[Coronary angiography with multislice computed tomography]. / Angiografía coronaria mediante tomografía computarizada multicorte.

Echocardiography allows visualization of the origin of the coronary arteries and their proximal trajectory but evaluation of the middle and distal portions of these vessels is limited. Invasive coronary angiography is currently the procedure of choice to evaluate coronary anatomy. New imaging techniques have recently been developed that allow coronary structures to be visualized. One of these techniques is multislice or multidetector computed tomography (MSCT) which provides a static image of the final distribution of contrast in the vascular tree. We report a patient in whom a differential diagnosis between myopericarditis and myocardial ischemia was being considered. MSCT coronary angiography allowed the coronary tree to be visualized and anomalies in this location to be ruled out. The main limitations of MSCT coronary angiography in children are elevated cardiac frequency, making high quality images difficult to obtain, and irradiation. Although the use of MSCT coronary angiography to evaluate coronary arteries in the pediatric population currently presents considerable limitations, this procedure can be useful in selected children with suspected congenital anomalies, aneurysms or coronary fistulas who are not considered suitable candidates for conventional invasive coronary angiography.

Angiografía coronaria mediante tomografía computarizada multicorte / Coronary angiography with multislice computed tomography

La ecocardiografía es una técnica que permite visualizar el origen de las arterias coronarias y su trayecto proximal, pero la valoración de los trayectos medios y distales de dichos vasos es limitada. La angiografía coronaria invasiva es actualmente el procedimiento de elección para la evaluación de la anatomía coronaria. Recientemente han surgido nuevas técnicas de imagen que permiten la visualización de la anatomía cardíaca entre las que destaca la tomografía computarizada multicorte o multidetector (TCM) que ofrece una imagen estática de la distribución final del contraste en el árbol vascular. A propósito de un paciente en el que se planteó el diagnóstico diferencial entre miopericarditis e isquemia miocárdica se presenta una angiografía coronaria mediante TCM que permitió el estudio del árbol coronario y descartar anomalías en esa localización. Las principales limitaciones de la angiografía mediante TCM en niños son la frecuencia cardíaca elevada que dificulta la obtención de imágenes de calidad en niños pequeños y la irradiación. Aunque la aplicación de la TCM en la población infantil para valorar las arterias coronarias tiene, por el momento, importantes limitaciones, puede resultar útil en niños seleccionados con sospecha de anomalías congénitas, aneurismas o fístulas coronarias y que no se consideren candidatos para la práctica de una angiografía coronaria invasiva convencional

Echocardiography allows visualization of the origin of the coronary arteries and their proximal trajectory but evaluation of the middle and distal portions of these vessels is limited. Invasive coronary angiography is currently the procedure of choice to evaluate coronary anatomy. New imaging techniques have recently been developed that allow coronary structures to be visualized. One of these techniques is multislice or multidetector computed tomography (MSCT) which provides a static image of the final distribution of contrast in the vascular tree. We report a patient in whom a differential diagnosis between myopericarditis and myocardial ischemia was being considered. MSCT coronary angiography allowed the coronary tree to be visualized and anomalies in this location to be ruled out. The main limitations of MSCT coronary angiography in children are elevated cardiac frequency, making high quality images difficult to obtain, and irradiation. Although the use of MSCT coronary angiography to evaluate coronary arteries in the pediatric population currently presents considerable limitations, this procedure can be useful in selected children with suspected congenital anomalies, aneurysms or coronary fistulas who are not considered suitable candidates for conventional invasive coronary angiography

Lithotripsy with the alexandrite laser: our initial 100 clinical cases.

The alexandrite laser system has proven to be an effective and safe method of treating ureteral stones. When the electromagnetic energy of a laser light pulse is selectively absorbed by the stone, a plasma forms at the surface. This plasma, which is composed of ions and electrons, continues to absorb laser energy, reaching very high pressure and generating a shock wave that fragments the stone. The degree of stone fragmentation is directly related to the composition and crystal lattice structure of the calculus. 112 calculi have been treated, and laser lithotripsy was successful in 87.5%. 6% of the stones were inadvertently flushed back into the kidney. No patient required an open ureterolithotomy. Guidance of the laser fiber onto the stone was performed by rigid ureteroscopy. There were no troublesome complications, and in a 3-month follow-up, no sequelae were reported.