We aimed to evaluate whether there was a difference in the arterial stiffness assessed by the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) between patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and those with stable angina pectoris (SAP). A total of 199 consecutive patients, 79 with ACS and 120 with SAP, who underwent emergency or elective coronary revascularization were enrolled. The CAVI was measured within 2 days after the procedures, and was compared between the ACS and SAP patients. As parameters related to arteriosclerosis, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and number of stenotic coronary vessels were also evaluated. Although IMT was significantly greater in SAP patients (2.1 ± 1.1 vs. 2.4 ± 0.9; P¼0.022), CAVI was significantly higher in ACS patients (10.0±1.7 vs. 9.3±1.3; P¼0.0012). After an adjustment for the clinical parameters with a significant difference between the two patient groups, CAVI remained significantly higher in ACS patients than in SAP patients (odds ratio 1.92, 95% confidence interval 1.30-3.02; P¼0.0023). A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (b¼0.44; Po0.0001) and ACS (b¼0.3; Po0.0001) were the independent determinants of CAVI. A significant decrease in CAVI was observed at 6 months of follow-up as compared with the acute phase in 18 patients with ACS (10.9±1.6 vs. 10.0±1.5; P¼0.019). In conclusion, CAVI was significantly and independently higher in patients with ACS than in those with SAP, which might result from a transient increase in the CAVI caused by acute myocardial ischemia.

Although the incidence of stent dislodgement has gradually decreased, dislodgement is still a potential cause of serious complications if it happens. We report a case of complicated dislodgement of a paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent during percutaneous coronary intervention and the successful retrieval in the abdominal aorta using a Günther Tulip Vena Cava MReye Filter Retrieval Set, which was inserted from the right femoral artery. This retrieval set has a unique curve loop that was useful to retrieve the dislodged stent in the abdominal aorta.

IDOCAINE has been the most widely used for treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. The development of sinus arrest in some patients by lidocaine have been reported,1)-8) but there were few reports concerning lidocaine effects on human sinus node and atrium.1),10) In the present study, the electrophysiological effects of lidocaine on the conduction system , particularly sinus node and atrium, were studied in patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) by His bundle electrogram (HBE) recordings rapid atrial pacing and atrial extrastimulus technique.

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