Randomized Evaluation of an Inflatable Femoral Artery Compression Device After Cardiac Catheterization

Mechanical femoral artery compression devices have several limitations. We compared a novel disposable beltheld pneumatic compression device to manual compression alone in 213 patients randomized into two equal groups. Both were comparable for age, gender, current therapy with aspirin (ASA) and warfarin, diameter of the arterial sheath, previous procedures via the same artery, procedure duration, and blood pressure. Manual compression time was 12 ± 3 minutes. Pneumatic compression was reduced during 60 minutes. Patient discomfort was assessed as none (82% vs 88%), mild (13% vs 8%), moderate (3% vs 4%), or severe (2% vs 0%) for the manual versus pneumatic group, respectively. Bleeding and hematoma occurred in 7.5% of patients with no difference between the treatment groups. However, manual compression was significantly more effective in the higher range of systolic blood pressure, and pneumatic in the lower range, with a cut point of approximately 170 mmHg. Predictors for bleeding were systolic blood pressure and dose of ASA. Among 113 patients with systolic blood pressure < 160 mmHg and low dose (75 mg) or no ASA, only / patient (0.9%) experienced bleeding while 31% of 16 patients with both elevated systolic blood pressure and high dose ASA (150–330 mg) bled. We conclude that pneumatic femoral artery compression does not reduce bleeding and hematoma compared with manual compression. The use of low dose (75 mg) or no ASA, as well as giving special attention to patients with elevated systolic blood pressure, may reduce the risk of bleeding after cardiac catheterization .     

CASE REPORT OF A 6-WEEK-OLD BOY WITH BLAND- WHITE-GARLAND SYNDROME

Bland-White-Garland syndrome is a rare syndrome with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery （ LCA ） arising from the pulmonary artery, resulting in left ventricular failure. It could occur shortly after birth. We here reported the case of a 6-week-old boy with aortostenosis. Coronary angiography revealed an anomalous LCA arising from the pulmonary artery. Representation of a prominent right coronary artery （ RCA ） delivered numerous collateral vessels to the LCA area, The patient underwent a correction operation with translocation of the LCA and re-implantation into the ascending aorta. One month after operation, clear decrease in the expanded ventricle was noted with an increase in the contractibility.     

Idiopathic Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia: A Clinical Approach

Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardia is the most common form of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT). Phenotypically, RVOT tachycardia segregates into two predominant forms, one characterized by repetitive monomorphic nonsustainnd VT and the other by paroxysmal exercise induced sustained VT. There is an increasing body of evidence to support the concept that both forms of tachycardia reflect disparate clinical manifestations of an identical cellular mechanism (i.e., cAMP-mediated triggered activity), which is identified clinically by the tachycardia's sensitivity to adenosine. The clinical characteristics, natural history, and approaches to therapy of RVOT tachycardia are delineated herein.     

Effect of potassium on downward T waves of precordial leads of normal children

Downward T waves occur normally in the precordial leads of children.^1,2,3 In a previous paper³ we pointed out that these downward T waves were limited to precordial leads which showed an RS pattern. In this paper, we shall describe the mechanism probably responsible for these downward T waves.