Three-year follow-up after implantation of metallic coronary-artery stents

Article Abstract:

Coronary artery stents appear to work well in the long term as well as the short term. Coronary artery stents are tubes inserted into heart blood vessels to prevent reclosure after procedures to clear blockages. Overall, 143 patients at one hospital had stent procedures. Eighty percent of the group survived without heart attacks or the need for repeat procedures on the same blood vessel at one year, 77% at two years, and 75% at three years. Angiography revealed that the minimal internal diameter of the blood vessel increased from 1.05 millimeters to 2.54 millimeters after surgery. Six months after surgery, it had decreased to 1.87 millimeters. Those patients having angiograms at both six months and one year experienced no further decreases. Moreover, the minimal internal diameter increased from 1.94 millimeters at six months to 2.09 millimeters among patients having an angiogram three years after surgery. This suggests that early blood vessel renarrowing may not require intervention in symptom-free patients.

Evaluation, Coronary arteries, Stent (Surgery), Stents

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Internal-thoracic-artery grafts: biologically better coronary arteries

Article Abstract:

The better performance of internal-thoracic-artery (ITA) grafts in coronary-artery bypass surgery compared to that of saphenous-vein grafts extends from lower rates of disease recurrence and better survival to greater immunity from atherosclerosis. With the exception of certain patients, such as those at risk of decreased blood flow with the smaller-diameter, vasoactive ITA graft, all subgroups of patients have benefitted by receiving the ITA graft. An ITA graft in place or additional ITA grafting does not increase the risk of in-hospital morbidity or mortality after reoperation. The ITA graft is a more important determinant of survival than progressive coronary atherosclerosis. The ITA graft, along with minimally invasive techniques for cardiac surgery, may eventually allow for a coronary bypass operation without the need for, and risks of, open-chest surgery.

Editorial, Analysis, Coronary artery bypass, Chest, Thoracic surgery

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Effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on coronary artery disease as assessed by electron-beam computed tomography

Article Abstract:

Electron-beam CT imaging is a noninvasive technique that can measure the amount of fatty plaque inside coronary arteries. Researchers used this technique to study changes in the amount of plaque in 149 patients, 70% of whom were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. The amount of plaque decreased only in treated patients whose LDL cholesterol levels had dropped below 120 milligrams per deciliter. In all other patients, including some treated patients, the amount of plaque increased.

Health aspects, Innovations, Measurement, CT imaging, CAT scans, Atherosclerosis, Anticholesteremic agents, Electron beams

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