Percutaneous Closure of Post-Infarction Ventricular Septal Defects-An Over Decade-long Experience.

Objectives: To report an over decade-long experience with percutaneous post-infarction ventricular septal defect (PIVSD) closure.

Background: PIVSDs remains a major clinical challenge with extremely high mortality. Data concerning interventional closure of PIVSD is scarce.

The Early Effect of Carotid Artery Stenting on Antioxidant Capacity and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis.

The treatment of carotid artery stenosis is associated with the risk of complications, which may include stroke after carotid artery stenting (CAS) and myocardial infarction after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The imbalance between prooxidative mechanisms and antioxidant capacity creates a milieu of factors, which may increase the risk of complications after endovascular procedures. We have examined 43 consecutive patients with carotid artery stenosis.

[Acute myocardial infarction mimicking takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a patient with myocardial bridging].

The authors present a case of a 70-year-old woman in whom clinical picture of an acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation was suggestive of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). Chest pain, extensive ECG changes and typical TC left ventricular contraction pattern were preceded by emotional and physical stress, while in coronary angiography no atherosclerotic lesions were found. There was however left anterior descending coronary artery myocardial bridging with total systolic compression.

[Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a consequence of gastrointestinal disorder--a case preceded by exacerbation of gastroesophageal reflux disease].

The etiology of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), defined as a transient left ventricular dysfunction in the absence of significant coronary artery stenoses, still reminds unclear. Its onset is often associated with emotional stress or progression in the course of various disorders (including gastrointestinal ones), miscellaneous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. We describe a case of a 67-year-old man, in whom severe left ventricular function impairment, completely reversible after a week, was observed during hospitalization for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) exacerbation.

Clinical safety and efficacy of a novel thin-strut cobalt-chromium coronary stent system: results of the real world Coroflex Blue Registry.

Objectives: The aim of this registry was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the Coroflex Blue cobalt-chromium stent in real-world practice.

Background: The development of cobalt-chromium bare-metal stents (BMS) with thinner struts has lead to better deliverability and lower target-lesion revascularization rates compared with stainless steel BMS.

Methods: The Coroflex Blue Registry was an international, prospective, multicenter registry enrolling patients with symptomatic ischemic heart disease attributable to single de novo or restenotic nonstented lesions of a single vessel amenable for percutaneous stenting.

Late coronary intervention for totally occluded left anterior descending coronary arteries in stable patients after myocardial infarction: Results from the Occluded Artery Trial (OAT).

Background: We analyzed a prespecified hypothesis of the Occluded Artery Trial (OAT) that late percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the infarct-related artery (IRA) would be most beneficial for patients with anterior myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Two thousand two hundred one stable, high-risk patients with total occlusion of the IRA (793 left anterior descending [LAD]) on days 3 to 28 (minimum of 24 hours) after MI were randomized to PCI and stenting with optimal medical therapy (1,101 patients) or to optimal medical therapy alone (1,100 patients). The primary end point was a composite of death, recurrent MI, or hospitalization for class IV heart failure.

[Multiple left descending artery fistulas drained into left ventricle--a case report].

We present a case of a 65-year-old male with multiple coronary artery fistulas draining into left ventricle.

Successful coronary stent retrieval from the renal artery.

Coronary stent loss and its migration is one of complications of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). We present a case of successful retrieval of a coronary stent which moved initially to the left renal artery. Subsequently the stent was lost again and migrated to the left deep femoral artery, while an attempt was made at its retrieval with a snare loop from the renal artery.

Noninvasively assessed pulsatility of ascending aortic pressure waveform is associated with the presence of coronary artery narrowing.

Several hemodynamic indices, measured invasively in the ascending aorta during routine angiography, are related to the presence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Radial artery tonometry, when combined with a validated transfer function, offers the possibility of noninvasive assessment of central arterial pressure. We aim to evaluate the association between noninvasive indices of aortic or radial pressure waveforms and the presence of a significant coronary stenosis.

Endothelial function and baroreflex sensitivity according to the oral glucose tolerance test in patients with coronary artery disease and normal fasting glucose levels.

Endothelial dysfunction and reduced BRS (baroreflex sensitivity) may be present in patients with CAD (coronary artery disease). The normal fasting glucose level does not exclude abnormal glucose metabolism in patients with CAD. The aim of present study was to evaluate endothelial function and BRS according to glucose metabolism in patients with normal fasting plasma glucose and stable CAD subjected to PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty).

[Surgery for massive pulmonary embolism following coronary angioplasty--a case report].

A case of a 49-year-old female with acute coronary syndrome is presented. The patient underwent coronary angioplasty with stent implantation. Due to the recurrence of pain and dyspnea a repeated coronary angiography was performed 3 hours later which confirmed good result of angioplasty.