[Isovolemic hemodilution in coronary heart disease--clinical and hemodynamic effects]. / Isovolamische Hamodilution bei koronarer Herzkrankheit--klinische und hamodynamische Auswirkungen.

Clinical and hemodynamic effects of isovolemic hemodilution (HD) were evaluated in 12 patients (aged 59 +/- 8 years) with severe multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) and angina pectoris grade III (Canadian Cardiovascular Society classification) despite high-dose medical treatment. In none of these patients was aortocoronary bypass grafting or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty possible. Prior to HD and after 3 months of HD the incidence of angina pectoris was determined by means of questionnaires; hemodynamic measurements were performed with right heart catheterization at rest and during exercise. After 3 months of HD hematocrit was reduced from 46.2 +/- 1.3% to 38.5 +/- 0.5%. The weekly incidence of angina pectoris was unchanged (19 +/- 7 before, 17 +/- 8 after HD). Cardiac index was 2.5 +/- 0.7 1/min/m2 at rest and 3.9 +/- 1.0 1/min/m2 during exercise before, 2.6 +/- 0.5 1/min/m2 at rest and 3.9 +/- 0.8 1/min/m2 during exercise after HD. Stroke volume index did not increase significantly neither at rest nor during exercise after HD. Initially, systemic vascular resistance decreased from 1659 +/- 603 to 1398 +/- 420 dyns/cm5 during exercise; after HD it was 1522 +/- 551 (rest) and 1283 +/- 348 dyns/cm5 (exercise). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and wedge pressure (WP) were unchanged at rest (PAP: 19.9 +/- 6.7 mm Hg before, 19.2 +/- 6.5 mm Hg after HD; WP: 10.8 +/- 5.5 mm Hg before, 10.7 +/- 4.3 mm Hg after HD) and during exercise (PAP: 43.0 +/- 9.9 mm Hg before, 42.8 +/- 8.9 mm Hg after HD; WP: 30.8 +/- 4.6 mm Hg before, 30.6 +/- 6.5 mm Hg after HD). In conclusion, in patients with CAD isovolemic HD does not reduce angina pectoris but also does not induce clinical deterioration. Furthermore, isovolemic HD does not worsen the hemodynamic effects of severe CAD with impaired left ventricular function.

[The regression of an angiocardiographically and electrocardiographically demonstrated anterior-wall aneurysm following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty]. / Rückbildung eines angiokardiographisch und elektrokardiographisch nachgewiesenen Vorderwandaneurysmas nach perkutaner transluminaler Angioplastie.

A non-transmural anterior wall infarction due to a subtotal stenosis of the anterior interventricular branch occurred in a 76-year-old man. Angiocardiography 5 weeks later demonstrated an anterior wall infarct with aneurysm. The ECG showed Q waves without any R waves and elevated ST segments in leads V2-V4. Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTCA) of the stenosed artery supplying the infarct area was performed. Two months later the aneurysm was no longer demonstrable by laevocardiography. The ECG changes of the anterior-wall infarct completely regressed over a 5-month period. A second PTCA was later performed because the artery had re-stenosed. The patient has remained free of angina. This case illustrates that even in the presence of ECG signs of a transmural infarct and an angiographically documented ventricular aneurysm indications for recanalization of the infarct vessel by PTCA should be widely set.

Right ventricular performance in arterial hypertension.

To investigate right ventricular function, 24 patients with arterial hypertension and five normotensive controls underwent equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography with simultaneous right heart catheterization. In normal subjects, left ventricular ejection fraction was 57 +/- 2% at rest and 71 +/- 5% on effort, and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) averaged 51 +/- 5% at rest and 65 +/- 2% during exercise. Pulmonary vessel resistance (PVR) was 56 +/- 37 dyn.s.cm-5 at rest and 46 +/- 10 dyn.s.cm-5 on effort. Hypertensive patients were divided into three groups according to their left ventricular function: group 1 (n = 10) had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at rest and on effort (57 +/- 9%; 65 +/- 6%), in this group, right ventricular systolic reserve was reduced (RVEF 52 +/- 7% at rest, ns; RVEF 57 +/- 7% on effort, P less than 0.01 compared to controls). Pulmonary vessel resistance during exercise averaged 78 +/- 24 dyn.s.cm-5, which was significantly higher compared to controls (P less than 0.01). In group 2, left ventricular contractions were normal at rest (60 +/- 6%, ns) but deteriorated during exercise to 56 +/- 8% (P less than 0.001, compared to controls). These patients also showed a lack of right ventricular augmentation at ejection fraction (54 +/- 8% at rest, ns; 56 +/- 8% under exercise, P less than 0.05). PVR was significantly enhanced during exercise (88 +/- 40 dyn.s.cm-5, P less than 0.05 compared to controls).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Peripheral percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty in humans: in vitro investigations and clinical results with a novel laser catheter system.

Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty has become an accepted method of treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. To minimize the risk of arterial wall perforation during laser angioplasty, a novel laser catheter system was developed. In 113 obliterated postmortem human arteries the perforation rate was 0.9%. The mean degree of stenosis was reduced from 89 +/- 9% before, to 53 +/- 11% after laser irradiation. Clinical Nd:YAG laser angioplasty was performed in 19 patients suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The Fontaine stage improved in 16 patients; in no case did it deteriorate. The mean degree of stenosis was reduced by laser angioplasty from 91 +/- 12% to 31 +/- 19%. A further reduction down to 13 +/- 18% was achieved by subsequent percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty. The systolic Doppler ankle-arm pressure gradient was improved from 0.58 +/- 0.26 to 0.89 +/- 0.25. In 7 patients microembolisms were detectable on the final angiogram. There was no acute reocclusion and no perforation. Within a follow-up period of 12 months, four restenoses were diagnosed by digital subtraction angiography. On average, the Doppler index was 0.75 +/- 0.32.

[Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty in peripheral arterial occlusive disease--development of a new laser catheter system]. / Perkutante transluminale Laserangioplastie bei peripherer arterieller Verschlusskrankheit--Entwicklung eines neuen Laserkathetersystems.

Percutaneous laser angioplasty in arterial occlusive disease has lately been performed clinically for the first time. Perforation of the arterial wall and formation of aneurysms are serious risks. Two novel laser catheters for laser angioplasty with minimized perforation risk are presented. Catheter I (5F) and II (6.3F) are designed in the same manner. The distal tip of these catheters is ovally formed and marked by a small X-ray dense metal ring. The silica fiber has a core diameter of 400 micron (I) respectively 600 micron (II). Its tip is also marked X-ray densely and therefore the position of the fiber tip can be controlled exactly during laser angioplasty. Using a guide wire and applicating short laser pulses the perforation risk can be minimized. In a total of 132 atherosclerotic stenosed or obstructed human arteries laser angioplasty was performed in vitro using a Nd:YAG laser. There were two perforations (1.5%). The degree of stenosis was reduced from 87 (90)% to 54 (52)%. Using the 600-micron-fiber (catheter II) the velocity of laser angioplasty was increased 2.5 times compared to laser angioplasty using the 400-micron-fiber.

[Percutaneous peripheral laser angioplasty: initial clinical results]. / Perkutane periphere Laserangioplastie: erste klinische Ergebnisse.

Laser angioplasty has developed as a new method for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. In 19 patients with high grade stenoses or obstructions of the superficial femoral, popliteal or posterior tibial arteries (Fontaine stage IIa-IV) percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty was performed using a novel laser catheter system. The laser catheter itself is made of polyethylene. Its distal tip is formed ovally and marked X-ray densely. A silica fiber (core diameter 0.6 mm) for delivering the laser energy is inserted into the laser catheter. Through a sheath with hemostatic valve, laser catheter and silica fiber are introduced into the artery and then advanced to the stenosis over a guide wire. During laser angioplasty, laser catheter and silica fiber are rotated around the guide wire. We use a cw-Nd: YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm. The mean degree of stenosis decreased from 92 +/- 12% before to 31 +/- 19% after laser angioplasty. By conventional balloon angioplasty a further reduction of the degree of stenosis down to 15 +/- 20% was achieved. The mean systolic Doppler ankle-arm pressure ratio improved from 0.56 +/- 0.25 before laser angioplasty to 0.89 +/- 0.24 after combined laser and balloon angioplasty. In seven patients, clinically non-significant distal embolization occurred. In no patient there was a perforation of the arterial wall. Up to now, digital subtraction angiography 3 months after laser angioplasty has been performed in five patients and showed patency of all lesions. The mean systolic Doppler ankle-arm pressure ratio was 0.84 +/- 0.20.