Pregnancy as a predictor of deviations from the recommended diagnostic pathway in women with suspected pulmonary embolism: ZATPOL registry data.

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a leading cause of mortality in pregnancy and a great diagnostic challenge. Deviations from the recommended diagnostic pathway in suspected PE contribute to greater mortality in the general population. The deviations from the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for diagnosis of PE were analyzed, with particular emphasis on pregnant women with suspected PE.

Influence of left atrial size on the outcome of pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent sustained supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is one of the options used to prevent the recurrence of AF. Despite thorough studies, the relation between left atrial (LA) size and the results of RF ablation remains controversial.

In-hospital major bleeding predicts mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism: an analysis of ZATPOL Registry data.

Background: There are no data on the association between in-hospital bleeding and mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE).

Objectives: To assess whether in-hospital major bleeding predicts in-hospital and 90-day mortality in patients with PE confirmed objectively using validated diagnostic criteria.

Methods: ZATPOL is a prospective national registry of consecutive patients with suspected PE admitted to 86 cardiology departments across Poland from January 2007 to September 2008.

Serum EPO and VEGF levels in patients with sleep-disordered breathing and acute myocardial infarction.

Background: A high level of endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) may be associated with a smaller infarct size determined by the release of necrosis markers. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In contrast, protective effects of SDB have also been described.

Transesophageal real time three-dimensional echocardiography in assessment of partial atrioventricular septal defect.

We present a practical application of real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in a 67-year-old male patient with congenital heart disease.