• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1111-1118
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Chest pain is an essential symptom in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). One-third of patients with ACS present atypically, which can influence their receiving timely lifesaving therapy. Methods: A total of 617 NSTEMI patients from the Korea Acute MI Registry (KAMIR) and the Korea Working Group on MI (KorMI) databases were analyzed. The study population was divided into two groups by symptoms at presentation (typical symptoms group, 128; atypical symptoms groups, 128). Results: In this study population, 23% of patients presented without chest pain. After propensity score matching, the contact-to-device time ($2,618{\pm}381minutes$ vs. $1,739{\pm}241minutes$, p = 0.050), the symptoms-to-balloon time ($3,426{\pm}389minutes$ vs. $2,366{\pm}255minutes$, p = 0.024), and the door-to-balloon time ($2,339{\pm}380minutes$ vs. $1,544{\pm}244minutes$, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in the patients with atypical symptoms than in those with typical symptoms, respectively. Atypical symptoms were an independent predictor for 1-year mortality (hazard ratio, 2.820; 95% confidence interval, 1.058 to 7.515; p = 0.038). The Kaplan-Meier estimates showed higher risk for 12-month mortality in patients with atypical symptoms (p = 0.048) and no significant difference for 12-month major adverse cardiac events (p = 0.487). Conclusions: Acute myocardial infarction patients with atypical symptoms were not rare in clinical practice and showed a high risk of delayed reperfusion therapy. After imbalance between the groups was minimized by use of propensity score matching, patients who presented atypically had a high mortality rate.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.227-231
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• 2018

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) thrombosis is rare and the cause should be determined. A previously healthy young man presented with severe chest pain and dyspnea. The electrocardiogram showed typical ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with clinical instability. Emergency coronary angiography revealed complete LMCA occlusion by thrombosis. After reperfusion, the patient was admitted to the cardiac care unit. He was diagnosed with hemolytic anemia and tested positive for antinuclear antibodies. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and LMCA disease due to systemic thrombosis were diagnosed. Steroids were started and the patient was discharged without complications. We report this rare case of LMCA thrombosis as an initial presentation of SLE.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.70-77
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• 2019

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is used as a bridge to revascularization in high-risk patients with ischemic heart disease. We reviewed our experiences of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) after ECLS in patients with cardiac arrest or refractory cardiogenic shock. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 4,616 patients who underwent CABG at our institution between May 2006 and February 2017. We identified patients who underwent CABG following ECLS for cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Twenty-three patients (0.5% of all CABG cases) were enrolled in the analysis. Their median age was 65 years (Q1-Q3, 58-77 years). Nine patients (39.1%) were diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction, including acute mitral regurgitation, left ventricular rupture, and ventricular septal defect, occurred in 9 patients (39.1%). Results: The median time from cardiopulmonary resuscitation to ECLS initiation was 25 minutes (Q1-Q3, 18.5-28.5 minutes). Conventional CABG was performed in 10 patients (43.5%) who underwent concomitant intracardiac procedures. Postoperative ECLS was required in 16 patients (69.5%). The rate of successful ECLS weaning was 91.3% (n=21). There were 6 early mortalities (26.1%). Conclusion: CABG after ECLS was very rare in real-world circumstances. Although the early mortality rate was high, the risk of mortality may be acceptable under such devastating circumstances.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2017

Background: This study was conducted to provide a comparison between the clinical outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and that of fibrinolysis followed by routine invasive treatment in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A total of 184 consecutive STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI or fibrinolysis followed by a routine invasive therapy were enrolled from 2004 to 2011, and their major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were compared. Results: Among the 184 patients, 146 patients received primary PCI and 38 patients received fibrinolysis. The baseline clinical characteristics were similar between both groups, except for triglyceride level ($68.1{\pm}66.62$ vs. $141.6{\pm}154.3mg/dL$, p=0.007) and high density lipoprotein level ($44.6{\pm}10.3$ vs. $39.5{\pm}8.1mg/dL$, p=0.005). The initial creatine kinase-MB level was higher in the primary PCI group ($71.5{\pm}114.2$ vs. $35.9{\pm}59.9ng/mL$, p=0.010). The proportion of pre-thrombolysis in MI 0 to 2 flow lesions (92.9% vs. 73.0%, p<0.001) was higher and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were administered more frequently in the primary PCI group. There was no difference in the 12-month clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality (9.9% vs. 8.8%, p=0.896), cardiac death (7.8% vs. 5.9%, p=0.845), non-fatal MI (1.4% vs. 2.9%, p=0.539), target lesion revascularization (5.7% vs. 2.9%, p=0.517), and stroke (0% vs. 0%). The MACEs free survival rate was similar for both groups (odds ratio, 0.792; 95% confidence interval, 0.317-1.980; p=0.618). The clinical outcome of thrombolysis was not inferior, even when compared with primary PCI performed within 90 minutes. Conclusion: Early fibrinolysis with optimal antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy followed by appropriate invasive procedure would be a comparable alternative to treatment of MI, especially in cases of shorter-symptom-to-door time.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.977-983
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• 2006

The objective was to devise an animal model of myocardial infarction (MI) against which cardioprotective drugs might be tested. We describe the effects of nimesulide, a COX experience with development and validation of such a model. The rabbit was chosen in preference to rodents because its heart and cardiac circulation more closely resemble those of human. Thus, the cardiovascular system of anaesthetized male rabbits, 1 to 1.5 kg (n=11), was stressed by a single bolus intravenous injection of isoprenaline (ISP), 65 mg/kg. The effects of the injection were followed for sixteen days and were evaluated in four ways: 1) measurements of creatinine kinase isozyme and troponin-I (TPI) in serum 2) Electrocardiographic (ECG) changes (ST elevation and Q wave development) 3) Cardiac histopathology observed in tissue sections of the isolated of the heart. The histopathological analysis showed that rabbit heart on 2nd day after ISP injection showed changes of coagulation necrosis. Day 4 total coagulation with the loss of nuclear and striation associated with heavy interstitial infiltrate of neutrophils was found. Day 8 after infarction showed collagen deposition with capillary channels in between the remaining islands of myocytes in the infarcted area. On the 16th day scarring was complete. Coronary perfusion rates (CPR) and heart rate (HR) of the infarcted and nimesulide (a COX-2 inhibitor) treated rabbits displayed significant improvement (n=11) on each corresponding day after infarction as compared to the infarcted and saline treated rabbits (P<0.05). All four indices revealed similarities with effects commonly associated with MI in humans.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.638-645
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• 2003

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effect of myocardial protection with our cold blood cardioplegic solution and to observe the relationship between ultrastructural study and other evaluation methods and its effectiveness. Material and Method: We evaluated the changes of myocardial ultrastructure using semi-quantitative scoring system, CK-MB fraction, SGOT and LDH1/LDH2, and EKG in 18 patients undergoing valvular heart surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Right atrial auricular biopsies were taken before the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and shortly after the end of CPB. Myocardium-related serum enzymes ＆ EKG were checked for 3 days of postoperative period and their postoperative peak enzyme value and observed new Q wave ＆ ST segment elevation in EKG were choosen. Result: There were 8 males and 10 females, and their mean age was 55.6$\pm$13. Eight patients underwent valvular heart surgery and ten coronary artery bypass grafting, The mean CPB time was 119$\pm$29 minutes and the mean aortic cross-clamp (ACC) time was 75.4$\pm$24 minutes. Before the start of CPB, the mean mitochondrial score was 4.28$\pm$0.53 and after the end of CPB, it significantly increased to 2.35$\pm$0.79. There was no evidence of perioperative myocardial infarction in terms of myocardiumrelated serum enzyme value and Q wave and ST change in EKG. There was no significant relationship between pre-CPB and post-CPB mitochondrial score and the mean time of CPB and ACC, and the mean value of postoperative peak CK-MB, SGOT and LDH1/LDH2, but there was relatively positive correlation of CPB time with peak LDH1/LDH2. Conclusion: Despite the apparent satisfactory results in myocardium-related serum enzymes ＆ EKG, with this study using the cold blood cardioplegic solution, there were many changes in myocardial ultrastructures, and more studies are needed to obtain further information.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore whether emergency bell could shorten door to electrocardiograms (ECG) time in chest pain patients presenting to emergency department (ED) by self-transport. Methods: This was a planned 6-month before-and-after interventional study design. We set up the emergency bell in walk-in patients' waiting room. Prior to the change, patients were triaged before an ECG was obtained. In new process, as soon as patient with chest pain push the emergency bell, emergency physicians examined patient and prioritized performing ECG. We analyzed door to electrocardiograms (DTE) times for patients with chest pain and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients between two periods. Results: During the enrollment period, a total of 63 patients called emergency bell. The median DTE time was 6 min (interquartile range: 3.0 - 9.0) and 82.5% received an ECG within 10 minutes, and only three patients were STEMI. DTE time in patient with chest pain was not different between two periods (p=0.980). Before intervention period, 15 walk-in patients admitted in ED for STEMI and 53.8% of STEMI patients received an ECG within 10 minutes. After intervention period, total 19 walk-in patients admitted in ED for STEMI. Of these, 89.5% met the time requirement. Conclusion: Because a small portion of patients with chest pain activated the emergency bell, new strategy for promotion of emergency bell must be needed.