Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion procedures in patients with heart failure.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) may be considered for stroke prophylaxis in patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF), especially in contraindications for oral anticoagulants (OAC) or high risk of bleeding. The data about implantation, safety, efficacy, and follow-up are limited.

The Impact of Routine Angiographic Follow-Up in a Population of Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Within the Left Main Coronary Artery.

Prognostic value of angiographic follow-up in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) still remains uncertain. The aim of the study was to compare clinical characteristics, mortality, and major cardiovascular events in patients with versus without angiographic follow-up after PCI of the LMCA as well as to identify independent risk factors for death after PCI of the LMCA. Study population consisted of 217 patients of 290 consecutive participants who underwent PCI of the LMCA and subsequently were divided into 2 groups: angiographic follow-up group (angio FU group, n = 155) and clinical follow-up group (clinical FU group, n = 62).

Quality of life in cardiac resynchronization recipients: association with response and impact on outcome.

Background: The prognostic impact of improvement in health-related quality of life (QoL) and its relation to response in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) recipients remains unknown.

Aim: To assess the correspondence between response to CRT and improvements in QoL and to verify if a change in QoL after pacing influences outcome in CRT patients.

Methods: Ninety-seven participants of the Triple-Site Versus Standard Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Trial (TRUST CRT) randomized trial, in New York Heart Association class III-IV, QRS width ≥ 120 ms, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35%, and significant mechanical dyssynchrony were included.

Prognostic significance of HbA1c in patients with AMI treated invasively and newly detected glucose abnormalities.

Background: Glucose abnormalities are frequent comorbidities influencing prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate prognostic role of HbA1c in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated invasively, who had newly detected glucose abnormalities.

Design: Single-centre registry encompassed 2146 survivors of AMI.

Ostial stenosis of the left main coronary artery as the result of the previous percutaneous coronary intervention on the left coronary artery.

A 76-year-old patient was admitted to hospital due to recurrent chest pain. Angiography revealed multivessel coronary artery disease with significant stenosis in medial and distal parts of the left main coronary artery (LMCA). Two drug-eluting stents (DES) were implanted from the medial part of the LMCA to the proximal part of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery.