Management of bleeding in patients hospitalized in the intensive cardiac care unit: expert opinion of the Association of Intensive Cardiac Care and Section of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy of the Polish Cardiac Society in cooperation with specialists in other fields of medicine.

Nowadays, the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) provides care for patients with acute coronary syndrome, acute and exacerbated chronic heart failure, cardiogenic shock, sudden cardiac arrest, electrical storm, as well as with indications for urgent cardiac surgical treatment. Most of these patients require the use of 1, 2, or frequently even 3 drugs that act on the blood coagulation pathway. While antithrombotic drugs prevent thromboembolic events, they are associated with a higher risk of bleeding.

Patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices undergoing radiotherapy in Poland. Expert opinion of the Heart Rhythm Section of the Polish Cardiac Society and the Polish Society of Radiation Oncology.

Older age and high morbidity of the society contribute to a growing number of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) requiring effective cancer treatment, including radiotherapy (RT). The effect of RT on a CIED may vary depending on the type and physical parameters of radiation, location of the treated lesion, indications for electrotherapy, and the type of CIED. In the most dramatic scenarios, it may cause an irreversible damage to the CIED, with serious clinical consequences.

Population prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities: results of the Polish WAW‑KARD study.

Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a very important instrument in the diagnostic workup of the heart disease, both in clinical and epidemiological studies.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate ECG abnormalities in adult residents of Warsaw and to determine the time trends of ECG abnormalities in the years 1984 to 2012.

Methods: A total of 1081 individuals aged 20 years of older were examined in the years 2011 to 2012.

Straight and crosier‑shaped catheter techniques for phrenic nerve stimulation during cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Cryoablation is an effective and safe method of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, monitoring of phrenic nerve function during cryoballoon PVI remains an important issue.

Aims: We aimed to compare 2 techniques of phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) with the use of either a straight or a crosier‑shaped decapolar deflectable catheter.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in adult cardiology: expert opinion of the Working Group of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology of the Polish Cardiac Society.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is an important diagnostic tool in contemporary clinical practice. This document presents an expert opinion from the Working Group on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology of the Polish Cardiac Society concerning the indications, performance technique, and interpretation of results for CPET in adult cardiology. CPET is an electrocardiographic exercise test expanded with exercise evaluation of ventilatory and gas exchange parameters.

Years of life lost as a measure of premature death among dual‑chamber pacemaker recipients from Małopolska Province.

Background: Pacemakers have become the standard of care in patients with severe bradycardia and conduction abnormalities. The survival and premature mortality can be assessed using the years of life lost (YLLs).

Aims: The aim of the study was to analyze mortality trends over the period from 1999 to 2015 among patients implanted with a dual‑chamber (DDD) pacemaker who were inhabitants of Małopolska Province.