No abstract

Cardiac involvement in hydatid disease is uncommon. We report a case of a surgically treated ruptured left ventricular hydatid cyst, which presented with acute stroke and was later complicated by distal aortic embolism due to perioperative dislodgement of the germinative membrane.

We concluded that the addition of 150 +/- 150 microg/kg diltiazem to the induction and terminal doses of tepid cardioplegia enhanced myocardial protection in elective aortocoronary bypass surgery in high-risk patients and presented no significant additional operative risk.

We report the case of a 39-year-old male with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who complained of angina pectoris. The patient was treated with a beta blocker and a calcium antagonist without effect. Myocardial scintigraphy revealed anterior ischemia. Cardiac catheterization and ventriculography revealed severe systolic narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery and no significant pressure gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract. Myotomy was performed on a muscular bridge over the left anterior descending coronary artery and the patient's angina was relieved. In young patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who develop angina refractory to medical therapy, a coexisting muscular bridge should be sought.

A 42-year-old woman had left fronto-orbital aching and amaurosis for 6 months. Fluorescein angiography of the left eye showed vasculitis. Aortography revealed total occlusion of both subclavian arteries, both carotid arteries, and the left vertebral artery, with serious narrowing of the abdominal aorta. The right vertebral artery was spared. Blood flow in the middle and anterior cerebral arteries was normal in spin-echo and phase-contrast magnetic resonance studies. Immunohistochemical findings indicated Takayasu's arteritis.