BACKGROUND The use of aortic connectors for proximal saphenous vein bypass graft anastomoses eliminates the need for aortic clamping during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and may reduce the incidence of stroke in the elderly and in patients with severe aortic atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 74 consecutive patients who received the Symmetry Bypass System aortic connecto...

we report a rare case of acute right coronary artery stenosis developing in a patient undergoing aortic valve replacement. we present a case report with a brief overview of the literature relating to coronary artery occlusion associated with cardiac valve surgery – the theories and treatments are discussed. a 85 year-old female was admitted under the care of the  cardiothoracic team with signs ...

myocardial fractional flow reserve (ffr) is a new index of the functional significance of intermediate coronary stenoses that is calculated from pressure measurements made during coronary arteriography. the aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between non-hyperemic coronary pressure dicrotic notch and fractional flow reserve (ffr). a consecutive of 114 patients (73 men and 41 women...

arterial sclerosis has been extensively described but reports on venous sclerosis are very sparse. phlebosclerosis refers to the thickening and hardening of the venous wall. despite its morphological similarities with arteriosclerosis and potential morbid consequences, phlebosclerosis has gained only little attention. we report a 72 year old male with paralysis and atrophy of the right leg due ...

A coronary fistula is an extremely rare coronary artery anomaly and its incidence is 0.08-0.4% (1). A fistula between the Left internal mammary graft (LIMA) graft and pulmonary vein after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a very rare event, which can result in recurrence of anginal symptoms related to coronary steal (2). We present a 57 year old male patient who had coronary bypass surge...

percutaneous coronary angioplasty (ptca) of a coronary stenosis without documented ischemia at noninvasive stress testing is often performed, but its benefit is unproven. coronary pressure– derived fractional flow reserve (ffr) is an invasive index of stenosis severity defined as the ratio of maximal blood pressure in a stenotic vessel to the normal maximal pressure in the same vessel. ffr is a...

Background & Aims: The clinical value of T wave inversion (TWI) in the lead aVL in diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unclear. Hence, we aim to evaluate the association between TWI in the aVL lead and the severity and location of coronary artery stenosis in elective coronary angiography. Material and Method: Electrocardiograms (ECGs) of 167 consecutive patients undergoing electiv...

Patients: 3691 patients (mean age 65 y, 68% men) who had diagnostic catheterization for coronary artery disease in a hospital without onsite cardiac surgery services. Exclusion criteria included left ventricular ejection fraction < 20% and target lesions with ≥ 1 of the following: saphenous vein graft location, vessel serving the only viable myocardium, unprotected left main coronary artery ste...

A n 82-year old women presented with a non– ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. She had undergone coronary bypass surgery 25 years earlier, and a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) 28 months previously. The TAVR procedure was reported to be complicated only by vascular access problems. Urgent coronary angiography at time of the current presentation showed stenosis in a saphen...