Poststroke Cardiovascular Management: Current Concepts, Integrated Care, and Future Developments.

After an ischemic stroke patients often have cardiovascular complications known as stroke-heart syndrome. The cardiovascular management after stroke has a significant impact on life expectancy as well as the quality of life. The development and implementation of management pathways to improve outcomes for patients with stroke-heart syndrome requires a multidisciplinary involvement from health care professionals from primary, secondary and tertiary prevention levels.

Mechanical circulatory support. An expert opinion of the Association of Intensive Cardiac Care and the Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Cardiac Society.

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) methods are used in patients with both acute and chronic heart failure, who have exhausted other options for pharmacological or surgical treatments. The purpose of their use is to support, partially or completely, the failed ventricles and ensure adequate organ perfusion, which allows patients to restore full cardiovascular capacity, prolonging their life and effectively improving its quality. The three most popular devices include an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), percutaneous assist devices (including Impella, TandemHeart), and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

The impact of complications related to transvenous lead extraction on the 12-month prognosis: Insights from the SILCARD registry.

Background: Scant data exist on long-term outcomes, including death, in patients with complica-tions related to transvenous lead extractions (TLE).

Aims: We sought to characterize the population and examine the outcomes including risk factors for in-hospital complications and 12-month mortality and morbidity related to the complications in a large administrative database of patients undergoing TLE.

Results: From the database of patients hospitalized for cardiovascular diseases and included in the Silesian Cardiovascular Database (SILCARD) registry, we selected the admissions of those who underwent TLE according to the appropriate ICD-9 codes.

Physiological Characteristics of Type 1 Diabetes Patients during High Mountain Trekking.

In this study, the aim was to provide observational data from an ascent to the summit of Mount Damavand (5670 meters above sea level (m.a.s.

The first successful implantation of an intravenous AAIR pacemaker into autologous extracardiac lateral tunnel Fontan in the child.

Patients with a single ventricle have complex anatomy that requires staged palliation which is usually the Fontan procedure. This procedure has undergone a lot of modifications to improve hemodynamics. Despite these efforts, sinus node dysfunction (SND) and bradyarrythmias are still common complications after Fontan operation, therefore there is a need of pacemakers implantation.

The influence of iatrogenic interatrial septum leaks after left atrial appendage closure on cardiac function test results.

Aim: Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a technique for preventing thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation and a high risk of irreversible bleeding. In some patients, a spontaneous iatrogenic transseptal leak (ITL) remains after LAAO. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between ITL incidence and the results of cardiac function tests in patients who underwent LAAO.

Prognostic Significance of Complex Ventricular Arrhythmias Complicating ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

The aim of the study was to assess the clinical significance of complex ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) (sustained ventricular tachycardia [sVT] and ventricular fibrillation [VF]) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) depending on timing of arrhythmia. We analyzed 4,363 consecutive patients with STEMI treated invasively between 2004 and 2014. The median follow-up was 69.

Management and prognosis of atrial fibrillation in diabetic patients: an EORP-AF General Pilot Registry report.

Aims: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical correlates of DM, including management and outcomes, in the EURObservational Research Programme (EORP)-Atrial Fibrillation (AF) General Pilot (EORP-AF) Registry of the European Society of Cardiology.

Methods And Results: We studied consecutive patients (N = 3101) enrolled in 70 centres of nine European countries between February 2012 and March 2013, and compared diabetics with non-diabetics during a 1-year follow-up.

Apnea testing using the oxygen insufflation method for diagnosis of brain death may compromise pulmonary function.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to compare the reliability and safety of the classical I-AT with the continuous positive airway pressure apnea test (CPAP-AT).

Material And Methods: In the group of 48 patients (group O), an I-AT was performed at the end of BD diagnostic procedures, and approximately 1-1.5h later CPAP-AT with 100% FiO and CPAP of 10cm HO, provided by ventilator in CPAP mode.

Type 1 Diabetes at High Altitude: Performance of Personal Insulin Pumps and Patient Metabolic Control.

High-altitude trekking can expose people to extreme environmental conditions, like low temperatures and hypobaric hypoxia. Such extreme conditions make it more difficult for people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) to maintain glycemic control. Intensive blood glucose monitoring using either glucose meters or continuous systems is imperative in these cases.

Significance of Atrial Fibrillation Complicating ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

The aim of the present study is to assess the clinical impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by new-onset AF depending on STEMI location and timing of arrhythmia. We analyzed 4,363 consecutive STEMI patients treated invasively. Finally, 4,099 subjects were included into further analysis, as 264 patients were excluded because of previous AF history.

The Incidence, Clinical Significance, and Treatment Effects of Depression in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Recipients.

Objectives: Chronic heart failure (HF) is associated with significantly increased prevalence of depression. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and clinical impact of depression as well as the effectiveness of depression treatment in HF patients.

Methods: A prospective interventional trial included 285 consecutive cardiac resynchronization therapy recipients.

Stage IIIa cancer of the right lung ingrowing via right lower pulmonary vein to the left heart atrium.

Computed tomography is performed in every patient before lung tumour resection. The presented case realises how important it is to perform this study with contrast. In a 75-year-old male we detected a tumour ingrowing from the right lung through the right lower pulmonary vein into the left atrium of the heart.

Fragmentation of the QRS complex in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated invasively.

Background: Previous studies showed that the presence of fragmented QRS (f-QRS) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), who underwent complete revascularisation, is associated with worse prognosis and the possibility of arrhythmia occurrence.

Aim: To assess the prognostic value of f-QRS in patients with ACS and complete revascularisation, in the context of cardiac ar-rhythmias.

Methods: We analysed 124 consecutive patients (66.

Apnea test in the determination of brain death in patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a well-established method of support in patients with severe respiratory and/or circulatory failure. Unfortunately, this invasive method of treatment is associated with a high risk of neurological complications including brain death. Proper diagnosis of brain death is crucial for the termination of futile medical care.

Stroke and death prediction with CHA2DS2-vasc score after myocardial infarction in patients without atrial fibrillation.

Aims: The CHA2DS2-VASc score is widely used to stratify the risk of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. The aim of the study was to assess whether the CHA2DS2-VASc score might be useful to identify patients at a high risk of ischemic stroke and death among individuals after acute myocardial infarction and with no history of atrial fibrillation.

Methods: We analysed consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to our centre between 2003 and 2008.

The incidence and risk factors of stroke in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated invasively and concomitant impaired renal function.

Background: Impaired renal function is a marker of poor prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and independent predictors of stroke in population of patients with AMI treated invasively and concomitant impaired renal function (IRF).

Methods: We analyzed 2,520 consecutive AMI patients admitted to our Center between 2003 and 2007 and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Effect of type of atrial fibrillation on prognosis in acute myocardial infarction treated invasively.

To assess the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the clinical impact of AF types on outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated invasively, we analyzed 2,980 consecutive patients with AMI admitted to our department from 2003 through 2008. Data collected by the insurer were screened to identify patients who died during the median follow-up of 41 months. AF was recognized in 282 patients (9.

The risk of stroke in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated invasively.

Background: To assess the incidence, clinical significance, and independent risk factors of stroke in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated invasively.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed 2520 consecutive patients with AMI admitted between 2003 and 2007. Data on long-term follow-up were screened to identify patients who had stroke.

Transseptal versus transaortic approach for radiofrequency ablation in patients with cardioverter-defibrillator and electrical storm.

Purpose: Radiofrequency current ablation (RFCA) of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is usually performed using a retrograde transaortic approach. We compared the mapping accuracy, procedural course, safety, and results of VT ablation using transseptal and transaortic route.

Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and history of electrical storm underwent RFCA with electro-anatomic mapping system.