Diffuse coronary artery atherosclerosis can be defined as “consecutive or longitudinal” and “complete or partial” obstruction in coronary vessels. Most of the patients with dia‐ betes, hyperlipidemia, chronic renal insufficiency, connective tissue disease, and multistented coronary arteries have diffuse atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary territory. Viable large myocardium without necrosis ...

Experience with systemic heparinization during cardiac catheterization by brachial arteriotomy has been investigated by a prospective study. In 253 catheterizations no complications attributable to heparinization occurred. The incidence of impaired (2 4%) and absent (i *6%) radial pulses after catheterization was lower than in some series. The majority ofcomplications were related to local trau...

C onsiderable attention is currently being focused on the development of intravascular and intracardiac ultrasound imaging.1-4 Variously termed as "ultrasound angioscopy," "intravascular ultrasound imaging," or "intraluminal ultrasound imaging," this technique basically refers to the imaging modality of visualizing blood vessels and cardiac structures by an ultrasound transducer placed at the t...

Inadequate hemostasis and bleeding are frequent complications after surgical procedures and medical interventions (for example, after a percutaneous heart catheterization). To stop bleeding during coronary interventions, in addition to mechanical arteriotomy closure devices, many products are used that aid manual compression and/or activate the coagulation cascade. The goal of this study was to...

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was used to successfully dilate critical narrowings of the internal carotid artery caused by fibromuscular dysplasia. The technique of this new procedure is presented along with the angiographic findings and results in three patients. Angioplasty may be used as an alternative to open arteriotomy and graduated dilatation in treating stenosis due to symptomat...

A case of acute pulmonary embolism due to multiple hydatid cysts is reported. Chest X-ray, echocardiography, spiral CT scan and MRangiography were performed for the diagnostic evaluation. The patient underwent a left anterior thoracotomy and a left pulmonary arteriotomy in order to remove the hydatid cysts, without using extracorporeal circulation. The post-operative recovery was uneventful and...

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with coronary endarterectomy (OPCAB-CE) is a safe and feasible method of myocardial revascularization in patients presenting with diffuse coronary artery disease. Seventy-one papers were identified by a systematic search, of which n...

In order to assess the influence of recent modifications in cardiac catheterization technique and patient management, a prospective study of all complications in a series of 1160 cardiac catheterizations of neonates, infants, and children was performed. Thirty-four major and 136 minor complications were recorded. Fatal complications were rare in all age groups (0.26%); however, postcatheterizat...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of the 6F Closer S device (Perclose; Redwood City, CA) versus manual compression to close arteriotomy sites after neurointerventional procedures in both virgin vessels and those previously treated with the device. METHODS This single-center, multiple-operator, controlled, prospective study included 475 pro...