Cor et Vasa, 2004 (vol. 45), issue 11
Original research articles
Echocardiographic examination before alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy can predict residual pressure gradient
Josef Veselka, Šárka Procházková, Radka Duchoňová, Ingrid Homolová, Jana Páleníčková, David Tesař, Pavel Červinka
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(11):524-527
Background:Alcohol septal ablation is an effective procedure in the treatment of symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Objectives:We sought to assess the capability of echocardiographic parameters in predicting the left ventricular outflow pressure gradient six months after alcohol septal ablation (PTSMA) for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods:The group consists of 29 consecutive patients with symptomatic HOCM (17 women, mean age 54 ± 14 years) enrolled for an echocardiography-guided PTSMA procedure. Clinical and echocardiographic data were collected at...
Review articles
Regeneration of a damaged myocardium by autologous bone marrow cell transplantation
Jaroslav Meluzín, Jiří Mayer, Ladislav Groch, Martin Klabusay, Jiří Vorlíček, Jiří Vítovec
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(11):537-543
The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss current clinical data on autologous bone marrow cell transplantation. Bone marrow cells consist of various kinds of primitive cells with the capacity to differentiate into different cell types including myocytes, endothelial cells, etc. These cells can be used to regenerate damaged heart tissue. Following numerous experimental studies, the first clinical trials have been conducted within the last 3 years. Two most important findings have been reported after cell transplantation: 1. functional improvement in patients surviving an acute myocardial infarction and 2. an increase in perfusion and function...
Functional mitral regurgitation
Richard Fojt, Rudolf Špaček, Filip Málek, Jiří Krupička
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(11):544-551
This review article summarizes the evolution of our understanding of the natural history, incidence, and significance of functional mitral regurgitation in myocardial infarction survivors. Individual mechanisms resulting in the development of functional mitral regurgitation, particularly changes of left ventricular geometry, mitral annulus dilatation, and papillary muscle dysfunction, are discussed in detail. According to the most recent concepts, a combination of these individual fac-tors results in an incomplete closure of the mitral valve leaflets and in the formation of a so-called regurgitation orifice. The relationship of functional mitral regurgitation...
Short communication
Our initial experience with pulmonary endarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
Jaroslav Lindner, Pavel Jansa, Jan Kunstýř, Eckhard Mayer, Tomáš Grus, Samuel Heller, Tomáš Paleček, Aleš Linhart, Michael Aschermann, Jan Tošovský
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(11):552-555
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is the sequel of multiple pulmonary embolism. A relatively rare condition, it can be treated successfully by pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) in cases where central branches of the pulmonary artery are involved. The procedure is to be performed "on pump", in deep hypothermia, and in complete circulatory arrest during actual endarterectomy. When properly indicated and successfully operated, the procedure leads to marked improvement of functional fitness, cardiac output and a decrease in tricuspid regurgitation as a result of decreased pulmonary artery pressure. A prerequisite for success is an interdisciplinary...
Asymmetrical dimethyl arginine - a new risk factor of endothelial dysfunction?
Milan Hromádka, Jan Filipovský
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(11):556-557
Asymmetrical dimethyl arginine (ADMA) is an endogenous competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, which causes endothelial dysfunction. Measurement of plasma ADMA levels can be used for risk stratification of patients with atherosclerotic disease. L-arginine supplementation might improve endothelial function in patients with elevated ADMA levels.
The potential for surgical treatment in patients with left ventricular ischemic dysfunction. The STICH study
Růžena Jandová, Ivan Málek, Jan Pirk
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(11):558-560
The STICH study is a multicentric, international randomized study designed to test, in patients with coronary heart disease and coronary involvement eligible for surgical revascularization and with left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction £ 35%), two hypotheses: 1. Whether coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with intensive drug therapy improve the long-term prognosis versus the conservative tactics; 2. Whether revascularization, combined with an antiremodeling procedure on the left ventricle, improves the prognosis as compared with simple revascularization. Patients without a critical finding on the coronary arteries and free of critical...
Abstracts
A survey and outcome of treatment of congenital heart defects at the Pediatric Heart Center, University Hospital Motol, Prague, during 1977-2003
Bohumil Hučín, Tomáš Tláskal, Roman Gebauer, Tomáš Matějka, Petr Tax, Oleg Reich, Václav Chaloupecký, Jan Janoušek, Jan Škovránek
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(11):529-535
Aim:To determine the structure of surgical procedures for congenital heart defects in a major national center and to point to problems seen at follow-up in adults undergoing cardiac surgery in their childhood. Group of patients:A total of 9,450 operations for congenital heart defects were performed at the Pediatric Heart Center, University Hospital Motol, Prague, over the 1977-2003 period. These include 7,500 open-heart procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass and 1,950 closed-heart procedures. On average, 450 children are operated on at this center every year, 50% of them are newborns and infants under 1 year of age. Heart...