RESUMO
Background: The concept of three-dimensional (3D) wiring for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is now widely accepted among coronary interventionalists. The 3 axes, i.e., the 2 X-ray beams and the CTO segment, should intersect with each other at as close to a right angle as possible. However, how to specify optimal fluoroscopic angulations for a given CTO segment has not been well established. Aims: We aimed to develop a simple and practical method to identify optimal fluoroscopic angulations for CTO PCI. Methods: A CTO vector can be derived from slab maximum intensity projection (MIP) images of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography. Using trigonometric functions, the inner product of vectors and the equation of a plane, we calculated 2 fluoroscopic vectors perpendicular to each other and to the CTO vector. Results: We applied this method to a patient with mid-left circumflex CTO and translated the resulting fluoroscopic vectors into optimal fluoroscopic angulations. To facilitate its use, we developed a calculator using spreadsheet software that can output optimal fluoroscopic angulations within a practical range by inputting the x, y, and z components of the CTO vector. This approach also helps to minimise dead angles in biplane fluoroscopy. Conclusions: This method has the potential to make CTO PCI safer and easier, without requiring dedicated equipment or software. Its effectiveness should be validated in clinical practice.
RESUMO
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic left ventricular dysfunction in women who are in late pregnancy or the postpartum period. PPCM is a rare but sometimes fatal disease, and mechanical circulatory support is required if heart failure is refractory to conventional therapy. A 28-year-old woman in late pregnancy was admitted to our hospital due to congestive heart failure with cardiogenic shock. Her heart rate was 200 beats per minute (sinus tachycardia), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 10%. Additionally, fetal heart rate decreased to 80 beats per minute. It was extremely difficult to continue her pregnancy because of decompensated heart failure and fetal asphyxia; therefore, we delivered her baby via caesarean section after initiating mechanical circulatory support. With optimal medical therapy, including bromocriptine, we were able to remove mechanical circulatory support. Additionally, LVEF improved to 42%, and she was discharged with her baby who had no growth failure. This case highlights the safety and risk of caesarean section under mechanical circulatory support, and the effectiveness of bromocriptine.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Ethnicity and smoking are well-known risk factors for the pathogenesis of coronary vasospasm. Oxidative stress induced by smoking plays a crucial role in coronary vasospasm, but is not enough to account for the pathogenesis of coronary vasospasm, indicating that genetic factors are strongly involved. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised 162 vasospastic angina patients (VSAs), 61 microvascular angina patients (MVAs) and 61 non-responders (NRs) diagnosed by acetylcholine provocation test. Four polymorphisms of the oxidative stress related genes, cytochrome b-245, alpha polypeptide gene (CYBA) C242T and A640G, paraoxonase 1 gene (PON1) A632G, phospholipase A2 group VII gene (PLA2G7) G994T were genotyped. Allele frequency of PON1 632-G was significantly higher in both the VSA with dominant fashion and the MVA with recessive fashion compared with NR. This association was strongly influenced by gender in the MVA only. There were no significant associations between the other polymorphisms and coronary vasospasm. In addition, the allele frequency of PON1 632-G in the Japanese was higher than in Caucasians. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between PON1 A632G polymorphism and MVA as well as VSA, but the impact of this on VSA and MVA is different in the Japanese.
