Impact of Kidney Function on Physiological Assessment of Coronary Circulation.

Background: Diagnosing myocardial ischemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is crucial since coronary artery disease (CAD) forms the predominant cause of mortality in these patients. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of kidney function on the results of coronary circulation physiological assessment.

Methods: Data were collected from 279 consecutive patients admitted to the Clinical Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Interventions at the University Hospital in Krakow.

The Impact of Age on the Physiological Assessment of Borderline Coronary Stenoses.

: Coronary angiography is the gold standard for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD). In the case of borderline changes, patients require further diagnosis through ischemia assessment via one of the recommended methods of invasive evaluation. This study aimed to assess whether clinical factors influence the risk of a positive result in invasive myocardial ischemia assessment and if these potential factors change with the patient's age and the consistency of ischemia assessment.

Predictors and trends of contrast use and radiation exposure in a large cohort of patients treated with percutaneous coronary interventions: Chronic total occlusion analysis based on a national registry.

Background: The aim herein, was to assess predictors and current trends of radiation exposure and total contrast amount use in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention within chronic total occlusion (CTO PCI) and non-CTO PCI.

Methods: Based on a nationwide registry (ORPKI), 535,857 patients treated with PCI between 2014 and 2018 were analysed. The study included 12,572 (2.

Frequency and predictors of diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention related to stroke.

Background: Stroke related to percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) is an infrequent complication, which can be potentially life-threatening and can lead to serious disability.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the relationship between the type of coronary procedure and incidence of stroke, as well as its predictors.

Methods: This retrospective analysis was performed on prospectively collected data gathered in the Polish National Registry of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (ORPKI) between January 2014 and December 2019 and included 1177 161 coronary procedures.

Chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention in everyday clinical practice - an expert opinion of the Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Cardiac Society.

Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) are increasingly encountered during invasive and non-invasive coronary angiography and remain the most challenging lesions for percutaneous revascularization. During recent years success rates and safety outcomes of CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have substantially improved, particularly due to the introduction of new techniques and dedicated equipment as well as specialized training programs of CTO operators. Significantly, the steady advances in CTO PCI techniques have coincided with the new data from randomized clinical trials supporting the role of percutaneous recanalization of CTO in relieving angina and improving the quality of life.

Temporal changes in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in patients following myocardial revascularization.

Introduction: Well-organized, effective secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) has a potential to improve the patients' prognosis following myocardial revascularization procedures.

Aim: To evaluate overtime changes in the implementation of the ESC guidelines for secondary prevention by assessing control of the main risk factors and the rate of cardioprotective drug use in patients following myocardial revascularization procedures.

Material And Methods: Patients aged < 81 years who had been hospitalized for a myocardial revascularization procedure in five hospitals serving Krakow and surrounding districts were recruited and interviewed 6-18 months following discharge.

Does the effectiveness of recanalization of chronic occlusion depend on the location of the obstruction?

Introduction: In past studies, it has been questioned whether success of recanalization of chronic total occlusion (CTO) depends on the location of the occlusion - the circumflex artery (Cx) was considered as the most difficult to open.

Aim: To determine whether the effectiveness of recanalization of CTO depends on the location of the obstruction.

Material And Methods: From January 2011 to January 2016, a single operator dedicated to chronic total occlusions performed in our center 357 procedures on 337 patients.

Knowledge of chronic total occlusion among Polish interventional cardiologists.

Introduction: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization is indicated in patients with symptoms and evidence of ischemia, but in most cases those types of lesions are still treated medically. In the last few years CTO angioplasty technique has changed dramatically due to considerable advances in techniques and dedicated equipment.

Aim: An attempt to assess the state of knowledge of technical aspects of CTO angioplasty of coronary arteries among Polish interventional cardiologists.

Dedicated devices and techniques - a cornerstone in recanalisation of chronic total occlusions of coronary arteries.

Recanalisation of chronic total occlusion (CTO) is still a challenge in invasive cardiology, requiring operator experience, equipment, and techniques dedicated to CTO. Due to difficulties in crossing the lesion by wire and by balloon (both responsible for 98% of the procedure's failures), many helpful techniques have been described. We report the case of both Tornus system and anchor technique in successful recanalisation of a right coronary artery.

Recanalisation of coronary chronic total occlusion by retrograde approach: the first experience in Poland.

Background: The effectiveness of revascularisation procedures of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) has been improved by the introduction of retrograde approach.

Aim: This study compared the outcomes of CTO revascularisation in a single centre in Krakow, Poland using antegrade and retrograde approach.

Methods: From January 2011 to September 2013, 150 patients underwent 159 procedures for percutaneous revascularisation of CTO of 153 vessels.

Chronic total occlusion in ostium of right coronary artery - retrograde approach as the first-choice method of revascularization?

Recanalization of chronic total occlusion (CTO) located in the ostium may require the operator's ability to use the retrograde approach. We present a case of opening a chronically occluded right coronary artery (RCA) by the retrograde approach after an unsuccessful attempt of recanalization by classic antegrade technique.

Myocardial infarction caused by pharmacological substances - case description and literature review.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is most commonly caused by atherosclerosis and/or inflammatory processes of coronary artery walls. The consequence of those phenomena is instability of the atherosclerotic plaque, activation of the coagulation cascade and thrombus formation which occludes the lumen of the vessel. Vasospasm and microembolisation may participate in MI pathogenesis.

Rescue percutaneous coronary recanalization of right coronary artery by retrograde approach.

We describe the case of a 62-year-old female patient in whom there was an occlusion of collaterals and acute inferior wall ischemia during the opening procedure of right coronary artery (RCA) chronic total occlusion. Rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of RCA by the retrograde approach was performed preventing heart muscle damage. In this article we discuss the issue of PCI by the retrograde technique.

Secondary prevention in patients after hospitalisation due to coronary artery disease: what has changed since 2006?

Background: The evidence concerning the quality of secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Poland in recent years is scarce.

Aim: To compare the implementation of secondary prevention guidelines into everyday clinical practice between 2006-2007 and 2011-2012 in patients after hospitalisation due to CAD.

Methods: Five hospitals with departments of cardiology serving a city and its surrounding districts in the southern part of Poland participated in the study.

Age, sex, and secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease in everyday practice.

Background: Many researchers have studied age- and sex-related differences in the management of patients with coronary artery disease. However, the results are inconsistent.

Aim: To assess sex- and age-related bias in the secondary prevention in patients hospitalised due to ischaemic heart disease.

Half of coronary patients are not instructed how to respond to symptoms of a heart attack.

Background: The delayed treatment of acute coronary syndrome has a significant impact on survival. Due to improved organization and the use of reperfusion therapies, inhospital delay has been shortened in recent years. However, the time between the onset of chest pain and the call for medical help is still too long.

Changes in secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in the post-discharge period over the decade 1997-2007. Results of the Cracovian Program for Secondary Prevention of Ischaemic Heart Disease and Polish parts of the EUROASPIRE II and III surveys.

Background: Both in the European and Polish guidelines, the highest priority for preventive cardiology was given to patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). The Cracovian Program for Secondary Prevention of Ischaemic Heart Disease was introduced in 1996 to assess and improve the quality of clinical care in secondary prevention. Departments of cardiology of five participating hospitals serving the area of the city of Kraków and surrounding districts (former Kraków Voivodship) inhabited by a population of 1 200 000 took part in the surveys.