Manifestation of latent left ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by acute myocardial infarction: An important complication of acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Although transient left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is reported as a complication with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the mechanisms and features of LVOT obstruction in AMI are unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Herein, we present two cases of transient LVOT obstruction with anteroseptal AMI. The features of these two cases were one-vessel disease (1-VD) of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and maintenance of blood flow to the major septal branch (SB). Moreover, LVOT obstruction was revealed after dobutamine infusion in the chronic phase and the aorto-septal angle was low in these two cases, meaning that latent LVOT obstruction was due to sigmoid-shaped septum. CONCLUSIONS: Latent LVOT obstruction would be manifested in the acute phase of AMI. 1-VD of LAD and the maintenance of major SB blood flow are important factors with respect to the manifestation of latent LVOT obstruction.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention and bleeding risk in the era of drug-eluting stent: a long-term cohort study.

Data of long-term efficacy and safety including bleeding risk associated with antithrombotic regimens after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using first-generation drug-eluting stent (1st DES) are scarce. Consecutive 422 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) underwent primary PCI with DES (285 patients), bare metal stent (BMS, 58 patients) or balloon angioplasty (BA 79 patients). At a median follow-up of 44 months, major cardiovascular events were significantly lower for 1st DES compared with BMS and BA (11.9 vs. 25.9 vs. 16.5 %, p = 0.027). Cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization (TLR), differed among the groups (DES 8.8 %; BMS 13.8 %; BA 17.7 %; p = 0.019), although the superiority of DES subsided beyond 1 year by increased late TLRs. Major bleedings were not higher in DES than in BMS and BA (4.6 vs. 6.9 vs. 1.5 %, p = 0.252). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that both dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) >24 months and indefinite oral anticoagulation (OAC) were associated with a major bleeding. The risk was even greater with triple antithrombotic therapy (odds ratio 19.5; 95 % confidence interval 3.73-102.07; p < 0.0001). 1st DES showed favorable overall long-term clinical outcome in STEMI, with an inherent limitation of an increased risk of late TLR. Prolonged DAPT and OAC synergistically increase the risk of major bleeding after primary PCI.

Treating coil migration in combination therapy involving stenting and coiling for a wide-necked renal aneurysm.

A man with a wide-necked renal artery aneurysm underwent combination therapy involving stenting and coiling to embolize it. However, a large section of one of the coils had migrated outside the stent implanted across the orifice of the aneurysm. After repositioning the migrated coil inside the stent, the implantation of another stent together with sandwiching of the coil between two stents repaired the prolapsed coil. This report describes precautions that should be taken during combination therapy involving stenting and coiling to embolize a wide-necked aneurysm.

Two-wire protection of side branches to prevent side branch occlusion during stent implantation for bifurcational lesions.

To prevent side branch occlusion during bifurcational lesion stenting, the placement of a wire in both the main branch and side branch is performed for "side-branch protection". However, this procedure does not always prevent side branch occlusion. A procedure for placing two wires in the side branch, called "two-wire protection of side branches", is considered to be more likely to prevent occlusion compared with one-wire protection of the side branch. We report on three cases in which "two-wire protection of side branches" was effectively performed during the stenting of bifurcational lesions.

Coronary vasospasm triggered ventricular fibrillation delayed after radiofrequency ablation of the right accessory pathway.

Ventricular fibrillation associated with coronary vasospasm developed 8 h after successful radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the right accessory pathway in an 81-year-old male. A segment of the coronary vasospasm was located close to the accessory pathway, where seven RF ablations had been applied. Although rare, physicians should carefully consider the risk of such events when an RF current is applied near a coronary artery.

Improved cardiac function after sirolimus-eluting stent placement in diabetic patients by pioglitazone: combination therapy with statin.

BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonists are used as anti-diabetic drugs, and their pleiotrophic action has been reported to improve endothelial function leading to cardioprotective effects. In this study we evaluated the long-term effect of pioglitazone on cardiac function in diabetic patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by drug-eluting stent (DES). METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated 54 diabetic patients who received PCI using a sirolimus-eluting stent. We excluded cases of acute myocardial infarction. They were divided into two groups: Group C received only conventional therapy (n=26) and Group P received additionally pioglitazone 15 mg/day (n=28). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured by left ventriculography and analyzed before and 8 months after PCI. In Group C, LVEF did not change significantly: 55.6% vs. 56.7%, before and after PCI respectively (p=0.58). However, pioglitazone significantly improved LVEF: 54.4% vs. 60.0% (p=0.014). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that DeltaLVEF was significantly related to pioglitazone therapy (p=0.037). In particular, the combination of pioglitazone and statin improved LVEF (DeltaLVEF 9.6% with vs. 2.2% without statin). CONCLUSIONS: Pioglitazone improved cardiac function after PCI using SES in diabetic patients, especially in combination with a statin.

Effect of cibenzoline and atenolol administration on dynamic left ventricular obstruction due to sigmoid-shaped septum.

Obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) is usually complicated by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or left ventricular hypertrophy. It occurs rarely in cases of sigmoid-shaped septum (SS), which are considered as a normal part of the aging process. The 2 cases of SS with obstruction of the LVOT were observed. Their complaints were dyspnea on effort and exercise increased the left ventricular pressure gradient. In both cases, atenolol administration decreased rest pressure gradient. Moreover, additional cibenzoline administration decreased the pressure gradient caused by exercise. It is emphasized that dual therapy with cibenzoline and atenolol is effective in resolving the obstruction of the LVOT caused by SS.

A case of intracoronary protruded thrombus caused after bailout stenting for side branch occlusion.

A 69-year-old woman underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for a severe stenotic lesion in the bifurcation of the mid-left anterior descending artery and first diagonal branch. A single stent was implanted into the left anterior descending artery. After the stent strut was dilated by balloon inflation in the diagonal branch, dissection occurred at the ostium of the diagonal branch and resulted in side branch occlusion due to hematoma. Bailout stenting was performed in the diagonal branch, but thrombus projection occurred in the left anterior descending artery. Aspiration, balloon inflation and thrombolytic therapy were performed, but distal embolism developed. This case illustrates that thrombus projection caused by stenting in a side branch may occur as a rare complication in percutaneous coronary intervention.

Dynamic intraventricular obstruction in acute myocardial infarction with administration of cilostazol.

Dynamic intraventricular obstruction is a less well-known mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Its hallmark is the development of a new systolic murmur, and echocardiography is necessary for diagnosis. We describe a case of a 74-year-old woman with dynamic intraventricular obstruction complicating AMI. Serial echocardiography suggested that the intraventricular gradient was a consequence of basal hyperkinesis, which was a reciprocal response to akinesis of the apical wall. Cilostazol, which was administered to prevent subacute stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention, might have contributed to the transient intraventricular obstruction.

Guidewire-induced coronary artery perforation treated with transcatheter delivery of subcutaneous tissue.

In three cases of small coronary artery perforation by guidewires during percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary leakage continued despite prolonged balloon inflation and reversal of heparin. Subcutaneous tissue was selectively delivered to perforated vessels by means of microcatheters in a successful attempt to stop leakage. This method appears to be extremely effective for treating guidewire-induced perforations of distal coronary arteries.

Endovascular stent-grafting for recurrent aneurysm in Behcet's disease.

Arterial aneurysms represent a severe complication of Behcet's disease. A 42-year-old woman with Behcet's disease had a recurrence of an aneurysm after two surgical repair attempts using grafts. A covered stent-graft was implanted in her iliac external artery to occlude the neck of the aneurysm at the anastomosis of the bypass graft to her external iliac artery. The procedure reduced the size of the aneurysm by allowing the formation of a thrombus within its cavity. The implantation of an endovascular stent-graft may be a sound alternative to surgical repair for aneurysms associated with Behcet's disease.

Aortocoronary dissection resolved by coronary stenting guided by intracoronary ultrasound.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed for chronic total occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery in a 70-year-old male with unstable angina. The forceful manipulation of the guide catheter led to an aortocoronary dissection involving the right Valsalva sinus and the ascending aorta. Intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) showed the important characteristics of the dissection, enabling successful coronary stenting under ICUS guidance.

Highly vascular pelvic tumor causing high-output heart failure because of massive arteriovenous shunting: a case report.

A 53-year-old Japanese woman underwent investigation of her heart murmur. A continuous abdominal bruit was heard. Blood gas analysis and chest X-ray showed congestive heart failure. Enhanced computed tomography of the pelvis showed a 10 x 4 cm hypervascular tumor in the retroperitoneal space. Cardiac catheterization disclosed a cardiac output of 13.2 L/min and a step-up of oxygen at the right common iliac vein. Abdominal aortic angiography showed an extremely vascular pelvic tumor and rapid filling of the inferior vena cava. This is a rare case of a highly vascular pelvic tumor causing high-output heart failure because of th massive arteriovenous shunting.