Immediate and long-term results of delayed recanalization of occluded acute myocardial infarction-related arteries using coronary angioplasty.

Recent evidence suggests that late reperfusion of an occluded infarct-related artery after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may convey a better prognosis. The clinical outcome of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) as a means of mechanical reperfusion in this particular setting has not been clearly delineated. Ninety-seven patients with AMI underwent PTCA of the occluded infarct-related artery after the acute phase of the AMI (48 hours to 2 weeks, mean 8 +/- 4 days). The study consisted of 72 men (74%) (mean age 56.5 +/- 12 years) and 25 women. Seventy-seven patients (79%) had a Q-wave AMI and 20 patients (21%) a non-Q-wave AMI. Seventy-six patients (79%) had angina after AMI and 4 had previously undergone coronary bypass surgery. Clinical success was achieved in 85 patients (87%). Angiographic success was obtained in 90 of the 97 occluded arteries (93%) and was similar for all 3 major vessels: right coronary 97%, left anterior descending 93% and circumflex 85% (p = not significant). Major complications (AMI, emergency bypass and death) occurred in 3 patients (3.1%). Long-term follow up (3.7 +/- 0.8 years) revealed symptomatic recurrence in 20 (23%), whereas 51 (58%) remained asymptomatic. Most recurrences (16 of 20) were in the form of restenosis rather than reocclusion, with a high success rate for repeat dilation (93%). These results indicate that mechanical reperfusion of an occluded infarct artery, performing PTCA 48 hours to 2 weeks after AMI, has a high success rate, a low complication rate and low symptomatic restenosis.     

Results of emergency bypass operation following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Between 1980 and 1988, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed in 1,514 patients. Fifty-five patients (3.6%) underwent emergency coronary bypass surgery because of an acute occlusion of the vessel or a dissection with sustained angina and signs of ischemia on the electrocardiogram. Twenty-five of these 55 patients had a myocardial infarction and 5 patients died, 3 perioperatively, 2 after hospital discharge. The degree of stenosis of the dilated vessel significantly influenced the incidence of infarction, while left ventricular ejection fraction prior to PTCA significantly influenced mortality. Patients who underwent surgery with an occluded vessel experienced myocardial infarction significantly more often (87%) than patients with a patent vessel (24%). The incidence of infarction was 27% when reperfusion of the vessel occluded during PTCA was achieved with a reperfusion catheter, repeated PTCA or intracoronary lysis. The patients' age, presence of unstable angina, left ventricular ejection fraction prior to PTCA, the dilated vessel, the extent of coronary artery disease, collateralization of the dilated vessel, and the time between the onset of the event necessitating bypass surgery and the beginning of extracorporeal circulation were found to have no influence on the incidence of infarction. Patients who died had a significantly lower ejection fraction before PTCA than survivors and all patients who died had experienced a large perioperative myocardial infarction.     

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in evolving acute myocardial infarction

In 29 patients with evolving acute myocardial infarction, acute reperfusion of the infarct-related coronary artery was attempted using percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Before PTCA, angiography showed 23 totally occluded and 6 severely stenotic infarct-related coronary arteries. PTCA was initially successful in 25 of 29 patients (86%). Reocclusion occurred in 4 patients within 12 hours after successful PTCA and was associated with new electrocardiographic changes or recurrence of symptoms. In 17 patients the infarct-related coronary artery remained patent at early follow-up; late stenosis occurred in 4 patients. Recurrence of stenosis was accompanied by development of angina. No clinical or angiographic features distinguished those with ultimate vessel patency, occlusion or recurrence of stenosis. On follow-up, ventricular function appeared better preserved or improved in those with a patent infarct-related coronary artery than in those with an occluded infarct-related coronary artery. Further studies are warranted to compare PTCA and streptokinase as primary reperfusion modalities in evolving acute myocardial infarction.     

Angioplasty in total coronary arterial occlusion

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was attempted in 67 patients with total coronary arterial occlusion but without associated acute transmural infarction. No patient received concomitant streptokinase therapy. The duration of occlusion was one week or less in 22 patients, one week to one month in 24 patients, one to three months in 13 patients, and more than three months in eight patients. The occluded vessel was the left anterior descending artery in 38 (57%), the right coronary artery in 22 (33%), and the circumflex coronary artery in seven (10%). A steerable system was used in 29 patients whereas a fixed guide wire system was used in 38. Dilation was successful in 44 patients (66%). When a steerable system was used, PTCA was successful in 76% of the patients, compared with 58% when a nonsteerable system was used. The average size of stenosis after dilation was 32%. In the patients with a recent occlusion (one week or less in duration), PTCA was successful in 82%, which was significantly better than in patients with an older occlusion (greater than 12 weeks), in whom dilation was successful in only 25% (p less than 0.01). In patients with an occlusion of one to three months, PTCA was successful in 65%. During a mean follow-up of 1.6 years in the 44 patients with successful dilation, 37 were asymptomatic without angina, although five had required repeat dilation or coronary bypass surgery. In selected patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease and recent coronary occlusion but without associated myocardial infarction, PTCA alone is an effective means of restoring flow. After successful dilation, the majority of patients remain asymptomatic.     

溶栓禁忌证的老年急性心肌梗死患者直接介入治疗的探讨

目的　探讨不能溶栓的老年急性心肌梗死 (AMI)患者直接介入治疗的安全性与有效性。方法　对 31例 70岁以上的患者 ,3例 6 0～ 6 9岁有溶栓禁忌证的老年心肌梗死的患者进行了直接经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术 (PTCA)与冠状动脉内支架术。结果　有 34例梗死相关动脉 (IRA)心肌梗死溶栓试验 (TIMI)血流 0级 2 7例 ,1级 7例。 31例直接行PTCA成功 ,其中 4例患者直接PTCA后其残余狭窄 <10 %且无明显的内膜撕裂和夹层。 2 7例IRA具有支架置入的适应证 ,即刻造影IRATIMI血流达 3级。 2例行冠状动脉旁路移植术 (CABG)。有 1例因IRA完全闭塞 ,PT CA未能成功。直接介入成功率 97%。 31例患者经过平均 (11.4± 3.7)个月随访 ,无再梗死及急诊再次血运重建 ,但 4例有心绞痛 ,造影证实为冠状动脉支架再狭窄再次行PTCA成功。结论　对溶栓有禁忌证的老年AMI患者行直接介入治疗 ,具有较高的成功率及安全性。     

Angioplasty in total coronary artery occlusion

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was attempted without streptokinase in 24 patients with total coronary artery occlusion but without acute transmural myocardial infarction. The maximal duration of occlusion was estimated to be 1 week or less in 10 patients, more than 1 to 4 weeks in 6, more than 4 to 12 weeks in 3 and more than 12 weeks in 5. Dilation of the occluded artery was attempted in the left anterior descending coronary artery in 17 patients, in the right coronary artery in 4 and in the circumflex coronary artery in 3. Angioplasty was successful in 13 patients (54%): left anterior descending coronary artery in 59%, right coronary artery in 50% and circumflex coronary artery in 33%. In patients with successful dilation, there was a mean decrease in coronary artery stenosis from 100 to 23%. In the 19 patients whose occlusion was estimated to be of 12 weeks' duration or less, angioplasty was successful in 68%. In the five patients whose occlusion was estimated to be of more than 12 weeks' duration, dilation was not successful in any (p = 0.006). It is concluded that in selected patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease and recent coronary artery occlusion without associated acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty alone may be effective in restoring patency.     

Reversible occlusion of a side branch and the left anterior descending coronary artery following angioplasty

A 61-year-old man with unstable angina underwent emergency angioplasty of a proximal left anterior descending coronary stenosis. This was successful but a major first septal branch involved in the stenosis was occluded following the procedure. Recovery was uncomplicated, however, without chest pain or other evidence of myocardial infarction. Predischarge treadmill stress testing was negative for ischaemia but two hours afterwards abrupt coronary occlusion required a second emergency angioplasty procedure. Recanalization of the left anterior descending artery was achieved and the first septal branch was shown to be fully patent. Spasm probably accounted for the side branch occlusion which complicated the first procedure but the mechanism of the abrupt coronary occlusion following stress-testing is unclear.     

Myocardial revascularization after acute infarction

The purpose of this study was (1) to establish the maximal interval between the onset of ischemia and reperfusion that would permit a decrease in the size of infarction, and (2) to evaluate the relation between changes in infarct size and preservation of cardiac function. Studies were carried out in 19 dogs of which 13 had temporary (1 to 3 hours) occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The hospital course of 15 patients of whom 13 underwent myocardial revascularization within 8 hours of acute infarction was also reviewed. In dogs, the eventual pathologic infarct size was significantly reduced if reperfusion was performed within 2 hours of ischemia. After 2 hours of ischemia, the revascularized segment remained dyskinetic on angiographic assessment and cardiac function was depressed. After 3 hours of ischemia, in spite of a patent coronary artery, the extent of infarct and dykinesia was greater than during ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. In patients, small infarcts developed with revascularization performed more than 4 hours after infarction but with revascularization of the left anterior descending coronary artery the size of the dyskinetic area (as assessed with angiography) was similar to that in patients with a closed graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery but with a patent graft to its diagonal branch. In all patients after revascularization the extent of the left ventricular dyskinetic area was smaller and cardiac function was significantly better than in patients who did not receive revascularization for complete occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. In spite of successful revascularization, electrocardiographic evidence of transmural infarction persisted postoperatively. It is concluded that reperfusion of an area of myocardium that has been ischemic for less than 2 hours in dogs or less than 4 hours in man may lead to a significant reduction in the extent of infarction as well as improvement in cardiac function. However, the revascularized area remains angiographically dyskinetic and electrocardiographically abnormal.     

Early atrial fibrillation during evolving myocardial infarction: a consequence of impaired left atrial perfusion

Seven of 214 patients (3%) with acute myocardial infarction (120 inferior and 94 anterior) developed atrial fibrillation within 3 hr of the onset of chest pain. All seven patients had an inferior infarction and in all seven the left circumflex artery was occluded proximal to the origin of its left atrial circumflex branch. In five patients this occlusion was acute and was the cause of inferior infarction and in the remaining two patients the occlusion was old and the inferior infarction was due to an acute occlusion of the right coronary artery that also supplied extensive collaterals to the previously occluded left circumflex artery. All seven patients also had impaired perfusion to the atrioventricular nodal artery, as evidenced by total occlusion proximal to its origin or by stenosis proximal to its origin associated with second- or third-degree atrioventricular block. In contrast, early atrial fibrillation did not occur in any of the 18 patients with inferior myocardial infarction due to acute occlusion of the distal left circumflex artery or in any of the five patients with inferior infarction due to acute occlusion of the proximal left circumflex artery if perfusion to the atrioventricular nodal artery was not impaired. Early atrial fibrillation did not occur in any of the 90 patients with inferior infarction due to acute occlusion of the right coronary artery, including 12 patients with occlusion proximal to the sinus nodal artery, but without coexistent occlusion of the left circumflex artery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Acute left main coronary artery occlusion--a case report and review of the literature

Acute left main coronary artery (LMCA) occlusion is rare and typically fatal. According to the recent literature, only three cases have been reported surviving emergent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) caused by total LMCA occlusion. We report the case of a 52-year-old man presenting with total occlusion of the LMCA associated with acute anterolateral myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. The patient's dominant right coronary artery did not supply the collaterals to the left coronary system. After ineffective thrombolysis the patient underwent successful emergent CABG for the management of uncontrollable cardiogenic shock. Emergent CABG, though controversial, appears to be a feasible approach for patients with AMI in life-threatening situations, when other attempts at reperfusion have been unsuccessful.     

Intraaortic balloon pumping as the postangioplasty strategy in acute myocardial infarction.

To assess the usefulness of intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 114 patients with anterior AMI undergoing emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery were studied. After successful PTCA 66 patients were treated with conventional therapy (group I), and 48 patients were treated with IABP for 25 +/- 8 hours (group II). The reocclusion rate was significantly lower in group II (2.4% vs 17.7% p less than 0.05). An increase in ejection fraction in group II compared with group I was marginally significant (4.5 +/- 12.2% vs 9.2 +/- 13.0%, p = 0.08). Vascular complications occurred in two patients, but there were no deaths from IABP. These results suggest that after successful PTCA for acute myocardial infarction, IABP prevents reocclusion and may add strength to reperfusion in the improvement of left ventricular function.     

急性心肌梗死并发室间隔穿孔六例介入治疗

目的 评价Amplatzer肌部室间隔封堵器封堵室间隔穿孔(VSR)和同期经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术(PTCA)及冠脉支架术联合介入方法治疗急性心肌梗死(AMI)并发VSR的可行性及安全性.方法 6例患者术前均经超声心动图检查诊断为AMI并发心尖部VSR,出现心原性休克后均予主动脉球囊反搏(IABP)、机械通气支持.于3周后行室间隔封堵术,同期完成PTCA及支架术.结果 6例子Amplatzer肌部室间隔封堵器成功封堵VSR,2例有少量残余漏;同期冠状动脉造影3例患者为前降支中段及回旋支局限性狭窄,分别予植入1～2枚支架,另外3例患者为多支多段狭窄,未予以植入支架;3例并行支架的患者存活出院.结论 应用Amplatzer肌部室间隔封堵器封堵VSR同期行PTCA及冠状动脉支架术治疗AMI并发VSR是安全可行的.     

Posterior myocardial infarction caused by superdominant circumflex occlusion over an absent right coronary artery: Case report and review of literature

Rationale:Congenital agenesis of the right coronary artery (CARCA) initially presenting as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to total occlusion is a rare clinical condition that can lead to severe complications, including death. We report a case of successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a patient with this condition.Patient concerns:A 57-year-old man was admitted to our center with chest pain that had occurred several hours prior. Since he was initially diagnosed with AMI with ST-segment elevation, we promptly commenced coronary angiography (CAG).Diagnosis:CAG revealed the absence of a right coronary artery (RCA). In the left coronary cusp area, the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) was occluded totally.Interventions:We performed PCI for total occlusion of the proximal part of the LCX. Follow-up CAG showed a superdominant branch of the LCX, sprouting into the RCA territory.Outcomes:The patient was discharged uneventfully after successful PCI.Lessons:CARCA with AMI, which is an extremely unusual case, can be fatal; however, PCI seems to be an effective treatment option.     

Preponderance of acute proximal left anterior descending coronary arterial lesions in fatal myocardial infarction: A clinicopathologic study

To determine whether an acute lesion in a specific segment of the cororiary tree is more likely than other obstructions to cause fatal myocardial infarction, 77 autopsy patients Who died of acute myocardial infarction were studied. Multiple coronary stenoses were present in 92 percent of these patients, arid the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery before the first septal perforator accounted for only 23 percent of the critical narrowings (greater than 70 percent of luminal diameter). In contrast, acute thrombotic coronary events associated with fatal myocardial infarction occurred most often in the proximal left anterior descending artery, accounting for 61 percent of acute lesions; this rate compared with 8 percent of acute lesions occurring in the mid or distal left anterior descending artery, 18 percent of those in the right, 6 percent of those in the left circumflex and 7 percent of those in the left main coronary artery. Of the autopsy patients, 32 (40 percent) had 77 prior nonfatal myocardial infarcts of which only 17 (22 percent) were anteroseptal infarcts related to occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. The amount of infarcted myocardium in the hearts with acute proximal left anterior descending coronary arterial lesions was somewhat more extensive but not significantly different from that of hearts with other acute coronary lesions.

Fifty survivors of myocardial infarction who underwent cardiac catheterization were studied for comparison. In those patients, proximal left anterior descending coronary disease accounted for 17 percent of critical narrowings and only 22 percent of nonfatal infarcts. These findings suggest that an acute proximal left anterior descending coronary arterial lesion is more likely to result in fatal myocardial infarction than are critical obstructions elsewhere in the coronary arterial tree. Because the quantity of the infarct does not appear to be sufficient to explain these differences, qualitative differences in anteroseptal myocardium are suggested.     

Improved survival up to four years after early coronary thrombolysis

The long-term prognosis after thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unknown. This question was investigated in a 4-year follow-up study of 227 patients. According to the status of reperfusion at the end of the acute catheterization, the patients were divided into a patent (n = 171) and an occluded (n = 56) group. Both hospital and 4-year mortality rates were significantly reduced in the patent group by 13 and 14%, respectively (p less than or equal to 0.005 for both). Baseline variables known to be important for prognosis did not differ between the 2 groups. Patients with a patent infarct artery who underwent early acute coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) had a greater survival (p less than 0.10) and better left ventricular function (p less than 0.01) than did patients with a patent infarct artery who did not undergo CABG. This difference was associated with a lower frequency of fatal reinfarction and cardiogenic shock in the CABG group. Thus, survival is improved up to 4 years after successful thrombolysis and appears to be further enhanced by early CABG.     

以晕厥为首发症状的急性心肌梗塞相关血管分析

目的:探讨以晕厥为首发症状的急性心肌梗塞(AMI)与梗塞相关血管之间的关系。方法:对200例急性ST段抬高型心肌梗塞(STEMI)并进行急诊经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)患者中15例以晕厥为首发症状的梗塞相关血管进行分析。结果:以晕厥为首发症状的患者在26例梗塞相关血管为左回旋支者中有5例(占19.2%);65例梗塞相关血管为右冠状动脉者中有7例(10.8%);109例梗塞相关血管为左前降支者有3例(2.8%),梗塞相关血管为左前降支者的晕厥为首发症状的发生率显著低于梗塞相关血管为右冠状动脉,及左回旋支者(P0.05)。结论:梗塞相关血管为左回旋支或右冠状动脉的AMI患者,晕厥的发生率显著高于梗塞相关血管为左前降支的AMI患者。     

Long-term follow-up after attempted angioplasty of saphenous vein grafts: the Thoraxcenter experience 1981-1988

Between 1981 and 1988, 107 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures, including repeat PTCA, were performed in 84 patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Fifty-nine patients underwent a first angioplasty of the vein graft alone, and 25 underwent a first PTCA of the graft and one or more native vessels. Seventeen patients underwent two procedures, four patients three procedures and one patient four procedures. In 84 first angioplasties, 133 lesions were attempted; 40 lesions in native vessels and 93 graft lesions (28 ostial stenoses, 33 shaft stenoses, and 32 stenoses at the distal anastomosis). Three patients died during their hospital stay. Two patients underwent emergency CABG. Seven patients sustained an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), among whom five underwent a PTCA of an occluded vessel. The clinical primary success rate per patient was 82%. After five years, 70% of patients were alive. At a median follow-up of 2.1 years, 41% of patients were alive and event-free (no AMI, no repeat CABG, no repeat PTCA). Symptomatic improvement was maintained in 36% of patients. Angioplasty of grafts may be an alternative to re-operation in selected patients with previous bypass surgery.     

Acute coronary artery occlusion during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: reopening by intracoronary streptokinase before emergency coronary artery surgery to prevent myocardial infarction

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was complicated by acute coronary artery occlusion associated with ST elevation and severe chest pain in three patients. Within 10 minutes, the occluded artery was reopened by an intracoronary (i.c.) infusion of streptokinase, resulting in the disappearance of chest pain and normalization of ST segments. To keep the artery patent, i.c. streptokinase had to be continued until emergency bypass surgery was performed. In two patients, no myocardial infarction occurred, as shown by a normal postoperative left ventricular angiogram. ECG and thallium-201 scintigram. In the other patient, who was admitted with an inferior infarction and underwent PTCA after i.c. lysis, no infarct extension was observed. These results show that i.c. streptokinase rapidly opens an acute coronary artery occlusion complicating PTCA, preventing myocardial infarction.     

慢性冠状动脉闭塞置入支架术与球囊扩张术的比较

目的为了解冠状动脉内支架及经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）治疗完全闭塞性冠状动脉血管的临床及冠状动脉造影效果。方法９５例完全冠状动脉闭塞的病人随机分成为：置入支架组（Ａ组４８例）;单纯ＰＴＣＡ组（Ｂ组４７例）,观察二组病人发生临床事件及６个月后的冠状动脉造影效果。结果６个月后两组病人完成临床及冠状动脉造影随访的共８５例,随访率为８９％,Ａ组４２例,Ｂ组４３例。Ａ组：１例于术后１０天内出现心肌梗塞,无１例死亡,其再狭窄率为２８．５％,血管再闭塞率为１１９％,最终重复血管重建术为１９％。Ｂ组：１例死亡,２例发生急性心肌梗塞,再狭窄率为５８％,血管再闭塞率为２２％,最终重复血管重建术达４５％。两组之间临床疗效差异均有显著性（Ｐ＜０．００１）。结论冠状动脉慢性闭塞的病人ＰＴＣＡ成功后选择性置入支架比单纯ＰＴＣＡ的近期及远期临床疗效预后要好（发生临床事件及重复血管重建术明显下降）。     

Evaluation of lesions suitable for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty after thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction

Forty-two patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and clinically successful thrombolysis underwent coronary angiography 7.6 +/- 3.6 days after the AMI. The infarct related artery was patent in 33 of 42 (78.5%) patients, and 27 of these 33 (82%) had residual diameter stenosis of 70 per cent or more. Arteries showing more than 70 per cent luminal diameter narrowing were considered suitable for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) if the lesion was less than 1 cm in length and there was no significant left main or distal lesion. Based on the above criteria, 22 of the 33 patients (66%) with recanalised infarct-related artery were found to have lesions suitable for PTCA. Thus, after successful thrombolysis, significant proportion of patients of acute myocardial infarction have residual lesions that are suitable for PTCA.