…some patients present with severe LMCA stenosis exacerbated by other conditions, and these must also be recognized. Prompt identification of LMCA involvement is therefore critical…

…stenosed. Plaque rupture Plaques prone to rupture characteristically contain a large lipid pool, numerous macrophages or foam cells, and a thin fibrous cap. Disruption of…

…peripheral artery disease (PAD), and other manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis. The principal clinical concern is cerebral embolism or haemodynamic compromise leading to transient ischaemic attack…

…Myocardial ischemia and infarction Myocardial ischemia: cellular changes, ECG signs and development of infarction Like all other cells in the human body, cardiac myocytes use…

…plasmapheresis or other extracorporeal therapy (requires a large bore dialysis catheter, not an ordinary triple lumen catheter). Measurement of central venous pressure and central venous…

…severe hypotension, or high degree AV block. Caffeine and other methylxanthines, which antagonize adenosine receptors, should be avoided for at least 12 hours before testing…

…LV dysfunction, or other pathology that could affect the safety or interpretation of the examination. Evaluation and Physical Examination Before stress echocardiography, clinical assessment should…

…cardiac MRI) are frequently necessary. Ischemic cardiomyopathy should be suspected if there is significant stenosis ( 75% luminal obstruction) of the left main coronary artery (LAD…

…and imaging technique. Coronary fistulae represent abnormal communications between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or vessel. Other congenital anomalies include anomalous origin of…

…of dissection and impaired distal flow. These alternative causes must be distinguished from isolated no reflow because their treatment may require immediate stenting or other…