The disappearing coronary stenosis: reemphasizing the importance of excluding coronary vasospasm before coronary intervention.

We describe a case of resting angina with multiple angiographic stenoses that were highly suitable for stenting. These classic lesions resolved after intracoronary nitroglycerin while positioning a stent. This case reemphasizes the need to exclude vasospasm prior to any interventional coronary procedure.     

Comparative trial of stent-like balloon angioplasty versus coronary stenting for acute myocardial infarction.

Primary PTCA has been shown to be superior to any thrombolytic regimen and offers higher reperfusion rates and better coronary flow grades. Its limitations include recurrent ischemia (10%-15%), infarct-related artery reocclusion (5%-10%), angiographic restenosis (35%-50%), and need to perform repeat PTCA or CABG at 6-month follow-up (20%). Thus, the current role of coronary stenting for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is very promising. From December 1995 through January 1997, 335 patients underwent primary angioplasty during the first 12 hr from symptom onset at our institution. We performed a retrospective study comparing the in-hospital and 6-month follow-up outcome of 61 patients who underwent coronary stenting (stent group) against 61 patients with optimal (residual lesion stenosis < 30%) balloon-only primary angioplasty (stent-like group). Patients were routinely treated with aspirin, and ticlopidine was given only to the stent group. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate was 11.5% without statistical differences between the groups. Cardiac death rate was similar in both groups (4.9 vs. 6.6%; P = 1.0) and only two (3.3%) patients from the stent group and none from the PTCA group had nonfatal myocardial reinfarction. At 6-month follow-up, the rate of recurrent angina was higher in the stent-like group (30.9 vs. 7.1%; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that only stenting of the infarct-related artery was a borderline independent predictor for MACE (OR = 0; 95% CI = 0-1; P = 0.057). Primary stenting for AMI reduces the rate of recurrent angina or symptoms and MACE at 6-month follow-up.     

Coronary vasospasm as a potential cause of myocardial infarction and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in a relatively young woman

Vasospasm-related myocardial infarction in young women with normal coronary arteries has infrequently been reported and vasospasm-related paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) has rarely been described. We present a 33-year-old woman with old inferior myocardial infarction and postinfarction angina at rest; the angina was accompanied by PAF and electrocardiographic ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads. Coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries and intracoronary acetylcholine provoked an intense and diffuse spasm of the right and left coronary artery. The spasm of the right coronary artery was associated with PAF and ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads. Frequently documented PAF, accompanied by chest discomfort and ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads, was more effectively removed with isosorbide dinitrate than with disopyramide. These data suggest that coronary vasospasm is a likely cause of myocardial infarction and even PAF, although the precise mechanism leading to PAF remains unknown.     

Diffuse coronary artery vasospasm in a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage: A case report

BACKGROUND Coronary artery vasospasm(CAV) is a reversible, transient form of vasoconstriction with clinical manifestations ranging from stable angina to acute coronary syndromes(ACS). Vasospasm of epicardial coronary arteries or associated micro-vasculature can lead to total or subtotal occlusion and has been demonstrated in nearly 50% of patients undergoing angiography for suspected ACS. The mechanism for CAV has been described in literature, but in a subgroup of patients presenting with intracranial hemorrhage, it appears to be multifactorial. These patients tend to have electrocardiographic changes, elevation of cardiac biomarkers of injury and neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy.CASE SUMMARY A 44-year-old woman presented with severe headaches and tonic-clonic seizures. She was found to have diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) requiring ventricular drain placement, coil embolization and induced hypertension. She subsequently developed chest pain with ST elevations in anterior precordial leads, elevated cardiac enzymes and apical ballooning with left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% on transthoracic echocardiogram. Coronary angiogram revealed severe diffuse triple vessel stenoses secondary to CAV seen distally. Subsequent cardiac MRI notable for apical non-viability and scar formation.CONCLUSION This case highlights a unique etiology of acute myocardial infarction in a patient with SAH leading to ST elevations, diffuse triple vessel CAV and apical scar.     

Angiographically documented coronary vasospasm as a cause of myocardial infarction during the acute phase of aortic dissection

Summary We angiographically documented coronary vasospasm which resulted in myocardial infarction during the acute phase of aortic dissection (Stanford A). Coronary and aortic angiography performed at admission of the patient revealed complete occlusion of the right coronary artery and dissection of the aorta. Intracoronary injection of isosorbide dinitrate and intravenous administration of verapamil opened the occluded right coronary artery and blood flow was fully restored. We conclude that, in this case of aortic dissection, the severe stimulation by the aortic dissection brought about vasospasm of the right coronary artery which was the major cause of myocardial infarction. This is the first case report showing clear evidence that myocardial infarction is brought about by vasospasm associated with aortic dissection.     

Clinical and angiographic findings in a patient with vasospasm in an anomalous coronary artery

We report the case of a 58-year-old man with coronary vasospasm that occurred within an anomalous coronary artery. The rapidly progressive clinical course and the dramatic treadmill test result preceeded the diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Combination therapy with isosorbide, beta blocker, and nifedipine resulted in complete resolution of symptoms.     

Myocardial ischemia due to vasospasm of small coronary arteries detected by methylergometrine maleate stress myocardial scintigraphy

BACKGROUND: Recently, several case reports have implicated vasospasm of small coronary arteries in vasospastic angina pectoris. Vasospasm of small coronary arteries was also considered from angiographic findings in patients with atypical chest pain. In Syrian hamster, vasospasm in small coronary arteries was considered to be the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. HYPOTHESIS: This study was undertaken to determine whether vasospasm in small coronary arteries can be induced by methylergometrine maleate stress thallium-201 (201Tl) myocardial scintigraphy. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with chest pain, all of whom had intact coronary arteries, were studied. After intracoronary methylergometrine maleate injection, coronary arteriograms also looked normal in all cases. Thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy was carried out immediately after intracoronary methylergometrine maleate injection in four patients with chest pain. In the remaining 21 patients with chest pain, methylergometrine maleate was given intravenously within up to 2 weeks before 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy. RESULTS: In the intracoronary injection study, one patient had chest discomfort after methylergometrine maleate injection, and ST-segment elevation was observed on electrocardiogram (ECG). Of the 21 patients with chest pain, 11 patients felt angina-like chest pain after intravenous injection of methylergometrine maleate, but their ECGs showed no ischemic changes. Stress 201Tl myocardial scintigrams showed methylergometrine maleate-induced perfusion defects with complete redistribution in 3 of 4 patients in the intracoronary injection study and in 12 of 21 patients in the intravenous injection study. These findings suggest that vasospasm in small coronary arteries caused myocardial ischemia in 15 of 25 patients (60%) with chest pain. CONCLUSION: Vasospasm in small coronary arteries may be involved in the myocardial ischemia of some patients with chest pain who do not show any large coronary artery vasospasm.     

Lack of association of migraine with coronary vasospasm

Previous reports have found an association between coronary vasospasm and migraine. It has been speculated that migraine and variant angina might be manifestations of a generalized vasospastic disorder. To investigate this hypothesis, 74 patients with frequent attacks of migraine were studied using 24-h continuous ambulatory electrocardiography to identify the presence of coronary vasospasm. Control groups consisted of 19 patients with tension headaches, and 38 healthy individuals. All subjects were free of heart disease. One patient in the migraine group and one patient in the control group had symptomless episodes of ST-segment depression not indicative of coronary vasospasm. Our data do not support the hypothesis that migraine and variant angina are components of a generalized vasospastic disorder.     

Friedreich's ataxia associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and coronary vasospasm

A rare patient with Friedreich's ataxia and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who showed evidence of coronary artery vasospasm on ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring is presented.     

Stenting for left main coronary artery occlusion in adolescent: A case report

Acute total or subtotal occlusion of left main coronary artery (LMCA) is a catastrophic and mostly fatal event. Patients may present with cardiogenic shock and die whenever this event occurs. Survival is strongly dependent on the presence of collateral blood flow to the left coronary artery or a dominant right coronary artery, and emergency intervention for preserving the left ventricular function. Here, we present a case of a 14-year-old boy with subtotal occlusion of the LMCA accompanying acute myocardial infarction probably caused by congenital syphilis according to his positive serum syphilis antibody. His survival was closely associated with a dominant right coronary artery and timely thrombolytic therapy. Finally, he was treated with angioplasty and paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation. He was followed up after stenting and was doing quite well at the time when we wrote this paper.     

Acute myocardial infarction caused by multivessel coronary spasm due to calcium channel blocker withdrawal

Calcium channel blockers are a commonly used class of medications for the management of hypertension, angina, and superventricular tachyarrhythmias. Abrupt withdrawal of these agents can precipitate coronary vasospasm, which may result in myocardial infarction. We present the case of a 47‐year‐old woman who sustained an acute myocardial infarction mediated by multivessel coronary vasospasm secondary to verapamil withdrawal and the associated interventional management. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Coronary stenting for failed angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction

Intracoronary stents were implanted in 15 patients after unsuccessful PTCA in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The stented vessel was the left anterior descending (LAD) in 11 patients, the right coronary artery (RCA) in 3 patients, and a venous bypass graft to the LAD in a single patient. A total of 16 stents were implanted (15 Palmaz-Schatz, Johnson and Johnson; and 1 Wiktor, Medtronic). Follow-up: 1 patient died 10 days after stent implantation as a result of renal failure and cardiogenic shock. Subacute thrombosis occurred in 2 patients, 5 and 15 days after stent implantation; both underwent successful emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The remaining 12 patients were free from major ischemic events (death, AMI, and further revascularization) after a mean follow-up of 18.7 ± 4.1 months. We conclude that the long-term results of intracoronary stenting in AMI after failed PTCA are favourable. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Stenting of a left main coronary artery compressed by a dilated main pulmonary artery

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease caused by external compression by a dilated main pulmonary artery (MPA) is an uncommon clinical entity but is one of the reversible causes of chest pain in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Traditionally, treatment of LMCA disease involves coronary artery bypass graft surgery. However, for LMCA compression by a dilated MPA, coronary angioplasty with stenting has recently been reported to have good outcomes and might be more suitable in some patients with high risk associated with surgery. Herein, we describe a 54‐year‐old man with pulmonary arterial hypertension and external compression of the LMCA by the dilated main pulmonary artery that was treated with angiographic and intravascular ultrasound‐guided coronary angioplasty and stenting. Also we briefly review current literatures about LMCA compression by a dilated MPA. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Percutaneous treatment in acute coronary syndromes

Both ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are the result of an acute thrombotic lesion obstructing blood flow in the coronary vasculature. Percutaneous treatment has shown to improve clinical outcome in this clinical setting by resolving coronary obstruction with different devices directed to restore coronary blood flow. In comparison with balloon alone angioplasty, implantation of bare metal stents reduced the rate of restenosis and cardiac events, but high rates of restenosis remained, leading to further investigations to develop drug-eluting stents with different pharma- cological coatings that reduced restenosis rates and clinical events. In this review, we discuss the current treatment of ACS, reviewing recent randomized clinical trials and advances in medical treatment, including new antiplatelet agents and recent guideline recommendations.     

体表心电图对老年急性前壁心肌梗死左前降支闭塞部位的预测价值

目的探讨体表心电图对老年急性前壁心肌梗死左前降支（LAD）闭塞部位的预测价值。方法对62例老年急性前壁心肌梗死患者的入院心电图和冠状动脉造影资料进行回顾性分析,寻找可以预测LAD闭塞部位的心电图改变。结果62例老年急性前壁心肌梗死患者均为LAD闭塞,其中近段闭塞者45例（72.6%）,远段闭塞者17例（27.4%）。经χ2检验,STⅠ抬高、STaVL抬高、STaVF压低或至少2个下壁导联ST段压低等指标提示LAD近段闭塞（P均〈0.05）。其中,STaVF压低或至少2个下壁导联ST段压低的特异度和阳性预测值最高,为94%左右,灵敏度以STaVL抬高最高,为56%;反之,STaVL压低和STⅢ抬高则在预测LAD远段闭塞上有显著意义（P均〈0.05）,特异度和阳性预测值以STaVL压低为最高,均为100%。结论急性前壁心肌梗死时,体表心电图对预测LAD闭塞部位有重要价值。     

心电图诊断冠脉前降支闭塞部位的研究

目的 探讨前壁急性心肌梗死(AMI)体表心电图(ECG)预测前降支(LAD)阻塞部位的准确率.方法 对2010年6月至2013年12月在井冈山大学附属医院心血管科145例前壁AMI患者ECG预测阻塞部位与冠状动脉造影术(CAG)显示阻塞部位进行对比分析.以大对角支(LD)或第一对角支(D1)为界划分LAD为近远段.结果 前间壁AMI 20例,LAD阻塞部位均在LD或D1开口以远.前壁AMI、前壁+下壁AMI共67例LAD阻塞部位大多在LD或D1开口以远(80.6％ vs.86.6％),两种分界法差异无统计学意义(p=0.351).广泛前壁、广泛前壁+高侧壁、前壁+高侧壁AMI共58例LAD阻塞部位多发生LD或D1开口以近(96.55％vs.72.4％),两种分界法差异有显著的统计学意义(p=0.000),以LD为界有较高的阳性预测值(96.55％ vs.72.41％ p=0.000)、特异度(97.3％ vs.83％,p=0.003),心电图判断LAD近段阻塞以LD分界更准确.结论 前壁AMI心电图对预测LAD阻塞部位有较高的准确率.     

Stenting after thrombectomy with the AngioJet™ catheter for acute myocardial infarction

The presence of massive intracoronary thrombi may contraindicate stenting. The AngioJet™ catheter rheolytic thrombectomy prepared the road for an easy and uneventful stenting in 2 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and thrombi. This combination provides a promising strategy for patients with AMI and angiographic evidence of massive thrombi. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 43:327–330, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Primary angioplasty of an anomalous left main coronary artery: diagnostic and technical considerations.

In this case of primary angioplasty of an anomalous left main coronary artery, a method of identifying the course of these vessels is reviewed. Unique electrocardiographic findings relative to left main occlusion, aiding in suspecting this anomaly before angiographic study, are presented and the technical approach to revascularization is discussed.