An alternate route: 64-slice CT diagnosis of pulmonary pseudosequestration.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Jeffrey M Schussler.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The accurate diagnosis of anomalous coronary arteries by invasive angiography is limited by the inability to define the anatomic course in relation to surrounding structures. Computed tomographic coronary angiography has recently emerged as a noninvasive method to visualize the coronary arteries. Multislice computed tomography with up to 64 detector arrays, along with 3-dimensional rendering, has further improved the temporal and spatial resolution of noninvasive coronary imaging. In this series of cases, the investigators describe their institution's experience with computed tomographic coronary angiography as a complement to invasive coronary angiography in determining the origin and course of different anomalous coronary arteries in 16 patients. With the aid of 3-dimensional volume rendering, 6 anomalous right coronary arteries, 4 anomalous left circumflex coronary arteries, 4 single coronary arteries, and 2 anomalous left main coronary arteries were all clearly defined with regard to their origin and course. It is proposed that computed tomographic coronary angiography is the diagnostic test of choice in the evaluation of such anomalies.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Non-invasive methods for detection of coronary atherosclerosis have been limited to indirect markers, such as myocardial perfusion or wall motion during exercise or pharmacological stress. However, advances in multislice computed tomography (MSCT) not allow sufficient spatial resolution for direct non-invasive imaging of the coronary arteries. This review focuses on imaging techniques and clinical applications of MSCT in human studies. Published studies of the diagnostic accuracy of MSCT in native coronary arteries and bypass grafts indicate excellent sensitivity and specificity for detection of 50% diameter stenosis. MSCT is particularly good for evaluating the origin and course of anomalous coronary arteries. MSCT offers the ability to visualise both the lumen and wall of artery, as well as to quantify coronary classification. Further technical developments promise to render MSCT the ideal non-invasive tool for direct visualisation of the coronary arteries.
In adult patients with atrial septal defects (ASDs), right ventricular (RV) cavity size may return to normal after operative closure. This study demonstrated improved RV volumes and right atrial areas in 20 adult patients after successful transcatheter closure of large ASDs. RV volumes decreased by 22%, 30%, and 41% at 1 day, 1 month, and 6 months, respectively, after the procedure. Right atrial areas decreased by 5%, 23%, and 26%, respectively, over the same time.
Noninvasive cardiac computed tomographic imaging using multislice or electron beam technology has been shown to be highly specific and sensitive in diagnosing coronary heart disease. It is about a fifth of the cost of coronary angiography and is particularly well suited for evaluating patients with a low or low to moderate probability of having obstructive coronary atherosclerosis. In addition, it offers more information than calcium scoring: because of the intravenous contrast used, it temporarily increases the density of the lumen and allows differentiation of soft plaque from calcified plaque. The Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital now uses this modality to define coronary atherosclerosis in patients who would otherwise have needed invasive coronary angiography; several research protocols with the technique are also under way. Baylor has recently upgraded to the 64-slice scanner. It is expected that computed tomographic coronary angiography will replace a significant percentage of invasive cardiac catheterizations.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Three hundred nine patients were followed during their recovery area stay after percutaneous coronary intervention. Recovery area times for patients who received bivalirudin during percutaneous coronary intervention showed an average reduction in total recovery area length of stay of 36 minutes (p <0.0001) compared with patients who received heparin alone. This reduction was also seen when compared with the heparin + abciximab group (46-minute reduction, p = 0.0007), and the heparin + eptifibatide group (35-minute reduction, p = 0.0005). Patients who received bivalirudin took significantly less time for the activated clotting time (ACT) to normalize despite significantly higher average ACTs and significantly fewer subtherapeutic ACTs.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Bivalirudin is being used more frequently as an anticoagulant in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Newer devices, used to measure activated clotting time (ACT), have not been thoroughly tested for use with bivalirudin. One such device, the i-STAT ACT, measures the generation of activated thrombin to determine the level of anticoagulation. Our study demonstrated a high level of agreement between the i-STAT ACT and the Hemochron ACT in patients anticoagulated with bivalirudin. In addition, the i-STAT was shown to have an extremely high degree of reproducibility.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
We report the case of a 27-year-old woman with history of a transient ischemic attack who was diagnosed with a large patent foramen ovale (PFO). After percutaneous PFO closure, it was discovered that the patient had a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) and a diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia was made. The PAVM was later coil embolized. This case illustrates the importance of evaluating PFO closure patients for other causes of right-to-left shunting.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A 36-year-old man is described with aneurysmal coronary artery disease successfully treated with a Jomed covered stent. This technique obviates the need for surgical exclusion or ligation of the aneurysm.