[Whether to implant a defibrillator or not? The Possibility of Using the MADIT-ICD Benefit Score Calculator in Real Practice].

Aim: To study the predictive capabilities of the MADIT-ICD Benefit Score calculator in assessing the benefit of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) placement for the primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Material And Methods: This study included 388 patients with NYHA II-IV functional class chronic heart failure (CHF) with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35 % who underwent ICD placement for the primary prevention of SCD. Patients were followed up for two years to record the endpoints of first-time paroxysmal sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) or non-arrhythmic death.

Echocardiographic Predictors of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Patients With Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implanted for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death. Results From a two-Year Prospective Follow-up Study.

Aim      To compare variables of transthoracic EchoCG for determining echocardiographic predictors and their prognostic role in the development of persistent paroxysmal ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT) in patients with ischemic CHF who had been implanted with a cardioverter defibrillator (CD) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death.Material and methods  This single-site prospective study included 176 patients with CHF of ischemic origin aged 58.7±7.

Clinical Predictors of Occurrence of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Patients with Reduced Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction. Results of Single-Center Prospective Study.

Aim      To evaluate the diagnostic significance of clinical and demographic parameters for predicting a 2-year probability of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT) in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (CHFrLVEF).Material and methods  This single-center, prospective cohort study included 175 patients with CHFrLVEF who were implanted with a cardioverter defibrillator (CD). The endpoint was a CD-detected episode of VT.

Ligation of Left Atrial Appendage during Off-Pump Coronary Surgery.

Objective: The main purpose of this article is to evaluate an impact of epicardial ligation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) on the development of ischemic stroke and mortality.

Methods: From 2009 to 2013, a total of 125 patients (86.4% men, mean age 64 ± 7 years, 95% confidence interval: 61-65 years) received a combined OPCAB and LAA ligation because of coronary artery disease and AF.

Arguments to Apply Epinephrine for Pocket Hematoma Reduction. The MAITRE Study.

Pocket hematoma (PH) is a common complication of implantations of cardiac electrophysiological devices with occurring at a particularly high rate in patients on oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet treatment. Different pharmacological agents with hemostatic effect are used to avoid PH. We supposed that the vasoconstrictor effects of epinephrine may reduce bleeding extent and be effective in prevention of PH.