After heart transplantation a number of factors such as pre- and postoperative hypoxia of the myocardium, myocardial failure of the early postoperative period, acute rejection episodes, cytomegalovirus infection, and finally the progressive atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries lead to the development of transplanted heart failure. Severe alterations of the myocardial function at this end stage of the process correspond to incurable cardiomyopathy. The target of plasmapheresis in this case is to decrease the extent of the disturbances in the lipoprotein contents and blood rheology for the improvement of the coronary perfusion of the transplanted heart. Nine patients with 3-7 year survival periods after heart transplantations underwent plasmapheresis twice a year using the Haemonetics PCS-plus machine. 2,100-2,700 ml of plasma was removed. Biochemical data, rheology and coagulation, and the concentration of Sandimmune (Sandoz Pharma Ltd., Basel, Switzerland) were controlled, and radionuclide scintigraphy of the myocardium, coronarographia, and transesophageal ultrasound investigations were completed for these patients. The result was the significant improvement of the coronary perfusion of the myocardium. The level of immunosuppression after the plasmapheresis procedures did not change and therefore did not demand any correction. Thus, we think that plasmapheresis can be an effective method of treatment of posttransplantation cardiomyopathy; the improvement of coronary perfusion decreases the extent of chronic ischemia. Further studies are necessary to answer the question as to whether it is possible to prolong the time before retransplantation with the help of plasmapheresis.
Patient: Male, 58Final Diagnosis: Coronary artery disease • silent myocardial ischemiaSymptoms: Silent myocardial ischemiaMedication: —Clinical Procedure: Noninvasive assessmant of fractional flow reserve • left descening artery revascularizationSpecialty: CardiologyObjective:Unusual setting of medical careBackground:Noninvasive assessment of the fractional flow reserve (FFR) in patients with coronary artery disease plays an important role in determining the need for revascularization. It is particularly relevant for patients with a borderline stenoses and painless myocardial ischemia. Our article describes the first clinical experience in the Russian Federation of using an automated method of noninvasive assessment of the fractional flow reserve (FFRct) with a one-dimensional (1-D) mathematical model in a patient with painless myocardial ischemia.Case Report:A 58-year-old male patient who underwent stent implantation in the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) due to an acute non-ST-elevation posterior myocardial infarction had borderline stenoses of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). After stent implantation, there were no relapse angina symptoms on drug treatment, and according to our examination guideline for patients with borderline stenoses, a treadmill test was performed. The test was positive; therefore, FFR assessment was recommended, with coronary multi-slice CT being performed. The following results were obtained: FFRct LAD – 0.57; FFRct LCX – 0.88. An invasive assessment of FFR was also performed as a reference standard and revealed: FFR LAD – 0.6; FFR LCX – 0.88, and simultaneously a LAD percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed. Three months later, the patient underwent a stress test, which revealed no evidence of induced ischemia.Conclusions:Our method of noninvasive assessment of FFR has shown encouraging results, but we believe that larger-scale studies are needed to establish it as common clinical practice.
Objective. To analyse the results of treatment of patients in whom, after fixation of the thoracic spine, contact of screws with the aorta with its wall injury was revealed.Material and Methods. Three own observations and literature data were analysed.Results. Three patients with potential (1 case) and true (2 cases) injury to the thoracic aorta by a transpedicular screw underwent simultaneous surgical intervention including thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) followed by remounting (2 cases) or removal of the transpedicular fixation system. An analysis of publications on this topic is presented.Conclusion. Intramural hematoma caused by screw malposition is an indication for aortic repair due to the risk of its dissection or rupture.It is advisable to give preference to endovascular methods of treating vascular injuries under conditions of local anesthesia as the first stage, and then to perform the revision of transpedicular fixation system under anesthesia.
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