1/254. Massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage after transoesophageal echocardiography probe insertion.PURPOSE: To describe a case of a massive gastric bleeding following emergency coronary artery bypass surgery associated with transoesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) examination. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 50-yr-old man was referred for an acute myocardial infarction and pulmonary edema (Killip class 3). Twelve hours after his myocardial infarction, he was still having chest pain despite an i.v. heparin infusion. coronary angiography revealed severe three-vessel disease with multifocal stenosis of the left anterior descending, circumflex and total occlusion of the right coronary artery. The patient was transferred to the operating room for emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery. After total systemic heparinization (3 mg.kg-1) was obtained for cardiopulmonary bypass, a multiplane TEE probe was inserted without difficulty to monitor myocardial contractility during weaning from CPB. During sternal closure, the TEE probe was removed and an orogastric tube was inserted with immediate drainage of 1,200 ml red blood. Endoscopic examination demonstrated a mucosal tear near the gastro-oesophageal junction and multiple erosions were seen in the oesophagus. These lesions were successfully treated with submucosal epinephrine injections and the patient was discharged from the hospital eight days after surgery. CONCLUSION: This is a report of severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage following TEE examination in a fully heparinized patient. This incident suggest that, if the use of TEE is expected, the probe should preferably be inserted before the administration of heparin and the beginning of CPB.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = closure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/254. Directional coronary atherectomy in acute myocardial infarction.To date, application of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has had limited reports. In eleven patients with AMI, DCA was applied. In three of these patients, DCA was used as a stand-alone procedure without use of thrombolytic agents. In each case a guidewire was placed across the stenosis, and in eight patients balloon angioplasty was utilized as a predilating modality prior to DCA. The thrombolytic agent urokinase was utilized in five of these eight patients, either before, during, or after angioplasty and/or DCA. DCA success (defined as ability to cross the lesion, reduction of less than or equal to 20% in stenosis and thrombolysis--when a thrombus is present) was achieved in 10 of 11 patients. One patient had persistent abrupt reclosure of an LAD lesion, accompanied by hemodynamic compromise, necessitating intra-aortic balloon pump insertion and subsequent emergent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Final angiograms revealed residual stenoses less than or equal to 20%, and adequate thrombolysis. Significant cardiac events were limited to one emergent CABG, Q wave MI in four patients, and non-Q wave MI in two patients. Clinically all eleven patients improved, survived the AMI/CABG, and were discharged. This clinical experience demonstrates the feasibility and safety of DCA application in selected patients who experience acute myocardial infarction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = closure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/254. myocardial infarction in a pre-menopausal woman with angiographically normal coronary arteries.A young pre-menopausal non-drug-addict woman without risk factors for coronary artery disease suffered from a non-Q-wave acute myocardial infarction. She presented with epigastric pain and vomiting. diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction was not suspected at first because of her young age and lack of risk factors. She was treated for gastritis but worsening of epigastric pain and its radiation to chest warranted the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, which was confirmed by serial serum cardiac enzymes. Subsequent coronary angiogram revealed normal coronary arteries.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.84667165406997keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/254. Case report: reversal of an evolving myocardial infarction with intravenous thrombolysis.This case, in many ways, represents the ideal: a timely and effective administration of thrombolytic agents. The rarity of this situation reinforces the need for earlier recognition and treatment of infarction. In an analysis of time delays in thrombolytic therapy, 38% were attributed to in-hospital issues, 22% to patients' delays, 21% to problems with transportation, and 19% to reperfusion time. The National heart Attack Alert Program calls for treatment within 1 hour of the development of signs and symptoms, including administration of thrombolytic agents within 30 minutes of the patient's arrival in the emergency department. That program seeks heightened awareness among hospital and prehospital providers and public education about seeking immediate treatment for chest pain. The prompt acquisition of additional ECGs and the subsequent rapid administration of a thrombolytic agent were the clinical essentials. This fact suggests the need to look for measures of quality other than simple "door to drug" times. "Data to drug" times may be another indicator of quality to address cases in which the initial ECG findings are not diagnostic. Furthermore, emergency departments may see more patients with impending infarction if public education campaigns are successful. This case emphasizes the need to obtain follow-up ECGs in light of the potential benefits from thrombolysis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.6933433081399keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/254. aspirin sensitivity: the role for aspirin challenge and desensitization in postmyocardial infarction patients.aspirin is one of the world's most commonly used medications and its use benefits many diverse conditions. Adverse reactions, however, are relatively common as well. hypersensitivity to aspirin can be manifested as acute asthma, urticaria and/or angioedema, or a systemic anaphylactoid reaction. We report 3 cases in whom aspirin was indicated for secondary prophylaxis of myocardial infarction but in whom a remote history of an untoward reaction to it prevented its initial use. These patients all underwent further evaluation of their pulmonary and allergic history and all 3 were challenged with aspirin. Two patients were found not to be sensitive and started on aspirin, the other had a classic asthmatic reaction to the drug and was successfully desensitized to aspirin allowing for its use.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.84667165406997keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/254. The helping process in couples during recovery from heart attack: a single case study.This single case study aimed to illustrate help-intended communication in couples, in particular how a husband and wife attempted to help each other with adjusting to the husband's recent myocardial infarction. The study employed a semi-structured communication task to gather samples of the couple's helping interactions: the couple had two conversations in which they alternated helper and discloser roles. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from the couple and from expert raters (observers) about their perspectives of the conversations. The observers' ratings and verbal response mode patterns indicated that the conversations were characterized by low levels of empathy and exploration of feelings and relatively high levels of helper disclosure and advice; overall, the observers found the conversations to be somewhat unhelpful. In contrast, the couple rated the conversations more positively; the 'helpful events' they identified consisted of their partner disclosing a new piece of information and giving advice. The results were discussed in terms of the unique features of helping in close relationships.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = closure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/254. Arrhythmias in the coronary-care unit. VI. Physiologic bases for the use of antiarrhythmic drugs.classification of antiarrhythmic drugs based on their electrophysiologic and hemodynamic properties coupled with an understanding of the transmembrane action potential of the cardiac cell (see the first of this series of six vignettes) help in the appropriate choice of therapy in a given clinical setting.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.2333582703498keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/254. cocaine induced myocardial infarction.The case of a 29 year old man who presented with chest pains after the use of cocaine is reported. The diagnosis of myocardial infarction was made on the electrocardiogram changes and lactate dehydrogenase profile. The diagnosis may be overlooked if there is no direct questioning about the use of drugs such as cocaine. diazepam has an important role in the management of cardiac complications after cocaine use and should be used early in management. The use of thrombolysis should be a joint decision between the emergency physician and cardiologist.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.84667165406997keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/254. Surgical management of arteriosclerotic coronary artery aneurysm.A 60-year-old man suffered antero-septal myocardial infarction at the age of 56. coronary angiography demonstrated total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery and a large saccular aneurysm of the right coronary artery. Diffuse coronary ectasia was also shown in the right coronary artery adjacent to the aneurysm. Despite anticoagulant therapy, the aneurysm formed a thrombus and developed coronary artery stenosis distal to the aneurysm. ligation of the aneurysm and in situ gastroepiploic artery grafting were performed. Sudden heart failure was developed during skin closure. As this condition was considered to be graft hypoperfusion, supplemental saphenous vein grafting was placed. ligation is a simple, reliable technique to prevent future complications for a large saccular right coronary artery aneurysm, however, gastroepiploic artery might be an inappropriate bypass conduit for the ligated coronary artery with diffuse ectasia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = closure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/254. Acute myocardial infarction following sildenafil citrate (Viagra) intake in a nitrate-free patient.Since its introduction to the market in March 1997, sildenafil acetate (Viagra) has been prescribed to 1.7 million people. Sixteen men who were taking the drug have died, 7 of them during or soon after sexual activity. Most of these data have been derived from the media and not from the scientific literature. There is a general impression that cardiovascular complications of sildenafil occur mainly when the drug is taken concomitantly with nitrates. We describe a 65-year-old man with known coronary artery disease who had an acute myocardial infarction shortly after taking sildenafil and engaging an sexual activity. The patient had not been using nitrates. We suggest that the emotional arousal induced by Viagra, followed by the heavy physical exertion during sexual activity, triggers plaque rupture that leads to acute myocardial infarction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.6933433081399keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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