Anomalous right coronary artery originating from the mid left anterior descending artery

A 68-year-old male with a history of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia presented with recurrent episodes of chest discomfort. A 12-lead ECG and an echocardiogram were normal. A myocardial perfusion study could not rule out ischemia in the inferior wall. At coronary angiography using the transradial approach, the right coronary artery (RCA) could not be visualized. Angiography of the left coronary system demonstrated non-obstructive atherosclerosis involving the mid segment of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and a normal circumflex (Cx) artery. The RCA originated from the mid LAD segment distal to the first septal perforator and the first diagonal branch and was free of atherosclerosis disease. A contrast-enhanced 64-slice multi-detector cardiac computed tomography showed that the LAD was severely calcified in the proximal part, and the RCA coursed anterior to the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) to reach the right atrioventricular groove. The patient was managed medically and became asymptomatic.     

Spontaneous left anterior descending artery to right ventricular fistula

We report a very unusual case of a spontaneously acquired left anterior descending to right ventricular fistula. We believe that this spontaneous occurrence was the result of hemodynamic changes that occurred between the first and second catheterizations.     

Single coronary artery anomaly: right coronary artery originating from the mid left anterior descending artery

We present three cases of a single coronary artery that is the anomalous RCA originating from the mid LAD artery. These cases are rare. We discuss how to make accurate diagnosis and select appropriate treatment.     

Advantage of the cranial-right anterior oblique view in diagnosing mid left anterior descending and distal right coronary artery disease

The value of the cranial-right anterior oblique view in uncovering or improving the arteriographic visualization of lesions in the mid left anterior descending coronary artery, the origin of its diagonal and septal branches and of the distal branches of the right coronary artery was analyzed in 300 consecutive patients. The cranial-right anterior oblique view was compared with standard and other angled views. In the mid left anterior descending artery the view provided improved visualization over the other views in 80 percent of cases and uncovered lesions in 7 percent. In the septal arteries, the view improved visualization in more than 90 percent of cases and uncovered lesions in 26 percent. In the diagonal branches, the view improved visualization in nearly 75 percent of cases. In the distal right coronary artery there was improved visualization of the posterior descending and posterolateral branch arteries in more than 80 percent of cases. The cranial-right anterior oblique view was also the most advantageous view from a technical standpoint, yielding satisfactory exposure factors in obese and extremely heavy patients.     

Recovery of left ventricular systolic function after left anterior descending coronary artery stenting

Our objective was to determine the factors affecting recovery of left ventricular (LV) contractility and myocardial perfusion after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We selected 60 consecutive patients who underwent successful left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) stenting. The mean stent diameter and length were 3.37+/-0.47 mm and 17.4+/-6 mm, respectively. Supporting a functional impact of successful PCI, myocardial perfusion and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) improved at 6+/-3 months after the procedure (48.8+/-11.6% vs 52.5+/-11.5%, P=0.05). Patient related factors such as diabetes mellitus, presentation with acute coronary syndrome, and age did not seem to affect LVEF change after the procedure. On univariate analysis, the change in LVEF after PCI was only related to the stent diameter. The increase in LVEF was higher in patients who received a stent>3 mm in diameter (P=0.041). There was a weak but statistically positive correlation between the stent diameter and the LVEF change after the procedure (R=0.267, P=0.049). Other procedure related factors such as multivessel PCI or stent length did not affect the percent ejection fraction change after stenting.     

Contained rupture of left ventricular false aneurysm after acute myocardial infarction secondary to left anterior descending artery embolism

Left ventricular free wall rupture is a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction and accounts for a significant number of fatalities. Pseudoaneurysm is a variety of left ventricular rupture whereby the pericardium seals the defect, forming the wall of the pseudoaneurysm. The diagnosis is usually confirmed with echocardiography, and emergent surgical repair is required in suspected impending rupture. The present report describes the case of a 58-year-old woman who presented with a myocardial infarction due to distal left anterior descending artery occlusion, complicated by ventricular pseudoaneurysm with impending rupture. The patient had an otherwise normal coronary tree.     

Erythropoietin reduces myocardial infarction and left ventricular functional decline after coronary artery ligation in rats

Erythropoietin (EPO), well known for its role in stimulation of erythropoiesis, has recently been shown to have a dramatic neuroprotective effect in animal models of cerebral ischemia, mechanical trauma of the nervous system, and excitotoxins, mainly by reducing apoptosis. We studied the effect of single systemic administration of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) on left ventricular (LV) size and function in rats during 8 weeks after the induction of a myocardial infarction (MI) by permanent ligation of the left descending coronary artery. We found that an i.p. injection of 3,000 units/kg of rhEPO immediately after the coronary artery ligation resulted, 24 h later, in a 50% reduction of apoptosis in the myocardial area at risk. Eight weeks after the induction of MI, rats treated with rhEPO had an infarct size 15-25% of the size of that in untreated animals. The reduction in myocardial damage was accompanied by reductions in LV size and functional decline as measured by repeated echocardiography. Thus, a single dose of rhEPO administered around the time of acute, sustained coronary insufficiency merits consideration with respect to its therapeutic potential to limit the extent of resultant MI and contractile dysfunction.     

Changes in right ventricular filling dynamics during left anterior descending, left circumflex and right coronary artery balloon occlusion

AIM: Transient coronary artery occlusion during percutaneous transluminalcoronary angioplasty may cause left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of left anteriordescending, left circumflex and right coronary artery balloonocclusion on right ventricular diastolic function. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with single-vessel coronary artery diseaseand no previous myocardial infarction were selected. Left andright ventricular filling pressures were monitored by Dopplerechocardiography and haemodynamic monitoring. This was performedduring and immediately after 60 s of coronary balloon occlusionof the left anterior descending artery in 21 cases (Group 1),the left circumflex artery in eight cases (Group 2) and theright coronary artery in six cases (Group 3). Doppler analysisof left and right ventricular filling included peak velocityof early (PFVE) and late ventricular filling (PFVA) and PFVEto PFVA ratio (PFVE/PFVA). RESULTS: In all three groups, balloon inflation induced a significantincrease in left and right filling pressures (P<0·05).No qualitative difference in haemodynamic changes was foundbetween groups during inflation. Significant impairment in theDoppler pattern of left and right ventricular filling occurredafter 20 s of coronary occlusion: PFVE values in mitral andtricuspid valves decreased by 14% and 25% in Group 1, 13% and25% in Group 2, and 10% and 21% in Group 3, respectively. AsPFVA remained unchanged in all groups, the PFVE/PFVA ratio ofmitral and tricuspid valve flows significantly decreased (Group1: –12% and –20%, Group 2: –10% and –21%,Group 3: –14 and –21%, respectively). All parametersreturned to baseline within 30 s after each balloon deflation. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that brief episodes of acute myocardial ischaemia,such as those induced by 60 s of coronary artery occlusion duringpercutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, elicit simultaneousdiastolic dysfunction of both ventricles, independent of thecoronary artery involved.     

Left anterior descending artery length in left and right coronary artery dominance

BACKGROUND: Coronary stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is respected by cardiologists because of its negative influence on morbidity and mortality. An important anatomical consideration is the length of the LAD. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between length of LAD and coronary dominance. DESIGN: Retrospective comparison of 100 consecutive angiograms with left coronary dominance with 100 consecutive angiograms with right coronary dominance. The relationship between the length of the LAD and coronary dominance was analyzed. METHODS: We retrospectively compared 100 consecutive angiograms with left coronary dominance (the posterior descending artery being supplied by the circumflex artery) with 100 consecutive angiograms with right coronary dominance (the posterior descending artery being supplied by the right coronary artery). LADs were categorized into three types: type A, LAD terminating before the cardiac apex; type B, LAD reaching the apex but not supplying the inferoapical segment of the left ventricle; and type C, LAD wrapping around the apex and supplying the inferoapical segment. LAD typing was also analyzed in relation to gender. RESULTS: It was found that the LAD wrapped around the apex in 87% of cases of left coronary dominance but only in 47% of patients with right coronary dominance, and that the long LADs were more frequently seen in women than in men, irrespective of coronary dominance. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the LAD in left coronary dominance is usually long and wraps around the apex, and believe that angiographic interventions in such cases have important clinical significance.     

Anomalous right coronary artery originating from the left anterior descending artery

An anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) arising from the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is very rare, and has previously been considered a variant of single coronary artery. This is the first report of an anomalous RCA arising from the LAD with a coexisting proximal RCA. The anomaly was discovered incidentally during cardiac catheterization for severe mitral regurgitation. The incidence, anatomy and clinical associations of anomalous coronary arteries are reviewed here.     

前降支或非前降支ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者经皮冠状动脉介入术后左心室射血分数低的危险因素及预后

目的 探讨前降支心肌梗死组(罪犯血管为前降支或左主干)与非前降支心肌梗死组(罪犯血管为回旋支或右冠状动脉)ST段抬高型心肌梗死(STEMI)患者经皮冠状动脉介入术(PCI)后左心室射血分数(LVEF)降低的危险因素及预后。方法 连续入选2017年1月至2018年12月于哈尔滨医科大学附属第二医院重症监护室接受急诊PCI的1 246例STEMI患者,记录患者的基线资料、既往史、实验室结果、冠状动脉造影结果、主要不良心脑血管事件(MACCE)和PCI术后3天内所测得的LVEF。根据造影结果将患者分为前降支心肌梗死(MI)组和非前降支MI组,将前降支MI组、非前降支MI组分别分为LVEF低(LVEF＜50%)、LVEF正常(LVEF≥50%)两个亚组。对前降支MI组、非前降支MI组进行危险因素及短期临床预后分析。结果 多因素Logistic回归分析发现在前降支MI组中年龄(OR＝1.024)、胸痛时间(OR＝1.122)、肌钙蛋白峰值(OR＝1.001)、高敏C反应蛋白(OR＝1.048)、有心肌梗死病史(OR＝2.404)、病变在近端(OR＝1.564)、术中需要主动脉球囊反搏(OR＝3.638)是心肌梗死患者PCI术后LVEF低的危险因素。而在非前降支MI组中,入院心率(OR＝1.017)、肌钙蛋白峰值(OR＝1.004)、尿酸(OR＝1.003)、高敏C反应蛋白(OR＝1.101)、病变支数(OR＝1.786)、有心肌梗死病史(OR＝3.025)、术前TIMI血流0/1(OR＝3.237)是心肌梗死患者PCI术后LVEF低的危险因素。在前降支MI组中,LVEF低的患者住院期间心力衰竭、心源性休克发生率高于LVEF正常的患者。而在非前降支MI组中,LVEF低的患者住院期间心力衰竭、心源性休克、恶性心律失常、死亡率明显高于LVEF正常的患者。结论 前降支MI患者PCI术后LVEF低的危险因素与非前降支MI患者PCI术后LVEF低的危险因素存在显著的不同。LVEF低的患者接受PCI治疗后短期临床预后更差,院内MACCE发生率更高。     

Mechano-electric feedback in right atrium after left ventricular infarction in rats

Left ventricular myocardial infarction (MI) can lead to alterations in hemodynamic load conditions, thereby inducing right atrial hypertrophy and dilatation associated with phenotypic modulation of cardiomyocytes, electrical abnormalities, rhythm disturbances, and atrial fibrillation. However, there is limited information on the electrophysiological basis for these events. We investigated whether atrial stretch in the setting of chronic MI modulates the electrophysiological properties of cardiomyocytes via "mechano-electric feedback", providing a mechanism for atrial arrhythmia after ventricular infarction. Five weeks after left ventricular MI (n=37), action potentials (AP) were measured in right atrial tissue preparations using a current clamp scheme, and compared to sham-operated rats (SO, n=10). Contractile activity was recorded at a preload of 1 mN, and sustained stretch was applied via a micrometer. In SO, stretch of 1.75 mN shortened repolarization at 50% and prolonged it at 90%. In MI, mechanically-induced electrical alterations were observed at a significantly lower level of stretch than in SO (0.19 mN). Sustained stretch in MI prolonged AP at 90% repolarization giving rise to stretch-activated depolarizations (SAD) near 90% repolarization (SAD90). When reaching threshold for premature APs, electrical phenomena similar to atrial fibrillations were seen in some preparations. Moreover, we observed APs with prolonged duration at 25%, 50%, and 90% repolarization where stretch induced SAD near 50%. Gadolinium used at a concentration to inhibit stretch-activated channels (40microM) suppressed mechanically-induced electrical events. In conclusion, increased susceptibility after MI to mechanical stretch may predispose atrial cardiomyocytes to arrhythmia. These mechano-electrical alterations are sensitive to gadolinium suggesting involvement of stretch-activated ion channels.     

An anomalous right coronary artery originating from the mid portion of the left descending artery

We report on a 76-year old patient in which a very rare coronary anomaly was found.     

Mid left anterior descending coronary artery originating from the right coronary artery

Dual connection of the left anterior descending coronary artery to the left and right coronary arteries is a very rare congenital anomaly. In this report we describe two cases in which the mid-position of the left anterior descending coronary artery is connected to the right coronary artery, one directly and the second by way of the infundibular artery. To the best of our knowledge, connection of the mid-position of the left anterior descending to the infundibular artery has not been previously described.     

Acute myocardial infarction showing total occlusion of right coronary artery and thrombus formation of left anterior descending artery

A 33-year-old Japanese man had an attack of chest pain associated with ST-segment elevation in the inferolateral leads on his electrocardiogram. Emergency coronary angiography showed total obstruction in the mid right coronary artery (RCA) and a movable thrombus in the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD). We performed emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for the RCA lesion. The operation was successful and we then conducted intracoronary thrombolysis (ICT) with tisokinase 6,400,000 IU for the LAD thrombus. Its size was reduced by ICT. He had an uneventful hospital course. After 1 month, repeat coronary angiography showed no significant stenosis in the RCA nor thrombus in the LAD. A coronary spasm provocation test was performed using acetylcholine. Coronary spasm in the LAD was induced by an intracoronary injection of 100 microg acetylcholine. In this case, we observed a unique condition suggesting simultaneous double coronary artery occlusion.     

Double vessel acute myocardial infarction showing simultaneous total occlusion of left anterior descending artery and right coronary artery

Simultaneous double vessel acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is extremely rare and usually has poor clinical outcomes. Management of this complicated condition is challenging and time-limited. The case of a 46-year-old Taiwanese man with simultaneous anterior and inferior wall AMI is reported. Rapid deterioration of clinical condition with ventricular fibrillations (VF), cardiogenic shock and asystole developed before catheterization. Coronary angiogram revealed simultaneous total occlusion of left anterior descending (LAD) and right coronary arteries (RCA). Frequent VF attack was still noted after diagnostic catheterization. After cardiopulmonary resuscitation, immediate percutaneous coronary intervention of the LAD and RCA, and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation was inserted. Due to intractable heart failure and cardiogenic shock, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed. Rabdomyolysis with acute renal failure was also noted with hemodialysis treatment. Thirty-one days after hospitalization, he was discharged with a New York Heart Association functional class III heart failure, without hemodialysis.