Effects of cardiac resynchronisation therapy in patients with heart failure having a narrow QRS Complex enrolled in PROSPECT.

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) in patients with severe symptomatic heart failure, depressed left ventricular (LV) systolic function and a wide QRS complex (>or=120 ms). However, patients with heart failure having a narrow QRS complex might also benefit from CRT. DESIGN SETTING PATIENTS INTERVENTIONS: During the Predictors of Response to Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (PROSPECT) trial, 41 patients were enrolled in a 'narrow' QRS sub-study.

Management of pregnant women with mechanical heart valve prosthesis: thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin.

Introduction: Pregnancy increases the risk of mechanical heart valve (MHV) thrombosis. Warfarin is protective, but implies risks to the fetus. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is less effective but does not harm the fetus.

[Thrombotic or embolic stroke?].

Background: Transoesophageal echocardiography reveals a possible source of embolism in many patients who present with acute brain ischaemia. The aim of this study was to observe the prevalence of possible sources of embolism in a representative Norwegian stroke population in a county hospital with a defined reference population.

Methods: All 103 patients with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack admitted to our hospital during a five-month period were enrolled.

[Low molecular heparin in a pregnant women with heart valve prosthesis].

Women with a prosthetic heart valve who wish to bear a child face a difficult choice. Continued medication with warfarin during pregnancy will offer her a reasonable good protection against thrombosis, but carries a considerable risk of teratogenic effects. Subcutaneously administered heparin is an alternative to warfarin.

[Surgical treatment of a tricuspid valve myxoma].

We report on a resection of a myxoma arising from the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve in a 62 year-old female. A tricuspid valvuloplasty was performed. At follow-up 27 months after surgery echo cardiography showed a normal tricuspid valve without any evidence of insufficiency.