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F A Heupler

Publications and source records attributed to F A Heupler.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Coronary artery spasm: recognition and treatment.

Coronary artery spasm may produce angina, major arrhythmias, syncope, myocardial infarction, and death in patients with normal or nearly normal coronary arteriograms. The clinical picture in patients with symptomatic coronary artery spasm is characterized by: (1) predominant angina at rest, with little or no exertional angina; (2) changes of myocardial ischemia, especially ST segment elevation, on the electrocardiogram during pain: and (3) major arrhythmias and syncope during angina. A complete electrocardiogram during pain, or at least a Holter monitor recording, is important in establishing a diagnosis. The ergonovine maleate provocative test is a reliable method of establishing the diagnosis, but it is associated with some risks. Calcium flux antagonists are more effective than nitrates or beta blockers in the treatment of coronary spasm. Coronary bypass surgery is generally ineffective in the treatment of coronary spasm unless the spasm is superimposed on a fixed severe coronary obstruction.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

Syndrome of symptomatic coronary arterial spasm with nearly normal coronary arteriograms.

The clinical manifestations of symptomatic coronary arterial spasm were analyzed in 30 patients whose coronary arteriograms demonstrated no fixed severe obstructions. The study group consisted of 14 men and 16 women (average age, 47 years). Angina at rest was invariable and it was usually typical in quality, location, duration and response to nitroglycerin. Exertional angina occurred in 23 percent and syncope with angina in 33 percent. Spontaneous remission of angina for at least 1 month occurred in 57 percent of patients. Prinzmetal's variant angina occurred in 77 percent of patients and only S-T segment depression or T wave changes during angina occurred in 23 percent. Major arrhythmias during ischemia developed in 47 percent. Exericse tests were positive in 24 percent. Myocardial infarction, probably due to coronary spasm, occurred in 7 percent of patients. Isosorbide dinitrate and propranolol were effective therapy in only 39 percent and 6 percent of patients, respectively. Nifedipine, a calcium flux antagonist, was effective in 80 percent of patients. Patients with normal coronary arteriograms who have clinical features suggestive of coronary arterial spasm should be considered for further investigation, including long-term electrocardiographic monitoring and provocative testing for spasm.

Adult↗

Nifedipine therapy for refractory coronary arterial spasm.

Nifedipine was evaluated in the management of eight patients with intractable coronary arterial spasm. All had Prinzmetal's variant angina, normal or mildly abnormal coronary arteriograms, and a positive ergonovine maleate provocative test. Anginal attacks occurred at least three times a week in all patients during isosorbide dinitrate therapy. All patients had a decrease in frequency of ischemic attacks with nifedipine. Seven patients underwent repeat Holter monitor evaluation, which confirmed the absence of ischemic changes while they were taking nifedipine. When nifedipine dosage was decreased.or therapy discontinued in six patients, all experienced a recurrence of anginal attacks. Two patients had minor side effects, which required a decrease in the dose of nifedipine. Nifedipine was well tolerated, and no major complications occurred with its use. Nifedipine appears to be effective in the management of patients with symptomatic coronary arterial spasm and normal or mildly abnormal coronary arteriograms. Our data justify further investigation of nifedipine for treatment of such patients.

Adult↗

Spasm.

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Acute Disease↗

Angiographic interpretation and surgical management of right coronary artery obstructions.

We have found that even high quality arteriography and multiple projections may not clearly delineate the total extent of disease in a severely obstructed right coronary artery. Selection of the anastomotic site is more often based upon the operative findings. Totally obstructed vessels can be more aggressively explored and opened, because failure of adequate graft reconstruction does not result in significant infarction. Once a subtotally obstructed right coronary artery has been opened, the surgeon must achieve a patent anastomosis in order to avoid acute, possibility lethal diaphragmatic infarction. With careful isolation of the bifurcation and its primary branches, the majority of even heavily calcified vessels can be grafted without endarterectomy. If a totally obstructed and poor quality right coronary artery is well filled by collaterals from the left, it may not be necessary to bypass the right coronary artery when successful grafting of the left anterior descending or circumflex branches or both has been accomplished. Although the right coronary artery is frequently more diffusely diseased than the left coronary branches, with careful selection of the anastomotic site and attention to surgical detail, the vast majority of these arteries can be successfully bypassed.

Coronary Angiography↗