Effects of preoperative aspirin in coronary artery bypass grafting: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

Objective: This trial was undertaken to determine the safety and efficacy of preoperative aspirin administration in a contemporary cardiac surgical practice setting.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, single-center trial involved patients with stable coronary artery disease who were assigned to receive either 300 mg of aspirin or placebo the night before coronary bypass surgery. Using a random digit table, patients were allocated to receive the tablet from 1 of the 40 coded bottles containing either aspirin or placebo.

Cardiac myxoma - clinical presentation and long-term post-operative follow-up.

Background: Myxoma is the commonest cardiac neoplasm. Due to varying symptomatology, its diagnosis can prove difficult. It is agreed to have an excellent prognosis.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with relatively recent previous stent implantation: three years follow-up results.

Background: An increasing number of patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) have a history of coronary stent implantation. This study aims to assess perioperative and medium-term follow-up outcomes in patients in whom CABG was preceded by coronary stent implantation within two years before operation.

Methods: One hundred and sixty two patients undergoing CABG after previous stent placement (PCI + CABG group) were compared to 149 who had CABG without PCI in the past (CABG group).

Invasive treatment of coronary artery disease in octogenarians.

Introduction: There are many patients aged over 80 years among those hospitalised for coronary artery disease (CAD). The unanswered question is whether invasive treatment of such patients is effective and safe.

Aim: To assess and compare one-year clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and surgical coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients aged over 80 years and in younger patients.

[Mediastinal abscess as a remote complication of CABG combined with temporary cardiac pacing--a case report].

A case of a 74 year old patient with a history of CABG with temporary epicardial cardiac pacing, is described. Five years later the patient developed wound infection. Computerised tomography revealed the presence of mediastinal abscess containing surgical material.

Effect of coronary artery bypass graft in patients with unstable angina on left ventricular remodelling in medium-term follow-up.

Introduction: Left ventricular remodelling is a process of change in size, shape, wall thickness and heart function, initiated by a noxious stimulus such as ischaemia. Methods of pharmacological and surgical inhibition or reversal of remodelling are being sought.

Aim: To assess the influence of coronary artery bypass grafting on echocardiographic measures of left ventricular size and shape in medium-term follow-up.

The new Polish stent Chopin. Assessment of safety and efficacy in the treatment of de-novo coronary lesions using percutaneous angioplasty.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) using the new Polish stent "Chopin" (Balton, Poland).

Methods: The study consisted of experimental and clinical parts. In the experimental phase, the new stent was implanted into 5 pigs and control coronary angiography as well as intracoronary ultrasonography (ICUS) were performed 30 days later.

[Pulmonary embolism in a patient with unstable angina treated with surgical revascularisation--a case report].

A case of a 58-year-old female patient with unstable angina is presented. Two weeks earlier the patient suffered from acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis. The patient underwent surgical revascularisation which was complicated by acute pulmonary embolism.

[In-stent thrombosis following coronary artery by-pass grafting - a case report].

A case of a 60 year old male with a history of myocardial infarction treated with coronary angioplasty with stent implantation, who was admitted to the hospital for coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG), is presented. The post-operative course was complicated by new acute MI due to the in-stent thrombosis. The patient received aspirin and ticlopidine, and underwent intra-aortic balloon pumping followed-by an effective coronary angioplasty of the infarct-related coronary artery.