Emergency coronary artery bypass surgery following coronary angioplasty and stenting: results of a French multicenter registry.

This study investigates the influence of coronary stenting on the risk of emergency bypass surgery performed within 24 hr of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with particular concern for incidence and indication. Since 1995, coronary stenting has been increasingly performed in France during angioplasty procedures, altering significantly the role of emergency bypass surgery. The outcome of elective stenting and widespread use of coronary stenting and its influence on emergency surgery have not been evaluated so far. Through a retrospective (1995) and prospective (1996) registry, we analyzed the incidence, indication and results of emergency bypass surgery performed within 24 hr of PTCA in 68 and 57 centers, respectively, accounting for nearly half of all angioplasty procedures in France. Data were collected through questionnaires consisting of separate forms for every case report that were sent to every center. Over the two years, 26,885 and 27,497 procedures were investigated with a stenting rate of 46% and 64%, respectively. The observed need for emergency surgery was constantly low throughout this period (0.38% and 0.32%, respectively). Indications for surgery included complications directly due to stent in 37% of cases in the 2-year period. Outcome remained poor, with in-hospital mortality in 10% and 17% and myocardial infarction in 27% and 25% of cases, respectively. A comparison of the results in centers with and without surgical facilities showed no differences in outcome, despite a longer time to surgery (359 min +/- 406 min vs. 170 min +/- 205 min, P = 0.0001) and a lower incidence of emergency surgery (0.25% vs. 0.44%, P = 0.0001) in centers without on-site surgery backup. The French multicenter registry reveals an increase in the use of stents together with a dramatic decrease in the incidence of emergency bypass surgery (below 0.5%) following PTCA. There has been a significant evolution in the indication, and stent implantation now accounts for a third of the indications for emergency bypass surgery.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. A study of epidemiologic risk factors, human papillomavirus, and p53 expression.

OBJECTIVE: To examine risk factors for the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, including evaluation and detection of epidemiologic risk factors of human papillomavirus (HPV) and p53 expression. DESIGN: Case-control study during a 3-year period. SETTING: Dermatologic referral center. PATIENTS: Thirty-three HIV-infected patients who had 97 SCCs were compared with 24 HIV-infected patients who had 70 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age, skin type, amount of sun exposure, actinic damage, family history of skin cancer and history of smoking and warts. Specimens of SCC and BCC were examined for HPV using polymerase chain reaction. Presence of p53 was examined using immunohistochemical analysis. Specimens from tumor-free, non-sun-exposed areas from these same patients were used as controls. RESULTS: Risk factors for the development of both types of carcinoma included fair skin type and excessive sun exposure (> 6 h/d during the previous 10 years). The HIV-infected patients with SCCs tended to have outdoor occupations. The location of SCCs favored the head and neck; BCCs were located on the trunk. Patients with SCCs had later-stage HIV disease than did patients with BCCs. Half of the patients with SCC had a history of genital or nongenital warts. Seventy-one percent (17/24) had a smoking history. No statistical difference existed between patients with SCCs and BCCs for history of smoking or warts. Human papillomavirus was not found in most of our SCC, BCC, or control specimens. However, 92% (22/24) of the SCC specimens and 90% (18/20) of the BCC specimens stained for p53. Control specimens from non-sun-exposed skin of HIV-infected patients did not stain for p53. Epidermal staining was present in 95% (17/20) of tissue adjacent to SCCs and 47% (7/15) of tissue adjacent to BCCs. A significantly positive correlation existed between the amount of sun exposure and the amount of p53 staining seen in adjacent epidermal tissue (r = 0.07; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for the development of SCCs and BCCs in HIV-infected patients are similar: fair skin type and excessive sun exposure. Our study does not support that HPV is an oncogenic factor in the development of these cutaneous tumors but provides evidence that p53 overexpression may play a role.

[The single coronary artery]. / L'artère coronaire unique.

Single coronary artery is a fairly rare entity which may nevertheless be found in 0.4 per cent of coronary arteriograms. The authors report 3 cases seen in 2 departments of cardiology. In each patient, despite the existence of definite cardiovascular risk factors, this distribution was a factor worsening coronary ischemia, leading to complete thrombosis in one case. Although most often a chance discovery, a review of the literature justifies the attribution to this anomaly of the onset of angina, infarction or even sudden death.

Postextrasystolic sinoatrial exit block in human sick sinus syndrome: demonstration by direct recording of sinus node electrograms.

Ten patients with sick sinus syndrome having repetitive sinus node electrograms during long postpacing pauses were studied during programmed atrial stimulation. Sinus node activity was recorded using a percutaneous catheter electrode. A sinus node electrogram was recorded before the return atrial beat in seven patients; it was similar to the sinus node electrogram observed during postpacing pauses and is clearly identified because sinoatrial conduction time was markedly prolonged following the atrial extra beat. Complete sinoatrial exit block occurred in four patients. (1) Sinus node electrograms were thus validated both during postpacing pauses and during programmed atrial stimulation in most patients with sick sinus syndrome. (2) Sinoatrial conduction time was markedly prolonged after one extrasystole, accounting for supracompensatory atrial return cycles. (3) If it were cumulative following multiple extrasystoles, this effect could constitute the electrophysiologic link between an abnormal response during programmed atrial stimulation and the complete sinoatrial block recorded during the pauses that follow rapid atrial pacing.

[Color coding in vascular Doppler echography aimed at improving lesion quantification]. / Le codage couleur en échographie Doppler vasculaire. Vers une amélioration de la quantification lésionnelle.

Color flow duplex scanning diffusion is now restricted by an expansive cost. Static or dynamic range of a faint endovascular image can better be assessed by mean velocities. Pathologic high velocities allows visualisation of the direction and the width of the jet. The Doppler cursor can be correctly aligned in the jet core and allows accurate measures, and the display of spectral analysis is better with faster computers. Recently, enhancement of low flow analysis is of particular interest in pre-occlusive or occlusive vascular pathology.

[Delayed clinical course of right ventricular infarction. Importance of changed diastolic function]. / Evolution clinique retardée d'un infarctus du ventricle droit. Importance des modifications de la fonction diastolique.

This observation illustrates once more the possibility of a delayed appearance of clinical manifestations of the infarction of the right ventricle. Morphological analysis during the catheterization provides a means for a detailed presentation of the adiastolic syndrome, stressing the importance of diastolic function of the right ventricle, especially the role of pericardium. The role of pericardial compliance seems to be brought into play by the acute dilatation of the right ventricle during its necrosis consecutive to the thrombosis of the right coronary artery at its genu superius.

[Conduction disorders in infarction. Prognosis and therapeutic impact]. / Les troubles de conduction de l'infarctus. Pronostic et impacts thérapeutiques.

The natural history of conduction disorders in infarction and their prognostic significance are now well known and determine the choice of treatment. In the acute phase of inferior infarction without bundle branch block, temporary pacing is only indicated in cases with poor clinical tolerance or with a bradycardia of less than 50. Prophylactic pacing, on the other hand, appears to be necessary in cases of anterior infarction with branch block, at least in the high risk group in which the block is recent and bifascicular. In this case, the pacemaker is only permanent in cases of high degree atrio-ventricular block in the acute phase. The subsequent prognosis of anterior infarction with branch block and without high degree atrio-ventricular block in the acute phase carries a high incidence of sudden death. Primary delayed ventricular fibrillation during the first eight weeks seems to be the cause for this sudden death. Prolonged hospital surveillance of these patients would appear to be indicated.

Persistent sinus nodal electrograms during abnormally prolonged postpacing atrial pauses in sick sinus syndrome in humans: sinoatrial block vs overdrive suppression.

A transvenous electrode catheter technique was used for direct recording of bipolar sinus node electrograms during postpacing atrial pauses. Multiple repetitive local sinus node electrograms during atrial quiescence validate sinus node electrograms. Such atrial pauses with sinus node electrograms are due to sinoatrial block; atrial pauses without sinus node electrograms are due to overdrive suppression or improper recording. Eight consecutive patients were prospectively selected on the basis of a corrected sinus node recovery time greater than 1500 msec during diagnostic electrophysiologic evaluation. Six patients had atrial pauses with sinus node electrograms; three patterns of sinus node electrograms during atrial pauses were observed. We conclude that (1) sinus node electrogram recording is of value in understanding the mechanism underlying postpacing atrial pauses; (2) atrial pauses are usually (6/8) caused by sinoatrial block; (3) three patterns of sinus node electrograms are observed, thus making indirect interpretation unreliable.

Frequency of provoked coronary arterial spasm in 1089 consecutive patients undergoing coronary arteriography.

We established the incidence of coronary artery spasm provoked by 0.4 mg of methergine in 1089 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography. The test was performed after routine coronary arteriography. Subjects included patients with angina, both typical and atypical, patients who had recently had myocardial infarction and patients with either valvular disease or congestive cardiomyopathy. Patients with spontaneous spasm, left main narrowing or severe three-vessel disease were excluded. One hundred thirty-four patients experienced focal spasm. Focal spasm was uncommon in patients with atypical precordial pain (1.2%), angina of effort (4.3%), valvular disease (1.95%) or cardiomyopathy (0%). It occurred most often in patients with angina at rest and less often in patients with angina both at rest and induced by exercise. Spasm was provoked in 20% of patients with recent transmural infarction, but in only 6.2% of patients studied later after infarction. Spasm was superimposed on fixed atherosclerotic lesions in 60% of the patients. No serious complications were encountered. Although the patients who underwent provocation tests in this study are not representative of all patients with coronary artery disease, spasm occurred in 20% of patients who experienced a coronary event and in 15% of patients who complained of chest pain.

[Assessment of external cardiac massage efficiency or Kouwenhoven revisited (author's transl)]. / L'efficacité du massage cardiaque externe. Appréciation des facteurs favorables.

The external cardiac massage mechanism is commonly related to the ventricles compression between the vertebral block and the sternum. This over-simple explanation must be reconsidered. Following recent data, the intra thoracic pressure changes take probably a major part in it efficiency. Six patients have been studied by hemodynamic intra aortic measurements and Doppler carotidian velocimetry. Intra thoracic pressure have been recorded by an oesophageal catheter. Results are in agreement with the prominent part of the intra thoracic pressure variations. Various external cardiac methods are investigated following this monitoring. Some aspects of the classical management of the cardiac arrest have to be discussed.

[Rhabdomyolysis in acute intoxications (author's transl)]. / Rhabdomyolyses au cours des intoxications aiguës.

During acute intoxications rhabdomyolysis appear with a great clinical polymorphism. The muscular involvement is not always evident because of its shortness and latence. Practically the problem is one of localised muscle damage, hyperkaliema or acute renal insufficiency. The serum isoenzymes of CPK levels, the presence of myoglobinuria are necessary for the diagnosis. The most serious rhabdomyolysis depend on the added injury of respiratory muscles and myocardium. Many toxic substances can involve rhabdomyolysis but the most frequent ones are sedatives, carbonic oxyde, ethanol. Only the complications are treated.

[Use of dopamine in the treatment of shock states]. / Utilisation de la dopamine dans le traitement des états de choc

The utilisation od dopamine at an average dose of 6 mug/kg/mn, for the treatment of 19 shock states, is proved to be of particular interest. The lapic action, the special amelioration of the left ventricular function suggest that dopamine is an useful drug in the treatment of circulatory failure and myocardial inefficiency. The renal and mesenteric vasodilatation produced, prevent or treat the acute renal failure of shock. The actions of dopamine are different from those of other vasopressive amines (norepinephrine, isoproterenol, glucagon) and make dopamine on the first drug to treat shock states.