Effect of aortic valve stenosis on haemostasis is independent from vascular atherosclerotic burden.

Objective: The aim of study was to assess whether activation of blood coagulation and platelets is enhanced in aortic stenosis (AS) and if so, to determine factors that might modulate these processes.

Patients/methods: Seventy-five patients with AS (48 males, 27 females, aged 65+/-10 years) were enrolled in the study. A control group comprised 75 age- and sex-matched subjects.

Efficacy of intra-operative radiofrequency ablation in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation undergoing concomitant mitral valve replacement.

Background: Permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) is present before operation and persists after surgery in 30-40% of patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Using the maze procedure, 75-82% of patients can be cured of AF, but the procedure is difficult and long lasting. Percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation has emerged as an effective therapy for AF in recent years.

Brugada syndrome: From diagnosis to treatment.

Brugada syndrome is electrocardiographically characterised by ST segment elevation in right precordial leads and the occurrence of episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. It is also associated with a high risk of sudden death, which may be the first manifestation of the disease. Various mutations of SCN5A gene encoding for the cardiac sodium channel are among the proven causes of BS.

Submassive pulmonary embolism as a mask of acute coronary syndrome.

The paper presents a case of a 77-year-old man, who was admitted to hospital suffering from chest pain. The ECG showed horizontal ST segment depression in the V4-V6 leads. Non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome was diagnosed.

[Factors influencing thrombin generation measured as thrombin-antithrombin complexes levels and using calibrated automated thrombogram in patients with advanced coronary artery disease].

Introduction: Haemostatic factors play an important role in atherothrombosis. Thrombin generation is a crucial stage of blood coagulation.

Objectives: Comparison of different thrombin generation markers: thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) generation and calibrated automated thrombogram method (CAT).

[Causes of atrial fibrillation early after coronary artery bypass grafting].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to define the frequency of atrial fibrillation early after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and clinical risk factors for the development of atrial fibrillation in the post-operative course. The study population consisted of 1578 patients (1283 men and 295 women ranging in age from 25 to 85 years, mean age 59.373 +/- 8.

[Patients history following artificial aortic valve and pacemaker implantation].

Unlabelled: The follow-up of 22 patients (out of 31 patients after artificial aortic valve and pacemaker implantation between 1982 and 2001) have been evaluated. There were 15 men aged 30-76 (x=55) and 7 women aged 43-69 (x=59). Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was subsequently followed by pacemaker implantation (PI) after approximately 16 days.

[Atrial fibrillation in a long-term follow-up after mitral valve replacement].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to analyse cardiac rhythm after mitral valve replacement and to define pre-operative predictive factors for persistence of atrial fibrillation.

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of 76 consecutive pts (54 F, 22 M), mean age 54.8 +/- 8.

[Radiofrequency ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation undergoing mitral valve replacement].

The most frequent arrhythmia is an atrial fibrillation, which involves 10% of population over 70. The mortality in this group is 2 times higher than in general population. Moreover, if the atrial fibrillation co-exists with the rheumatic disease, the risk of the brain embolism is growing up 17 times.

[Asymptomatic carotid stenosis: ACS].

Asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) is the lesion located in the vicinity of the common carotid artery branching, without neurological symptoms caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain. Cerebrovascular diseases represent an important medical as well as social problem, since this is one of the leading causes of mortality and serious invalidity worldwide. Majority of brain insults are caused by stenosing atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid arteries.