Project description:BackgroundAlthough rare, external compression of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) by a pulmonary arterial aneurysm (PAA) as a consequence of pulmonary arterial hypertension causing stable angina pectoris is well described. However, acute myocardial infarction is extremely rare, particularly with a full array of electrocardiographic, biochemical, and echocardiographic features, as in this scenario.CaseIn this case, a 62-year-old man with a past history of severe fibrotic lung disease was hospitalised with chest pain. The patient had dynamic anterolateral ischaemic changes on electrocardiography and serially elevated high-sensitivity troponin I. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed impaired left ventricular ejection fraction with anterolateral hypokinesis. Coronary angiography with intracoronary imaging revealed external compression of the LMCA. Computer tomography (CT) scans confirmed new PAA, compared to previous scans. The patient was successfully treated by percutaneous coronary stent implantation.ConclusionProgressive dilatation of the pulmonary artery due to pulmonary arterial hypertension can result in acute MI secondary to external compression of the LMCA. Clinicians should be mindful of acute coronary syndromes in patients with long-standing pulmonary hypertension presenting with chest pain.
Project description:Valve-sparing root replacement (the David procedure) is a valuable alternative to conventional aortic root replacement with a composite graft, especially in patients whose aortic valve leaflets have not been altered. However, reintervention rates are higher than are those associated with composite graft implantation. In this report, we present the case of a patient who had undergone valve-sparing root replacement 2 years earlier and was admitted to our hospital with myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock secondary to coronary ostial button dissection, aortic pseudoaneurysm formation, and severe left main coronary artery compression. To our knowledge, this case is exceedingly rare. Rather than attempt local reconstruction of the mouth of the pseudoaneurysm, we excised the lesion, the aortic valve, and the graft, and we successfully implanted a composite aortic graft with a mechanical aortic valve.
Project description:AimsThe optimal revascularization strategy for left main coronary artery disease (LMD) remains controversial, especially with two recent randomized controlled trials showing conflicting results. We sought to address this controversy with our analysis.Methods and resultsComprehensive literature search was performed. We compared percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for LMD revascularization using standard meta-analytic techniques. A 21% higher risk of long-term major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event [MACCE; composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and repeat revascularization] was observed in patients undergoing PCI in comparison with CABG [risk ratio (RR) 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.40]. This risk was driven by higher rate of repeat revascularization in those undergoing PCI (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.34-1.95). On the contrary, MACCE rates at 30 days were lower in PCI when compared with CABG (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.39-0.76), which was driven by lower rates of stroke in the PCI arm (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.17-0.98). At 1 year, lower stroke rates (RR 0.21, 95% CI 0.08-0.59) in the PCI arm were balanced by higher repeat revascularization rates in those undergoing PCI (RR 1.78, 95% CI 1.33-2.37), resulting in a clinical equipoise in MACCE rates between the two revascularization strategies. There was no difference in death or MI between PCI when compared with CABG at any time point.ConclusionOutcomes of CABG vs. PCI for LMD revascularization vary over time. Therefore, individualized decisions need to be made for LMD revascularization using the heart team approach.
Project description:The usual sources of pulmonary blood flow in pulmonary atresia (PA) with(VSD) are patent ductus arteriosus and aortopulmonary collaterals. However, rarely fistulous collaterals may also arise from the coronary arteries which usually open into the main pulmonary trunk or branch pulmonary arteries. In such cases, selective coronary angiogram may be required for the demonstration of pulmonary arterial anatomy. A case of PA with VSD with failure to demonstrate pulmonary arteries on routine catheterization study (ventricular, aortic root, and descending aortic angiograms) is being presented here. A coronary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistula was suspected in view of dilated left main coronary artery, and pulmonary arteries were well demonstrated with selective coronary angiogram.
Project description:An 81-year-old woman was referred for primary angioplasty due to a myocardial infarction. Upon her arrival, the patient was in cardiogenic shock. Coronarography revealed a large filling defect within the left main coronary artery. Thromboaspiration was performed, obtaining thrombotic material and tissue of different consistencies. Balloon angioplasty in the left anterior descending and left main arteries was performed, resulting in incomplete reperfusion, leading to irreversible electromechanical dissociation. Analysis of the aspirated material was consistent with thrombus, atheroma, and calcified tissue. Autopsy revealed a heavily calcified mitral valve, and distal embolization of amorphous material in the microvasculature identical to that found in the mitral valve subapparatus. <Learning objective: Acute myocardial infarction due to left main embolization of tissue from mitral valve subapparatus is a rare condition but lethal. Early recognition of this condition is important for establishing the best option of treatment, between a percutaneous or surgical approach.>.
Project description:BackgroundThe optimal revascularization technique in patients with left main coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. We aimed to compare the long-term performance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in treatment of left main CAD.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched until November 16, 2016.ResultsSix randomized controlled trials and 22 matched observational studies including 22,487 patients and 90,167 patient-years of follow-up were included. PCI was associated with an overall higher risk for the major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (hazard ratio (HR), 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14-1.77), mainly driven by higher rates of myocardial infarction (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.22-2.34) and revascularization (HR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.86-4.22). The overall risks for all-cause death (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.93-1.20), cardiac death (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.69-1.59), stroke (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.33-1.24), and the composite safety endpoint of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.97-1.16) were similar between PCI and CABG. Stratified analysis based on stent types showed that the increased risk for myocardial infarction associated with PCI was only evident in patients with bare-metal stents or early-generation drug-eluting stents (DES), but not newer-generation DES. Stratified analyses based on study designs showed largely similar findings with the overall analyses, except for a significantly higher incidence of myocardial infarction in adjusted studies (HR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.64-2.45) but a trend toward higher incidence in randomized trials (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.85-2.27) associated with PCI.ConclusionsCompared with CABG, PCI with newer-generation DES might be a safe alternative revascularization strategy for treatment of left main CAD, but is associated with more repeat revascularization.
Project description:Subclavian artery stenosis (SAS) resulting in coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) is a common but under recognized pathology following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Patients with SAS may be asymptomatic due to the sub-clinical diversion of blood flow from the myocardium and retrograde blood flow during catheter angiography in the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) may be the first suggestion of CSSS. The management of SAS, causing CSSS, may rarely require acute assessment and intervention. However, full anatomical assessment of the stenosis morphology may be limited on fluoroscopy. Correction of SAS may be essential to achieve effective reperfusion therapy.
Project description:Background:The safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for stable left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) remains controversial. Methods:Digital databases were searched to compare the major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and its components. A random effect model was used to compute an unadjusted odds ratio (OR). Results:A total of 43 studies (37 observational and 6 RCTs) consisting of 29,187 patients (PCI 13,709 and CABG 15,478) were identified. The 30-day rate of MACCE (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.42-0.76; p?=?0.0002) and all-cause mortality (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.30-0.91; p?=?0.02) was significantly lower in the PCI group. There was no significant difference in the rate of myocardial infarction (MI) (p?=?0.17) and revascularization (p?=?0.12). At 5 years, CABG was favored due to a significantly lower rate of MACCE (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.18-2.36; p?=?<0.04), MI (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.35-2.06; p?=?<0.00001), and revascularization (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 2.18-3.60; p?=?<0.00001), respectively. PCI was associated with a lower overall rate of a stroke, while the risk of all-cause mortality was not significantly different between the two groups at 1- (p?=?0.75), 5- (p?=?0.72), and 10-years (p?=?0.20). The Kaplan-Meier curve reconstruction revealed substantial variations over time; the 5-year incidence of MACCE was 38% with CABG, significantly lower than 45% with PCI (p?=?<0.00001). Conclusion:PCI might offer early safety advantages, while CABG provides greater durability in terms of lower long-term risk of ischemic events. There appears to be an equivalent risk for all-cause mortality.