Recanalisation of coronary chronic total occlusion by retrograde approach: the first experience in Poland.

Background: The effectiveness of revascularisation procedures of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) has been improved by the introduction of retrograde approach.

Aim: This study compared the outcomes of CTO revascularisation in a single centre in Krakow, Poland using antegrade and retrograde approach.

Methods: From January 2011 to September 2013, 150 patients underwent 159 procedures for percutaneous revascularisation of CTO of 153 vessels.

Pulsatile but not steady component of blood pressure predicts cardiovascular events in coronary patients.

Although the differences between central and peripheral blood pressure (BP) values have been known for decades, the consequences of decision making based on peripheral rather than central BP have only recently been recognized. There are only a few studies assessing the relationship between intraaortic BP and cardiovascular risk. In addition, the relationship between central BP and the risk of cardiovascular events in a large group of coronary patients has not yet been evaluated.

[Recurrent cardiac arrest due to electro-mechanical dissociation in a patient with variant angina -- a case report].

We present a case of a 44-year-old male with recurrent episodes of cardiac arrest in the course of Prinzmetal's angina. Episodes of variant angina can be life threatening due to episodes of advanced atrioventricular block, asystole, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It has been suggested to implant an ICD in all patients with variant angina after cardiac arrest.

[Percutaneous coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction in elderly patients].

Background: Over 1/3 of all patients treated for acute myocardial infarction are elderly (over 70 years of age). Blood flow restoration in the infarct-related artery is a fundamental therapeutic strategy, however reperfusion therapy is rarely used in the elderly as compared with younger groups. Mortality and complication rates are much higher in the elderly than in younger patients irrespective of the type of reperfusion therapy.

[Pheochromocytoma mimicking acute myocarditis].

Pheochromocytoma, a relatively rare (0.1-0.8% of hypertensives), catecholamine-secreting tumor, is almost always lethal unless recognised and appropriately treated.

[Is homocysteine a new factor in the pathogenesis of restenosis after percutaneous coronary angioplasty?].

Restenosis after coronary angioplasty is still a significant problem despite the dynamic development of intervention cardiology. Homocysteine causes endothelial dysfunction and disorders of the coagulation system, increases in platelets aggregation and stimulates the proliferation of the vascular smooth cell. These were the reasons for investigating the relation between homocysteine level and the risk of restenosis.

[Acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock treated with angioplasty of left main stenosis - two case reports].

Two patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock are described. Coronary angiography revealed subtotal left main stenosis. Both patients underwent successful primary coronary angioplasty.

[Cardiac tamponade as the first clinical manifestation of squamous cell carcinoma].

The case concerns a 56 year old male with the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, which clinically presented as a rapidly increasing cardiac tamponade. The patient underwent a pericardio-centesis. Due to the expansion of the process within the bronchus, the patient underwent chemotherapy according to the Taxol + Carboplatine scheme.