A novel approach to quantification of aortic valve calcifications in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Precise calcium evaluation in the aortic complex may be complicated. We aimed to assess the usefulness of a novel semi-automatic algorithm for multi slice computed tomography-derived (MSCT) quantitative estimation of aortic valve calcifications (AVC) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: Ten patients with severe AS who underwent TAVI with Edwards Sapien S3 26 mm prosthesis and had a pre-procedural MSCT scan were included.

Intravascular ultrasound findings of the Fantom sirolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffold at six- and nine-month follow-up: the FANTOM II study.

Aims: FANTOM II is a prospective multicentre trial assessing the safety and efficacy of the Fantom sirolimus-eluting bioresorbable coronary scaffold (BRS). The present substudy focuses on the six- and nine-month IVUS findings.

Methods And Results: A total of 240 patients with de novo coronary artery lesions presenting with stable or unstable disease were included in two sequential cohorts (cohort A [n=117] and cohort B [n=123]) in which angiographic follow-up was performed at either six or nine months, respectively.

Psoriasis is an independent predictor of increased risk of allergic reaction during percutaneous coronary interventions. Big data analysis from the Polish National PCI Registry (ORPKI).

Background: The presence of psoriasis is currently considered by the European Society of Cardiology cardiovascular prevention guidelines of 2016 as one possible cardiovascular risk factor. Patients with psoriasis and concomitant coronary artery disease treated by means of percutaneous coronary interven-tion (PCI) are a fairly large subgroup of patients that have been usually omitted in mainstream research. The aim herein, was to identify the incidence of psoriasis, baseline characteristics and periprocedural outcome with a special focus on procedural complications in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary procedures.

New methods and techniques in interventional cardiology. Evaluation the knowledge of medical students of Jagiellonian University Medical College.

Introduction: Interventional cardiology (IC) is a rapidly expanding field of medicine. Medical studies should provide students the necessary level of knowledge about new techniques in IC. The aim of the study was to assess the medical students' knowledge about various new areas of IC.

Direct Absorb bioresorbable scaffold implantation in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Direct stent implantation is a preferred technique for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). For the deployment of a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS), the current guidelines recommend aggressive predilatation. Data about direct BVS implantation in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are scarce.

Impact of On-Site Surgical Backup on Periprocedural Outcomes of Primary Percutaneous Interventions in Patients Presenting With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (From the ORPKI Polish National Registry).

Conflicting data exist regarding the associations between on-site surgical backup and outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Thus, we sought to assess the impact of such a backup on periprocedural outcomes of primary PCI using data from the Polish National Registry of PCI. From 2014 to 2016 data on 66,707 patients presenting with STEMI undergoing primary PCI from 154 centers were collected.

The Tryton® dedicated bifurcation stent: Five-year clinical outcomes.

Aims: We report the first 5 year clinical follow-up data for the Tryton® bifurcation stent.

Methods And Results: Clinical outcomes at five years were collected from 8 centres. Non-hierarchical Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) and Major Adverse Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Events (MACCE) were collected.

Bailout rotational atherectomy in patients with myocardial infarction is not associated with an increased periprocedural complication rate or poorer angiographic outcomes in comparison to elective procedures (from the ORPKI Polish National Registry 2015-2016).

Introduction: Many years of experience and refinement of existing rotational atherectomy (RA) techniques have resulted in improved clinical outcomes and a tendency to broaden the spectrum of RA usage.

Aim: To compare the angiographic effectiveness and periprocedural complications in patients with stable angina (SA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated using RA.

Material And Methods: Data were prospectively collected using the Polish Cardiovascular Intervention Society national registry (ORPKI) on all percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed in Poland in 2015 and 2016.

Clinical outcomes in nonagenarians undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention: data from the ORPKI Polish National Registry 2014-2016.

Background: Despite an increase in the proportion of nonagenarians in demographic structure, there is still a paucity of data on the utilization and outcome of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) in this population. Also, very old patients are under-represented in randomized clinical trials and their treatment is still an emerging challenge. Thus, we sought to compare patient profiles and periprocedural outcomes of PCI in nonagenarians and patients younger than 90 years.

Intima-media thickness and ankle-brachial index are correlated with the extent of coronary artery disease measured by the SYNTAX score.

Introduction: The extent of peripheral artery disease (PAD) measured by the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and intima-media thickness (IMT) is correlated with the complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in stable angina patients. However, data regarding patients with acute coronary syndromes are still lacking.

Aim: To compare coronary complexity measured by the SYNTAX score in patients with and without PAD presenting with myocardial infarction (MI).

Usefulness of Psoas Muscle Area and Volume and Frailty Scoring to Predict Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Numerous scales were implemented for frailty assessment. However, limited evidence and recommendations for frailty tools for everyday clinical practice in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) exist. Thus, we aimed to determine the long-term predictive value of different frailty scores and objective assessment of sarcopenia by imaging techniques in patients after TAVI.

Treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome: Recommendations for medical emergency teams: Focus on antiplatelet therapies. Updated experts' standpoint.

A group of Polish experts in cardiology and emergency medicine, encouraged by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, have recently published common recommendations for medical emergency teams regarding the pre-hospital management of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Due to the recent publication of the 2017 ESC guidelines for the management of acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation and 2017 focused update on dual antiplatelet therapy in coronary artery disease the current panel of experts decided to update the previous standpoint. Moreover, new data coming from studies presented after the previous document was issued were also taken into consideration.

Predictors of periprocedural complications in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions within coronary artery bypass grafts.

Background: During the first decade following the coronary bypass grafting, at least ten percent of the patients require percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) due to graft failure. Saphenous vein grafts (SVG) are innately at a higher risk of periprocedural complications. The present study aimed to investigate predictors of periprocedural complications of PCI within coronary artery bypass grafts.

Efficacy and Safety of the HeartMate Percutaneous Heart Pump During High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (from the SHIELD I Trial).

This study aimed to evaluate the use of the HeartMate percutaneous heart pump, a catheter-based axial flow pump designed to provide partial left ventricular support, in patients who underwent high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients who are hemodynamically unstable, or at risk of being hemodynamically unstable, while undergoing PCI may require mechanical circulatory support. Fifty high-risk patients were enrolled in a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter, open-label trial.

Cardiac computed tomography compared with two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for the detection and assessment of atrial septal pouches.

The aim of this study is to compare the two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D-TEE) with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and with autopsied material to evaluate the ability and precision of the imaging methods for the detection and assessment of septal pouch (SP). One hundred and fifty patients that underwent both 2D-TEE and MSCT and 50 autopsied human hearts were investigated. In MSCT, the interatrial septum was classified as a left SP in 37.

Left-Sided Atrial Septal Pouch is a Risk Factor for Cryptogenic Stroke.

Background: The atrial septal pouch is an anatomic variant of the interatrial septum. The morphology of the left-sided septal pouch (LSSP) may favor blood stasis and predispose to thromboembolic events. The aim of this study was to determine the association between LSSP presence and cryptogenic stroke.

Mid-esophageal bicaval versus short-axis view of interatrial septum in two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for diagnosis and measurement of atrial septal pouches.

Background: Recent studies suggest that the left-sided septal pouch (SP) may increase the risk of cryptogenic stroke and act as an arrhythmogenic substrate. The aim of this study was to compare two transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) projections of the interventricular septum: mid-esophageal bicaval and short-axis views toward evaluating their ability to detect SPs.

Materials And Methods: A total of 146 patients with both bicaval and short-axis TEE views were included in this study.

Impact of Pre-procedural Cerebrovascular Events on Clinical Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an increasingly common treatment of symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis (AS). Thus, it is reasonable to carefully investigate the impact of individual clinical factors on outcomes after TAVI.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the impact of the previous cerebro-vascular events (CVEs) on outcomes of patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI.

Anatomy of the mitral subvalvular apparatus.

Objectives: To characterize morphologic variations in the papillary muscles and tendinous cords of the left ventricle and ventricular zones of the mitral valve leaflets.

Methods: A total of 100 autopsied human hearts from healthy donors with classical mitral valve type were investigated.

Results: In 1 heart, only 1 group of papillary muscles was found, and in the remaining 99%, we could distinguish 2 groups of muscles: Superolateral (SLPM) and inferoseptal papillary muscle (ISPM) groups.

Impact of previous cardiac surgery with sternotomy on clinical outcomes and quality of life after transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe aortic stenosis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has evolved as an effective treatment in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) and increased operative risk. Data on the influence of previous sternotomy on the risk of TAVI are limited.

Aim: We sought to investigate the effect of previous cardiac surgery with sternotomy on clinical outcomes and quality of life (QoL) after TAVI.