Early coronary angiography improves long-term survival in unstable angina.

BACKGROUND: The role of early coronary angiography in the evaluation of patients with unstable angina has been controversial. This study was designed to determine the effect of early coronary angiography on long-term survival in patients with unstable angina. METHODS: We reviewed the Olmsted County Acute Chest Pain Database, a population-based epidemiologic registry that includes all patients residing within Olmsted County who were seen for emergency department evaluation of acute chest pain from 1985 to 1992. Patients with symptoms consistent with myocardial ischemia qualifying as unstable angina were classified as undergoing early (

Clinical risk stratification correlates with the angiographic extent of coronary artery disease in unstable angina.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether clinical risk stratification correlates with the angiographic extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patient with unstable angina. BACKGROUND: The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines stratify patients with unstable angina according to short-term risk of myocardial infarction or death. Whether these guidelines are useful in predicting the extent of CAD is unknown. METHODS: All residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, undergoing emergency department evaluation from January 1, 1985 through December 31, 1992 for unstable angina without a history of prior coronary artery bypass grafting, and who underwent early angiography (within seven days of presentation) were classified into low, intermediate and high risk subgroups based on AHCPR criteria. RESULTS: Seven hundred ninety-five patients underwent early angiography: 159 high risk, 572 intermediate risk and 64 low risk patients. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that low risk patients had a greater likelihood of normal or mild CAD relative to intermediate risk (odds ratio [OR], 4.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.70-8.06; p < 0.001) and high risk (OR, 11.1; 95% CI, 5.71-22.2; p < 0.001). Significant 1-, 2-, 3-vessel coronary disease or left main coronary disease was more likely in high relative to low risk (OR, 8.09; 95% CI, 4.22-15.5; p < 0.001), intermediate relative to low risk (OR, 4.11; 95% CI, 2.34-7.22; p < 0.001), and high relative to intermediate risk (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.31-2.96; p = 0.0012). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with unstable angina undergoing early coronary angiography, risk stratification according to the AHCPR guidelines correlates with the angiographic extent of CAD.

Outcomes of primary and secondary treatment of pericardial effusion in patients with malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment strategies for primary and secondary management of malignancy-related pericardial effusions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of Mayo Clinic Rochester charts and external records of patients with pericardial effusion associated with malignant disease who required treatment between February 1979 and June 1998 was performed. Telephone interviews with patients, their families, or their physicians were conducted to determine the outcomes of treatment. Recurrence of pericardial effusion and survival were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: Of 1002 consecutive pericardiocenteses performed during the period under study, 341 were performed in 275 patients with confirmed malignant disease. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 190 days, unless death occurred first. Of 275 patients, recurrence of pericardial effusion or persistent drainage necessitated secondary management in 59 (43 of 118 simple pericardiocenteses, 16 of 139 pericardiocenteses with extended catheter drainage, and 0 of 18 pericardial surgery following temporizing pericardiocentesis). Recurrence was strongly and independently predicted by absence of pericardial catheter for extended drainage, large effusion size, and emergency procedures. Recurrence after secondary management occurred in 12 patients: 11 underwent successful pericardiocentesis with extended catheter drainage, and 1 had pericardial surgery. Median survival of the cohort was 135 days, and 26% survived the first year after diagnosis of pericardial effusion. Male sex, positive fluid cytology for malignant cells, lung cancer, and clinical presentation of tamponade or hemodynamic collapse were independently associated with poor survival. CONCLUSION: Echocardiographically guided pericardiocentesis with extended catheter drainage appears to be safe and effective for both primary and secondary management of pericardial effusion in patients with malignancy.

Effects of age and physiologic variables on right ventricular filling dynamics in normal subjects.

The reference values for right ventricular (RV) filling of normal persons and the effects of physiologic variables in a large series have not been described. The objective of this study was to characterize superior vena cava, hepatic vein, and RV inflow Doppler measurements in a large normal reference group to reflect the aging process, gender, heart rate, and effects of respiration. We prospectively performed pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography of the superior vena cava, hepatic vein, and RV inflow during inspiration, expiration, and apnea in 115 healthy volunteers (62 women and 53 men) ranging in age from 21 to 84 years (mean +/- SEM 48 +/- 17). For analysis, the study subjects were classified by age into 2 groups: those < 50 years of age (group 1; n = 60) and those > or = 50 years of age (group 2; n = 55). Multiregression models were used to assess the influence of age, gender, and heart rate on Doppler variables. There were important differences in superior vena cava and RV inflow between the 2 groups. Group 2 had a greater superior vena cava peak atrial flow velocity (16 +/- 3 vs 13 +/- 3 cm/s), flow integrals (1.5 +/- 0.4 vs 1.1 +/- 0.3 cm), and reverse flow as a percentage of forward flow (17 +/- 6% vs 14 +/- 6%) than group 1. In group 2, peak RV inflow early filling velocity (41 +/- 8 vs 51 +/- 7 cm/s) and ratio of early filling-to-atrial filling (1.3 +/- 0.4 vs 2 +/- 0.5) were lower than that of group 1. Likewise, peak atrial filling velocity was higher (33 +/- 8 vs 27 +/- 8 cm/s) and deceleration time was longer (198 +/- 23 vs 188 +/- 22 ms) in group 2. The superior vena cava and hepatic vein peak forward flow velocities were significantly higher during inspiration than during expiration and apnea. Similarly, RV inflow velocities were significantly higher during inspiration than in expiration and apnea. Multiregression analysis showed that age, gender, and heart rate had important effects on Doppler variables. Thus, this study demonstrates the effects of aging and normal physiologic variable flow velocities in the superior vena cava, hepatic veins, and RV inflow in a large series of normal subjects.