Extraction of a 6-year-old leadless pacemaker (MICRA transcatheter pacing system) using commercially available removal tools: A case report.

Introduction: Leadless pacemakers are associated with a low risk of infection, so indications for their removal are rare. One can expect that the dwell time of the device correlates with a more difficult removal, but it has not been proved so far.

Methods And Results: We present a case of a patient in whom MICRA transcatheter pacing system was successfully removed with nondedicated commercially available tools, 70 months after implantation.

Complications of cardiac resynchronization therapy implantation: De novo implants versus upgrades.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a well-established treatment of patients with advanced heart failure and electrical dyssynchrony. Implantation of those devices is in some cases associated with intervention on a formerly implanted system. The aim of this analysis was to compare the rate and type of complications of de novo implants and upgrades to CRT-D.

Follow-up and characteristics of recipients of cardiac resynchronization therapy with and without a defibrillator.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and pacemaker (CRT-P) are treatment options for patients with advanced heart failure and electrical dyssynchrony. Current guidelines provide only factors favoring, not specific recommendations as to implant CRT-D or CRT-P. This analysis aimed to compare and contrast populations of CRT-D and CRT-P recipients.

Shortening baroreflex delay in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients -- an unknown effect of β-blockers.

Aims: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and impaired diastolic and systolic function. Abnormal sympathetic-parasympathetic balance is a potential stimulus for left ventricular hypertrophy in HCM patients. β-Blockers are routinely used in HCM for their strong negative inotropic effect; however, these drugs also influence the sympathetic-parasympathetic balance.

Late proarrhythmia on sotalol therapy triggered by emotional stress.

We present a case of significant QTc prolongation with torsade de pointes in a female patient with a DDD pacemaker, who had been treated with an established dose of sotalol for two years. The most probable trigger factor of this adverse event was a strong emotional stress. The discontinuation of treatment with sotalol resulted in clinical recovery and QTc normalisation.

Leptin and inflammation in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: There is an increasing interest in the role of leptin in cardiovascular pathophysiology, including proinflammatory effects. Many studies have reported elevated leptin levels in non-cachectic patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), however, the role of leptin in CHF remains unclear.

Aim: To assess the relationship between leptin levels in patients with CHF and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in relation to ventilatory response to exercise and hsCRP levels.

Oxygen uptake efficiency slope correlates with brain natriuretic peptide in patients with heart failure.

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is a well-established tool for clinical and prognostic assessment of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Recently, a new parameter of this examination--oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES)--has been described and proposed as a new prognostic factor in patients with CHF. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is an established prognostic factor in CHF.

[Fascicular tachycardia - a rare case of ventricular tachycardia].

It is described a case of an 18 years old woman admitted to the hospital with tachycardia 160/min. Drugs routinely used for supraventricular arrhythmias and cardioversion were ineffective. Patient were transferred to the reference center.

[Myocarditis--the first symptom of adult Still's disease].

Myocardial involvement during the course of adult Still's disease is very rare. We present a case of a 34-year-old man admitted with fever, tachycardia, weakness and chest discomfort. The electrocardiogram showed non-specific diffuse ST-T changes, troponin level was slightly elevated and echocardiography did not reveal any abnormalities.

[Twiddler syndrome: a rare complication of ICD implantation].

Twiddler syndrome is a rare complication after pacemaker or ICD implantation. We present a case of a man who experienced 7 inappropriate ICD shocks because of this complication. Treatment included total system removal and new device implantation on the right side.

Impaired glucose tolerance worsens exercise capacity and ventilatory response to exercise in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: There is increasing evidence for the importance of peripheral abnormalities in the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure (HF). Recently, glucose and insulin metabolism abnormalities have been intensively investigated in patients with HF.

Aim: To investigate whether coexistence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) may decrease exercise tolerance and influence ventilatory response to exercise in patients with systolic HF.

Cytokines and heart rate variability in patients with chronic heart failure.

Introduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a non-invasive method of assessment of the autonomic nervous system's effects on heart function. In chronic heart failure (CHF), decreased HRV correlates with the progression of the disease. It is also known that in CHF increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines are present.

[Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and cytokines in chronic heart failure. Comparison of patients with ischaemic and with dilated cardiomyopathy].

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome due to ischaemic heart disease, idiopathic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, valve heart disease and others. It is not clear if the etiology of HF influences decreased in this syndrome exercise tolerance. Controversial is also dependence of cytokine levels on etiology of HF.

Blood pressure, left ventricular mass and function in adult patients after successful repair of coarctation of the aorta.

Background: In spite of surgical correction, arterial hypertension may persist in a significant proportion of patients with aortic coarctation.

Aim: To asses arterial blood pressure (BP) and left ventricular (LV) mass and function in adult patients who underwent surgical repair of aortic coarctation.

Methods: The study group consisted of 56 patients (27 females, 29 males, mean age 31.

[Pregnancy and labour in a patient after Fontan operation - a case report].

We present a case a 25-year-old pregnant female who had Fontan surgery performed 20 years ago due to a common ventricle of the left ventricular morphology. She had a history of three miscarriages and one successful pregnancy. This was a fifth pregnancy and she delivered normal healthy child.