Coronary artery anomalies are among the neglected topics in cardiology. Anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the right sinus of valsalva is a rare coronary anomaly observed in 0.15% of patients. During exercise, the distended aorta and pulmonary artery with increased blood flow may squeeze the Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA) between them. Even though arrhythmias are common ca...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of time-controlled intermittent coronary sinus occlusion (ICSO) in preserving regional and global mechanical function during acute ischemia in an animal preparation without significant arterial collateral vessels. Seventeen (eight control, nine ICSO) swine heart preparations undergoing extracorporeal coronary perfusion in situ were subjecte...

The present investigation was undertaken to study cardiac release of adenosine and prostacyclin (prostaglandin [PG] I2) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), and to assess coronary vascular resistance before and after inhibition of synthesis in such patients. In 48 patients with IHD, arterial and coronary sinus blood samples were taken at rest, during atrial pacing to angina, and after...

BACKGROUND Levosimendan is a calcium-sensitizing agent and an inodilator under current investigation in the treatment of decompensated heart failure. The effects of intravenous levosimendan on the human coronary vasculature, together with myocardial wall stress and oxygen uptake, have not been adequately studied. METHODS AND RESULTS Ten adult patients underwent right- and left-heart catheteri...

cocaine is used by more than 14 million people worldwide, about 0.3 percent of the global population age is 15 to 64 years. after alcohol, cocaine is the most common cause of acute drug-related emergency department visits in the united states. cocaine consumption is more frequently associated with acute cardiovascular illness.  cocaine stimulates α 1 , α 2 , β 1 and β 2 adrenergic receptors thr...

BACKGROUND Nesiritide, recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide, has been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of decompensated heart failure. The effects of intravenous nesiritide on the human coronary vasculature have not been studied. METHODS AND RESULTS Ten patients underwent right and left heart catheterization. Baseline coronary blood flow was determined using quantitative coron...

To investigate disturbances in the coronary circulation and myocardial metabolism during septic shock, we examined coronary sinus blood flow and myocardial substrate extraction in 40 patients with septic shock and 13 control patients. Patients with coronary artery disease were excluded from this study. The global hemodynamic pattern of the septic patients was characterized by a lower stroke vol...

A 3-week-old female underwent transthoracic echocardiography (iE33, Philips medical system, Andover, MA, USA) to evaluate a grade 1 systolic murmur. In the subcostal view, blood flow in the inferior vena cava drained to the right atrium, while no blood flow from the superior vena cava to the right atrium was noted (Figure 1A). In the four-chamber view, no superior vena caval blood flow was seen...

THE measurement of organ blood flow in the intact animal and man is limited primarily to methods relying either on the Fick principle or on the dye-dilution method.'-3 Measurement of coronary flow in man has been accomplished by the uptake of an inert diffusing gas, nitrous oxide, by the heart muscle.4 This method requires that a state of equilibrium between the coronary circulation and the myo...

A 50-year-old man, with chronic kidney disease and on dialysis, underwent coronary angiography in the context of acute coronary syndrome, which revealed focal lesions (type A) in the proximal left anterior descending and mid circumflex arteries. Ad-hoc angioplasty was performed on both lesions with direct stenting. An immediate drop in arterial blood pressure was observed and the angiogram show...