No abstract available.
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation* ; Fibrinogen*

BACKGROUND: Ruptured aneurysms of sinus of Valsalva are rare cardiac anomaly. Here, we analyze retrospectively patients operated on at our hospital during the last 10 years. METHODS: Seventeen cases of ruptured congenital aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva (female:male=10:7, mean age 33.2+/-15.2 year) were operated during the period of January 1989 through August 1998. A ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva was diagnosed by transthoracic 2D echocardiography and multiplane esophageal echocardiography. The diagnoses were confirmed at operation. The majority (94.1%) arose from the right coronary sinus. The right ventricle was the most common chamber of rupture (76.5%). Ventricular septal defect was associated in 13 patients (76.5%), of which 8 (61.5%) were subarterial. Ventricular septal defect was more common in aneurysms arising from the right coronary sinus (81.2%). Aortic regurgitation was found in 5 patients (29.4%). One patient underwent aortic valve repair and one an arotic valve replacement. RESULTS: There was no early operative death and no recurrence after the initial repair. Postoperative morbidities were few. There was one late sudden cardiac death 3 months post-surgery. In the majority, the long-term follow-up was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Surgery for ruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva yields gratifying results, and it should be undertaken as soon as the condition is diagnosed. With recent developments, echocardiography may prove a substitute for cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography in future, and surgery could be undertaken with the help of echocardiography alone.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured* ; Angiocardiography ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Coronary Sinus ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Sinus of Valsalva*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of chronic total occlusion has been limited by a relatively low success rate and a high restenosis rate. This study investigated procedural outcome, factors predictive of procedural success and safety of coronary angioplasty for chronic total coronary occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was composed of 45 lesions attempting PTCA with or without stent implantation for recanalization of chronic total coronary occlusion between January 1997 and July 1999. The clinical and angiographic data of the 45 lesions were reviewed. The results of successful PTCA in 28 lesions were compared with those in 17 lesions whose PTCA was failed. RESULTS: The overall success of balloon angioplasty and stenting was achieved in 28 lesions (62.2%) and did not differ significantly by clinical variables. The most common cause of failure of balloon angioplasty was inability to pass the guide wire across the occlusion( 14 of 23 lesions, 61%). Procedural success was more common in patients with occlusions with a tapered entry configuration(77.2% vs. 47.8%, p=.042), with lesions without side branches(82.3% vs. 50%, p=.03). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified the absence of side branch(p<0.01) and the presence of a tapered entry configuration(p<0.05) as independent predictors of procedural success. One case(2.2%) needed emergency coronary bypass surgery after failure to recanalize the occluded vessel. There was no Q wave acute myocardial infarction, death. CONCLUSIONS: The favorable cases(>60%) of chronic total coronary occlusions can be successfully dilated by balloon angioplasty with or without stent implantation, with a major complication rate of 2.2%. Therefore, with careful patient selection, we need to try the aggressive recanalization for chronic total coronary occlusion.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Coronary Occlusion ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Infarction ; Patient Selection ; Stents

BACKGROUND: The interpretation of electrocardiographic change in treadmill exercise test is difficult when the test is performed in patients with abnormal resting electrocardiography. In patients with primary nagative T wave, normalization of primary negative T wave(pseudonormalization)is not uncommon finding during treadmill exercise test. The mechanism of pseudonormalization is uncertain and the interpretation is difficult. Thus this study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic significance of pseudonormalization during treadmill exercise test. METHODS: 200 cases who showed primary negative T wave at rest were included in this study. The results were classified as positive, borderline positive, borderline negative, negative, non-diagnostic and pseudonormalization. RESULTS: Pseudonormalization during treadmill exercise test was oberved in 78(39%) of the 200 cases who had primary negative T wave at rest. Coronary angiography and left ventriculography were performed in 13(mean age 56+/-7 year, male vs. female 1:2.25) of 78 cases who showed pseudonormalization during exercise. They had no history of acute myocardial infarction and no abnormalities such as abnormal Q wave, left ventricular hypertrophy,bundle branch block,right ventricular hypertrophy and QRS widening above 0.1ms in resting electrocardiography. There were significant stenosis in only 3 cases; 2 cases in left anterior descending coronary artery and 1 case in right coronary artery. CONCLUSION: In treadmill exercise tests, pseudonormalization appears as non-specific finding for the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease becuase it is observed in either patients with or without coronary artery stenosis.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia*

We report a case of intravenous infusion amiodarone induced acute hepatitis, occurs within 1 day after initiation of drug in a 72-year-old woman with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Liver function test before intravenous infusion amiodarone treatment was normal. She was treated with intravenous infusion amiodarone, and then developed acute hepatitis next day. We suspected drug induced hepatitis due to intravenous infusion amiodarone. The liver function test returned to normal after the amiodarone was stopped. We described an unusual case which intravenous infusion amiodarone induced acute hepatitis within.
Aged ; Amiodarone* ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Female ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous* ; Liver Function Tests

A 29-year-old woman in her 8th week of pregnancy was referred to our hospital for swelling in the lower extremities, rapid onset of dyspnea (1 hr) and pre-syncope. Severe right ventricular dysfunction and moderate pulmonary hypertension were detected using 2-dimentional Doppler echocardiography. In addition, left calf vein and proximal thromboses were detected by venous compression ultrasound imaging. After successful thrombolytic treatment, the patient quickly recovered and was discharged from hospital on subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin. She delivered a normal, healthy infant at full-term (40 weeks).
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Infant ; Lower Extremity ; Pregnancy* ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis* ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right

Coronary artery and valvular injuries after blunt chest trauma are an unusual condition. This diagnosis is very difficult to estabilish, but prompt diagnosis and proper management are important in life saving. We report one patient who develop left main coronary artery dissection, tricuspid insufficiency, mitral insufficiency and pericardial rupture following blunt chest trauma. One year ago, he had suffered a frontal impact in a traffic accident and recieved anti-tuberculosis medication for 10 months for chest discomfort. The correct diagnosis was confirmed noninvasively by transesophageal echocardiography and the patient was treated left main coronary artery dissection flap removal, mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valvuloplasty and repair of ruptured pericardium. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was fully recovered.
Accidents, Traffic ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Pericardium ; Rupture* ; Thorax*

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are rare cardiac anomalies and are usually caused by the separation of the aortic wall media from the valve ring tissue. These aneurysms frequently rupture into the low-pressure areas like the right ventricle and right atrium, rarely do they rupture into the left atrium, left ventricle, pericardial sac, or pulmonary artery. Cerebral infarction has been reported as a rare complication of unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. We experienced very rare two cases of Valsalva aneurysms of right coronary sinus dissecting into the interventricular septum in patients with cerebral infarction. In two cases these aneurysms ruptured into the left ventricle. These aneurysms were excised and the defect was closed with autopericardium. At the end of the surgical repair, coaptation was found to be insufficient and aortic valve replacement was undertaken.
Aneurysm* ; Aortic Valve ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Coronary Sinus ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rupture ; Sinus of Valsalva*

Congenital pericardial defects are rare and asymptomatic for both partial and complete defects. However, some patients can experience syncope, arrhythmia, and chest pain. When a patient experiences a symptom, it may be caused by herniation and dynamic compression or torsion of a heart structure including the coronary arteries. Diagnosis of a congenital pericardial defect may be difficult, especially in old patients with concomitant coronary artery disease. The clinical importance of congenital pericardial defect has not been stressed and congenital pericardial defects are regarded as benign, but in this case, pericardial defect was responsible for myocardial ischemia. The authors report a case of partial congenital pericardial defect causing herniation and dynamic compression of the coronary arteries, presenting as an acute coronary syndrome in an old man, with an emphasis on the unique features of the coronary angiogram that support the diagnosis of partial pericardial defects.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pericardium ; Syncope

No abstract available.
Arteries* ; Atherectomy*