Abstract
Eight patients with severe peripheral vascular atherosclerosis scheduled for abdominal aortic surgery were investigated to detect coexisting coronary artery disease. None of the patients had a history of angina pectoris or previous myocardial infarction. Preoperative computerised thallium-201 dipyridamole myocardial scintigraphy was abnormal in all patients, showing either myocardial scar tissue and/or ischaemia with redistribution and/or low washout. In all but one patient, the serum level of creatin kinase was elevated during the first postoperative days. In two patients, the serum concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase were elevated. None of the patients showed clinical or electrocardiographical signs of acute myocardial infarction. Thallium-201 dipyridamole myocardial imaging is a new noninvasive method for detection of ischaemic heart disease in patients with severe peripheral atherosclerosis who are unable to perform a bicycle exercise test. The new programme for determination of regional washout appeared to be very precise and may be especially applicable in the case of low washout values.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 588-592 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Danish medical bulletin |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 1988 |