title: [PTCA of the LAD via the internal thoracic artery graft with Doppler ultrasonic control of the results: a case report and review of the literature].
abstract: The report presents a transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) of a severe stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) behind the anastomosis; the internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft was used as a conduit. Before and after the PTCA the changing of velocity flow patterns under rest and stress conditions with a handgrip-maneuver were measured with a noninvasive transthoracic ultrasound Doppler system. The mean diastolic velocity, which represent coronary perfusion through the ITA graft, increased after successful PTCA at rest and under stress conditions. An additional increasing of the mean diastolic velocity at rest and under stress conditions was seen after six months before the catheterization proposing no signs of restenosis. For this reason the vessel could be classified prospectively patient. This could be confirmed during coronary angiography. We also present a review of the published reports concerning PTCA of ITA grafts and PTCA of the native vessel using the ITA as a conduit. In this review 286 cardiac interventions on 273 patients with a primary rate of success of 87% could be counted, the documented rate of restenosis was 30%, and the rate of complication was approximately 1%. The PTCA in ITA grafts or of the native vessel via ITA grafts, respectively, represent an alternative to reoperation. The ultrasound-duplex measurements are gaining an increasing significance for the noninvasive patency rate and post-interventional monitoring of the long-term PTCA result. With the augmentation of the ITA as a coronary bypass and expected increase of post-operative interventions, a noninvasive tool is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kardiologie, Pneumologie und Angiologie Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. marxr@uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Jax
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plehn
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schannwell
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Schoebel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leschke
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Strauer
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency