急性下壁心肌梗死患者心电图胸前导联ST段改变的临床意义

目的探讨急性下壁心肌梗死患者心电图胸前导联ST段改变与冠状动脉造影(CAG)所见冠状动脉病变部位的关系及其临床意义。方法 187例急性下壁心肌梗死患者,按入院时18导心电图胸前导联ST段改变分为3组,ST段无变化组(47例),ST段抬高组(16例),ST段压低组(124例);所有患者均行CAG。结果急性下壁心肌梗死伴胸前导联ST段抬高时多为右冠状动脉(RCA)近段闭塞(14例,82.3%),尤其是伴圆锥支动脉闭塞,与RCA中远端闭塞(2例,5.9%)比较差异有统计学意义(P0.01),且14例(73.7%)伴有右心功能不全和血流动力学障碍。下壁心肌梗死胸前导联ST段压低者可见于RCA、回旋支(LCX)闭塞及RCA、LCX闭塞与前降支(LAD)、对角支(D)病变的不同组合,其中LCX闭塞伴RCA病变者多表现为朐前ST V_4～V_6的压低,RCA闭塞伴LAD近端病变多有胸前ST V_1～V_6的压低,RCA伴D病变胸前ST V_1～V_3压低,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论急性下壁心肌梗死合并胸前导联ST段抬高表明为RCA近段或丌口闭塞且多伴右心室心肌梗死和心功能不全;下壁心肌梗死伴胸前导联ST段压低提示为多支病变,ST V_1～V_3压低多伴有对角支严重狭窄,STV_1～V_6压低多伴有前降支的严重狭窄。     

93例急性心肌梗死患者的心电图及冠脉造影分析

目的探讨急性心肌梗死患者心电图sT改变的导联与冠状动脉罪犯血管的关系。方法对93例急性心肌梗死患者心电图ST段改变与选择性冠状动脉造影结果进行对比分析。结果心电图V1-V4sT抬高伴Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVFST段下移的罪犯血管主要为左前降支（LAD）,少数前壁心肌梗死伴下壁sT段抬高;Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVFST抬高伴V1-V4 ST段下移的主要罪犯血管为右冠状动脉（RCA）,少部分为左回旋支（LCX）,极少部分为LAD;胸前导联T高尖与ST抬高导联不一致可排除LAD;高侧壁Ⅰ、AVLST段抬高多数罪犯血管为LCX。结论心电图ST改变的导联对急性心肌梗死罪犯血管能进行初步预测。     

Transthoracic echocardiography in the detection of chronic total coronary artery occlusion

Aims: The aim of our study was to detect chronic total occlusion ofthe left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), circumflexcoronary artery (Cx), and right coronary artery (RCA) usingtransthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in 110 consecutive patientswho underwent coronary angiography for investigation of angina. Methods and results: Coronary blood flow direction was assessed in the epicardialcollaterals [distal LAD (dLAD), obtuse marginal branches andright posterior descending artery (PDA)] and intramyocardialcollaterals [LAD septal branch (SB LAD) and RCA septal branch(SB RCA)]. The sensitivity and specificity of retrograde flowfor identification of the occluded LAD by TTE in the dLAD onlywere 78 and 96%, respectively, and those in both dLAD and SBLAD were 89 and 96%, respectively. The retrograde SB LAD flowdetects proximal LAD occlusion with 88% sensitivity and 75%specificity. The sensitivity and specificity of retrograde flowfor identification of the occluded RCA by TTE in the PDA onlywere 79 and 97%, respectively, and those in both PDA and SBRCA were 89 and 97%, respectively. The retrograde SB RCA flowdoes not allow us to differentiate between proximal and non-proximalRCA occlusion. Transthoracic echocardiography is not a methodfor diagnosing Cx occlusions as the success in visualizing theCx epicardial collaterals was achieved in 31% of cases only. Conclusion: TTE is a sensitive and highly specific non-invasive method fordiagnosis of LAD and RCA occlusions, based on the detectionof the coronary blood flow direction in the epicardial and intramyocardialcollaterals.     

急性心肌梗死患者不同冠状动脉病变对介入术后预后的影响

目的探讨急性心肌梗死经皮冠状动脉介入治疗患者不同冠状动脉病变对预后的影响。方法将117例接受急诊经皮冠状动脉介入治疗的急性心肌梗死患者根据罪犯血管不同分为左前降支组51例、左回旋支组27例、右冠状动脉组39例。比较3组患者术后ST段回落〉70％的梗死相关导联数、TIMI血流分级、住院期间及出院后1年内主要心脏不良事件发生率。结果与左回旋支组和右冠状动脉组比较,左前降支组术后ST段完全回落的梗死相关导联数和左室射血分数显著降低（P〈0．05）,心源性死亡率及总主要心脏不良事件率显著升高（P〈0．05）。结论左前降支病变者术后心电图ST段回落更缓慢、左心功能不全更严重、主要心脏不良事件发生率更高、预后更差。     

Clinical outcomes of acute myocardial infarction with occluded left circumflex artery

Left circumflex artery (LCX) related acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been known to be under diagnosed with 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). However, there were only a few studies that have focused on the clinical characteristics of LCX-related AMI. We studied the clinical characteristics and hospital mortality in patients with angiographically confirmed LCX-related AMI. A total of 2281 AMI patients with single acutely occluded culprit vessel in coronary angiography (pre-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow: 0) were enrolled in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) from November 2005 to January 2008. These patients were divided into three groups according to culprit vessel [left anterior descending artery (LAD), right coronary artery (RCA), and LCX]. This study showed the patients with LCX-related AMI were less likely to present with ST elevation in ECG (46.3%, 87.0%, and 82.3%; p<0.001) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (43.4%, 78.9%, and 74.5%; p<0.001) and door to balloon time <90 min (31.3%, 52.8%, and 51.0%; p<0.001), compared with LAD and RCA. However, no statistical difference was found in hospital mortality among the three groups. Multivariate analysis showed primary PCI decreased the hospital mortality in patients with occluded coronary artery. In conclusion, AMI patients with an occluded LCX presented with less ST elevation and primary PCI. These results suggest that clinical physicians should be careful with patients presenting with chest pain but apparently normal ECG and must rule out LCX occlusion.     

Sudden cardiac death and arrhythmia profile in patients with single-vessel coronary disease

214 patients with single vessel disease (high grade stenosis greater than or equal to 75% or occlusion of the LAD, RCA or LCX) were followed for 1-78 months, average 51 months. Incidence of sudden death was studied in relation to coronary artery lesions, left ventricular wall motion and ventricular arrhythmias found during ambulatory ECG monitoring at the time of angiography. Incidence of sudden death was 11.1% (16/144) in LAD, 7.3% (4/55) in RCA and 6.7% (1/15) in LCX lesions. Coronary artery occlusion was associated with a significantly higher incidence of sudden death (14.6%, 18/123) than high-grade stenosis (3.3%, 3/91) (p less than 0.05). The risk of sudden death increased markedly in patients with complex arrhythmias and an occluded LAD or RCA (21.0%, 8/38; 18.2%, 2/11) compared to patients without complex arrhythmias (14.7%, 5/34; 5.5%, 1/18) (p = ns). Only one patient (1/15, 6.7%) with an isolated LCX lesion died suddenly. Our data show that the incidence of sudden death over 51 months is relatively low in patients with single vessel disease. However, LAD occlusion or RCA lesion with akinetic left ventricular areas and complex arrhythmias are independent predictors of sudden death.     

Early diagnosis of the site of infarction and the infarct-related coronary artery in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction.

We evaluated the relationship between the site of infarction and the infarct-related coronary arteries from electrocardiograms (ECGs) recorded early after the onset of chest pain in patients with an initial acute inferior myocardial infarction (IMI). The subjects were 80 patients (mean age 57 +/- 12 years) with IMI admitted within 6 hours from the onset of chest pain. This was prior to the thrombolytic era. We analyzed the ECGs on admission, at 24 hours and at 4 weeks. All patients underwent left ventriculography and coronary angiography at 4-6 weeks from the onset of the IMI. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and regional area changes were measured. The infarct-related coronary artery was determined by the site of the asynergy. Patients were allocated into 2 groups according to the infarct-related artery, i.e. right (RCA, n = 52) and left circumflex (LCX, n = 28). Parameters measured were ST elevation, amplitude and width of R wave and R/S ratio in leads V1 and V2, and amplitude of U waves in leads V1 to V3. We defined the U wave as a prominent positive U wave (PPU) if it was > 0.5 mm (50 microV) in height. A significantly greater number of patients with PPU showed asynergy in posterolateral segments compared to those without PPU. The EF was significantly lower in patients with PPU than in those without (46 +/- 12% vs 54 +/- 13%, p < 0.05). Patients with PPUs eventually showed ECG evidence of posterior infarction (increased R wave duration and R/S ratio > or = 1 in lead V1 or V2) by 4 weeks compared to those without PPUs. Also a significantly greater number of patients with PPUs developed posterior infarction shown by left ventriculograms than those without PPUs. As to the infarct-related coronary arteries, a significantly greater number of patients with LCX disease showed concomitant posterior infarction than those with RCA disease. Also, a significantly greater number of LCX patients showed PPUs and ST elevations in leads V5 and V6 than those with RCA disease. The sensitivity of PPUs and ST elevations in leads V5 and V6 suggesting LCX disease was 60% and the specificity was 98% with a predictive accuracy of 87%. Therefore, we conclude that PPUs in leads V1-3 and ST elevations in leads V5 and V6 are specific markers for the diagnosis of LCX-related infarction in the setting of evolving IMI.     

急性下壁ST段抬高心肌梗死直接冠脉内支架置入术靶血管判定及预后评估

目的 总结急诊介入治疗（PCI）的急性下壁心肌梗死患者心电图及临床资料,分析其对急性下壁心肌梗死患者罪犯血管判定及预后评估的作用.方法 选择2007年1月到2010年7月进行急诊PCI的急性下壁心肌梗死患者280例,根据冠脉造影结果分为右冠状动脉（RCA）梗死组及左冠回旋支（LCX）梗死组;根据临床结果分为高危急性下壁心梗组（高危组）及低危组.分析各组的心电图表现、危险因素及预后.结果 RCA组与LCX组比较,STⅢ＞STⅡ、STavL或STⅠ＞1 mm下移更多见于RCA梗死.高危组年龄比低危组偏大,糖尿病患者更多,更多出现心肌梗死溶栓治疗（TIMI）分级中的0级（无灌注）及1级（渗透而无灌注）,RCA近端闭塞及双支、三支病变患者,心电图出现STV3R-5R↑、STV7-V9↑、STV4-6↓、STV1↑、STAVR↓的比例更高.结论 心电图在急性下壁心肌梗死进行急诊PCI的患者诊断及预后判断中有重要作用,对进行急诊PCI靶血管判定有一定的协助作用.冠脉造影TIMI 0、1级,RCA近端闭塞,双支、三支病变患者,年龄偏大患者和糖尿病患者整体预后均较差.     

急性心肌梗死再灌注心律失常的分布特征及其与自主神经失衡的关系

目的:观察急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死（STEMI）患者自主神经活性及再灌注心律失常（RA）特点，探讨自主神经在急性STEMI再灌注心律失常的作用及机制。方法:冠状动脉造影证实梗死血管完全闭塞的患者，12 h内完成急诊冠状动脉介入（PCI）治疗的108例，根据梗死相关动脉分组，以梗死后心率、血压情况，评估自主神经活性。分析RA分布特征及与自主神经失衡的关系。结果: RA总发生率为44%，右冠状动脉组RA发生率显著高于其他部位（65% vs. 35%和33%，P<0.01),距开通时间愈短RA发生率愈高(P<0.05,P<0.01)。前降支组交感神经过度激活者增多，右冠状动脉组迷走神经过度激活者增多，两组有显著性差异。结论:STEMI梗死再灌注RA总发生率为44%，右冠状动脉发生率显著高于其他部位，距开通时间愈短发生率愈高，且RA与自主神经失衡有关。     

立体心电向量图对心肌梗死病变血管定位的价值

目的 对比分析常规心电图(ECG)和立体心电向量图(3D-VCG),评价3D-VCG在心肌梗死相关动脉(IRA)定位上的应用价值.方法 114例临床确诊心肌梗死患者,经冠状动脉造影,将冠状动脉单支完全闭塞或狭窄≥75%者,分成左前降支(LAD)、左回旋支(LCX)、右冠状动脉(RCA)共3个IRA组,分别分析其ECG和...     

The necessary conditions of chronic total occlusion of all three coronary vessels--the relationship between portions of coronary occlusion and collateral vessels

This study was performed to define the conditions present in chronic total occlusion of all three coronary vessels. Each left descending coronary artery (LAD), left circumflex branch (LCX) and right coronary artery (RCA) was totally occluded angiographically in 5 patients (mean age 64, male 3, female 2). Four of them had history of myocardial infarction. Anginal type was effort angina in all patients, and two cases showed unstable angina. Good collateral supply was found in the distal portions of occluded vessels from proximally located branches, such as Conus branch, Right ventricular branch, Septal branch and Left atrial circumflex branch. Almost all of the occlusions were located at mid portions (13/15: mid, 2/15: proximal). Ejection fractions (EF%) of the 5 patients were 70%, 69%, 60%, 28% and 22% respectively. EF was correlated with the degree of collateral supply and one of them (22%) ended in sudden death. These findings suggest that the mid portion occlusion, good collateral supply and a long history of angina pectoris are important factors involved in chronic total occlusion of the three coronary vessels.     

药物洗脱球囊在冠状动脉特殊病变介入治疗中的应用分析

目的分析药物洗脱球囊（DEB）在再狭窄病变、支架内闭塞病变、分叉病变及小血管病变中的应用情况。方法根据冠状动脉造影结果选择不同型号的DEB,严格按照DEB使用要求进行操作。结果 DEB在支架内再狭窄病变中应用26例（27处病变）,使用28个DEB,其中左主干（LM）1个、左前降支（LAD）12个、右冠状动脉（RCA）12个、回旋支（LCX）1个、钝缘支（OM）2个,出现1例冠状动脉夹层,给予裸金属支架置入;DEB在分叉病变中应用27例（28处病变）,使用28个DEB,其中LM至LCX开口6个、LM至LAD开口1个、LAD与第一对角支（D1）开口17个、LCX至OM 2个、RCA至左心室后支（PL）2个;DEB在小血管病变中应用13例（13处病变）,使用13个DEB,其中LCX 6个、LAD 3个、D1 2个、OM 1个、PL 1个;DEB在支架内闭塞病变中应用10例（10处病变）,使用12个DEB,其中LAD 8个、LCX 2个、OM 1个、中间支1个。术中及术后未见并发症发生,随访至今未发生主要不良心血管事件（MACE）。结论 DEB在再狭窄病变、支架内闭塞病变、分叉病变及小血管病变介入治疗过程中是安全的。     

心电图在诊断急性心肌梗死相关动脉中的价值

目的分析急性心肌梗死患者不同梗死部位心电图表现及梗死相关动脉的分布特点,评价心电图诊断梗死相关动脉的价值。方法对132例急性心肌梗死患者心电图和冠状动脉造影资料进行回顾性比较分析。结果心电图显示心肌梗死发生率以心脏下壁、前间壁和广泛前壁最高,分别为31例(23.5%)、26例(19.7%)和22例(16.7%);造影显示梗死相关动脉的发生率分别为左主干(LM)3例(2.3%)、前降支(LAD)73例(55.3%)、回旋支(LCX)18例(13.6%)、右冠状动脉(RCA)38例(28.8%);前壁心肌梗死(55例)的梗死相关动脉多为LAD(51例,92.7%),下壁心肌梗死(31例)的梗死相关动脉多为RCA(22例,71.0%)或LCX(7例,22.6%),且与冠状动脉优势类型密切相关,前壁梗死合并aVR、aVL导联ST段抬高对诊断LAD近段闭塞的特异性较高,分别为86.7%和90.0%。结论急性心肌梗死心电图表现与梗死相关动脉存在明显相关性,有较高的临床诊断价值。     

青年冠心病患者危险因素及冠状动脉病变的临床分析

目的探讨青年冠心病（CHD）患者危险因素及病变特点。方法选择冠状动脉造影确诊的青年CHD患者97例,男性94例,女性3例,回顾性分析危险因素、冠状动脉病变特点及支架置入资料。结果急诊住院42例（43．30％）,急性及陈旧性心肌梗死35例（36．08％）。各危险因素阳性率依次为：吸烟78．35％,高甘油三酯血症59．79％,严重超重53．61％,高血压43．30％,高胆固醇血症27．84％,家族史22．68％,酗酒18．56％,糖尿病12．37％;具有3个以上危险因素者51例（52．58％）。冠状动脉单支病变56例（57．73％）、双支病变27例（27．84％）、三支病变14例（14．43％）。病变血管狭窄〉75％者152支,左前降支（IAD）57．89％,回旋支（LCX）13．82％,右冠状动脉（RC）27．63％,左主干（LM）0．07％。支架置入术干预血管127支,支架的大小及长度为：LAD（3．25±0．34）mm×（23．47±4．36）mm,LCX（3．01±0．32）mm×（23．27±5．87）mm,RC（3．60±0．43）mm×（26．83±4．43）mm。结论多数青年CHD患者发病突然,病变严重,约半数患者病变累及LAD。吸烟、高甘油三酯血症、严重超重、高血压等是最重要的危险因素。     

246例回旋支不同节段闭塞的心电图特点

目的探讨回旋支闭塞中不同节段,不同优势型,多支病变对心电图变化的影响。方法本研究共入选246例发生急性LCX闭塞的患者（其中男187例,女59例）,根据冠脉造影结果将患者根据冠脉优势型、单支、多支、合并LAD、RCA分组,结合年龄、性别及相关危险因素,对比分析心电图改变与冠脉造影结果及临床特点的关系。结果回旋支闭塞心电图变化受不同冠脉优势型影响,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVF、V7~V9导联ST段抬高常见于左优势型的LCX闭塞。V1~V3导联ST段压低常见于均衡型的LCX闭塞,Ⅰ、aVL导联ST段抬高在各优势型中无特异性。在单支LCX闭塞中,V1~V3导联ST段压低常见于近段闭塞,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVF导联ST段抬高常见于远段闭塞,V7~V9导联ST段抬高与Ⅰ、aVL导联ST段抬高在各节段闭塞的心电图中无特异性。合并多支病变时LCX心电图变化与单纯LCX闭塞存在差异,在LCX近段闭塞中,合并多支病变的患者更易出现V7~V9导联ST段抬高,单支病变者心电图易出现V1~V3导联ST段压低,在LCX中段闭塞的患者中,单支病变与多支病变的心电图改变大致相同。在LCX远段闭塞的患者中,多支病变患者出现V1~V3导联ST段压低可能性较大。OM闭塞在单支及合并多支病变时的心电图差异无明显统计学意义。在合并LAD或RCA病变的LCX闭塞患者中,心电图改变无明显差异。结论心电图对诊断梗死相关动脉为回旋支的急性心肌梗死有重要的预测价值,结合病史及相关一般资料可对急性心肌梗死患者的预后进行评估。     

Multiple coronary artery thrombosis in a 41-year-old male patient presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Simultaneous occlusion of multiple epicardial coronary arteries is an uncommon finding in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We describe a 41- year-old male Asian patient who presented with inferior and anterior STEMI complicated by cardiogenic shock and frequent life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The patient was subsequently found to have acute occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) and proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The patient was treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions for RCA and LAD, and intra-aortic balloon pump placement showed excellent results. Based on the available literature, early PCI for this very rare condition is paramount for patient survival.     

11例急性单纯后壁心肌梗死心电图及梗死相关动脉特点分析

目的 分析急性单纯后壁心肌梗死（不包括同时合并下壁及右室心肌梗死）的心电图及冠状动脉造影特点。方法 总结自2001年至2006年门、急诊收治的急性单纯后壁心肌梗死患者11例,随访心电图特点,并行冠状动脉造影确定梗死相关动脉。结果 11例患者除了V7-V9导联ST段有典型的弓背向上抬高1．0—2．0mm外,9例（81．8％）V1-V2导联R／S≥1,5例（45．5％）V1-V4导联ST段压低1．0—2．0mm,4例（36．4％）Ⅰ、aVL导联ST段抬高0．5-1．5mm,5例（45．5％）V5-V6导联ST段抬高0．5—1．5mm。冠状动脉造影显示梗死相关动脉均为左回旋支（LCX）。梗死部位1例在第一钝缘支（OM1）发出前,为95％管状狭窄;6例（54．5％）在OM1发出后,其中4例为100％闭塞,1例为99％次全闭塞,1例为90％长段狭窄;4例（36．4％）在OM1,其中2例为100％闭塞,1例为99％次全闭塞,1例为95％局限性狭窄。单支病变3例（27．3％）,合并左前降支（LAD）病变4例（36．4％）,合并右冠状动脉（RCA）病变2例（18．2％）,同时合并LAD及RCA病变2例（18．2％）。结论12导联心电图,如有V1-V2导联R／S≥1,V1-V4导联ST段压低等特点时,结合临床与心肌酶学改变,高度怀疑急性后壁心肌梗死,需做后壁导联和冠状动脉造影加以证实,而梗死相关动脉多为左回旋支。     

Correlation of remote ST segment depression and coronary anatomy during acute coronary occlusion

BACKGROUND: The appearance of remote ST segment depression (RSTD) on an electrocardiogram (ECG) is associated with more extensive infarction and a worse clinical outcome than when RSTD is absent. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether RSTD predicts coronary anatomy during acute coronary occlusion. It was hypothesized that RSTD is associated with the occlusion of a proximal lesion, an extensive artery and an artery without distal collateralization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 113 consecutive patients with single vessel disease undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), 12-lead ECGs (recorded at baseline and during balloon inflation) and angiographical data were analyzed independently. Patients with ST segment elevation in the primary territory and RSTD (greater than 1 mm ST depression at 80 ms after the J point) (group A) were compared with patients without RSTD (group B). Proximal lesions were defined as lesions located in the segments proximal to the acute marginal branch, first diagonal artery or first obtuse marginal branch. An extensive right coronary artery (RCA) was one that supplied the posterolateral wall; an extensive left anterior descending (LAD) artery was one that supplied the inferoapical wall; and an extensive circumflex artery was one that supplied the posterior descending artery. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients (48%) had PTCA of the proximal vessels, 43 patients (38%) had extensive target vessels and 11 patients (9.7%) had collaterals. Target vessels included 33% in RCA, 44% in LAD artery and 23% in circumflex artery. Forty-five patients (40%) developed RSTD during balloon inflation (group A). Patients in group A were more likely to have extensive vessels on the angiogram than those in group B (group A 49%, group B 31%; P=0.05). None of the patients in group A had collaterals to the culprit artery, while 16% of patients in group B did (P=0.003). The two groups were not significantly different with respect to the number of proximal lesions (group A 58%, group B 42%; P=0.08). Analysis performed according to the target artery revealed that RSTD was associated with occlusion of an extensive RCA during RCA occlusion (extensive RCA in group A 100%, group B 57%; P=0.006). For the LAD artery, RSTD was associated with proximal lesions (group A 74%, group B 41%; P=0.02) and absence of collaterals (group A 100%, group B 74%; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: During acute coronary occlusion, the presence of RSTD on 12-lead ECG was specific for the absence of collaterals. The presence of RSTD during RCA occlusion was strongly associated with an extensive RCA, suggestive of posterolateral wall ischemia. During LAD artery occlusion, the presence of RSTD was associated with proximal occlusion, which resulted in ischemia of the LAD artery and the major diagonal artery territories.     

Correspondence between left ventricular 17 myocardial segments and coronary arteries.

AIMS: The last guidelines recommend a standardized 17-segment model for tomographic imaging of the left ventricle. The aim of this study is to analyse the correspondence of the 17 left ventricular segments with each coronary artery by myocardial perfusion SPECT studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty patients selected for percutaneous revascularization of one coronary artery [24 left anterior descending (LAD), 15 right coronary artery (RCA), and 11 left circumflex (LCX)] were included. The (99m)Tc-labelled compound was injected immediately after the inflation of the balloon during percutaneous coronary angioplasty. At least 90 s of complete occlusion time was required. Maximal contour of regions of hypoperfusion corresponding to each coronary artery occlusion were delineated over the polar map of 17 segments. Nine segments corresponded to only one coronary artery: eight to LAD (basal anterior, basal anteroseptal, mid-anterior, mid-anteroseptal, apical anterior, apical septal, apical lateral, and apex) and one to LCX (basal anterolateral). Basal inferoseptal, mid-inferoseptal, and apical inferior segments could correspond to LAD or RCA. Basal inferior, basal inferolateral, mid-inferior, and mid-inferolateral segments could correspond to RCA or LCX, whereas the mid-anterolateral segment could correspond to LAD or LCX. CONCLUSION: The most specific segments (anterior, anteroseptal, and all apical segments except the infero-apical) correspond to LAD but no segment can be exclusively attributed to the RCA. Inferoseptal segments can be attributed to LAD or RCA, inferior and inferolateral segments to RCA or LCX, and mid-anterolateral segment to LAD or LCX.     

The site of plaque rupture in native coronary arteries: a three-vessel intravascular ultrasound analysis

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the axial location of plaque ruptures in native coronary arteries. BACKGROUND: It is clinically important to understand the potential sites of plaque rupture. METHODS: We performed three-vessel intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examination in 392 patients; 231 had acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 161 had stable angina pectoris (SAP). The IVUS detected plaque ruptures in 206 patients: 158 ACS patients and 48 SAP patients. The distance between each coronary plaque rupture segment and the respective coronary ostium was measured with motorized IVUS transducer pullback in all three coronary arteries. RESULTS: There were a total of 273 plaque ruptures in these 206 patients; 143 in the left anterior descending artery (LAD), 40 in the left circumflex artery (LCX), and 90 in the right coronary artery (RCA). There were 67 plaque ruptures in SAP patients and 206 in ACS patients; there were 197 culprit/target lesion plaque ruptures and 76 non-culprit/non-target lesion plaque ruptures. The LAD plaque ruptures were predominantly located between 10 and 40 mm from the LAD ostium (83%, 119 of 143). The LCX plaque ruptures were evenly distributed in the entire LCX tree. Most RCA plaque ruptures were located in segments between 10 and 40 mm (48%, 43 of 90) and in segments >70 mm from the ostium (32%, 29 of 90). CONCLUSIONS: Three-vessel IVUS imaging showed that plaque ruptures occurred mainly in proximal segments of the LAD (83% of LAD plaque rupture), the proximal and distal segments of the RCA (48% and 32% of RCA plaque ruptures, respectively), and the entire LCX.