Acute Beneficial Effects of Muscular Counterpulsation in Patients with Coronary Heart Diseases.

This prospective pilot study was designed to investigate the acute hemodynamic effects and clinical applicability of muscular counterpulsation (MCP), a one-shot procedure for biomechanical circulatory support. The study included 17 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and impaired ejection fraction (EF ≤45%) who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Patients were divided into control (  = 7) and treatment (  = 10) groups.

Noninvasive epicardial and endocardial mapping of premature ventricular contractions.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to estimate the accuracy of a novel non-invasive epicardial and endocardial electrophysiology system (NEEES) for mapping ectopic ventricular depolarizations.

Methods And Results: The study enrolled 20 patients with monomorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) or ventricular tachycardia (VT). All patients underwent pre-procedural computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the heart and torso.

Combined extracorporeal therapy for severe sepsis in patients after cardiac surgery.

Introduction: Sepsis still represents an obstacle in modern medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combined use of lipopolysaccharide adsorption and haemodialysis (HD) with high cut-off haemofilters as part of the complex intensive care of patients with severe sepsis after cardiac surgery.

Methods: The study group included 26 patients, 57 (48-62) years of age, with severe sepsis.

Prognostic value of endotoxin activity assay in patients with severe sepsis after cardiac surgery.

Background: To evaluate the prognostic value of endotoxin activity assay (EAA) in adult patients with suspected or proven severe sepsis after cardiac surgery

Methods: Blood samples taken from 81 patients immediately after the diagnosis of severe sepsis were tested with the EAA. Patients were divided into 3 groups: low (<0.4, n = 20), moderate (0.