Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Nov 1984
Myocardial energetics and clinical response to the cardiotonic agent MDL 17043 in advanced heart failure.
Cardiotonic agents may prove useful in the long-term treatment of chronic heart failure provided myocardial efficiency is enhanced and clinical status is improved. Accordingly, the short-term hemodynamic and clinical response to the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, MDL 17043, was evaluated. Intravenous increments of 0.05 mg/kg (maximal total 3 mg/kg) were given to a peak cardiac output response in 13 patients with New York Heart Association functional class IV heart failure secondary to ischemic or myopathic disease. ⋯ This improvement was sustained at 20 weeks in five patients. Thus, MDL 17043 acutely improves the function of the failing heart. However, the decrease in oxygen extraction occurring with increased myocardial oxygen uptake suggests that intracoronary shunting may occur along with an increase in oxygen demand and contribute to myocardial anaerobiosis in some patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Oct 1984
Case ReportsLeft ventricular outflow obstruction: a complication of mitral valvuloplasty.
Thirty-two patients with severe mitral regurgitation underwent Carpentier mitral valvuloplasty. Postoperatively, three of these patients developed clinical and echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. ⋯ Outflow obstruction postoperatively was caused by systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve. Because this potential complication of Carpentier mitral valvuloplasty produced significant hemodynamic effects in two patients, echocardiography should be routinely performed after this operation.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 1984
Basic emergency medical care of patients with acute myocardial infarction: initial prehospital characteristics and in-hospital complications.
This prospective study documents the natural history of the prehospital phase of 110 patients with acute myocardial infarction transported by a basic emergency medical system during a 22 month period. Ambulances in a mixed urban-rural county were staffed by basic emergency medical technicians certified in basic life support and the administration of intravenous fluids. Systolic blood pressure, pulse rate and cardiac rhythm were noted for all patients at the time of ambulance arrival and intermittently during transport. ⋯ When initial rhythm, pulse rate and blood pressure were considered, patients with hypotension had a higher mortality rate than did those who were either normotensive or hypertensive. The 10 patients with initial sinus bradycardia but no hypotension constituted a subgroup with zero mortality. These results identify high and low risk patient subgroups that may benefit from either providing or withholding interventions directed toward hemodynamic stabilization during the prehospital phase of acute myocardial infarction.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 1984
Case ReportsTwo-dimensional echocardiographic recognition of an aortic intimal flap prolapsing into the left ventricular outflow tract.
A 59 year old man presented with dyspnea and a new murmur of aortic regurgitation. Two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated a to and fro motion of the intimal flap as it prolapsed into the left ventricle and was thrust into the aorta during diastole and systole, respectively. At surgery, the echocardiographic and angiographic findings were confirmed and a proximal aortic dissection was identified. Prolapse of an intimal flap from the aorta into the left ventricular outflow tract represents a new two-dimensional echocardiographic sign of aortic dissection.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jun 1984
Lorcainide in patients with refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmia.
Lorcainide, a new antiarrhythmic agent with local anesthetic or membrane-stabilizing properties similar to those of quinidine, was tested in 76 patients with diverse types of heart disease and recurrent ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Lorcainide was administered for 72 to 96 hours in a dose ranging from 200 to 400 mg daily. Evaluation of drug efficacy involved ambulatory monitoring and exercise stress testing in 60 patients who had high grade ventricular arrhythmia. ⋯ Three patients died, one suddenly. It is concluded that lorcainide is of value in a small subset of patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias who have proven refractory to conventional drugs. Its usefulness is limited by the high frequency of insomnia.