Impact of bifurcation lesions on angiographic characteristics and procedural success in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
Summary Background Bifurcation lesions (BFLs) remain a challenging lesion subset, often associated with lower success rates than less complex lesions. There are few data regarding the impact of BFLs in…
Inflammation abnormalities and inducibility of atrial fibrillation after epicardial ganglionated plexi ablation
Summary Background Epicardial ganglionated plexi (GP) ablation can prevent atrial fibrillation inducibility. However, the long-term effects of GP ablation on atrial fibrillation have not been elucidated. Methods Thirteen adult dogs…
Thrombus in normal coronary arteries: Retrospective study and review of case reports
Summary Background Myocardial infarction is rarely caused by non-occlusive thrombus in angiographically normal coronary arteries. The cases reported in the literature are scarce and follow-up was usually short. The efficacy…
Assessment of pulmonary hypertension during exercise: Ready for clinical prime time?
Background The development of pulmonary hypertension at rest in patients with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, thrombo-embolic disease, connective tissue disease, sleep apnoea disorders or cardiac…
Evaluating periodontal risk for patients at risk of or suffering from atherosclerosis: Recent biological hypotheses and therapeutic consequences
Summary Cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis, is the main cause of mortality in developed countries. Most atherosclerosis risk factors have been identified and are treated, improving patient cardiovascular status and…
How to calculate left ventricular mass in routine practice? An echocardiographic versus cardiac magnetic resonance study
Summary Background An accurate assessment of left ventricular (LV) mass is important for the detection of LV hypertrophy. Aims To assess the accuracy of four echocardiographic imaging modalities for assessing…
Coexisting renal artery aneurysm and adrenal adenoma in resistant hypertension
A 58-year-old woman presented with resistant hypertension and hypokalaemia. Biological primary hyperaldosteronism was detected: aldosterone to renin ratio, 37.5; 24-hour urine aldosterone excretion, 25 μg. Computed tomography ( Fig. 1…
Isolated cleft of the posterior mitral valve leaflet assessed by real-time 3D echocardiography
An asymptomatic two-year-old boy was referred for the evaluation of a soft holosystolic murmur. The electrocardiogram was normal. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography showed normal left ventricle dimensions and function. The number…
Double-orifice mitral valve assessed by two- and three-dimensional echocardiography in a newborn
A full-term female newborn with prenatal diagnosis of ventricular asymmetry was referred to our department for postnatal echocardiographic evaluation. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed a coarctation of the aorta ( Fig. 1…
