Implementation of Microcirculation Examination in Clinical Practice-Insights from the Nationwide POL-MKW Registry.

The assessment of coronary microcirculation may facilitate risk stratification and treatment adjustment. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients' clinical presentation and treatment following coronary microcirculation assessment, as well as factors associated with an abnormal coronary flow reserve (CFR) and index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) values. This retrospective analysis included 223 patients gathered from the national registry of invasive coronary microvascular testing collected between 2018 and 2023.

A head-to-head comparison of wall motion score index, force, strain, and ejection fraction for the prediction of SYNTAX and Gensini coronary scores by dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Background: Predicting the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) may be possible during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) with various indices of left ventricular function.

Aims: We assessed the relative value of ejection fraction (EF), force, global longitudinal strain (GLS), and wall motion score index (WMSI) in predicting SYNTAX and Gensini scores in patients with known or suspected CAD.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 223 patients (120 men; mean [SD] age, 62 [9] years) and assessed the following indices: 1) EF (with triplane imaging); 2) force, calculated as the ratio of systolic blood pressure to left ventricular end‑systolic volume; 3) GLS; 4) WMSI.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the case of 72-year-old teacher after work-related psychological stress. Evolution of left ventricular longitudinal strain - Delayed but complete recovery in automated function imaging (AFI).

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is related to a transient systolic dysfunction of left ventricle (LV), accompanied by clinical and electrocardiographic symptoms of myocardial ischemia in the absence of hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is usually provoked by a psychologically or/and physically stressful event which may be related to occupational activities. Although visually assessed evolution of LV function is well documented, the data concerning strain changes is sparse and various patterns of deformation abnormalities are suggested.

The impact of various protective tools on the dose reduction in the eye lens in an interventional cardiology-clinical study.

The aim of the study was to check, in clinical practice, the potential for the dose reduction of lead eyewear and a ceiling-suspended shield used to protect the eye lens of physicians working in interventional cardiology. To this end, for the lead eyewear, the dose reduction factors were derived to correct the readings from a dosimeter used routinely outside the glasses. Four types of lead eyewear with attached loose thermoluminescent dosimeters and EYE-D dosimeters were worn by physicians in two clinical centres, for two-month periods, during coronary angiography (CA), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and pacemaker procedures.

Ultrasound evaluation of forearm arteries in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention via radial artery access: results of one-year follow-up.

Background: A proven advantage of radial over femoral arterial access has led to an increase in the number of interventions performed via radial artery access in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Both assessment of the pulse volume and the Allen's test are subjective and subject to investigator bias. An ultrasound examination of the forearm arteries provides important information about the anatomy of the forearm vessels, and indirectly also about the efficiency of collateral blood supply to the hand.

Advanced peripheral arterial disease in a 59-year-old man with suspected acute coronary syndrome and normal coronary angiogram.

Atherosclerosis is a systemic process with variable expression in different vascular beds. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is thought to be found in 12% of the age-adjusted population. Reasons for differential anatomic expression of atherosclerosis may involve the interplay between inflammation, shear stresses, flow characteristics, and other local factors.

Left anterior descending artery percutaneous coronary intervention via the left internal mammary artery in a 54-year-old type 1 diabetic woman: a case report.

Data on the treatment of left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis involving or localized distally to left internal mammary artery anastomosis are scarce and not homogeneous. Both surgery (CABG) and percutaneous interventions (PCI) have been attempted, but the most effective treatment has not yet been established. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman suffering from chronic, stable angina and diabetes type 1 successfully treated with percutaneous angioplasty of LAD via the left internal mammary artery with drug-eluting stent implantation with excellent short-term results.

Feasibility and correlation of standard 2D speckle tracking echocardiography and automated function imaging derived parameters of left ventricular function during dobutamine stress test.

Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a method of quantitative assessment of myocardial function complementary to ejection fraction and visual evaluation. Standard STE analysis, demands manual tracing of the myocardium whereas automated function imaging (AFI) offers more convenient (based on selection of three points) assessment of longitudinal strain. Nevertheless, feasibility and correlation between both methods were not thoroughly examined, especially during tachycardia at peak stage of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).

Characteristics, management and five-year outcomes of patients with high risk, stable multivessel coronary heart disease.

Background: Multivessel coronary artery disease (MCAD) is a common manifestation of advanced coronary atherosclerosis.

Aim: To determine the clinical characteristics and long term follow up prognostic factors in patients with high risk, stable MCAD from a single institution.

Methods: We included in the final analysis 270 patients with stable MCAD.

[Severe coronary artery disease in premenopausal woman with familial hypercholesterolaemia].

We present a case of a 51 year-old, premenopausal, non-smoker for many years woman with severe, two-coronary artery disease in the form of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and severe hypercholesterolaemia as the predominant risk factor. The first clinical diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia has been established at the time of diagnosis of ACS. Satisfactory effect of pharmacological treatment is achieved by a complex lipid-lowering therapy.

[A 59 year-old patient with acute anterolateral myocardial infarction, complicated by cardiogenic shock, with chest wall deformity caused by Heine-Medin disease].

We report a case of a 59 year-old patient in a condition of acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation, in a cardiogenic shock, with multiple cardiac arrests in mechanism of ventricular fibrillation with a significant chest wall deformity caused by Heine-Medin disease in childhood. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a patient in critical condition with a considerable pectus deformity after poliomyelitis who needed to undergo cardiovascular angioplasty. Although severe patient's condition and numerous difficulties during percutaneous coronary intervention, therapy was successful.

[Acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation in a 78 year-old woman caused by critical proximal right coronary artery stenosis with concomitant chronic total occlusion of left main coronary artery].

Total occlusion of the left main coronary artery is a rare finding at coronary angiography. When present, patients most often have extensive collateral circulation from the right coronary artery. The mainstay of treatment is surgical with coronary artery bypass grafting.

[Coronary steal syndrome in a patient with ST-elevation myocardial infarction one year after coronary bypass grafting].

Some patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in long term follow-up need consecutive reinterventions due to progression of atherosclerotic changes or degeneration of venous bypass grafts. A rare cause of the recurrence of angina after CABG operation is coronary artery steal syndrome. We demonstrate a case report of a 66 year-old man after CABG procedure with a condition of acute myocardial infarction induced by steal syndrome of the side branch of left internal mammary artery.

Influence of treatment strategy on serum adiponectin, resistin and angiogenin concentrations in patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease after one-year follow-up.

Background: Adiponectin and resistin, as well as the novel angiogenetic factor angiogenin, may be associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis. However, the available data are limited regarding adipocytokines and angiogenesis factors long-term serum concentration changes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Aim: To evaluate the treatment strategy-dependent changes in serum concentrations of adiponectin, resistin and angiogenin in patients with stable multivessel CAD (MCAD) and their association with cardiovascular events.

Elevated resistin opposed to adiponectin or angiogenin plasma levels as a strong, independent predictive factor for the occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease over 1-year follow-up.

Background: Adipokines such as adiponectin and resistin, as well as angiogenin, may be associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis. The relationship between their levels and prognosis in high risk patients is, however, still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of these adipokines in patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease (MCAD).

Relationship of serum angiogenin, adiponectin and resistin levels with biochemical risk factors and the angiographic severity of three-vessel coronary disease.

Background: Patients with advanced coronary artery disease (CAD) have an unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, early identification of this high-risk group is important. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters supported by novel atherogenesis and angiogenesis markers in identifying patients with stable, three-vessel coronary artery disease.

[Simultaneous subacute thrombosis in bare metal stents implanted into right coronary artery and left anterior descending artery without coexistence of resistance to antiplatelet therapy].

In-stent thrombosis is a rare but devastating complication of coronary stent implantation, occurring in 0.5% to 1.9% of patients with bare metal stents (BMS).

A coronary fistula diagnosed in the eighth decade of life: The utility of non-invasive methods in the selection of treatment approach.

A 77-year-old woman was referred to our Department of Cardiology because of exacerbation of chest pain and decreased exercise intolerance. No acute ischemic electrocardiography changes were seen in an electrocardiogram recorded on admission. An exercise test was terminated at 7 METS because of shortness of breath without evidence of ischemia.

Quality of life in high-risk patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease treated either medically or with coronary artery bypass graft surgery - 12-month follow-up.

Background: Treatment of chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis, usually leads to significant short-term improvement. Mid- and long-term results are not always as satisfactory. That is why improvement of quality of life should be the leading qualification criterion for invasive procedures, which sometimes carry a risk of complications.

Novel atherogenesis markers for identification of patients with a multivessel coronary artery disease.

Background: Patients with advanced coronary artery disease (CAD) have an unfovourable prognosis. Therefore, early identification of this high-risk group is important.

Aim: To asses the utility of clinical, electrographic and echocardiographic parameters, supported by novel atherogenesis markers, to identify patients with triple vessel coronary artery disease (CAD).