Cor et Vasa, 2005 (vol. 46), issue 11
Original research articles
Effect of donor hypernatremia on graft function in the early post-transplant period
Helena Bedáňová, Erik Petrikovits, Josef Nečas, Pavel Studeník, Jiří Ondrášek, Jan Černý
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(11):414-416
Aim:As sodium plays an important role in reperfusion injury, the hearts of donors with increased sodium levels are considered marginal. In theory, hypernatremia may result in myocardial stunning and, consequently, in a higher incidence of primary graft failure. Our study was designed to establish whether increased donor sodium levels have an effect on the qual-ity of the harvested heart graft. Method:We made a retrospective analysis of data of 159 patients undergoing heart transplantation (HTx) in our center from July 1995 through June 2003. Our endpoints included primary graft failure, increased circulatory support with catecholamines...
Surgical treatment of infectious endocarditis in children and adolescents
Jiří Hostaša, Václav Chaloupecký, Jan Škovránek, Jan Marek, Bohumil Hučín, Tomáš Tláskal
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(11):417-421
Aim:To evaluate results of surgical treatment of infectious endocarditis (IE) in childhood. Methods:A retrospective study of 49 patients (30 boys, 19 girls) undergoing surgery for IE at age two weeks to 21 years (median 10.6 years) in the Pediatric Heart Center over the years 1978 to 2004. Results:A total of 41 patients (84%) were on follow-up because of congenital heart disease (CHD); 20 had native CHDwhereas 21 had undergone cardiac surgery. The most common CHDs included ventricular defect (55%) and mitral valve prolapse (20%).The predominant pathogens in the etiology of IE included staphylococci (53%)...
Review articles
A differentiated approach to aortic stenosis management
Michal Paďour, Jindřich Kupec, Tomáš Mráz, Petr Niederle
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(11):423-430
This review article summarizes current concepts of aortic stenosis from the theoretical and, particularly, the clinical points of view. The pathophysiological basis of the valve disease is discussed. Functional aspects of aortic stenosis and specific variations of the disease with different therapeutic approaches are pointed out.
Mitral regurgitation in patients indicated for coronary artery bypass grafting
Richard Fojt, Petr Widimský, Rudolf Špaček, Zbyněk Straka
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(11):431-436
Many patients indicated for coronary artery bypass grafting have concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR), which deserves our attention because of its worse prognosis. In our review article, we discuss the approach to these patients dependending on etiology and MR grade. Solely organic and ischemic MR are discussed. Factors essential for searching for optimal surgical procedure are also mentioned. Special attention is given to stress echocardiography, preoperative symptoms of cardiac fail-ure, left ventricular dysfunction and surgical procedure. Evaluation of all these factors with respect to the patient s condition should help us to choose the optimal...
Short communication
The ASCOT-BPLA study. Treatment based on amlodipine ± perindopril is superior to treatment based on atenolol ± bendroflumethiazide in hypertension control
Jiří Widimský
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(11):437-440
The Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial-Blood Pressure Lowering Arm (ASCOT-BPLA) is a landmark in assessing various types of hypertension control. ASCOT-BPLA involving over 19,000 elderly patients with three and more risk factors compared, in a randomized study, treatment based on the dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker amlodipine combined with the ACE inhibitor perindopril as needed versus treatment based on atenolol combined with bendroflumethiazide, a diuretic as needed. Amlodipine and atenolol monotherapy was only used at the end of the study by 14.5% and 8.6%of patients, respectively. At the same time, ASCOT-BPLA demonstrates the...
Abdominal aortic aneurysm resection with full laparoscopy-assisted aorto-aortic replacement
Petr Štádler, Pavel Matouš, Miroslav Špaček, Libor Doleček
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(11):441-444
The massive development in laparoscopic surgery in the 1990s had its repercussions in vascular surgery, as reflected by efforts at minimally invasive procedures also in vascular surgery.In 1993, Dion (Québec, Canada) performed the first laparoscopy-assisted aorto-bifemoral bypass followed, in 1995, by exper-imental laparoscopy-assisted abdominal aorta aneurysm resection. In 1999, McMillan was the first to perform thoraco-scopy-assisted aorto-femoral bypass. At present, laparoscopy-guided vascular reconstruction procedures are carried out in a number of centers all over the world. Beginning November 2002, some procedures in the aortoiliac region...