Catheter ablation vs. antiarrhythmic drug treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation: a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial (SARA study).

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) is a highly effective therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) when compared with antiarrhythmic drug therapy (ADT). No randomized studies have compared the two strategies in persistent AF. The present randomized trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of CA vs.

Brugada syndrome in a patient with accessory pathway.

Brugada syndrome in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. We report a 32-year-old man with orthodromic atrioventricular (AV) reciprocating tachycardia using a right posterior accessory pathway. However, his ECG showed ST segment elevation in leads V1 to V3.

[PRIMARY STENT IMPLANTATION IN AORTIC COARCTATION. MID-TERM FOLLOW-UP].

The use of balloon-expandable stents provides an effective alternative therapy in patients with stenotic lesions in congenital heart disease. Stents implantation has served to improve the results and to reduce complications of balloon angioplasty for coarctation and recoarctation of the aorta. AIM: We report our results after primary stents implantation for coarctation and recoarctation of the aorta.

[Primary stent implantation in aortic coarctation: mid-term follow-up].

Background: The use of balloon-expandable stents provides an effective alternative therapy in patients with stenotic lesions in congenital heart disease. Stents implantation has served to improve the results and to reduce complications of balloon angioplasty for coarctation and recoarctation of the aorta.

Objective: We report our results after primary stents implantation for coarctation and recoarctation of the aorta.

[Experience with Palmaz stent in pulmonary branch stenosis].

Introduction And Objectives: Since 1989, the balloon expandable Palmaz stent (Johnson & Johnson Interventional Systems) has been used for the treatment of congenital heart disease. This study reports the results and the technique used for its implantation in native and post surgical retraction pulmonary branch stenosis.

Materials And Methods: From february 1995 to june 1996, we have performed this technique in 11 symptomatic children/adolescents with pulmonary branch stenosis, the mean age was 11 +/- 2 years.

[Acute right ventricular insufficiency reversible following anthracycline treatment].

Anthracyclines are very effective antineoplastic agents for the treatment of acute leukemia. Early and late dose-related cardiotoxicity can occur. We present a 33 year old women who developed a reversible right heart failure fifteen days after receiving a treatment with doxorubicine.

[Angioplasty of the stenotic Blalock-Taussig].

Background: Balloon angioplasty is a useful therapeutic method in some congenital heart diseases. We show our experience of stenotic Blalock-Taussig angioplasty, which was effective in six cases.

Patients And Methods: Six symptomatic patients with different congenital heart diseases, reduced pulmonary blood flow and a previous Blalock-Taussig shunt (it was classic in three patients and modified in another three) underwent the procedure.

[Psoriasis and chronic vitamin A poisoning].

A case of a five year old girl who during a treatment with high doses of A and D vitamins prescribed for a long time because "psoriasis" is showed. Clinical, radiologic and biochemical symptomatology of chronic poisoning by vitamin A is proved. Authors want to draw attention to dangers of long use of vitamin A.

[Incidence, clinical, forms and complications of meningococcal infections (author's transl)].

Eighty four cases of meningococcal infections are reviewed. Fifty seven cases presented themselfs as meningococcal meningitis, twelve cases as sepsis with moderate hypotension and 15 cases were sepsis with septic shock. A brief course of the disease, shock, echymosis, absence of meningeal signs, leucopenia and intravascular coagulation were findings more frequent in the group of patients with hiperacute sepsis, whereas other signs as fever, headaches, vomiting and petechiae were present with equal frequency in the three groups.