Publications by authors named "Lukasz Kownacki"

We present a case of a 67-year-old female with proximal chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), disqualified from pulmonary endarterectomy due to multiple comorbidities and high risk-to-benefit ratio as assessed by multidisciplinary CTEPH team. She was referred for balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) and underwent three sessions with balloon catheters up to 8 mm diameter. During the second procedure, the elastic recoil phenomenon was observed in the treated post-thrombotic lesion of the right lower lobe artery, which made the balloon angioplasty ineffective.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Percutaneous pulmonary interventions require extensive and accurate navigation planning and guidance, especially in regard to the three-dimensional (3D) relationships between anatomical structures. In this study, we are demonstrating the feasibility of novel visualization techniques: 3D printing (3DP) and augmented reality (AR) in planning transcatheter pulmonary interventions.

Methods: Two patients were qualified for balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) for treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and stent implantation for pulmonary artery stenosis, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Backround: Restoration of blood flow in epicardial coronary artery in patients with acute myocardial infarction can, but does not have to restore efficient blood flow in coronary circulation. The aim of the study was a direct comparison of microvascular obstruction (MVO) detected by rest and stress perfusion imaging and gadolinium enhancement obtained 2 min. (early MVO) and 15 min.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Islets and pancreas transplantation have become standard treatments of patients with diabetic complications. However pancreas transplantation is associated with high incidence of complications and the long-term results of islet transplantation are still unsatisfactory. Loss of pancreatic islets grafts is caused not only by immunological reactions but also due to the site of grafting and IBMIR.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Danon disease is a rare X-linked dominant lysosomal glycogen storage disease that can lead to severe ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure. We report a case of Danon disease with cardiac involvement evaluated with cardiovascular magnetic resonance, including late gadolinium enhancement and perfusion studies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium is a recently recognized genetic cardiomyopathy. The left ventricle is the most affected site, but right ventricular involvement has been reported in some cases. Diagnosis is made with 2-dimensional echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF