Repair of aortic coarctation in patients more than 50 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with uncorrected coarctation of the aorta die before reaching age 50 years. In those who survive, the beneficial effect of surgical repair on systolic hypertension has been questioned. METHODS: Surgical repair of aortic coarctation was performed in 8 patients aged 51 to 73 years (mean, 58+/-9 years). Preoperative mean systolic pressure was 185+/-34 mm Hg and systolic gradient, 70+/-11 mm Hg. In addition, 3 patients had significant coronary artery disease. Severe calcification of the aortic arch and left subclavian artery was found in 3 patients. The surgical technique involved bypass of the coarctation with a Dacron tube graft (16 or 18 mm) in all patients. One patient underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS: There were no operative or late deaths during a mean follow-up of 4.3 years. Mean systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the postoperative period to 128+/-16 mm Hg (p < 0.001). At the last visit, systolic blood pressure was a mean of 127+/-9 mm Hg. Five patients were not taking antihypertensive medication. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical repair of aortic coarctation in patients more than 50 years of age with a Dacron tube bypass graft reduces systolic hypertension and the need of antihypertensive medication.

Chest pain during exercise as first manifestation of Friedreich's ataxia.

Cardiac function is affected in up to 90% of patients with Friedreich's ataxia, the most common spinocerebellar degenerative disease. Friedreich's ataxia typically causes motor abnormalities of the extremities, mainly impairing walking and the coordination of the legs and arms. The myocardium is affected at a later stage of the disease. The extent and timing of myocardial involvement determines the clinical course. Some patients have no cardiac symptoms and cardiac involvement can be established only by electrocardiographic or echocardiographic examination. In addition some pathological studies have found evidence of coronary abnormalities, mainly in the small vessels. There are no reports that such lesions cause angina. In a 16 year old patient chest pain on exercise had been the presenting symptom of Friedreich's ataxia at the age of 9. Considerable alterations in ventricular repolarisation on the electrocardiogram suggested a congenital coronary abnormality or hypertrophic myocardiopathy. The results of a Doppler echocardiography, Holter monitoring, and a haemodynamic study with coronary arteriography were all normal. An exercise test when the boy was 13 indicated significant changes in ventricular repolarisation. Myocardial scintigraphy (99mTc-MIBI) at that time, however, was normal. He improved slightly when he was treated with verapamil. When he was 15 neurological symptoms developed and Friedreich's ataxia was diagnosed. Typical angina during exercise seems to have been the first symptom of Friedreich's ataxia.

[Congenital cardiopathies in postchildhood. Cardiopathies operated on. A new and growing population]. / Cardiopatías congénitas en edad postpediátrica. Cardiopatías operadas. Una nueva y creciente población.

Due to the continual progress being made in the surgical treatment of congenital heart diseases, very few symptomatic cardiac malformations can not now benefit from surgery, or more recently, from interventional catheterization. The result of such progress has led to an extraordinary change in survival patterns of congenital heart disease. With few exceptions, heart surgery is not curative. Residua and sequelae are the rule, and impose important medical, and sometimes surgical problems in the follow-up. Adequate control of this growing population is not easy within most of our adult cardiological departments. Adult patients with congenital heart disease represent a new area of cardiovascular interest.

[Membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava in its drainage portion in the left atrium. Presentation of a case]. / Obstrucción membranosa de la vena cava inferior en su drenaje a la aurícula derecha. Presentación de un caso.

A child with a membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava (MOIVC) is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by angiography. The clinic significance, the evolution, the surgical treatment and the possible complications are described.

[Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: diagnosis by two-dimensional Doppler color]. / Origen anómalo de la arteria coronaria izquierda a nivel de la arteria pulmonar: diagnóstico por Doppler bidimensional codificado en color.

A case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCA) is presented. The noninvasive diagnosis was made by 2D-color flow Doppler. Application of this technique may alleviate the necessity for angiography in patients with ALCA.

[Prevalence of arterial hypertension in the rural population of Catalonia]. / Prevalencia de hipertensión arterial en la población rural de Cataluña.

The arterial blood pressure and hypertension data obtained from an epidemiological study of endemic goiter in the rural population of Catalonia was analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension is of 25.1 +/- 2.16%, existing a predominance of women over men. The distribution of the arterial pressure values according to sex are presented, as well as the relationship between arterial blood pressure, weight and obesity.