RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Myocardial bridging in a survivor of sudden cardiac near-death: role of intracoronary doppler flow measurements and angiography during dobutamine stress in the clinical evaluation. JF Heart JO Heart FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society SP 280 OP 282 DO 10.1136/hrt.77.3.280 VO 77 IS 3 A1 R. A. Tio A1 I. C. Van Gelder A1 P. W. Boonstra A1 H. J. Crijns YR 1997 UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/77/3/280.abstract AB Extensive myocardial bridging in the left anterior descending coronary artery was found in a 46 year old survivor of sudden cardiac near-death. Positron emission tomography and dobutamine stress echocardiography revealed ischaemia in the myocardium distal to the bridging. Spasm was excluded as cause of the ischaemia by intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine. Further evaluation of the haemodynamic importance of the bridging using intracoronary Doppler flow velocity measurements revealed an abnormal flow reserve. Dobutamine stress during coronary angiography caused increased mechanical compression during diastole. This was accompanied by multiple premature ventricular contractions. After a debridging operation the flow velocity reserve was normal. The abnormalities found during dobutamine stress had disappeared. Unexpectedly, a spasm was inducible. This may have been due to local oedema or scar formation after the operation. For the evaluation of the haemodynamic importance of myocardial bridging, intracoronary Doppler flow velocity measurements and angiography during dobutamine stress may be helpful in clinical decision making.