Cor et Vasa, 2003 (vol. 44), issue 9
Original research articles
Endovascular therapy of diffuse atherosclerotic disease involving of the aortoiliac area using the stentgraft
Jan Vojáček, Tomáš Mach, Pavel Šebesta, Tomáš Klika, Petr Štádler, Petr Šedivý, Ivan Netuka
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(9):421-426
Aim of study:To assess the results of endovascular therapy of diffuse atherosclerotic disease involving the aortoiliac area using stentograft. Patients and methods:A group of 11 at-risk patients receiving this therapy from the very start through 1999. The patients were 8 men and 3 women with a mean age of 65 years (35-79 years). Mean follow-up period was 34 months (36-26). Patients were indicated for surgery for peripheral artery disease of IIb-III functional class according to Fontaine. The method was used both as an alternative to axillofemoral bypass or aortofemoral bypass in the presence of high risk for anatomical aortofemoral...
Mid-term results of total cavopulmonary connection in patients with a functionally single ventricle
Václav Chaloupecký, Irena Svobodová, Viktor Tomek, Bohumil Hučín, Tomáš Tláskal, Jan Marek, Jan Janoušek, Oleg Reich, Petr Tax, Jiří Radvanský, Jan Škovránek
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(9):428-436
Introduction:The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate cardiovascular function and the quality of life of patients with a functionally single ventricle following total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). Patients and method:148 patients were examined at age 4 to 33 years (median 10 years) and at interval 1 to 9 years (median 5 years) after TCPC. Their age at surgery was 1 to 28 years (median 5 years). An intraatrial lateral tunnel was used in 131 patients and extracardiac conduit in 17 patients, a fenestration was performed in a total of 56 (38%) patients. Primary TCPC was undertaken in 58 (39%) patients. TCPC was preceded...
Review articles
Mechanical circulatory assist devices
Jiří Kettner
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(9):437-443
The paper provides an overview of mechanic heart and circulatory assist devices. It is in connection with the first-ever use of a mechanical heart assist device in the Czech Republic in the spring of 2003 that the article provides a review of this not quite usual therapeutic procedure to a broader audience. The paper features a brief summary of the indications, a history of individual devices, and a description of the basic mechanical assist devices from the simplest to the total artificial heart, while pointing to the accompanying complications and the costs incurred in relation with implementation of this program.
Subclinical atherosclerosis
Jiří Spáčil, Jan Petrášek
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(9):445-448
Comprehensive secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) is required by almost every patient presenting with manifestations of atherosclerosis. The same management is required by patients with subclinical atherosclerosis, i. e., sympatomatic subjects with documented atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic disease can be diagnosed using various techniques. Simple techniques include auscultation of arteries, measurement of blood pressure in the lower limbs above the ankle, evidence of plaques, and presence of arterial calcification, or even simple intima-media-thickness enlargement, as detected by examinations using imaging techniques, undertaken...
Atrial fibrillation in heart failure
Jan Kohoutek
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(9):451-456
Data from experimental studies suggest some pathophysiological differences between atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure and idiopathic AF. While an effect of AF on the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) has not been documented, a disadvantage of AF is its impact on the severity of heart failure (HF) symptoms and also, without any doubt whatsoever, on the risk of systemic embolism.The main question is choice of the optimal therapeutic strategy involving heart rate control or ventricular rate control. Although none of the above procedures has been shown to be superior in an unselected series of AF patients, it is not known...
Case reports
Homocystinuria detected in the ICU in a patient with Q-wave myocardial infarction using selective screening for homocysteine
Josef Hyánek, Jana Matoušková, Petr Kmoníček, Viktor Kožich, Jiří Zeman, Miroslav Orendáč, Miroslav Janošík, Hedvika Pejznochová, Ladislava Dubská, Věra Martiníková, Tereza Paterová
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(9):459-462
The authors describe a typical case of homocystinuria-inherited metabolic disorder manifesting itself in a 40-year-old patient suffering from typical Q-wave myocardial infarction when undergoing selective screening for homocystein on an ICU. After successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), enzymatic investigation of low cystathionine-beta-synthase activity in fibroblasts demonstrated conventional homocystinuria. Total cholesterol and other lipid parameters were within the normal range.
Bone marrow stem cells myocardial transplantation after acute myocardial infarction due to left main coronary artery occlusion
Martin Pěnička, Petr Widimský, Petr Kobylka, Tomáš Kozák, Jaroslav Dvořák, Rudolf Špaček, Petr Toušek
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(9):465-468
A 48-year-old man was admitted to our department in cardiogenic shock. Stent implantation into the left main coronary artery stabilized his condition. He survived with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Autologous bone marrow stem cells were implanted into his left main coronary artery during four temporary balloon occlusions of the stent 19 days after infarction. The technique of this novel procedure is described in detail. The patient's further clinical course was uneventful and he was discharged home.