Endovascular Therapy Is Effective for Leriche Syndrome with Deep Vein Thrombosis

A 65-year-old man presented to our hospital due to intermittent claudication and swelling in his left leg. He had Leriche syndrome and deep vein thrombosis. We performed endovascular therapy (EVT) for Leriche syndrome, and a temporary filter was inserted in the inferior vena cava. He received anticoagulation therapy for deep vein thrombosis. The stenotic lesion in the terminal aorta was stented with an excellent postprocedural angiographic result and dramatic clinical improvement after EVT. This case suggests that EVT can be a treatment for Leriche syndrome

Impact of Platelet Reactivity to Adenosine Diphosphate Before Implantation of Drug-Eluting Stents on Subsequent Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients With Stable Angina

Background: Diverse pharmacological effects of anti-platelet thienopyridines due to individual differences in metabolism have been reported. However, an association between on-treatment platelet reactivity and adverse ischemic events after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in Japanese patients has not been fully elucidated. Methods and Results: A total of 450 consecutive patients on dual anti-platelet therapy (aspirin and ticlopidine) with stable angina who underwent DES implantation were enrolled. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation was measured before DES implantation using the screen filtration pressure method. The ADP concentration necessary for 50% aggregation was designated as the platelet aggregation threshold index (PATI). A composite primary endpoint of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR), and stent thrombosis occurring within 1 year after stenting, was evaluated. A PATI value <4.8 mu mol/L was defined as high on-treatment reactivity to ADP. The composite primary endpoint occurred in 55 patients (12.2%) in the 1-year-period after DES implantation, and the prevalence was 19.0% and 5.1% in groups with high and low on-treatment reactivity to ADP, respectively, showing a significantly higher prevalence in the high reactivity group (P<0.001). The main event was TLR (18.1% vs. 5.1%, P<0.001). Conclusions: These data suggested that high on-treatment platelet reactivity to ADP and subsequent occurrence of adverse ischemic events (particularly TLR) were correlated in patients with stable angina who underwent DES implantation. (Circ J 2012; 76: 641-649

Ablation of Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia with a Left Bundle-Branch Block Morphology Originating from the Pulmonary Artery

We successfully performed radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in 2 cases involving patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardias (VTs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) originating from the pulmonary artery (PA). The QRS morphology of the VTs and PVCs in the two cases exhibited a left bundle-branch block (LBBB) morphology with an inferior axis. Activation and pace mappings were performed in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and above the pulmonary valve to determine the origin of the VTs and PVCs. In both cases, the earliest ventricular activation was recorded in the PA above the pulmonary valve. Applications of radiofrequency current at those sites in the PA resulted in the elimination and noninducibility of the VT and PVC. During the follow-up, the VT or PVC did not recur without any antiarrhythmic drug administration

Atrial electrical abnormality in patients with Brugada syndrome assessed by signal-averaged electrocardiography

Background: Ventricular fibrillation and atrial fibrillation are well-known arrhythmias in patients with Brugada syndrome. This study evaluated the characteristics of the atrial arrhythmogenic substrate using the signal-averaged electrogram (SAECG) in patients with Brugada syndrome. Methods: SAECGs were performed during normal sinus rhythm in 23 normal volunteers (control group), 21 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF; PAF group), and 21 with Brugada syndrome (Brugada group). Results: The filtered P wave duration (fPd) in the control, Brugada, and PAF groups was 113.9 ± 12.9 ms, 125.3 ± 15.0 ms, and 137.1 ± 16.3 ms, respectively. The fPd in the PAF group was significantly longer compared to that in the control and Brugada groups (p < 0.05). The fPd in the Brugada group was significantly longer than that in the control group (p < 0.05) and significantly shorter than that in the PAF group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with Brugada syndrome had abnormal P waves on the SAECG. The abnormal P waves on the SAECG in Brugada syndrome patients may have intermediate characteristics between control and PAF patients

Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia Originating from the Right Ventricle Associated with Scleroderma Cardiomyopathy

A 49-year-old male was referred to the hospital because of syncope caused by ventricular tachycardia (VT) with a pulse of 240 bpm and QRS morphology with a LBBB configuration and superior axis. The patient had been on a long-term regimen of steroids to treat his scleroderma. Satisfying 2 major criteria (QRS widening and an epsilon wave in the right chest leads) and 3 minor criteria (a slight enlargement and akinesis of the right ventricle, positive late potential in the signal averaged electrocardiogram and left bundle branch block-type VT) he was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. A voltage map of his right ventricle (RV) during sinus rhythm was obtained using an electroanatomical mapping system (CARTO, Biosense-Webster, Diamond, CA, USA). Two islet-like low voltage areas were found and linear double potentials were recognized between areas in the lateral wall of the right ventricle (RV) very close to the tricuspid annulus. The earliest activation of the double potential line during VT was 70 msec prior to the QRS onset. We applied radiofrequency energy at that point during the VT and it successfully slowed and terminated the VT. Thereafter the VT could not be induced by any stimulation from multiple RV sites