Oral amiodarone and propranolol in maintenance therapy of postimplantation tachycardia: An observational study.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are widely used as end-stage therapy in patients with advanced heart failure, whereas implantation increases the risks of development of sustained ventricular tachycardia at the later postimplantation stage. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of orally administered amiodarone and propranolol in 3 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) after LVAD implantation who were resistant to initial anti-antiarrhythmic drugs. This retrospective cohort study consisted of the initial evaluation of the clinical data of 14 adult patients who underwent implantation of LVAD between January 2019 and March 2021.

Real-World Data on the Incidence of Stroke, Myocardial Infarction, and Mortality Among Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients in Türkiye: New Oral Anticoagulants-TURKey Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is strongly associated with an increased risk of ischemic events. Anticoagulation focuses on reducing the risk of embolism. Guideline recommended CHA2DS2-VASc scoring system is most widely used; however, different scoring systems do exist.

Real-life data of major and minor bleeding events with direct oral anticoagulants in the one-year follow-up period: The NOAC-TURK study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) during daily clinical practice.

Methods: This was a prospective study conducted between January 01, 2016, and April 01, 2017, in patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of NVAF. We performed the study in 9 clinical centers from different regions of Turkey, and the mean follow-up period was 12+2 months.

Gender-related clinical and management differences in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aim: Gender-related differences have been described in the clinical characteristics and management of patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, published data are conflictive in this regard.

Methods: We investigated differences in clinical and management variables between male and female patients from the ATA study, a prospective, multicentre, observational study that included 1462 outpatients with chronic HFrEF between January and June 2019.

Adherence to guideline-directed medical and device Therapy in outpAtients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: The ATA study.

Objective: Despite recommendations from heart failure guidelines on the use of pharmacologic and device therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), important inconsistencies in guideline adherence persist in practice. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to guideline-directed medical and device therapy for the treatment of patients with chronic HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%).

Methods: The Adherence to guideline-directed medical and device Therapy in outpAtients with HFrEF (ATA) study is a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted in 24 centers from January 2019 to June 2019.

Effect of acute kidney injury on long-term mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention in a high-volume tertiary center.

Objective: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a reflection of both renal and cardiac reserve in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but there is a lack of evidence related to the effect of AKI on long-term mortality in patients with STEMI. This study was an investigation of the prognostic value of AKI for long-term mortality in patients with STEMI complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods: This retrospective analysis evaluated the long-term prognostic impact of AKI on 492 patients with STEMI complicated by CS who were treated with PPCI.

Pericarditis due to an unusual microorganismin an immunocompromised patient.

A 77-year-old man with a past medical history of myelodysplastic syndrome, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and chronic atrial fibrillation presented at the hematology outpatient clinic with progressive shortness of breath, weakness, and chest and back pain. Echocardiography was performed and the patient was diagnosed with severe pericardial effusion near the right ventricle. Pericardial drainage was performed.

Successful thrombolysis of a subacute prosthetic valve thrombosis with modified ultra-slow thrombolytic therapy.

Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a serious complication of heart valve surgery. According to the recent studies, thrombolytic therapy is an important alternative therapy to the open heart surgery with successful outcomes. We present a case of a prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis who was successfully treated with modified ultra-slow thrombolytic therapy.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome patients with intra-aortic balloon pump inserted in intensive cardiac care unit of a tertiary clinic.

Objective: An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a mechanical support device that is used in addition to pharmacological treatment of the failing heart in intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) patients. In the literature, there are limited data regarding the clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of acute coronary syndrome patients in Turkey who had an IABP inserted during their ICCU stay. This study is an analysis of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these acute coronary syndrome patients.

Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Complicated With Cardiogenic Shock.

Background: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated with cardiogenic shock (CS) remains as an unresolved condition causing high morbidity and mortality despite advances in medical treatment and coronary intervention procedures. In the current study, we evaluated the predictors of in-hospital mortality of STEMI complicated with CS.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the predictive value of baseline characteristics, angiographic, echocardiographic and laboratory parameters on in-hospital mortality of 319 patients with STEMI complicated with CS who were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Predictive value of SYNTAX score II for clinical outcomes in cardiogenic shock underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention; a pilot study.

SYNTAX Score II (SSII) connects clinical variables with coronary anatomy. We investigated the prognostic value of SSII in patients with ST segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated with cardiogenic shock treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). In this retrospective analysis, we evaluated the in-hospital prognostic impact of SSII on 492 patients with STEMI complicated with cardiogenic shock treated with PPCI.

Left Ventricular Perforation Due to Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Incessant Ventricular Tachycardia in a Post-Myocardial Infarction Patient.

Left ventricular (LV) myocardial perforation is a rare complication following ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation with radiofrequency (RF); this complication should be diagnosed and treated promptly. LV free wall rupture after elective RF ablation for sustained VT refractory to medical treatment is rarely reported in the medical literature. Herein we discuss an interesting case which contributes to the ongoing literature, regarding a patient who developed LV perforation due to RF ablation for VT which was resistant to pharmacotherapy and repeated cardioversion attempts after acute myocardial infarction.

Early Changes in Atrial Electromechanical Coupling in Patients with Hypertension: Assessment by Tissue Doppler Imaging.

Background: Hypertension (HT) is associated with atrial electrophysiological abnormalities. Echocardiographic pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is one of the noninvasive methods for evaluation of atrial electromechanical properties. The aims of our study were to investigate the early changes in atrial electromechanical conduction in patients with HT and to assess the parameters that affect atrial electromechanical conduction.

Hypertensive emergency due to pheochromocytoma crisis complicated with refractory hemodynamic collapse.

Hypertensive emergency usually appears in older patients with previous recurrent episodes, and is among the most frequent admissions to emergency departments. A 29-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with the diagnosis of hypertensive emergency. The patient complained of severe headache, dyspnea, palpitation, diaphoresis, and confusion due to hypertensive encephalopathy.

Creatinine kinase isoenzyme-MB: A simple prognostic biomarker in patients with pulmonary embolism treated with thrombolytic therapy.

Background: Creatinine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB) is a biomarker for detecting myocardial injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between admission CK-MB levels and in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients treated with thrombolytic tissue-plasminogen activator.

Methods: A total of 148 acute PE patients treated with tissue-plasminogen activator enrolled in the study.

Incremental value of live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography over the two-dimensional technique in the assessment of primary cardiac malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

We describe a case of primary cardiac malignant fibrous histiocytoma where live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography added incremental value to the two-dimensional modalities. Specifically, the three-dimensional technique allowed us to delineate the true extent and infiltration of the tumor, to identify characteristics of the tumor mass suggestive of its malignant nature, and to quantitatively assess the total tumor burden.

Acute myocardial infarction with concomitant pulmonary embolism as a result of patent foramen ovale.

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) and pulmonary embolism canal one lead to life-threatening conditions such as sudden cardiac death and congestive heart failure. We discuss a case of a 74-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute dyspnea and chest pain. Acute anterior MI and pulmonary embolism concomitantly were diagnosed.

Correlation between the AHCPR (Agency For Health Care Policy and Research) risk stratification and angiographic morphology in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Objectives: Risk stratification in acute coronary syndromes is an important diagnostic tool guiding future therapy. We evaluated the correlation between the AHCPR (Agency for Health Care Policy and Research) risk classification and angiographic morphology in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Study Design: A total of 163 patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of NSTE-ACS were prospectively enrolled.

Immediate and follow-up results of repeat percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy for restenosis after a succesful first procedure.

Background: The widespread use of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) has led to an increase in restenosis cases. The data regarding follow-up results of repeat PMC are quite limited. The aim of this retrospective analysis is to evaluate the immediate and midterm results of the second PMC, in patients with symptomatic mitral restenosis after a succesful first procedure.

The impact of diabetes and coronary artery disease on mortality and morbidity in patients with hypertension.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or coronary artery disease (CAD) on cardiovascular endpoints in a cohort of hypertensive patients.

Study Design: The Vascular Risk Study is a cross-sectional, multicenter, observational study conducted among 5,600 patients from various regions of Turkey. This analysis included 2,664 patients (1,643 women, 1,021 men; mean age 65.