Aortoiliac Angiography During Coronary Artery Angiography Detects Significant Occult Aortoiliac and Renal Artery Atherosclerosis in Patients with Coronary Atherosclerosis

PURPOSE: Peripheral atherosclerosis (renal and aortoiliac localizations) are frequently detected in aged patients with concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD): the risk of finding peripheral disease is increased in patients with CAD. Angiography of the aortoiliac vessels performed at the time of coronary angiography may detect any occult renal artery stenosis and atherosclerotic involvement of the aortoiliac segment. We sought to determine utility of performing angiography of aortoiliac and renal arteries during coronary arteriography in patients with known or suspect coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: Medical records of all patients undergoing combined coronary and aortoiliac angiography between May 1998 and December 2002 was retrospectively reviewed. Moderate to severe arterial stenosis (>50% stenosis), vessel occlusion, aneurismal vessels were noted as significant angiographic findings. Contrast-induced nephropathy was defined as a rise in serum creatinine of > or =25% form baseline. RESULTS: In the study period 112 patients (81 males, mean age 68.4+/-7.8 years) with known or suspected CAD underwent combined cardiac catheterization and aortoiliac angiography. Pretreatment with 0.45% saline at a rate of 1 ml/kg/h for 12 h was administered to all patients. Significant findings were reported in 37 (33%) patients including 14 renal artery stenoses, 8 aortic aneurismal disease, and 15 aortoiliac lesions. Most patients with significant findings had 2 and 3-vessel CAD. A strong correlation was found between the number of risk factors and the frequency of angiographic findings (r = 0.92). Complications include six contrast-induced nephropathy: no case required renal replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Aortoiliac and renal atherosclerosis is frequently associated to multivessel CAD. In selected patients undergoing cardiac catheterization aortoiliac angiography may be practical in detecting occult renal or aortoiliac artery lesions. Further clinical outcome studies are strongly required to support this strategy.     

运动超声心动图对冠心病的诊断价值

对疑有冠心病的４７例患者做了冠状动脉造影，运动心电图（Ｅｘ－ＥＣＧ）和运动超声心动图（Ｅｘ－Ｅｃｈｏ）试验。采用数字化超声心动图仪采集和分析运动前后的心脏图像。冠状动脉内径减少〉５０％定义为冠心病，故３２例患者经造影证实为冠心病。全部患者均在活动平板上做症状限制性运动，终止运动后４６例获得满意超声图像，Ｅｘ－Ｅｃｈｏ试验成功率９７．８％。同Ｅｘ－ＥＣＧ比，Ｅｘ－Ｅｃｈｏ有较高的敏感性（８７．５％ｖ     

64层螺旋CT诊断冠状动脉病变的临床价值

目的：通过对64排螺旋CT（MSCT）冠状动脉造影与选择性冠状动脉造影检测冠状动脉病变（冠状动脉狭窄≥50%）的对比分析,探讨64层螺旋CT评估冠状动脉病变诊断的准确性。方法：回顾性收集2007年12月～2008年10月于我院同期接受64层螺旋CT冠状动脉成像和常规经皮冠脉造影的112位冠心病患者的影像资料,以常规冠脉造影为参考标准,对2种检查方法的结果进行对比分析,评估64层螺旋CT冠脉造影对冠状动脉病变诊断的准确性。结果：按常规冠脉造影计算,112例患者共发现374处病变用于评价,MSCT造影检测冠脉病变总的准确性为90.6%,假阳性率和假阴性率分别为4.3%和5.1%;其中MSCT检测为假阴性均发生在左回旋支和右冠远段,假阳性均为冠状动脉伴有钙化。结论：64排螺CT冠状动脉造影检测冠状动脉病变诊断的准确性较高,但血管解剖和冠状动脉钙化可能会影响其对冠状动脉病变的评价和检测。     

Noninvasive coronary angiography: agreement of multi-slice spiral computed tomography and selective catheter angiography

Background: Technology advances in multislice detector computed tomography (MSCT) cardiac scanning, specifically in the application of intravenous injected contrast coronary angiography with EKG gating have led to the availability of this procedure in every day outpatient cardiac medicine. Objective: The aim of this study is to test the head to head direct coronary angiography with MSCT coronary angiography in clinical situations where cardiac cath is traditionally utilized for management decisions. Methods: We limited our analysis to vessels felt to be 1.5 mm or greater in diameter, recognizing diagnostic accuracy and medical importance of smaller vessels is low. All 50 patients (52% men, 48% women age range 34–78) were studied because of the clinical suspicion of obstructive coronary atherosclerosis. Blinded experts in direct and in MSCT independently read the studies and resolved disparities by a subsequent discussion. Standard protocols for direct and for MSCT angiography were used including use of IV and oral beta blockade to keep the heart rate at or below 60 beats per minute. Results: 392 vessels were evaluated. MSCT provided images of sufficient technical quality to permit diagnosis in 98% (49/50) of cases. MSCT was 96% accurate in identifying patients as having either no disease, single vessel disease, or multiple vessel disease. For all vessels, MSCT identification of stenotic lesions of > 50% were as follows: sensitivity 87%, specificity 97%, positive predictive value 80%, and negative predictive value 98%. Pearson correlation results between direct catheter and MSCT for absolute stenotic percentages were left main (0.92 p < 0.0001), left anterior descending (0.94 p < 0.0001), circumflex (0.94 p < 0.0001), first obtuse marginal (0.85 p < 0.0001), and right coronary artery (0.89 p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The accuracy of MSCT angiography compared favorably with that of direct cardiac cath in this cohort of patients. The high specificity of these findings suggest that one particular use of this technique will be to eliminate many unnecessary cardiac catheterization procedures by excluding obstructive, and therefore potentially PCI requiring, coronary artery disease. The medical cost savings of such an application may be very significant and bears further study.     

冠状动脉造影患者中肾动脉狭窄的相关研究

目的在进行冠状动脉造影的患者中同时进行肾动脉造影,观察肾动脉狭窄的发生率及相关因素研究。方法200例冠状动脉造影患者全部行选择性双侧肾动脉造影,对临床资料和肾动脉狭窄之间的关系进行单变量分析。结果肾动脉狭窄者27例,占13.5%,其中轻度狭窄者（〈50%）13例,占6.5%,明显狭窄者14例,占7.0%。明显肾动脉狭窄单变量分析,年龄、吸烟、高血压、糖尿病、颈动脉斑块形成、严重冠状动脉病变是肾动脉狭窄的影响因素。结论在冠状动脉造影尤其冠心病患者中,肾动脉狭窄发生率高,多见于老年合并高血压、严重冠状动脉病变患者,在冠心病患者行冠状动脉造影的同时应常规进行肾动脉造影,以便及早发现肾动脉狭窄。     

IntraCameral right coronary artery: detection by 64 slice coronary computed tomographic angiography and implications for radiofrequency ablation of atrial dysrhythmias

An intracameral or intracavitary course for a coronary artery is a rare anomaly. Nevertheless, it carries a significant impact for invasive cardiac procedures that require right atrial catheterization, pacemaker implantation, or electrophysiologic study such as radiofrequency ablation. If a coronary artery were to be damaged within the atrial chamber by catheter manipulation at the time of heart catheterization, serious complications might ensue. We describe the first reported case of an intracameral right coronary artery identified with multidetector 64-slice coronary computed tomographic angiography performed prior to pulmonary venous antral isolation for atrial fibrillation.     

Mid‐term outcome after carotid artery stenting depends on presence of coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND. Longer‐term outcome of patients following carotid artery revascularization depends predominantly on cardiac events rather than neurological events.

AIM. To assess the longer‐term outcomes of patients with known coronary artery morphology undergoing carotid artery stenting.

METHOD. In a prospective observational study including 549 consecutive patients undergoing carotid artery stenting, a coronary angiography was performed in a single session unless a recent angiogram was available. Following the intervention, patients were followed prospectively to determine neurological events as well as major adverse coronary events (MACE) during long‐term follow‐up.

RESULTS. Coronary artery disease was present in 378 patients including 92 patients without current significant stenosis. The MACE rate was 6.4% in patients without coronary artery disease compared to 28.3% in patients with coronary artery disease (P<0.00001). Cardiac and all‐cause mortality were statistically significantly higher in patients with a significant coronary stenosis than in patients without coronary artery disease (P<0.001 and P<0.01). Cardiac mortality and all‐cause mortality were 2.3% and 7.6% in patients without coronary artery disease (patient group I), 7.6% and 13.0% in patients with coronary artery disease but no current significant stenosis (patient group II), and 10.5% and 16.1% in patients with significant coronary stenosis (patient group III). Neurological events, however, were distributed equally among the three patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS<1/emph>. In the longer term, outcomes in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting depend on concomitant coronary artery disease rather than neurological events, cardiac mortality and even all‐cause mortality depending on a significant coronary artery stenosis.     

老年心脏性猝死的临床分析

目的：分析老年心脏性猝死（ＳＣＤ）的临床特点。方法：回顾３７例６１～８４岁ＳＣＤ者的临床资料,其中部分患者曾行冠状动脉造影或尸检。结果：老年ＳＣＤ者中８１．１％生前有冠心病,５６．８％患冠心病和高血压２种疾病。冠状动脉造影或尸检可见冠状动脉血管粥样硬化病变广泛、严重。男性和伴有左室功能不全者ＳＣＤ的危险增高。结论：为减少老年冠心病和高血血压患者发生ＳＣＤ,临床需采取积极措施,改善患者心肌缺血,保护心功能。     

冠心病患者中肾动脉狭窄发病率及危险因素的临床研究

目的 探讨冠心病患者中肾动脉狭窄的发生率及危险因素。方法 103例行冠状动脉造影的患者同时行肾动脉造影，并对高血压、糖尿病、吸烟、高胆固醇血症等危险因素进行分析。结果 非冠心病患者中肾动脉狭窄发生率为0％，冠心病中为29％，1支、2支、3支病变肾动脉狭窄发生率分别为0％、10％、69．2％。对危险因素分析发现，冠脉病变支数及吸烟为肾动脉狭窄的最危险因素。结论 对多支冠状动脉病变应常规行肾动脉造影分析，肾动脉狭窄严重者先干预肾动脉再进一步干预冠状动脉。     

A case of coronary artery fistula with mitral stenosis

Coronary artery fistulae, being a rare form of congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries, are usually discovered by chance during coronary arteriography. However, these fistulae can cause an important coronary morbidity and mortality leading to angina, syncope, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction and sudden death. The coincidence of mitral stenosis and congenital artery fistula is rare in the literature. In our case report, a patient with a coronary artery fistula originating from the circumflex, draining to the main pulmonary artery, discovered at cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography done with a prediagnosis of mitral stenosis is presented in the light of the literature.     

Changes in the way diagnostic coronary arteriography is performed due to the interventional prospect: the clinical impact

Our study was aimed at assessing whether diagnostic coronary angiography has changed in the interventional era. We have studied consecutive 1073 patients with coronary artery disease that was detected by a first angiographic study 2 years prior to (group 1: 545 patients) and after (group 2: 528 patients) the start of an interventional cardiology program in our catheterization laboratory. Radiological data and the use of intracoronary nitrates were recorded as well as demographic data and angiographic results. Pre- and post-interventional era comparison demonstrated: a significant increase in cranial, caudal and left anterior oblique angles, 19.3 degrees +/- 14.8 degrees vs. 24.3 degrees +/- 15.4 degrees, -18.4 degrees +/- 17.4 degrees vs. -23.3 degrees +/- 13.9 degrees, and 29.0 degrees +/- 23.3 degrees vs. 36.2 degrees +/- 25.4 degrees, respectively; a decrease in mean number of angiographic views and mean fluoroscopy time, 9.5 degrees +/- 1.6 degrees vs. 8.9 degrees +/- 1.8 degrees (p = 0.04) and 4.1 +/- 4.2 vs. 3.6 +/- 3.2 min (p = 0.008), respectively. The percentage of patients with normal coronary arteries on coronary arteriography decreased from 9.78 to 8.07% in the pre- and post-interventional era comparison. The way coronary arteriography is performed has changed, thanks to the new interventional attitude of invasive cardiologists. Trainees and young fellows should be trained right from the start of their fellowship to assess coronary artery disease from an interventional point of view.     

Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography for Rapid Disposition of Low-risk Emergency Department Patients with Chest Pain Syndromes

Background Patients with recent normal cardiac catheterization are at low risk for complications of ischemic chest pain. Computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography has high correlation with cardiac catheterization for detection of coronary stenosis. Therefore, the investigators' emergency department (ED) incorporated CT coronary angiography into the evaluation of low-risk patients with chest pain. Objectives To report on the 30-day cardiovascular event rates of the first 54 patients evaluated by this strategy. Methods Low-risk chest pain patients (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] score of 2 or less) without acute ischemia on an electrocardiogram had CT coronary angiography performed in the ED. If the CT coronary angiography was negative, the patient was discharged home. The main outcomes were death and myocardial infarction within 30 days of ED discharge, as determined by telephone follow up and record review. Data are presented as percentage frequency of occurrence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Of the 54 patients evaluated, after CT coronary angiography, 46 patients (85%) were immediately released from the ED, and none had cardiovascular complications within 30 days. Eight patients were admitted after CT coronary angiography: one had >70% stenosis, five patients had 50%–69% stenosis, and two had 0–49% stenosis. Three patients had further noninvasive testing; one had reversible ischemia, and catheterization confirmed the results of CT coronary angiography. All patients were followed for 30 days, and none (0; 95% CI = 0 to 6.6%) had an adverse event during index hospitalization or at 30-day follow up. Conclusions When used in the clinical setting for the evaluation of ED patients with low-risk chest pain, CT coronary angiography may safely allow rapid discharge of patients with negative studies. Further study to conclusively determine the safety and cost effectiveness of this approach is warranted.     

8层螺旋CT冠状动脉成像的价值

目的探讨8层螺旋CT对冠状动脉疾病的诊断价值。方法32例患者进行冠状动脉8层螺旋CT成像(CT an-giography,CTA)检查(PTCA术后8例,疑似冠心病者24例),同时对这些患者进行冠状动脉造影(coronary angiography,CAG)检查。以冠状动脉主要节段管腔直径减少>50%作为诊断冠心病的标准。结果8层螺旋CT对冠状动脉的总体显示率为88.2%,评价冠状动脉狭窄的敏感性64.7%,特异性为86.2%,显示钙化以及非钙化斑块混合存在导致血管狭窄19处,其中高估3处,可以显示冠状动脉内支架位置、形态以及远段血流,但难以准确显示支架内再狭窄和闭塞。结论8层螺旋CT对诊断冠状动脉疾病的意义有限。     

心脏MRI与冠状动脉造影评价冠状动脉病变的对比研究

目的评价磁共振心脏成像(心脏MRI)由心肌活性间接判断冠状动脉病变的诊断价值.方法对55例临床怀疑冠状动脉硬化型心脏病的患者进行心脏MRI灌注及延迟强化扫描,间接诊断冠脉病变,并与冠脉造影结果进行对照.结果心脏MRI间接判断冠状动脉病变与冠脉造影结果无显著性差异.与冠脉造影相比,心脏MRI对于左前降支病变,诊断符合率92.7%,灵敏度91.8%,特异度100%;对于右冠状动脉病变,诊断符合率80%,灵敏度89.7%,特异度56.2%;对于回旋支病变,诊断符合率81.8%,灵敏度84.6%,特异度75.0%.结论心脏MRI由心肌活性间接判断冠状动脉病变具有重要的临床应用价值.     

冠心病患者胸主动脉粥样硬化与冠状动脉粥样硬化的关系——经食管超声心动图的研究

采用经食管超声心动图技术在冠状动脉造影检查证实为冠状动脉正常者１１例和３２例冠心病患者中，探测了胸主动脉粥样硬化性病变并计算了动脉粥样硬化总积分（ＴＡＳ）和硬化指数（β）。结果：ＴＡＳ或β值与冠状动脉粥样硬化之间有密切关系，随冠脉病变支数的增加，ＴＡＳ和β值也明显增高，这为无创性估测冠状动脉粥样硬化开辟了新的途径     

彩色多普勒超声评价肱动脉直径和血流介导的扩张反应与冠心病的关系

目的 采用彩色多普勒超声评价肱动脉直径和血流介导的扩张反应(FMD)与冠心病的关系。方法 随机入选因胸痛住院并行冠状动脉造影检查的患者45例，在冠状动脉造影前进行肱动脉超声检查，分别测量肱动脉直径和加压充血后肱动脉直径的变化，通过冠状动脉造影确定冠心病组患者22例，非冠心病组患者23例，分别比较结果。结果 冠心病组较非冠心病组休息时肱动脉直径差异有统计学意义，而FMD则差异无统计学意义。结论 利用超声测量肱动脉直径可以作为一种无创性诊断冠心病的方法。     

Noninvasive coronary angiography using computed tomography

While noninvasive imaging of the coronary lumen remains challenging, great strides have been made with computed tomography. Two variations of computed tomography are used in the study of the coronary tree: multislice or multidetector computed tomography and electron-beam computed tomography. Both have high spatial and temporal resolutions as well as excellent signal-to-noise ratios, which allows major branches of the coronary tree to be depicted. Impaired image quality, due to dense calcifications and multiple image artifacts including coronary artery motion and breathing artifacts, limits the clinical utility of noninvasive coronary angiography. Early studies with electron-beam angiography demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 89% for the detection of obstructive coronary artery disease. With early diastolic imaging, the sensitivity and specificity increases to 92 and 93%, respectively (rather than 80% of the cardiac interbeat interval, where coronary motion is more pronounced). Multidetector computed tomography, with improved spatial resolution but decreased temporal resolution, produces results that vary depending on the equipment. Four-slice scanners have an average sensitivity of only 61%, and only 38% of patients have all four vessels or 15 segments available for analysis, due to both cardiac motion and calcification. Thinner slice collimation with eight and 16 slices have allowed for improved detection. Sensitivity and specificity improve to 80 and 86%, respectively. Furthermore, the number of assessable segments with eight-2011; to 16-2011;slice scanners improves significantly, compared with four-slice scanners (85 vs. 73%; p < 0.001). If only assessable segments are included in analysis, sensitivity and specificity for multidetector-row computed tomograpy improves to nearly 90%. Compared with magnetic resonance imaging, with a reported accuracy of 72% in the only multicenter study, computed tomography has great promise to become the primary method of noninvasive coronary angiography.     

平板运动试验阳性伴冠心病危险因素患者冠状动脉造影结果分析

目的：探讨冠心病危险因素与冠心病的关系。方法：51例平板运动试验阳性的患者中伴有冠心病危险因素者（A组）26例,不伴有冠心病危险因素者（B组）25例,均接受冠状动脉造影检查,分析两组冠状动脉病变阳性率和危险因素的关系。结果：A组25例（96.2%）有冠心病,而B组13例（52.0%）有冠心病,差异有显著性（P〈0.01）。结论：平板运动试验阳性伴有冠心病危险因素的患者,冠心病的可能性高于不伴有冠心病危险因素的患者,必要时应该做冠状动脉造影以明确诊断。     

Congenital coronary artery fistulas in Turkish patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac angiography

A coronary artery fistula is a direct communication between a coronary artery and one of the cardiac chambers or vessels around the heart. The present study was undertaken to define the incidence, clinical findings and angiographic characteristics of congenital coronary artery fistula in Turkish adults who underwent diagnostic cardiac angiography. A consecutive series of 11,350 coronary angiography, performed between January 2000 and December 2001, was retrospectively examined for the presence of coronary artery fistulas. The incidence of congenital coronary artery fistulas was 0.08%. All the patients had chest pain during exertion or at rest. All the fistulas were single and most arose from the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery and drained into the pulmonary artery. All the fistulas were small. Surgical treatment was not indicated. A congenital coronary artery fistula in adults is a distinct though rare entity, variable in its incidence and commonly associated with coronary artery obstructive disease. Diagnosis is mostly incidental during routine coronary angiography.     

Predictive value of electrocardiogram in diagnosing acute coronary artery lesions among patients with out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrest

Aims

Acute coronary lesions are known to be the most common trigger of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Aim of the present study was to assess the predictive value of ST-segment changes in diagnosing the presence of acute coronary lesions among OHCA patients

Methods

Findings of coronary angiography (CA) performed in patients resuscitated from OCHA were retrospectively reviewed and related to ST-segment changes on post-ROSC electrocardiogram (ECG)

Results

Ninety-one patients underwent CA after OHCA; 44% of patients had ST-segment elevation and 56% of patients had other ECG patterns on post-ROSC ECG. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was found in 86% of patients; CAD was observed in 98% of patients with ST-segment elevation and in 77% of patients with other ECG patterns on post-ROSC ECG (p = 0.004). Acute or presumed recent coronary artery lesions were diagnosed in 56% of patients, respectively in 85% of patients with ST-segment elevation and in 33% of patients with other ECG patterns (p < 0.001). ST-segment analysis on post-ROSC ECG has a good positive predictive value but a low negative predictive value in diagnosing the presence of acute or presumed recent coronary artery lesions (85% and 67%, respectively)

Conclusions

Electrocardiographic findings after OHCA should not be considered as strict selection criteria for performing emergent CA in patients resuscitated from OHCA without obvious extra-cardiac cause; even in the absence of ST-segment elevation on post-ROSC ECG, acute culprit coronary lesions may be present and considered the trigger of cardiac arrest