Prognostic importance of the extent of coronary revascularisation in patients with acute coronary syndromes and multivessel disease: one-year prospective follow-up.

Background: Interventional treatment improves prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, despite introduction of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD) remains significant.

Aim: To evaluate the risk of complications and the prognostic value of MVD in patients with ACS during 1-year follow-up.

Combined hypotensive treatment with ≥ 3 hypotensive drugs in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation and arterial hypertension ensures more effective arrhythmia control than using less drugs.

Background: Combined arterial hypertension (AH) therapy ensures the effectiveness of treatment and improves haemodynamic parameters of cardiac function.

Aim: The evaluation of therapeutic regimens in the prevention of recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes in hypertensive patients with paroxysmal/persistent forms of AF.

Methods: Prospective observation included patients (n = 164), without and with AH, grade I and II, with paroxysmal (51.

Successful primary coronary angioplasty improves early and long-term outcomes in ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes in patients above 80 years of age.

Background: ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients above 80 years of age continues to be a therapeutic challenge. Patients in this age group are rarely included in randomised clinical trials.

Aim: Comparison of the effectiveness and safety of STEMI management in octogenarians in hospitals with a 24-hour percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capability and hospitals without PCI access.

Effect of combined spironolactone-β-blocker ± enalapril treatment on occurrence of symptomatic atrial fibrillation episodes in patients with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (SPIR-AF study).

Angiotensin II and aldosterone are key factors responsible for the structural and neurohormonal remodeling of the atria and ventricles in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiarrhythmic effects of spironolactone compared to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with recurrent AF. A cohort of 164 consecutive patients (mean age 66 years, 87 men), with an average 4-year history of recurrent AF episodes, was enrolled in a prospective, randomized, 12-month trial with 4 treatment arms: group A, spironolactone, enalapril, and a β blocker; group B, spironolactone and a β blocker; group C, enalapril plus a β blocker; and group D, a β blocker alone.

Success rate of transvenous left ventricular lead implantation for cardiac resynchronisation therapy - recent experience of a single centre.

Background: Implantation of a left ventricular (LV) lead for cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) may be challenging. Wider use of various implantation techniques increases the success rate of CRT.

Aim: Short-term analysis of the success rate of transvenous LV lead implantation for CRT.

High concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptide and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with paroxysmal/persistent atrial fibrillation as possible markers of conversion into permanent form of arrhythmia: 1-year prospective evaluation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may cause electrical and structural atrial remodelling, leading to progression from paroxysmal to permanent form of arrhythmia. Predictors of such a transition have not yet been well established.

Aim: To assess the role of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and left ventricular (LV) diastolic impairment in prediction of progression from paroxysmal/persistent AF to permanent AF.

High monthly temperature as a possible risk factor of local vascular bleeding complications during percutaneous coronary interventions evaluated by ultrasonography - retrospective analysis.

Background: Bleeding complications are a very important issue in the era of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Effective antiplatelet therapy increases the rate of successful interventions but the risk of bleeding complications, among them local vascular complications, may be higher. Other factors may also be important in the development of local bleeding complications.

ACE inhibitor therapy: Possible effective prevention of new-onset atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aims of the study were to assess possible predictors and identify modes of prevention of new-onset AF following coronary surgery.

Methods: Retrospective clinical and statistical analysis was made of the medical records of 217 patients who had undergone coronary surgery.

Pre-hospital delay of treatment in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: experience of cardiac centre located in the vicinity of the centre of Warsaw.

Background: Early reperfusion therapy with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves left ventricular function and reduces mortality.

Aim: To assess the time delay in treatment of patients with STEMI referred to a twenty-four-hour interventional centre located in the vicinity of the centre of Warsaw.

Methods: We analysed 350 consecutive STEMI patients admitted to our Department between October 2005 and September 2006.

Is coronary vein angioplasty necessary to provide cardiac resynchronization in selected patients? A case report.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become a recommended method for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and cardiac dyssynchrony. In some cases, CRT implantation procedure can be complicated because of anatomic and technical reasons. Some reports describe balloon angioplasty of stenotic heart veins as a method to achieve the target vessel.

Primary coronary intervention in diabetic octogenarians with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have higher mortality risk than non-diabetic patients. No data are available on long-term results of interventional treatment of ACS in diabetic patients aged > or =80 years.

Aim: To compare the effects of primary angioplasty (pPCI) on short- and long-term outcome in diabetic patients > or =80 years with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared to those without diabetes mellitus (DM) of similar age.

Femoral rather than carotid artery ultrasound imaging predicts extent and severity of coronary artery disease.

Background: Pathological, epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that there is coexistence between peripheral vascular disease and coronary artery disease (CAD). B-mode ultrasound of superficial arteries is a non-invasive, valid and reproducible method of directly visualising and assessing carotid and femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) and focal atherosclerosis.

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic importance of carotid and femoral vascular changes in predicting CAD severity.