We describe a case of acute coronary syndrome in a patient with woven coronary artery anomaly.     

Coronary Thromboembolism with Fatal Outcome Following Coronary Angiography

ABSTRACT A case of fatal thromboembolic occlusion of the left coronary artery at selective coronary arteriography is described. The course of events and the findings at autopsy suggest that thrombotic material was deposited on one intravascular catheter and transferred to a second catheter inserted over the same guide wire. Contrast injection through the second catheter into the left coronary ostium resulted in immediate and fatal occlusion of the two major branches of the left coronary artery.     

冠状动脉钙化研究进展

冠状动脉钙化越来越受到重视,发现钙化即意味着亚临床动脉粥样硬化的存在,而动脉硬化不一定都有钙化。通常钙化越严重,冠脉管腔狭窄程度也就越高。但有时二者却缺乏很好的相关性。现就冠脉钙化的发生机制,冠脉钙化及积分与冠心病及其严重程度的关系,冠脉钙化检测方法及积分,血管重构在严重的冠脉钙化却没有明显的管腔狭窄中的作用等方面做一综述。     

冠状动脉计算机体层成像血管造影在冠状动脉疾病的临床应用

冠状动脉计算机体层成像血管造影是诊断冠状动脉疾病的一个优秀无创评价测试工具。虽然冠状动脉造影是冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病的金标准,但有充分的证据来支持冠状动脉计算机体层成像血管造影的性价比,而且它的临床应用范围广。本次综述的目的是对冠状动脉计算机体层成像血管造影在冠状动脉疾病临床应用中的诊断准确性和预测价值的概述;对冠状动脉计算机体层成像血管造影的新兴领域,包括双源计算机体层成像、多排螺旋计算机体层成像进行讨论,以及冠状动脉计算机体层成像血管造影的局限性和突出展示其未来的发展方向。     

Echocardiography and Coronary CT Angiography Imaging of Variations in Coronary Anatomy and Coronary Abnormalities in Athletic Children: Detection of Coronary Abnormalities that Create a Risk for Sudden Death

In a recent publication, Maron et al. reported the causes of sudden death in athletes from data collected in the US National Registry of Sudden Death in Athletes at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Registry. It is not surprising that in this study, cardiovascular disease is reported as the most common cause of sudden death in athletes (56%). The most frequently encountered cardiac pathology was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (36% of the population who died of cardiac disease). Coronary artery anomalies of wrong sinus origin were next in frequency (17%). Less common causes attributed to coronary pathology were Kawasaki disease, origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending artery. Echocardiographic imaging along with color and pulsed‐wave Doppler has been widely employed to visualize the anatomy and function of the heart and proves to be a valuable instrument in the identification of coronary artery abnormalities. Moreover, coronary CT angiography provides additional confirmatory information. This article will discuss the scope, importance, and implications of echocardiographic and coronary CT angiography imaging of the major coronary anomalies and abnormalities in young athletes who are at risk of sudden death and who otherwise have a structurally normal heart.     

急诊介入治疗在非ST段抬高的急性冠状动脉综合征中的价值

目的　评价非ST段抬高急性冠状动脉综合征 (ACS)患者急诊介入治疗与药物治疗的疗效差异。方法　收治我院心内科的非ST段抬高的ACS患者共 86例 ,按治疗方法不同分为药物治疗组和急诊介入治疗组。急诊介入治疗组共 4 6例 ,在药物治疗基础上于发病后 12小时内行急诊介入治疗 ,所有血管病变均予治疗 ,其中 16例同时接受非病变血管治疗。药物治疗组 4 0例 ,按常规药物治疗。随访对比两组病例的心源性死亡率 ,急性心肌梗死率 (主要终点 ) ;心绞痛复发率及再入院率 (次要终点 )。结果　在平均 ( 10 6± 6 4 )个月随访中 ,急诊介入治疗组心源性死亡率低于药物治疗组 ( 4 3%比 7 5 % ,P >0 0 5 ) ,心绞痛复发率也明显低于药物治疗组 ( 2 1 7%比 5 2 5 % ,P <0 0 1)。结论　急诊介入治疗可显著改善非ST段抬高急性冠状动脉综合征患者预后。     

Fistulous Connection of a Greatly Dilated Tortuous Right Coronary Artery to the Coronary Sinus

Congenital coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) constitute an unusual cardiovascular anomaly. The aneurysmal appearance of CAFs is not uncommon and depends on the shunt size. However, few cases of ectatic coronary arteries (type III according to Markis et al. classification-diffuse ectasia in one vessel) supplying the fistulas have been reported. Below, we report the case of a 65-year-old woman, who referred to our department because of worsening exertional dyspnea. Echocardiographic evaluation, both transthoracic and transesophageal, performed after admission disclosed a giant tortuous ectatic right coronary artery with a fistulous connection to the coronary sinus. The presence of the CAF was confirmed by cardiac catheterization. In addition, we discuss the pathophysiology of the above congenital anomaly, as well as its management.     

老年人急性冠脉综合征介入治疗研究进展

老年人非ST段抬高急性冠脉综合征和ST段抬高性心肌梗死的共同问题包括症状不典型、合并危险因素多、临床证据不充分。老年人非ST段抬高急性冠脉综合征早期给予经皮冠状动脉介入治疗减少死亡或心肌梗死绝对和相对危险度,长期随访显示其改善生存和症状的优越性。老年人ST段抬高性心肌梗死介入治疗主要获益来自减少再次心肌梗死和重复血运重建;再灌注及时性和可行性是挽救濒危心肌和改善临床预后的重要因素;选择经皮冠状动脉介入治疗或溶栓取决于患者是否存在心源性休克、时间延搁、合并病等因素,多数情况下倾向选择经皮冠状动脉介入治疗。年龄是老年人急性冠脉综合征介入治疗临床疗效的重要影响因素。     

Coronary anomalies: Incidence and importance

Most patients with coronary anomalies are asymptomatic. The knowledge of those variations could be important in regard to invasive catheter treatment or bypass surgery. In a retrospective study, the angiographic findings based on 4, 016 patients (1985-1989) were analyzed concerning coronary anomalies and malformations. Of the patients studied, 39 (0.97%) had coronary anomalies, and in 26 of these patients it was an anomalous circumflex branch. In 14 cases, the circumflex branch arose from a separate origin in the left aortic sinus. In 11 patients the origin was from the proximal segment of the right coronary artery. A singular coronary artery was found in five patients, originating from the right aortic sinus in two patients and from the left aortic sinus in three patients. An origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, a coronary fistula, or an origin of the left anterior descending coronary artery from the RCA could be found in only one patient. Unexpected findings during invasive procedures would suggest a possibly existing coronary anomaly, especially when main branches cannot be opacified by selective contrast medium injection.     

Isolated Single Coronary Artery Presenting as Acute Coronary Syndrome: Case Report and Review

Congenital single coronary artery is commonly associated with complex congenital heart diseases and manifests in infancy or childhood. But isolated single coronary artery is a rare congenital anomaly which can present as acute coronary syndrome in adults. The aim of the work is to discuss on isolated single coronary artery in two adults presenting as acute coronary syndrome. The first case underwent coronary angiography (CAG) through right radial route, but switched over to femoral for confirmation of diagnosis and due to radial spasm. An aortic root angiogram was done to rule out presence of any other coronary ostia. It revealed a single coronary artery originating from right sinus of valsalva. After giving rise to posterior descending artery branch at crux, it continued in the atrioventricular groove to the anterior basal surface of the heart and traversed as anterior descending artery. There was no atheromatous occlusive stenosis. This is R-I type single coronary artery as per Lipton classification. In the second case, angiography was completed through right radial route. It revealed a single coronary artery arising from right aortic sinus. Anterior descending and circumflex branch were originating from proximal common trunk of the single coronary artery and supplying the left side of the heart. The right coronary artery has diffuse atheromatous disease without significant stenosis in any major branch. This is R-III C type as per Lipton classification. A coronary anomaly of both origin and course is very rare. It may be encountered in adults evaluated for atherosclerotic coronary heart disease. Knowledge and understanding of anatomical types of this congenital anomaly will reduce time, anxiety, complications during CAG and cardiac surgery.     

Coronary Embolus: An Underappreciated Cause of Acute Coronary Syndromes

Coronary embolism is the underlying cause of 3% of acute coronary syndromes but is often not considered in the differential of acute coronary syndromes. It should be suspected in the case of high thrombus burden despite a relatively normal underlying vessel or recurrent coronary thrombus. Coronary embolism may be direct (from the aortic valve or left atrial appendage), paroxysmal (from the venous circulation through a patent foramen ovale), or iatrogenic (following cardiac intervention). Investigations include transesophageal echocardiography to assess the left atrial appendage and atrial septum and continuous electrocardiographic monitoring to assess for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The authors review the historic and contemporary published data about this important cause of acute coronary syndromes. The authors propose an investigation and management strategy for work-up and anticoagulation strategy for patients with suspected coronary embolism.     

高龄冠心病介入治疗策略

高龄冠心病患者具有病变复杂、介入并发症发生率高的特点,是否积极进行血运重建治疗目前尚有争议。随着介入技术的进步,介入治疗不断增加,在循证医学研究基础上,积极探讨其治疗策略具有重要的临床意义。