[Which patients with heart valve diseases require invasive evaluation?].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E Esplugas.
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INTRODUCTION: The mechanism of ioxaglate-induced nausea has not been fully elucidated. Recent studies have demonstrated that serotonin is one of the principal neurotransmitters of emesis in humans. On the other hand, the greater capacity of ioxaglate to stimulate vomiting has been ascribed to its great ability to inhibit cholinesterase. METHODS: To determine if oral metoclopramide (a serotonin receptor-blocker) is effective in the prophylaxis of ioxaglate-induced nausea during left ventriculography, 637 of 711 consecutive eligible patients were included in a prospective study. Patients were randomized to receive, 60-90 minutes before the procedure, either diazepam 10 mg p.o. (control group [n = 315]) or diazepam 10 mg p.o. plus metoclopramide 10 mg p.o. (metoclopramide group [n = 322]). RESULTS: The two randomized groups were similar in relation to baseline clinical and hemodynamic characteristics. Nausea was documented in 103 patients (16.1%) with similar incidence in the two groups (control group: 16.8%, metoclopramide group: 15.5%; p = NS). Nausea duration was also similar (56 +/- 63 s vs 52 +/- 63 s; p = NS). When patients with and without nausea were compared, the following variables showed a significant difference between the two groups: male gender (86% vs 76%; p < 0.05), age (53 +/- 10 yrs vs 56 +/- 9 yrs; p < 0.05) and body surface area (1.84 +/- 0.2 m2 vs 1.78 +/- 0.1 m2; p < 0.01). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified low age (p = 0.02) and male gender (p = 0.06) as independent predictors of nausea. The incidence of nausea was 24% in males < or = 45 yrs vs 9% in females > 45 yrs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylaxis with oral metoclopramide did not reduce the incidence of ioxaglate-induced nausea during left ventriculography. This data do not support a role of serotonin in the production of nausea by ioxaglate. Low age an male gender are independent predictors of nausea apparition during left ventriculography. A cholinergic mechanism is probably involved in the capacity of ioxaglate to stimulate vomiting.
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BACKGROUND: "Penetrating aortic ulcer", an atherosclerotic lesion with ulceration that penetrates the internal elastic lamina and allows haematoma formation within the aortic wall, is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with sudden onset of severe chest or back pain. It has been suggested that it is a pathologic process that involves elderly hypertensive patients with severe atherosclerosis and rarely has been observed in the ascending aorta. METHODS: To determine the characteristics of this process, 11 clinical, 2 hemodynamic, 3 angiographic and 4 surgical variables were compared between 10 consecutive patients with penetrating aortic ulcers and 20 matched patients with classic acute aortic dissection. RESULTS: Clinical and hemodynamic variables were similar in both compared groups. In the group of patients with penetrating ulcer mean age was 58 +/- 6 years, previous hypertension was observed in 6 patients and the penetrating ulcer was located in the ascending aorta in 6 cases. In comparison to patients with aortic dissection, more angiographic projections were necessary to obtain the diagnosis in the group of patients with penetrating ulcer (2.4 +/- 0.8 vs 1.7 +/- 0.6; p < 0.05). In addition, the presence of angiographic aortic valve regurgitation was only observed in the group of patients with acute dissection (60% vs 0%; p < 0.001). Severe atherosclerosis was not present angiographically in any patient with penetrating ulcer. CONCLUSIONS: Penetrating aortic ulcer can also affect middle age patients without severe atherosclerosis and is frequently observed in the ascending aorta. Its form of presentation and clinical characteristics are similar to classic aortic dissection. The lack of angiographic confirmatory evidence of dissection with suggestive clinical history, should raise the possibility of penetrating aortic ulcer.
Right and left cardiac catheterization was performed in a 29-year-old male with dilated cardiomyopathy. During the procedure, prominent v waves appeared spontaneously in the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure recording with a simultaneous decrease in left ventricular systolic pressure. Left ventricular angiography showed moderate to severe mitral regurgitation and an ejection fraction of 22%. The right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy revealed histological findings consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiac catheterization was repeated 9 months later, after a period of clinical improvement and a reduction in the right and left ventricular filling pressures was documented. The cyclic swings in the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and in the left ventricular systolic pressure were not observed. Left ventriculography showed mild mitral regurgitation with an ejection fraction of 37%. Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy documented a reduction in myofibrillar and nuclear hypertrophy. Thus, cyclic changes in pulmonary wedge v waves may be observed in dilated cardiomyopathy. This finding is consistent with cyclic variations in the degree of mitral regurgitation. Disappearance of this factor seems to be related to improvement in left ventricular contractility.
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Studies in vitro have suggested that nonionic low osmolar contrast agents produce an increase in thrombogenicity. To determine the incidence of thrombi related to the use of nonionic low osmolar contrast media during coronary angioplasty, a double-blind randomized study was performed in 100 patients. Medication before angioplasty included oral aspirin (250 mg/day) in all cases. At the beginning of the procedure, aspirin (250 mg) and heparin (10,000 U) were intravenously administered. During the procedure patients were randomly assigned to receive either an ionic low osmolar contrast agent ioxaglate (n = 50), or a nonionic low osmolar contrast media iohexol (n = 50). The presence of thrombus was evaluated on the angiogram and on the guidewire immediately after its retrieval from the patients. Clinical, angiographic and procedural variables were similar in the 2 randomized groups. Angiographic evidence of thrombus was observed in 1 patient (2%) assigned to ioxaglate and in 11 patients (22%) assigned to iohexol (p less than 0.005). One patient (2%) from the ioxaglate group and 6 patients (12%) from the iohexol group showed thrombotic residues on the guidewire (p = not significant). Three patients had acute myocardial infarction, 1 patient (2%) receiving ioxaglate and 2 patients (4%) iohexol (p = not significant). There were no deaths. Thus, compared with an ionic low osmolar contrast media ioxaglate, the nonionic low osmolar contrast agent iohexol increases the incidence of thrombus during coronary angioplasty.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and angiographic profile of patients with left main coronary artery stenosis with (LM-OS) and without left coronary ostial stenosis (LM-NOS). DESIGN: Retrospective study of patients submitted to coronary angiography. SETTING: Laboratory of Hemodynamics and Interventional Cardiology at Bellvitge Hospital -Barcelona, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 4663 consecutive patients (pts) with angiographically defined coronary artery disease. 139 pts had left main stenosis greater than or equal to 50%. Twelve pts were excluded because nonatheroesclerotic disease. Twenty two pts (17%), had LM-OS and 105 (83%) LM-NOS. INTERVENTIONS: Pts records were reviewed, to analyse the following clinical and angiographic variables: age, gender, risk factors to coronary artery disease, history of myocardial infarction, anginal class, presence of unstable angina, basal ECG ischemia, percentage and localization of left main stenosis, number and degree of vessels diseased, indexes of left ventricular function and coronary dominance. MAIN RESULTS: 1. Clinical characteristics--In the LM-OS group 18 pts were male and 4 female, while in the LM-NOS the numbers were respectively 90 and 15, p = ns. As for the gender the age showed also a similarity: 58 +/- 8 and 57 +/- 8 years, p = ns. A history of arterial hypertension was present in 73% of pts with LM-OS and 47% with LM-NOS, p greater than 0.05. With respect to the other clinical variables both groups were similar. The incidence of LM-OS was 0.4%. 2. Angiographic characteristics--The severity of left main stenosis was identical in the two groups: 80 +/- 15 in LM-OS and 75 +/- 16% in LM-NOS (p = NS). Four (18%) of the pts with LM-OS had no associated coronary disease versus 7 (7%) of the LM-NOS (p = 0.08). There were 1.3 +/- 1 diseased vessels in the LM-OS group and 2.1 +/- 1 in the LM-NOS (p greater than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the present series, the clinical and hemodynamic profile of patients with left main disease suggest that the following characteristics are more frequently seen in patients with ostial stenosis: 1) history of arterial hypertension; 2) no associated coronary disease; 3) smaller number of diseased vessels; 4) less significant stenosis.
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effectiveness of post-extrasystolic potentiation (PESP) to detect latent residual contraction function in patients (pts) with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. DESIGN: retrospective study in pts referred for cardiac catheterization. SETTING: Haemodynamic Laboratory of Cardiology Service, Bellvitge Hospital. Barcelona, Spain. PATIENTS: the criteria for including pts with sinus rhythm were (SR): 1-The appearance of an extra beat R' on the ventriculogram; 2-The location of R' in relation to the preceding sinus beat R1 and the following beat R2 being such that R1-R' less than R'-R2. In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the criteria were: 1-An early beat Re had to be identified; 2-R1-Re interval had to be at most half of the Re-R2 interval; 3-The length of the cardiac cycle preceding R, has to be equal to the mean cycle length. All the patients with an increase of the ejection fraction (EF) from R, to R2 less than 12% were included in group A: 12 patients (3 females, 9 males, mean age 51 years, 5 SR, FE 27 +/- 10%). In group B were included patients with an increase of the ejection fraction greater than or equal to 12%; 14 patients (4 females, 10 males, mean age 50 years, 7 SR, FE = 31 +/- 7%). MEASUREMENTS: In each ventriculogram we assessed the performance of left ventricle on R1 and R2 beats by determining: 1-Left ventricular end diastolic (EDV), end systolic (ESV), stroke (SV) volumes; 2-Volumes index (EDVI), (ESVI) (SVI); 3 - Ejection fraction (EF) - Change in ventricular contractility from R1 to R2, delta EF. RESULTS: in the sinus rhythm group the values of R1 and R2 were respectively: EDV: (184 +/- 48 ml/m2; 191 +/- 17 ml/m2; NS); SVI (53 +/- 19 ml/m2; 80 +/- 22 ml/m2; p less than 0.01) FE (29 +/- 7%; 42 +/- 10%; p less than 0.01), delta EF 13 +/- 6%. The change of the ejection fraction from R1 to R2 in pts with SR and AF were respectively: 13 +/- 6% and 11.5 +/- 6.4%; NS. Group A: Deterioration of the functional class and two deaths occurred. Group B: Improvement in functional class in all cases but one. CONCLUSION: our data suggest that augmented ventricular filling and consequent Starling's effect is not a significant contribute for PESP in pts with dilated cardiomyopathy. The analysis of post extrasystolic beat in SR pts and the beat following an early beat with a long diastole in AF, is a valuable method of determining the residual left ventricular function in this group of pts.
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During percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, the appearance of persistent staining in the vessel by contrast media suggests coronary dissection. We report seven patients in whom a false image of severe coronary dissection was observed during angioplasty performed with the new Monorail balloon catheter. This image emerges at the moment of balloon inflation, is distally located to the balloon, and disappears with balloon catheter deflation. No complications were associated with the appearance of this image.
The case of a 68 years old man admitted because of angina "de novo" and submitted to coronariography is reported. The rest ECG showed abnormalities of the ST-T suggesting myocardial ischemia. The coronariography showed: No significant atherosclerotic lesions. The left coronary artery had an anomalous origin; the left descending coronary artery originated from an independent ostium located at the right Valsalva sinus, the circumflex artery had its origin at the same ostium as the right coronary artery.
The purpose of this study is the long term follow-up of the first pulmonary valvuloplasties performed by our group. From september 1984 to march 1988, 10 patients (4 men and 6 women) aged 8 to 58 (mean: 21) with severe or moderate pulmonary valve stenosis underwent pulmonary valvotomy. In all cases the balloon diameter was equal to or 1 mm smaller than the valvular annulus. The results were satisfactory with a significant mean gradient reduction of 51.7%. A follow-up gradient estimation by Doppler echocardiogram was obtained 10 to 37 months after valvuloplasty (mean: 23 months). The mean follow-up gradient by Doppler (31.3 +/- 9.9 mmHg) was not significantly different from the mean hemodynamic post-dilatation gradient (35.6 +/- 14.7 mmHg). A linear correlation was found between the post-dilatation hemodynamic mean gradient and the mean gradient by Doppler follow-up (r = 0.66, p less than 0.05, SEE = 4.1 mmHg). No restenosis were observed. These results suggest that the benefits of valvuloplasty are long lasting. Continuous Doppler is an excellent technique for the follow-up of these patients.
Congenital diverticulum of the left ventricle is an uncommon cardiac malformation. We present a 45 years old woman, previously asymptomatic. The symptoms and electrocardiogramas suggested ischemic heart disease. The left ventriculogram demonstrated an isolated apical diverticulum, although the coronary arteries were normal. We will consider the etiopathogeny, classification, clinical history, diagnosis and treatment of the isolated apical diverticulum.
We have done a double-blind randomized study to compare the cardiac effects of 2 nonionic low osmolality contrast agents, iohexol (n = 25) and iopamidol (n = 25), for left ventriculography and coronary arteriography. No statistical differences were detected between both groups in quality of image, clinical (absence of nausea; intense warmth [8% vs 8%, p = NS]) and electrocardiography (repolarization changes [24% vs 12%, p = NS], absence of severe bradycardia and ventricular arrhythmia) effects. Ventriculography induced no change in systolic left ventricular pressure (iohexol: 128.6 +/- 18 vs 127 +/- 19 mmHg, p = NS; iopamidol: 133 +/- 24 vs 131.8 +/- 23 mmHg, p = NS), and a little but significant rise in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (iohexol: pre = 11.6 +/- 7 vs post = 13.9 +/- 7 mmHg, p less than 0.01; iopamidol: 11.7 +/- 4 vs post = 15.5 +/- 5 mmHg, p less than 0.001). Our results suggest that iohexol and iopamidol are comparable and qualified for angiocardiography.