[Study of calcification of the mitral annulus. Importance of echocardiographic analysis]. / Estudio de la calcificación del anillo mitral. Importancia del análisis ecocardiográfico.

Mitral annulus calcification is a common finding in old people. In order to know the association of mitral annulus calcification with other pathologic conditions, 25 patients were studied by echocardiography, 20 females and 5 males. No significant differences _ere observed with respect to sex. The average age was 67 +/- 15 years. Mitral annulus calcification was associated with aortic sclerosis in 100% of the cases, to arterial hypertension in 19 (76%), to obstructive pulmonary disease in 8 (32%), to diabetes mellitus in 5 (20%), and to peripheral arterial insufficiency in 5 (20%). Mitral regurgitation was found in 14 cases, atrial fibrillation in 2 (8%). Complete A-V block was not observed, but there was enlargement of the left ventricle in 23 (92%) and of the left atrium in 17 (68%). The chest X-ray showed mitral annulus calcification in 5 (20%) with a sensitivity of 25% and a specificity of 100%. The M-mode echocardiogram showed LA-Ao ratio of 1.4 +/- 0.3, the mitral valve D-E excursion was reduced 11.9 +/- 3.1 mm. and also the E-F slope 28.6 mm/seg +/- 16.7 with appearance of mitral stenosis, but the two-dimensional study demonstrated that this was false. In all patients the left ventricle was dilated and fractional shortening was diminished. Echocardiography not only is a good diagnostic method for mitral annulus calcification, it also allow us to evaluate the hemodynamic consequences of this pathology which occurs in older patients and is often associated with other common illnesses of advanced age. In our study 56% of mitral annulus calcification cases were associated with mitral regurgitation.

[Origin of the left coronary artery from the trunk of the pulmonary artery. Report of a case]. / Origen de la arteria coronaria izquierda del tronco de la arteria pulmonar. Informe de un caso.

The congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries are varied. The left trunk arising from the pulmonary artery is a rare and serious one. With coronary angiography the diagnosis is possible. The surgical technics offer an effective treatment. We report the first case with these anomalies at the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez. It was diagnosed with coronary angiography and it was treated by suturing the left main coronary artery in its origin, and with implantation of a safenous vein graft between the aorta and the left main coronary artery. The results were satisfactory.

Origen de la arteria coronaria izquierda del tronco de la arteria pulmonar. Informe de un caso. / Origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery trunk. Report of a case

Las anomalias congenitas de las arterias coronarias son multiples y variadas. Entre ellas, el origen de la arteria coronaria izquierda naciendo en el tronco de la arteria pulmonar es de las mas raras y graves. Con las tecnicas angiograficas actuales se logra el diagnostico certero en vida y las tecnicas quirurgicas actuales permiten un tratamiento efectivo. Se informa el primer caso visto en este Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia Ignacio Chavez, donde se hizo el diagnostico por medio de angiografia y se practico el tratamiento quirurgico con buen resultado por medio de ligadura de la arteria coronaria izquierda en su origen y la implantacion de un conducto entre la aorta y el tronco de la coronaria izquierda con una porcion de vena safena