[Hemodynamic and coronary angiographic performance at a center with medium-low activity: organization model, activity indicators, and costs]. / Performance emodinamica e coronarografica in un centro a medio-basso volume di attività: modello organizzativo, indicatori di attività e costi.

BACKGROUND: In order to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of coronary angiography performed in a low volume Center, we examined our 1-year activity. METHODS: The organizational model of the multipurpose cardiac catheterization laboratory is described. In this type of facility both coronary angiographic and electrophysiological studies are performed. To evaluate the laboratory performance we examined the utilization level, the appropriateness of the studies, the complication rates and the number of studies that had to be repeated because of inadequate data or image quality. The costs were calculated for the in-house laboratory setting (the actual scenario) and for the 25 km distant laboratory setting (the historical scenario). RESULTS: The laboratory caseload of coronary angiography was 342 studies, 46% of the overall laboratory activity; 175 patients (51%) underwent non-pharmacological therapy, 129 patients (38%) were treated with medical therapy; the percentage of patients with normal coronary arteries was 11%. Two patients (0.58%) had vascular complications, 1 patient (0.29%) developed an acute myocardial infarction 2 hours after coronary angiography without any evidence of angiographic modifications at the repeated study. In no patient the study had to be repeated because of inadequate data or image quality. The mean cost of a coronary angiography was Lit. 512,000 (265 Euro) for the actual scenario; it would have been Lit. 694,000 (359 Euro) for the historical scenario, with Lit. 182,000 (94 Euro) saved. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with the accepted criteria of good laboratory performance and cost-effectiveness. Thus coronary angiography can be performed effectively and efficiently in a low volume Center.

[Heart arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation in acute biliary pancreatitis: a case report and etiopathogenetic hypothesis]. / Arresto cardiaco da fibrillazione ventricolare in corso di pancreatite acuta biliare: descrizione di un caso clinico e ipotesi eziopatogenetiche.

Acute pancreatitis and/or gallbladder disease precipitating angina pectoris, or producing arrhythmias or ST-T wave changes on electrocardiography in the absence of coronary artery disease, have frequently been mentioned. Many attempts have been made to explain the etiology of these findings. To the authors' knowledge, this report is the most dramatic expression of pathogenetic mechanisms which are still considered hypothetical.