Midseptal and Anteroseptal Accessory Pathway Ablation in Children.

The goal of this study is to document outcomes of ablation for high-risk accessory pathways in paediatrics using 3D mapping systems with minimal to zero fluoroscopy. It is a cross-sectional, multicentre study, conducted between 2013 and 2023, and involving four different centres in Hungary, Croatia, Kuwait, and Slovenia. A total of 128 procedures were performed on 111 patients.

Relative Bradycardia and Tachycardia and Their Associations with Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Relative-tachycardia (RT), a phenomenon of unproportionately high heart-rate elevation in response to fever, has been previously attributed to unfavourable outcomes in severe-inflammatory-response-syndrome (SIRS). Relative heart-rate to body-temperature ratio (RHR) and its prognostic associations in patients with severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not been investigated.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed heart-rate and body-temperature data at admission in patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 at a tertiary center from March 2020 to June 2021.

X-ray Doses in Relation to Body Mass, Indication, and Substrate During Pediatric Electrophysiological Procedures on the Heart.

The main goal of this study is to determine typical values of dose area product (DAP) and difference in the effective dose (ED) for pediatric electrophysiological procedures on the heart in relation to patient body mass. This paper also shows DAP and ED in relation to the indication, the arrhythmia substrate determined during the procedure, and in relation to the reason for using radiation. Organ doses are described as well.

Serum Fibrinogen and Renal Dysfunction as Important Predictors of Left Atrial Thrombosis in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: As has been shown previously, patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who have left atrial thrombus (LAT) also have elevated plasma concentrations of fibrinogen. In this study, we tried to determine if this is the consequence of a genetic trait and whether elevated concentrations of fibrinogen could be used to predict LAT in patients with AF.

Methods: We recruited 181 consecutive patients scheduled for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) or direct current cardioversion.

Remdesivir use in severe and critical COVID-19 patients might be associated with lower incidence of arterial thrombotic events.

Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and arterial thrombotic (AT) events are a striking feature of severe COVID-19, however, relationship of remdesivir use and the risk of thrombotic events is unknown and has not been investigated before.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 876 consecutive hospitalized severe and critical COVID-19 patients who were treated with remdesivir and compared them to 876 case-matched control patients. All patients were treated in our tertiary-level institution in period from 10/2020 to 6/2021.

DOAC Dipstick Testing Can Reliably Exclude the Presence of Clinically Relevant DOAC Concentrations in Circulation.

In certain clinical situations, it is necessary to determine whether clinically relevant plasma levels of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are present. We examined whether qualitative testing of DOACs in urine samples can exclude DOAC plasma concentrations of ≥30 ng/mL. This prospective single-center cohort study included consecutive patients treated with an oral direct factor Xa inhibitor (DXI) (apixaban,  = 31, rivaroxaban,  = 53) and direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) (dabigatran,  = 44).

Bone morphogenetic protein 1.3 inhibition decreases scar formation and supports cardiomyocyte survival after myocardial infarction.

Despite the high prevalence of ischemic heart diseases worldwide, no antibody-based treatment currently exists. Starting from the evidence that a specific isoform of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein 1 (BMP1.3) is particularly elevated in both patients and animal models of myocardial infarction, here we assess whether its inhibition by a specific monoclonal antibody reduces cardiac fibrosis.

Atrial appendages' mechanics assessed by 3D transoesophageal echocardiography as predictors of atrial fibrillation recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Although there are numerous studies reflecting predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence (AFR) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), data on atrial appendages' mechanics is scarce. This study aimed to assess atrial appendages' mechanics by 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimenssional (3D) transoesphageal echocardiography (TEE) and to explore its value to predict AFR after PVI.

Methods: Consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing first PVIwere analysed.

The influence of therapeutic hypothermia on the outcomes of cardiac arrest survivors: a retrospective cohort study.

Aim: To determine whether therapeutic hypothermia (TH) improves survival and neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients treated for OHCA with a return of spontaneous circulation admitted to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit from October 2000 until March 2019. Data were collected from medical archives.

Chromogenic anti-FXa assay calibrated with low molecular weight heparin in patients treated with rivaroxaban and apixaban: possibilities and limitations.

Introduction: Clinical application of rivaroxaban and apixaban does not require therapeutic monitoring. Commercial anti-activated factor X (anti-FXa) inhibition methods for all anti-FXa drugs are based on the same principle, so there are attempts to evaluate potential clinical application of heparin-calibrated anti-FXa assay as an alternative method for direct FXa inhibitors. We aimed to evaluate relationship between anti-FXa methods calibrated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and with drug specific calibrators, and to determine whether commercial LMWH anti-FXa assay can be used to exclude the presence of clinically relevant concentrations of rivaroxaban and apixaban.

LEFT VENTRICULAR LEAD PLACEMENT FOR PACING AND SENSING IN A PATIENT WITH ARRHYTHMOGENIC RIGHT VENTRICULAR CARDIOMYOPATHY UNDERGOING ICD IMPLANTATION.

We present a case of a 64-year-old female patient scheduled for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation due to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Dual coil, active fixation ICD lead was introduced through the axillary vein. More than 20 positions were changed in the right ventricle (RV) (outflow tract, high, mid and apical septum, infero-basal, apical and lateral wall).

High prevalence of hyperlipidaemia in patients with AV re-entry tachycardia and AV nodal re-entry tachycardia.

Diet rich in lipids and hyperlipidaemia increases incidence of atrial premature beats and all supraventricular arrhythmias. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of hyperlipidaemia in patients with AV re-entry tachycardia (AVRT) and AV nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT). We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, case-control study that included all consecutive patients for whom AVRT or AVNRT was confirmed during electrophysiology study.

ROUTINELY AVAILABLE BIOMARKERS AS LONG-TERM PREDICTORS OF DEVELOPING SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION IN COMPLETELY REVASCULARIZED PATIENTS WITH ACUTE ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and creatine kinase (CK) as long-term predictors of reduced systolic function in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with complete revascularization. This prospective study evaluated consecutive patients with acute STEMI who had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%) at admission with single-vessel disease and underwent complete revascularization. Blood samples were collected from admission to day 7.

Noninvasive Recanalization of a Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion.

Background: Spontaneous recanalization of a chronically occluded artery is rare and reported anecdotally.

Case Summary: We report a case of a patient with a chronically occluded right coronary artery, found on a coronary angiography performed due to acute ST elevation myocardial infarction with an occluded circumflex artery as a culprit lesion. Three months later, a follow-up angiography was performed and a recanalization of the occluded right coronary artery was detected.

Nutritional Considerations of Cardiovascular Diseases and Treatments.

Nutritional considerations of many chronic diseases are not fully understood or taken into consideration in everyday clinical practice. Therefore, it is not surprising that high proportion of hospitalized patients with cardiovascular diseases remains underdiagnosed with malnutrition. Malnourished patients have increased risk of poor clinical outcomes, complications rate, prolonged hospital stay, more frequent rehospitalizations, and lower quality of life.

Failure of Intracardiac Pacing After Fatal Propafenone Overdose: A Case Report.

Background: Propafenone is a sodium-channel blocker, class IC antiarrhythmic drug, frequently used to manage supraventricular dysrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation. We report a self mono-intoxication with propafenone.

Case Report: A 68-year-old woman presented with a decreased level of consciousness, hypotension, and electrocardiogram showing QRS widening with atrial asystole and extreme bradycardia < 20 beats/min.

The Role of Standard Echocardiographic Parameters in Endomyocardial Biopsy Proven Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Primary light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a plasma cell dyscrasia associated with the deposition of immunoglobulin-derived amyloid in multiple organs. In the heart, this results in an infiltrative cardiomyopathy, with increased left ventricular wall thickness, normal or decreased left ventricular (LV) cavity size and congestive heart failure. Cardiac involvement is a major determinant of prognosis of AL amyloidosis.

[MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AS A CONSEQUENCE OF CHILDHOOD POLYARTERITIS NODOSA – CASE REPORT].

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic vasculitis histologically characterized by necrotic lesions of small and medium- sized arteries occurring mostly in their bifurcations. PAN is a multi-organ disorder that affects numerous visceral arteries and leads to inflammation and necrosis, which may result in ischemia of vital organs. The etiology of the disease is unknown.

[Guidelines for diagnosis, therapy and follow up of Anderson-Fabry disease].

Fabry disease (Anderson-Fabry disease) is one of the most common lysosomal storage diseases (after Gaucher disease) caused by deficient activity of the α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) enzyme, which leads to progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in various cells, predominantly in endothelium and vascular smooth muscles, with multisystem clinical manifestations. Estimates of the incidence range from one per 40,000 to 60,000 in males, and 1:117,000 in the general population. Pain is usually the first symptom and is present in 60%-80% of affected children, as well as gastrointestinal disturbances, ophthalmologic abnormalities and hearing loss.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among college students and the influence of sport activity.

The present study asses the prevalence of depressive symptoms among college students in Split, Croatia, and positive influence of sport activity on decreasing the depression symptoms. Authors screened all 664 college students of the first year of study. All of them were over the 18 years and the mean age was 19.

Guidelines for diagnosis, therapy and follow up of Anderson-Fabry disease.

Fabry disease (Anderson-Fabry disease) is one of the most common lysosomal storage diseases (after Gaucher disease) caused by deficient activity of the alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A) enzyme, which leads to progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in various cells, predominantly in endothelium and vascular smooth muscles, with multisystem clinical manifestations. Estimates of the incidence range from one per 40,000 to 60,000 in males, and 1:117,000 in the general population. Pain is usually the first symptom and is present in 60%-80% of affected children, as well as gastrointestinal disturbances, ophthalmologic abnormalities and hearing loss.

The association of ventricular tachycardia and endothelial dysfunction in the setting of acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation.

Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is frequently seen in ischemic settings like acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (STEMI). Endothelial dysfunction (ED) represents inflammation and the loss of all protective features of the endothelium. We aimed to examine the association between VT and ED in patients with STEMI.