Catheter ablation of left-sided atrioventricular accessory pathways through the coronary sinus by direct-current shock may be complicated by rupture and thrombosis of the coronary sinus and injury to the coronary arteries. This study examined short and long-term effects of radiofrequency catheter ablation of the coronary sinus in 20 closed-chest dogs to determine whether this technique is feasi...

Although fascinating improvements in surgical, interventional and medical treatment of patients with coronary artery disease have been achieved, a growing number present refractory angina despite optimal treatment. Currently, different approaches are being investigated to reduce improve quality life these “no options”. Slowing venous drainage by implantation stent device that reduces the diamet...

Introduction: To present a rare occurrence of coronary sinus atrial septal defect (ASD) associated with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). Case Report: A 16-year-old girl was diagnosed with features of an atrial septal defect (ASD) by transthoracic echocardiography and the absence of PLSVC (persistent left superior vena cava) connection to coronary sinus was confirmed by salin...

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) demonstrated a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) with severe dilatation of the right coronary sinus in association with a congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and sub-aortic membrane. The SVA had not been apparent on echocardiography as the dilatation was outside standard echo image planes. On both CMR and echo, blood flow was eccentrically directed int...

There are occasions when atrial pacing can be usefully employed both diagnostically and therapeutically. Diagnostically, atrial pacing provides mechanisms for easily, safely, and reproducibly stressing the heart that can help in the evaluation of patients with a variety of cardiac disorders. It is particularly useful in the assessment of patients with coronary disease. Therapeutically, atrial p...

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) using left- (LV) or biventricular pacing is widely applied in selected heart failure patients. However, transvenous LV-lead placement into coronary sinus (CS) branches can be challenging. A 77-year-old female patient with New York Heart Association class III symptoms due to dilated cardiomyopathy [LV ejection fraction (LVEF): 10%, QRS-duration: 150 ms], d...

Over recent decades, the numerous coronary revascularisation procedures performed either by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or coronary bypass surgery has led to an increasing number of patients who are no longer eligible for additional revascularisation procedures. This number of patients is expected to rise even further in view of an increase in life expectancy in patients with coro...