Ineficácia do diltiazem na prevençäo da reestenose após angioplastia coronária / Inefficacy of Diltiazem in the Prevention of Restenosis Following Coronary Angioplasty

PURPOSE--To evaluate the efficacy of diltiazem in preventing restenosis after balloon angioplasty (PTCA). METHODS--Eighty-nine patients who were undergone to successful PTCA, were divided them in 2 groups (G): A) 44 patients (50 per cent ) who received diltiazem (180 mg tid) immediately after PTCA and were kept on it for 6 months); B) 45 patients (50 per cent ) who received placebo. Fifty two lesions were dilated in GA and 54 in GB. Patients were excluded from analysis for several reasons, including: necessity of diltiazem or others calcium channel blockers use; heart failure, bradicardia, AV block of any degree, PTCA to chronic total occlusion, ostial lesions and AMI less than 30 days prior to PTCA. Patients were randomized to either the active drug or placebo in a double blind fashion. Restenosis was defined as a 50 per cent lesion. Patients underwent late angiography either at 6 months or sooner if clinically indicated. RESULTS--Both G were similar to age > 70 years (A = 7 per cent vs B = 4 per cent -p = NS), sex (A = 13 per cent vs B = 11 per cent -p = NS), stable angina (A = 43 per cent vs B = 51 per cent ), unstable angina (A = 57 per cent vs B = 49 per cent -p = NS) and single vessel (A = 91 per cent vs B = 87 per cent -p = NS) or multivessel (A = 9 per cent vs B = 13 per cent -p = NS) PTCA. We studied 39/44 (89 per cent ) patients in GA and 43/45 (96 per cent ) in GB (p = NS). We observed restenosis in 17/39 (43 per cent ) in GA and 16/43 (37 per cent ) in GB (p = NS). The restenosis rate per lesion was 39 per cent in GA and 31 per cent in GB (p = NS). CONCLUSION--Diltiazem was ineffective in the prevention of restenosis following PTCA

Angioplastia coronária com uso de duplo baläo em artéria de grande calibre (hugging balloons) / Coronary Angioplasty with the Double Balloon Technique in Large Lumen Artery (Hugging Balloon)

Em paciente do sexo masculino, com 73 anos de idade, foi realizada angioplastia em artéria coronária direita de grande calibre, com lesäo severa associada a trombo, utilizando-se 2 balöes, colocados lado a lado, e insuflados simultaneamente (técnica denominada Hugging Balloons), garantindo a obtençäo de lesäo residual pequena e boa evoluçäo hospitalar

In this case report the transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed in a oversized right coronary artery with a severe lesion with thrombus inside, using the Hugging balloon technique (two dilatation balloon catheters used simultaneously). This technique achieved minimal residual lesion and had a favorable clinical outcome of the patient

Cateterismo cardíaco ambulatorial: análise da experiência acumulada em 10 meses / Outpatient Cardiac Catheterization. Analysis of a 10 Month Experience

Objetivo - Identificar pacientes que se prestem à estratégia do cateterismo cardíaco ambulatorial, com base nos aspectos sociais, riscos e complicações, por um período de 24 h. Métodos - Dos 2.126 casos submetidos a ca-teterismo cardíaco, no Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, no período de setembro de 1990 a junho de 1991, excluíramse: a) aqueles com idade superior a 75 anos; b) os com síndromes isquêmicas agudas; c) os com descompensação cardíaca classe IV (NYHA); d) os estudados pela técnica femoral com sistemas introdutores de alto perfil; e) os submetidos à anestesia geral, estudos eletrofisiológicos ou biópsias endomiocárdicas. Após a realização do exame, seguia-se período de observação de 3 h e, na ausência de complicacões, os pacientes re-cebiam alta com orientação de retorno obrigatório no dia seguinte, para reavaliação clínica. As eventuais complicacões deste período foram anotadas. Resultados - Dos 719pacientes elegíveis, 68% eram do sexo masculino, e a idade média era de 55,3 anos. Sessenta e um por cento estavam em classefuncional I da NYHA e a maioria (80,8%) foi estudada pela via braquial. Em 83% dos casos realizou-se a coronariografia, dos quais, 52%exibiam aterosclerose coronária. Quatrocentos e quatorze casos não receberam alta, pela seguintes razões: 217 por término do exame após as 18 h, 111 por razões sócio-econômicas, 23 por recusa do médico assistente, 8 devido à lesão do tronco da coronária esquerda e 55 por complicacões diversas. Todos os 305 pacientes que receberam alta ambulatorial não mostraram qualquer complicação na avaliação clínica do dia seguinte. Conclusão - O cateterismo ambulatorial demonstrou ser seguro em pacientes selecionados, viabilizando grande número de exames, com relativa economia de leitos e outros recursos hospitalares

Purpose - To identify patients suitable for out-patient cardiac catheterization strategy, based on social aspects, risks and complications, for a 24 hour period. Methods - In a series of 2.126 cases submitted to cardiac catheterization at the Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, between September 1990 and June 1991, were excluded: a) those over 75 years of age; b) the acute ischemic syndroms; c) those in NYHA functional class IV; d) patients who used 7 or 8 French femoral angiographtc catheters; e) patients who had undergone general anesthesia, electrophysiological study or endomyocardial biopsy. After the procedure, the patients were observed for a 3 hour period and in the absence of any complication, they were discharged from the hospital, returning the next day for clinical evaluation. If any complication occurred it was registered. Results - In a cohort of 719 eligible patients, 68% were male, with a mean age of 55,3 years. Sixty one per cent were in NYHA functional class I and most of them (80,8%) were studied by the brachial approach. Eigthy-three per cent of the patients were submitted to coronary angiography, with 52% of them having coronary artery disease. Four hundred and fourteen patients were not discharged on the same day: 217 did not have their procedures finish after 6p.m., 111forsocial-economical reasons, 23 because of theirphysician's refuse, 8 because of left main coronary disease, 55 because of any kind of complication. All the 305 patients who were discharged on the same day, did not have shown any complication in the next day evaluation. Conclusion - Outpatient cardiac catheterization is a safe technique in selected patients, making possible the accomplishment of a greater number of procedures improving bed utilization and decreasing hospitalar costs