Electrocardiographic localization of the occlusion site in left anterior descending coronary artery in acute anterior myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: The site of occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery is important in acute anterior myocardial infarction because, proximal occlusion is associated with less favorable outcome and prognosis. The present study attempted to evaluate the electrocardiographic correlate of the location of the site of the left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion with respect to first septal perforator and/or the first diagonal branch. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 50 patients with a first acute anterior myocardial infarction. The electrocardiogram with the most pronounced ST segment deviation before the start of reperfusion therapy was evaluated and correlated with the left anterior descending occlusion site as determined by coronary angiography. ST segment elevation in lead aVR, ST segment depression in lead V5 and ST segment elevation in V1>2.5 mm strongly predicted left anterior descending occlusion proximal to first septal, whereas abnormal Q wave in V4-6 was associated with occlusion distal to first septal. Abnormal Q wave in lead aVL was associated with occlusion proximal to first diagonal, whereas ST depression in lead aVL was suggestive of occlusion distal to first diagonal branch. For both first septal and first diagonal, ST segment depression > or =1 mm in inferior leads strongly predicted proximal left anterior descending artery occlusion, whereas absence of ST segment depression in inferior leads predicted occlusion distal to first septal and first diagonal. All the patients were followed during their in-hospital stay (median of 7 days), during which four patients in the proximal to first septal and first diagonal group and one patient in the distal to first septal and first diagonal group died (p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In acute myocardial infarction electrocardiogram is useful to predict the left anterior descending occlusion site in relation to its major side branches and such localization has prognostic significance.     

Rotational atherectomy of a stent-jailed septal perforator: a good verdict for the prisoner

A 61-year-old man is described, in whom percutaneous coronary intervention was done to treat critical ostial stenosis of the first and second septal perforators. The first branch originated from the stented portion of a previously treated left anterior descending artery, while the second branch was distal to the stent. During balloon angioplasty, the balloon catheter could not be delivered to the lesion site in the first branch, although the second branch was easily amenable to balloon dilatation. Rotational atherectomy was done to treat the former. Besides advocating rotational atherectomy as a novel strategy for managing jailed septal perforators, the case presents an insight into the vastly differing interventional situations of stent-jailed branch vis-a-vis de novo branch ostial stenosis.     

Alcohol septal ablation through a bare metal stent after rotative atherectomy: a complex procedure

We report the case of a patient with severe malignant hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and calcified stenosis of the proximal and middle left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. We elected to treat his ischemic heart disease first. We performed angioplasty of the proximal and middle LAD, after rotative atherectomy, and implanted two bare metal stents. Thirty days later we treated his HOCM by alcohol septal ablation with catheterization of the first septal branch through the mesh of the bare metal stent implanted in the LAD. To our knowledge, this is the first documented report of such a procedure.     

Coronary artery-left ventricle fistula complicating balloon angioplasty--a case report

The authors describe a coronary artery fistula complicated balloon angioplasty. The proximal left anterior descending coronary artery was dilated, but a septal branch was occluded by thrombus. Angioplasty was used on the septal branch, but a pseudoaneurysm communicating with the left ventricle occurred. Follow-up angiography revealed spontaneous closure of the fistula.     

Delayed improvement of myocardial function after recanalization of a chronic coronary occlusion in a patient with intractable heart failure

This case report describes the delayed improvement of left ventricular function by recanalization of an occluded coronary artery in a patient with intractable heart failure and three-vessel disease. The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded distal to the first septal branch, the dominant right coronary artery had a diameter stenosis of 70-80% in its middle part, and the circumflex artery a proximal stenosis of 50%. Ventriculography revealed globally depressed left ventricular function with an ejection fraction of 16%. Successful recanalization and angioplasty of the occluded coronary artery resulted in a slow improvement of left ventricular function. Ultimate recovery of systolic performance (increase of ejection fraction from 16% to 48-51%) required more than half a year. It is speculated that stunned myocardium following chronic ischaemia is a consequence of vascular dysfunction.     

Complete heart block following occlusion of the first septal perforator after coronary stenting

We report a case of transient complete heart block following occlusion of the first septal perforator branch after stent deployment in the left anterior descending coronary artery. The patient was treated with temporary transvenous pacing and reverted spontaneously to normal atrioventricular conduction after 3 days.     

Post-infarction ventricular septal defect treated during the acute phase by transcatheter closure with an Amplatzer septal occluder

A 75-year-old man had a large anterior myocardial infarction complicated by a ventricular septal defect, which was treated in the first 48 h by transcatheter closure using the Amplatzer septal occluder. Treatment was successful (with only mild residual post-procedure shunting) and coronary angioplasty with stent implantation at the point of occlusion of the middle left anterior descending artery was performed in a later intervention. However, the patient died 7 days after the procedure as a result of sepsis and ventricular failure.     

Concomitant left anterior descending coronary artery and right coronary artery occlusion with typical anterior ST depression and inferior ST elevation

We report the case of a 41-year-old man with acute myocardial infarction showing first ST elevation in V1-V6-DI-aVL leads followed by a typical V2-V4 ST depression (concomitant occlusion of proximal diagonal branch with an incomplete left anterior descending occlusion) and DII-DIII-aVF ST elevation. At coronary angiography, a proximal left anterior descending coronary stenosis with right coronary artery thrombosis was found.     

Transient prominent anterior QRS forces in the setting ST segment elevation coronary syndrome: Left septal fascicular block

Numerous successive publications have shown that transient prominent anterior QRS forces (PAF) in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is suggestive of critical proximal obstruction of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) before its first septal perforator branch (S₁). Transient ischemia of the left septal fascicle resulting in left septal fascicular block has been proposed as the causative mechanism. We present a case of acute inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction caused by acute proximal occlusion of the right coronary artery associated with proximal critical obstruction of the left anterior descending coronary artery.     

Retrograde dilatation of a totally occluded ostial left anterior descending artery from saphenous venous graft in the descending aorta following stenting of the aorto-ostial graft restenosis in a patient with left main coronary artery stenosis.

Treatment of native coronary and saphenous vein graft aorto-ostial stenoses with balloon angioplasty is associated with lower procedural success rates and more complications compared with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of nonostial stenoses. A patient with totally occluded ostial left anterior descending artery at ostium following aortocoronary bypass developed ostial stenosis at the saphenous vein graft in the descending aorta. The aorto-ostial lesion of saphenous vein graft was successfully stented and was followed by retrograde dilatation of the left anterior descending artery, and the totally occluded ostial lesion was reopened. The ischemia was eliminated following the procedure.     

Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulas

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulas has emerged as a successful alternative to surgery. We describe various techniques and short-term findings in 15 patients who were taken up for transcatheter closure of these fistulas. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen patients (aged 2-55 years; 12 males) with coronary artery fistulas underwent percutaneous transcatheter closure between June 1997 and December 2002. Site of origin of these fistulas were: right coronary artery in 7, left anterior descending coronary artery in 4, left main coronary artery in 2 and left circumflex coronary artery in 2 patients. Drainage site of these fistulas were: right ventricle in 9, right atrium in 4 and pulmonary artery in 2 patients. Out of these 15 fistulas, 14 were congenital and one was iatrogenically produced following inadvertent cutting balloon angioplasty of a septal perforator in a patient with chronic total occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery. Various occlusion devices used to close these fistulas were: conventional metallic coils in 10, floppy tips of coronary angioplasty guidewires in 2, Amplatzer duct occluder in 1 and Amplatzer septal occluder in 2 patients. One of our patients had a coronary artery fistula draining by two openings into the right atrium, both of which were successfully closed using 2 Amplatzer duct occluders. Check angiogram after the procedure revealed complete occlusion in 13 (86.6%) and small residual flow in 2 patients. Follow-up studies at 3-55 months (mean 18 months) showed complete abolition of shunt in all patients with no evidence of recanalization leading to recurrence of shunt. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulas is feasible and safe in the anatomically suitable vessels. Use of floppy tips of coronary angioplasty guidewires reduces the cost of the procedure significantly. which is an important consideration in developing countries like India.     

Subacute left main coronary stenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Subacute left main coronary stenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is an uncommon but recognized complication of the procedure. This report describes a case of left main coronary stenosis, which occurred 6 months following PTCA of an angulated, eccentric, proximal (adjacent to the left main stem) left anterior descending artery stenosis. Angiographically demonstrated morphology of complicated coronary stenosis adjacent to the left main coronary artery may represent a risk factor threatening major complications of PTCA. Detailed evaluation of angiographic coronary anatomy may improve patient selection and reduce the likelihood of such complications.     

Emergency coronary stenting for complete thrombotic occlusion of an unprotected left main coronary artery in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock in an octogenarian patient--a case report

This report concerns an 82-year-old white man, who was admitted with cardiogenic shock secondary to an acute anterior myocardial infarction with right bundle branch block requiring an intra-aortic balloon pump for hemodynamic support and mechanical ventilatory support for respiratory distress. An immediate cardiac catheterization with coronary angiography revealed a complete thrombotic occlusion of the left main coronary artery. Prompt stent-supported percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty to the occluded left main coronary artery, a critical stenosis of the ostial left anterior descending artery, and the left circumflex coronary artery, allowed for recovery from this life-threatening condition and subsequent discharge from the hospital of this octogenarian patient. It is suggested that in a critical clinical condition with particularly challenging coronary anatomical findings, stent-supported coronary angioplasty can be lifesaving treatment in selected patients with octogenarian status with acute myocardial infarction.     

Percutaneous Coronary Laser Thermal Angioplasty of Accelerated Transplant Atherosclerosis

Percutaneous coronary laser thermal angioplasty was successfully performed on a 57-year-old white male with a total occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The patient was the recipient of an orthotopic heart transplant 3 years previously secondary to end-stage heart disease due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. The lesion was reduced from 100% to 33% residual stenosis following a single 4-second pulse of 12 W of continuous wave Nd:YAG (neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser energy delivered to a distal thermal probe. Conventional balloon angioplasty reduced the remaining stenosis to 22%, without evidence of vessel perforation, spasm, dissection, or embolization of debris. This case represents the first known use of thermal laser energy as an adjunct to conventional angioplasty for the treatment of coronary artery disease in a heart transplant recipient. Additional studies are indicated to determine the clinical role of this procedure in relation to established methods of revascularization for the treatment of accelerated transplant atherosclerosis.     

Myocardial salvage following elective angioplasty for total coronary occlusion

A 65-year-old man with unstable angina had a critical left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis which progressed to total occlusion, without evidence of acute myocardial infarction. Thallium imaging revealed defects in the distribution of the left anterior descending coronary artery on exercise and redistribution, 4 h later. 99mTc radionuclide angiography showed a fall in left ventricular ejection fraction on exercise, and contrast cineangiography showed an extensive area of akinesia. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was successful without any complications. Repeat radionuclide studies demonstrated improvement of both myocardial perfusion and function. Angiography at 1 year showed normal left ventricular contraction and no evidence of recurrent stenosis. The patient is free of angina, on no medication 2 years after angioplasty. This case illustrates the feasibility of myocardial salvage by elective coronary angioplasty in patients with unstable angina total coronary occlusion.     

Isolated stenosis of left anterior descending or right coronary artery: Relation between site of stenosis and ventricular dysfunction and therapeutic implications

Indications for coronary arterial bypass surgery in single vessel coronary artery disease are unresolved. To determine the extent of myocardium at risk with stenosis (70 percent or more) of a single coronary artery, left ventricular angiograms of 200 patients with stenosis confined to either the left anterior descending or right coronary artery and of 15 normal control subjects were assessed. Among patients without myocardial infarction, ejection fraction was unchanged (p > 0.05 versus normal values) in (1) those with stenosis of the proximal (above first septal branch, n = 19), mid (between septal and first diagonal branches, n = 14) and distal (within 2 cm distal to diagonal branch, n = 15) left anterior descending coronary artery, and (2) those with stenosis of the proximal (above acute marginal branch, n = 16) and distal (between acute marginal and posterior descending branches, n = 16) right coronary artery. In contrast, ejection fraction was depressed (p < 0.001 versus normal values) In left anterior descending arterial stenosis with anterior myocardial Infarction: proximal (38 ± 10 percent, n = 33), mid (46 ± 12 percent, n = 24; p < 0.01 versus proximal), and distal (56 ± 9 percent, n = 15; p < 0.01 versus mid). Ejection fraction was similar with proximal and distal stenosis of the right coronary artery and inferior Infarction: 54 ± 11 percent versus 55 ± 9 percent, p > 0.05; both p < 0.05 versus normal value. Shortening velocity was assessed in three anterior (I to III, base to apex) and three inferior (IV to VI, apex to base) equidistant hemichords perpendicular to the long axis, 30 ° right anterior oblique view. With anterior Infarction and left anterior descending stenosis, shortening of hemichords I to V, I to IV and II to III with proximal, mid and distal stenosis, respectively, was depressed (p < 0.05 versus normal value). Septal excursion and thickening on M mode echocardiography with proximal left anterior descending stenosis and infarction were depressed (p < 0.05 versus mid and distal stenosis with infarcts). Hemichordal shortening with Inferior infarction was similarly depressed (p > 0.05) with proximal and distal stenoses.In conclusion, stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery is a heterogenous disease, the extent of jeopardized myocardium is highly dependent on the site of stenosis, and the criteria for surgery cannot be applied uniformly. When the surgical goal is myocardial preservation, these data provide an objective rationale for bypass of stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. In stenosis confined to the right coronary artery, left ventricular preservation alone should not be considered an indication for coronary bypass grafting.     

Exercise-induced plaque rupture producing myocardial infarction

A 37-year-old man with unstable angina was subjected to coronary angiography. The right coronary artery showed a minor proximal stenosis, but there were no obstructive lesions in the left coronary artery. He developed a small inferior infarction. He was asymptomatic until re-admission 1 month later, 1 hour after a normal exercise test, with anterior myocardial infarction. Acute coronary angiography showed sub-total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. The occlusion was partially relieved after intracoronary injection of nitroglycerin. Intracoronary infusion of streptokinase had no further effect. Balloon angioplasty was then successfully performed. It is suggested that stress-induced plaque rupture with intimal hemorrhage and secondary spasm resulted in sub-total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery producing the second myocardial infarction.     

A case of clinically diagnosed pure septal infarction.

Interventricular septal involvement in myocardial infarction is usually associated with infarction of the left ventricular anterior free wall, as the obstruction is at the major portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Acute myocardial infarction with obstruction only of the first septal branch is rare. We describe here a case of pure septal infarction. The case was diagnosed by emergency coronary arteriogram (CAG). Although the patient had a large first septal branch, his global left ventricular function was preserved. Abnormal findings were localized in only septal region as determined by left ventriculography (LVG), two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), and 99mtechnetium pyrophosphate (99m Tc-PYP) and 201thallium (201Tl) myocardial scintigraphy.     

Marked alternans of the elevated ST segment during occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: clinical background and electrocardiographic features.

To investigate the clinical background and the electrocardiographic features of marked alternans of the elevated ST segment during coronary angioplasty, we examined 12-lead electrocardiograms recorded continuously during occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery by balloon inflation in 41 patients. The incidence of marked ST alternans was 27% of 41 patients and 15% of 117 balloon occlusions. The incidence decreased progressively from the first to the third occlusion. The time course of ST alternans was determined. Compared with patients without ST alternans, patients with ST alternans had a shorter history of angina, less severe stenosis of the target lesion before coronary angioplasty, more leads showing ST elevation during occlusion, higher ST elevation during occlusion and lower incidence of previous myocardial infarction in the left anterior descending coronary arterial area. ST alternans recorded on the surface electrocardiogram may thus be considered a marker of acute severe and extensive myocardial ischemia.     

Left main coronary artery stenosis: a possible complication of transluminal coronary angioplasty

Coronary transluminal angioplasty is a new alternative modality for the treatment of specific lesions of coronary artery disease. Although numerous complications have been recognized, this represents the first report of development of a severe left main coronary artery stenosis following left anterior descending artery angioplasty.