Sacubitril/valsartan for cardioprotection in breast cancer (MAINSTREAM): design and rationale of the randomized trial.

Aims: In recent years, survival in patients with breast cancer has increased. Despite the improvement in outcomes of those patients, the risk of treatment-related cardiotoxicity remains high, and its presence has been associated with a higher risk of treatment termination and thus lower therapeutic efficacy. Prior trials demonstrated that a preventive initiation of heart failure drugs, including the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors, might reduce the risk of treatment-related cardiotoxicity.

Comparison of the results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve.

Introduction: Indications for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are constantly expanding, including younger patients. Bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) often occur in this group. In order to achieve optimal treatment results in younger patients, it is necessary to develop an effective method for selecting the size of implanted valves.

Impact of coronary artery disease on outcomes of severe aortic stenosis treatment with transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Introduction: The presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) may increase in-hospital and long-term mortality.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of CAD in patients who underwent TAVI.

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of the first 142 patients treated with TAVI between 26 November 2008 and 31 December 2015.

Simplified, less-invasive left ventricular assist device implantation in patients with post-coronary artery bypass grafting.

Less-invasive left ventricular assist device implantation is becoming the technique of choice for implementation of new-generation heart pumps. The less-invasive technique is particularly useful for patients with a history of cardiac surgical procedures, such as coronary artery bypass grafting. Yet, in redo cases, severe pericardial adhesions may force experienced operators to opt for alternative outflow graft placement, such as in the descending aorta.

Evaluation of the Graft Mechanical Function Using Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography During the First Year After Orthotropic Heart Transplantation.

BACKGROUND Recent advances in ultrasound strain imaging facilitate more precise monitoring of subtle myocardial changes and thus may allow for more appropriate assessment of myocardium after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). This study aimed to explore longitudinal left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) during a 12-month follow-up period in relation to acute cellular rejection (ACR) degree ≥2R and the response to intense immunosuppressive therapy with intravenous steroids. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty-five adult heart transplant recipients were prospectively assessed at a single center from January 2016 until June 2017.

The use of intraoperative epiaortic ultrasonography in monitoring patients over 75 years old treated with aortic valve replacement.

Introduction: Epiaortic ultrasound scanning (EAS) extended the use of ultrasound to the intraoperative diagnosis of aortic pathology. Surgical palpation of the ascending aorta underestimates the presence and severity of atherosclerotic plaques. Epiaortic ultrasound scanning has been used as an adjunct to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or as a primary direct diagnostic tool for imaging the ascending aorta as well as the aortic arch, which gained prominence as part of a multipronged intraoperative strategy to reduce atherosclerotic emboli.

Impact of CoreValve size selection based on multi-slice computed tomography on paravalvular leak after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Paravalvular leak (PVL) has significant impact on long-term outcomes in patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study sought to determine whether multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT)-guided valve selection reduces PVL after CoreValve implantation.

Methods: The analysis encompassed 69 patients implanted with CoreValve and were divided into two groups.

Staged hybrid ablation for persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation effectively restores sinus rhythm in long-term observation.

Introduction: Hybrid ablation (HABL) of atrial fibrillation combining endoscopic, minimally invasive, closed chest epicardial ablation with endocardial CARTO-guided accuracy was introduced to overcome the limitations of current therapeutic options for patients with persistent (PSAF) and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the procedural safety and feasibility as well as effectiveness of HABL in patients with PSAF and LSPAF 1 year after the procedure.

Material And Methods: The study is a single-center, prospective clinical registry.

Preoperative Echocardiography Examination of Right Ventricle Function in Patients Scheduled for LVAD Implantation Correlates with Postoperative Hemodynamic Examinations.

BACKGROUND Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are used to treat heart failure. Preoperative prediction of RV function after LVAD implantation is crucial. Correlations were found between preoperative echo and RV function after LVAD implantation.

Symetis Acurate Neo transfemoral aortic bioprosthesis - initial Polish experience.

Background And Aim: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has proven to be a valuable alternative to conventional surgical aortic valve replacement in high-risk and surgically inoperable patients who suffer from severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. With the second generation of TAVI devices improvements in both handling and performance are highly demanded. This brief clinical communication reports the first Polish experience with the second generation of transfemoral TAVI device--Symetis Acurate Neo.

The use of a new hybrid stentgraft for the repair of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms with the frozen elephant trunk method - first Polish experiences.

The frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique is a modification of the traditional elephant trunk method, which was introduced by Borst in 1983 in order to treat extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms. The crux of the new method is the different type of aortic prosthesis, consisting of a Dacron part (with or without branches leading to the arterial vessels which exit the aortic arch) and a port for extracorporeal circulation with a self-expanding nitinol stentgraft. This combination enables a complete one-stage treatment of the pathologies within the arch and the proximal segment of the descending aorta; moreover, it facilitates the performance of a two-stage hybrid treatment of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms involving a significant part of the descending aorta.

Intra-aortic balloon clamp for safe resternotomy in a patient with a giant aneurysm of sinuses of Valsalva.

Despite advances in surgical techniques and postoperative medical management, the mortality rates for cardiac reoperations remain high. The risk is most commonly associated with failed resternotomy complicated by fatal injury to the myocardium or its structures. This short case report documents the first use of an endoluminal balloon occlusive device in order to prevent aneurysmal sack damage and coronary vessel injury in a patient with a giant aortic aneurysm after failed aortic surgery.

Symetis Acurate Transapical Aortic Valve: the initial experience with a second generation of transcatheter aortic valve replacement device.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has proven to be a valuable alternative to conventional surgical aortic valve replacement in high risk and surgically in operable patients who suffer from severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. However, a significant number of complications, associated with both the learning curve and device specificity, have required attention and subsequent improvement. The Symetis transapical TAVR system is a self-positioning bioprosthesis composed of a non-coronary leaflet of surgical quality porcine tissue valve sewn into a self-expanding nitinol stent that iscovered with a PET-skirt.

Minimally invasive hybrid ablation procedure for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation: one year results.

Background: The concept of a hybrid approach, combining the most effective techniques of surgical and endocardial catheter ablation has resulted in the creation of the convergent ablation procedure. This novel, pericardioscopic, hybrid approach can be an effective option for highly symptomatic patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PSAF) and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) for whom standalone surgical or endocardial ablation procedures offer sometimes unsatisfactory outcomes.

Aim: To assess the safety, efficacy and effectiveness of a hybrid epicardial and endocardial radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of PSAF and LSPAF.

Immediate and 6-month outcomes of transapical and transfemoral Edwards-Sapien prosthesis implantation in patients with aortic stenosis.

Background: severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis is an unequivocal indication for surgical valve replacement, assuring symptoms relief and increasing survival. About one third of elderly patients is not being operated due to, among others, high peri-procedural risk and comorbidities. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has recently become a valuable therapeutic option for these patients.

[Comparison of quantitative computerized angiography and intravascular ultrasound in assessment of renal artery stenosis in patients with renovascular hypertension treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with concomitant intravascular brachytherapy].

Unlabelled: Renal Angiography and IntraVascular UltraSonography (IVUS), are valuable diagnosis methods for assessment of renovascular hypertension (RVH). Endovascular techniques employing percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) are effective for therapy of ischaemic nephropathy in patients with RVH. Success of PTRA is limited by a significant rate of restenosis.

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum: a rare cause of right ventricular impairment.

We report a case of a 70-year-old woman admitted with symptoms of decompensated heart failure. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum with partial upper right atrial inflow obstruction, partial obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract, and excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the pericardial space. The patient underwent excision of the septal lipomatous mass, which relieved the right ventricular outflow obstruction.

Effects of short- and long-term efficacy of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty with or without intravascular brachytherapy on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with renovascular hypertension.

Introduction: The largest group of patients with secondary hypertension comprises individuals with renovascular hypertension resulting from renal artery stenosis that is a potentially removable condition. It is caused by atherosclerosis in 70-80% of patients.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT) procedure performed after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) on left ventricular (LV) function, mass regression and type of hypertrophy (LVH) determined on echocardiography during long-term follow-up.

Angiographic and intravascular ultrasound assessment of immediate and 9-month efficacy of percutaneous transluminal renal artery balloon angioplasty with subsequent brachytherapy in patients with renovascular hypertension.

Background/aim: Scarce data exist concerning the long-term effect of renal balloon angioplasty (PTRA) enhanced by intravascular gamma-brachytherapy (IVBT) in patients with renovascular hypertension. The aim of this randomized study was to evaluate long-term outcome after PTRA with IVBT in patients with renal artery stenosis.

Patients And Methods: 71 patients with renovascular hypertension were randomized into group I (PTRA + IVBT) or group II (PTRA).