REOPERATION FOR RECURRENT CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: RESULTS OF 200 CONSECUTIVE CASES

Background : It is well known that reoperation for recurrent coronary artery disease is more difficult than primary coronary artery bypass grafting. However, it is possible to reduce the morbidity and mortality of reoperation to the same level as the initial procedure with careful surgical technique. Methods : A retrospective study of the first 200 patients who underwent redo coronary bypass grafting was undertaken. Results : In the first 200 cases of redo coronary bypass grafting at St George Hospital, Sydney (August 1986–January 1995), there were five in-hospital deaths (2.5%). There was one case of sternal infection (0.5%), which required surgical debridement, three cases of stroke (1.5%), one case of postoperative bleeding (0.5%), which required a return to theatre and six cases (3%) required mechanical ventilation for more than 24h. The need for major postoperative support (such as intra-aortic balloon pumping/adrenaline infusion) was significantly affected by the degree of urgency and the degree of pre-operative ventricular impairment. Conclusions : The mortality rate of redo coronary artery bypass grafting in this series is similar to that of primary surgery described in other reports.     

Risk factors for coronary heart disease among inpatients who have mild intellectual disability and mental illness

Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK. The aim of this study was to screen inpatients with mild or borderline intellectual disability, many of whom also have mental illness, for risk factors for CHD. Methods Cross sectional survey. Participants were interviewed, measured and had blood samples taken. Results Of the 53 participants, 20 (37.7%) were overweight and 18 (34.0%) obese. The mean body mass index (BMI) of those participants prescribed regular antipsychotics was higher than those who were not. Nine (20.9%) had waist circumference measurements placing them at increased risk of CHD and 21 (48.8%) were at substantially increased risk. Twenty-eight (52.8%) were current smokers. Of the 49 participants who had their blood pressure measured, 3 (6.1%) had readings above the reference range. Of the 19 participants who had random blood tests, one (5.3%) had an elevated cholesterol level. Conclusions In this population there was a high prevalence of two risk factors for CHD (obesity and smoking), requiring ongoing monitoring and long-term measures to reduce risk.     

美托洛尔治疗老年冠心病慢性心力衰竭52例疗效观察

目的评价β-受体阻滞剂治疗老年冠心病慢性心力衰竭的疗效及安全性。方法105例老年冠心病慢性心力衰竭患者按就诊顺序随机分为两组，美托洛尔组52例在常规抗心力衰竭治疗基础上加用美托洛尔12．5～25mg，2／d；对照组53例采用常规抗心力衰竭治疗，未用美托洛尔。定期来诊随访，观察临床表现，监测治疗前后心率、血压、心功能参数变化。结果美托洛尔组显效率53．8％，总有效率88．5％；对照组显效率30．2％，总有效率67．9％，两者比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。美托洛尔组患者心率减慢、血压降低较对照组明显，超声心动图复查显示治疗6个月后左室舒张末期内径缩小，左室射血分数增高较对照组显著。结论美托洛尔为老年冠心病慢性心力衰竭提供一种较为安全有效的药物治疗手段。     

Off-pump resection of a coronary arterial fistula using the Harmonic Scalpel

Off-pump surgery was performed in a patient with post-infarction angina complicated with aneurysmal coronary-pulmonary arterial fistula. Epicardial echocardiography localized the artery feeding the fistula in the myocardium, which had not been revealed by visual inspection, palpation, or transesophageal echocardiography. The patient underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting concomitant with aneurysmectomy. The feeding arteries were dissected easily using a Harmonic Scalpel and ligated. The flow in the aneurysm disappeared immediately and aneurysmectomy was performed without bleeding.     

不稳定型心绞痛血运重建后氧化和抗氧化指标的动态变化及临床意义

目的　探讨不稳定型心绞痛 (UAP)患者经皮冠状动脉介入治疗后丙二醛和超氧化物歧化酶水平的变化规律及临床意义。方法　连续观察 2 5例不稳定心绞痛患者经皮冠脉治疗术前及术后 1、2 4和 72h血液中丙二醛 (MDA)和超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)的变化。另设单纯行冠脉造影的不稳定型心绞痛患者 2 0例和健康者 2 0名作对照 ,MDA和SOD分别用硫代巴比妥酸法和黄嘌呤氧化酶法测定其血清含量 ,并随访术后 3个月心血管事件的发生情况。结果　MDA在不稳定型心绞痛患者中的浓度明显高于健康者 ,介入治疗后 1h进一步升高 ,持续至 2 4h(P =0 .0 0 1) ,72h回复至术前水平 ;单纯行冠脉造影者 ,术前与术后无明显改变。SOD在不稳定型心绞痛患者中的浓度明显低于健康者 (P〈0 .0 5 ) ,介入治疗后进一步降低。结论　不稳定型心绞痛患者介入治疗后MDA和SOD在 72h内有动态变化 ,可能是术后早期心血管事件的危险因素     

Prevalence of silent myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis detected by electron beam tomography

BACKGROUND: Electron beam tomography coronary calcium imaging is an evolving technique for the early detection of coronary atherosclerosis, and recent studies have established its prognostic value in asymptomatic individuals. The relationship of coronary artery calcium scores (CAC) to obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) has been poorly studied but is clinically relevant because it determines which individuals are likely to benefit from revascularization procedures. Hence, we prospectively evaluated the prevalence of myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic patients with cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 864 asymptomatic patients with no previous CAD but with cardiovascular risk factors, referred for electron beam tomography coronary calcium imaging to our institution over an 18-month period. From this group, 220 consecutive patients (85% men; mean age, 61 +/- 9 years; age range, 31-84 years) with moderate to severe atherosclerotic disease (coronary calcium score > or =100 Agatston units) were prospectively evaluated by technetium 99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Patients were followed up (mean follow-up, 14 months) and data regarding their subsequent clinical management recorded. Of the 220 patients, 119 had moderate atherosclerosis (CAC score of 100-400 Agatston units) and 101 had severe atherosclerosis (CAC score > or =400 Agatston units). Abnormal SPECT findings were seen in 18% of patients with moderate atherosclerosis (n = 21) and 45% of patients with severe atherosclerosis (n = 45). Increasing severity of atherosclerosis was related to increasing ischemic burden (summed difference score = 1 +/- 0.2 for CAC score of 100-400 Agatston units and 3.2 +/- 0.5 for CAC score > or =400 Agatston units). In a multivariate linear regression model incorporating risk factors, CAC was the only predictor of silent ischemia. CONCLUSION: In comparison to previously published data, we detected a higher prevalence of silent ischemia even in patients with moderate coronary atherosclerosis (18%). This may reflect the differing risk factor profile of our patient population. When coronary calcium screening is used to preselect asymptomatic patients with cardiovascular risk factors for myocardial perfusion imaging, the optimum coronary calcium score threshold will depend on the population prevalence of risk factors and asymptomatic obstructive CAD.     

Factors Affecting Cardiac Catheterization Rates in Elders with Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background: Elder patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are less likely to receive cardiac catheterization. The reasons for this are unclear.
Objectives: To assess whether elder patients who had a documented history of dementia, lived in extended care facilities, or had do not intubate–do not resuscitate (DNR-DNI) advance directives were less likely to receive cardiac catheterization, despite having ACS with high-risk features.
Methods: This was a medical record review conducted at an urban teaching hospital. DNR-DNI status before hospitalization, extended care facility (nursing home or assisted living) residence, and a previous diagnosis of dementia were obtained from the medical record. Patients 65 years and older who presented to the emergency department with acute myocardial infarction or with unstable angina with ST segment deviation were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed, and odds ratios (ORs) were reported with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: Of the 201 eligible patients, 66 (32.8%) patients did not undergo cardiac catheterization. In the univariate analysis, patients who had dementia, resided in extended care facilities, or were DNR-DNI were less likely to receive cardiac catheterization. Only extended care facility residence (OR, 0.18; 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.83) and DNR-DNI status (OR, 0.19; 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.92) remained significantly associated with decreased cardiac catheterization in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusions: Elder patients with ACS residing in extended care facilities or who are DNR-DNI are less likely to receive cardiac catheterization. Future studies concerning the quality of ACS care for elders should take these variables into account.     

急性冠脉综合征患者循环内皮祖细胞与炎性相关因子的研究

目的:探讨急性心肌梗死(AMI)、不稳定性心绞痛(UA)患者外周血中循环内皮祖细胞(EPCs)与炎性相关因子C反应蛋白质(CRP)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)的相关性。方法:取AMI(25例)UA患者(28例)及健康体检者(对照组32例)静脉血,采用密度梯度离心法从外周血获得单个核细胞;激光共聚焦显微镜鉴定FITC-UEA-I和Dil-acLDL双染色阳性细胞为正在分化的EPCs,并在倒置荧光显微镜下计数;酶联免疫法检测各种炎性相关因子。结果:AMI组及UA组的EPCs数量和血清CRPI、L-6、TNF-α水平显著高于正常对照组。结论:AMI及UA患者EPCs数量增加与炎性相关因子增加有关。