Heart attack
Complications of a heart attack
The incompetent mitral (bicuspid) valve was damaged by a heart attack. It did not close complete, which led to a backward flow of blood into the atrium, and had to be replaced with a prosthetic valve.
There are many potential complications of a heart attack, the commonest of which are abnormalities of the heart rhythm. These are most likely to occur when the heart muscle is at its most vulnerable, namely at the onset of symptoms.
Another common complication is damage to structures within the heart itself, such as the heart valves or the septum (wall) that divides the two adjacent chambers of the heart. Both of these conditions require surgical correction.
Angiographic views of the left coronary artery
The approximate position of the x-ray tube and image intensifier are shown for each of the commonly used angiographic views. The 60-degree left anterior oblique view with 20 degrees of cranial angulation (LAO cranial) shows the ostium and distal portion of the left main coronary artery (LMCA), the middle and distal portions of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), septal perforators (S), diagonal branches (D), and the proximal left circumflex (LCx) and superior obtuse marginal branch (OMB). The 60-degree led anterior oblique view with 25 degrees of caudal angulation (LAO caudal) shows the proximal LMCA and the proximal segment of the LAD and LCx. The Anteroposterior projection with 20 degrees of caudal angulation (AP caudal) shows the distal LMCA and proximal segments of the LAD and LCx. The anteroposterior projection with 20 degrees of cranial angulation (AP cranial) also shows the midportion of the LAD and its septal (S) branches. The 30-degree right anterior ablique projection with 20 degrees of cranial angulation (RAO cranial) shows the course of the LAD and its septal (S) and diagonal branches. The 30-degee right anterior oblique projection with 25 degrees of caudal angulation (RAO caudal) shows the LCx and obtuse marginal branches (OMB).
Updated:Feb 7, 2010
