Mechanical extraction of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads with a dwell time of more than 10 years: insights from a single high-volume centre.

Aims: To analyze and compare the effectiveness and safety of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads with a dwell time of >10 years (Group A) vs. younger leads (Group B) using mechanical extraction systems.

Methods And Results: Between October 2011 and July 2022, we performed TLE in 318 patients.

Indications for transvenous lead extraction and its procedural and early outcomes in elderly patients: a single-center experience.

Introduction: Due to the prolonged survival of patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, leads often need to be removed in elderly individuals.

Objectives: We aimed to analyze indications for transvenous lead extraction (TLE), procedure effectiveness and safety, as well as 30‑day follow‑up in younger patients (≤80 years) and octogenarians (>80 years).

Patients And Methods: This prospective study included 667 patients who underwent TLE: 90 octogenarians (13.

Effectiveness and safety of transvenous extraction of single- versus dual-coil implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads at single-center experience.

The available literature lacks data concerning direct comparison of the effectiveness and safety of single- versus dual-coil implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads transvenous extraction. Certainly, additional shocking coil in superior vena cava adds to the amount of metal in the vascular system. Adhesions developing around the superior vena cava coil add to the difficulty of extraction of ICD lead if lead removal is required.

Transvenous extraction of very old (over 20-year-old) pacemaker leads using mechanical systems: Effectiveness and safety.

Objective: To analyze and compare the effectiveness and safety of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) with mechanical systems of pacing leads older than 20 years (group A) versus younger leads (group B).

Methods: We performed TLE of 591 pacing leads in 377 patients. Fifty (8.

The analysis of indications and early results of transvenous lead extraction in patients with a pacemaker, ICD and CRT - single-center experience.

Introduction: Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) is a recognized method of treatment in the case of permanent stimulation complication.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyse the indications and presentation of the early experience of TLE procedures in a group of patients with old pacing systems.

Patients And Methods: Patients with a relevant history of stimulation (at least 12 months in case of a pacemaker) qualified for the research.

Clinical outcomes in patients after surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (minithoracotomy and ministernotomy) have become a valuable alternative to conventional surgical treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS) in high-risk patients.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate long-term results and complications in patients with symptomatic AS treated with TAVI, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), minithoracotomy, or ministernotomy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 173 patients with symptomatic AS were enrolled to the study between the years 2011 and 2013.

Atrial septal defect surgery in adults--populational and epidemiological analysis.

Unlabelled: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart diseases found in adolescents and adults. Shunt may lead to serious further complications, such as pulmonary hypertension and right heart chambers overload. The aim of this study was the analysis of the population of adult patients with ASD together with the frequency of the annuloplasty tricuspid ring implantation in ASD II and the necessity of anterior mitral valve cusp suturing due to the cleft accompanying ASD I.

The risk of cholelithiasis in patients after heart transplantation.

Introduction: Extended immunosuppressive treatment in patients after heart transplantation modifies etiopathogenesis and occurrence of many diseases in this population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency and to define risk factors for cholelithiasis after heart transplantation (HTX).

Material And Methods: The study population consisted of 176 subjects.

[Comparison of echocardiographic findings in AVS patients with and without high IgG, IgM, IgA titers against Chlamydia pneumoniae during 12 months' observation of AVS natural course].

Aim: Comparison of echocardiographic findings in AVS patients with and without high IgG, IgM, IgA titers against Chlamydia pneumoniae during 12 months' observation of AVS natural course.

Patients: 60 AVS patients who did not agree for operational treatment were divided into group A (30 patients with high IgG titer) group B (30 patients with low IgG titer), group C (22 patients with high IgA titer) group D (38 patients with low IgA titer), group E (7 patients with high IgM titer), group F (53 patients with low IgA titer) Antibodies titers and echocardiographic scans were carried out every 12 months.

Results: There were more (p < 0.

[Body mass index influence on aortic valve stenosis].

Aim: The 12 months' observation of body mass index (BMI) influence on natural course of aortic valve stenosis (AVS).

Patients: 60 AVS patients who did not agree for operational treatment were divided into group A (n = 15) with BMI 20-25, group B (n = 27) with BMI 25,01-30 and group C BMI > 30.

Methods: Plasma Lp(a), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) as well as titers of immunoglobulin (Ig) class G, A, M against chlamydia pneumoniae were measured every 12 months.

[One year observation of natural course of aortic valve stenosis in patients with normal and abnormal lipoprotein (a) plasma level].

Aim: The observation of natural course of aortic valvae stenosis (AVS) in patients with high lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)].

Patients: 60 AVS patients who did not agree for operational treatment were divided into group A (n = 19) with high serum Lp(a) level and into group B (n = 41) with normal plasma Lp(a) level.

Methods: Plasma Lp(a), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) as well as titers of immunoglobulin (Ig) class G, A, M against chlamydia pneumoniae were measured every 12 months.

[Natural course of aortic valve stenosis in patients with normal and abnormal lipid profile].

Aim: Comparison of echocardiographic findings in AVS patients with and without hypercholesterolemia during 12 months' observation of AVS natural course.

Patients: 60 AVS patients who did not agree for operational treatment were divided into group A (n = 47) with high serum total cholesterol and into group B (n = 13) with normal plasma cholesterol.

Methods: plasma total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, tri-glycerides and lipoprotein (a) were measured every 12 months and echocardiographic evaluation of aortic valve was also done every 12 months.

Architecture of intraluminal thrombus removed from abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Little is known about architecture of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We present a 74-year-old woman with AAA and high cardiovascular risk. Scanning electron microscopy of ILT removed during surgery showed that its luminal layer is relatively rich in fibrin fibers forming irregular compact structure with low amounts of erythrocytes and platelets, while abluminal portion is composed of densely packed fibrin with caniculi.

Sutureless aortic valve bioprothesis '3F/ATS Enable'--4.5 years of a single-centre experience.

Background: Management of patients with acquired heart malformations, including aortic valve disease, is still challenging. Due to ageing of population, patients undergoing valve surgery are older than in the past. The 3F Therapeutics, conducting a programme of construction of heart valves for transarterial or transapical implatation, prepared the 'Enable' bioprosthetic valve for sutureless insertion in the aortic position.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia pacemaker endocarditis in a patient with d-transposition of the great arteries after atrial switch procedure.

We report a case of pacemaker endocarditis due to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in a 22-year-old Caucasian man with d-transposition of the great arteries after atrial switch procedure. S.maltophilia isolated from blood cultures was susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and amikacin, and resistant to ciprofloxacin and all tested β-lactam antibiotics.

Age effect on human aortic valvular glycoproteins.

Background: The aortic valve has been the subject of many hemodynamic studies but, to our knowledge, posttranslational modification of human valve proteins has not yet been studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether any age-related changes in the protein composition of normal human aortic valves and their glycosylation pattern could be observed.

Methods: Aortic valves harvested from male cadaveric donors free of cardiovascular diseases were divided into four age groups: I, mean age 21 years; II, 30 years; III, 41 years; IV, 51 years.

[Low ejection fraction as risk factor after aortic valve replacement].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study is to estimate the operative risk of aortic valve replacement for severe aortic valve stenosis in patients with distinctly impaired left ventricular function (ejection fraction below 40%). From the population of 2512 pts, who underwent aortic valve replacement in the years 1990 to 1999 because of acquired malformation, a group of 108 pts (4.3%), fulfilling the above mentioned conditions was selected.

[Surgical treatment of mitral valve malformations--25 years of experience].

During a period of 25 years (1979-2004), 24060 operations with extracorporeal circulation were performed. Of them 9536 (39.6%) were valvular procedures and 763 were combined with coronary bypass grafting.