Cor et Vasa, 2002 (vol. 43), issue 1
Original research articles
Infectious complications of prosthetic vascular grafts: the pathobiology, clinical practice and their management
Jan Táborský, Karel Novotný, Kateřina Nováčková, Ivan Vaněk
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(1):12-17
Aim of study:The aim of the study is to present experience with the incidence and surgical treatment of infections of prosthetic vascular grafts. Method:A retrospective study of infections of prosthetic vascular grafts at the Division of Surgery II, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, over the 1992-2000 period. Results:In a series of 1,100 arterial reconstruction procedures using prosthetic vascular grafts, infectious complications occurred in 14 patients (1.3%). The shortest and longest intervals to the first manifestations were 7 days and 4 years, respectively. Of the 14 patients undergoing surgery, 3 (20%)...
Metabolic effects of fenofibrate and atorvastatin (Fenofibrate versus Atorvastatin Trial, FAT
Jan Malík, Vojtěch Melenovský, Dan Wichterle, Jan Šimek, Jaromír Hradec, Jan Škrha, Alexandra Pisaříková, Petr Stávek, Rudolf Poledne, Richard Češka
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(1):19-25
Introduction:Combined hyperlipoproteinemia is treated using fibrates, and atorvastatin in particular. We compared the hypolipidemic and other metabolic effects of micronized fenofibrate and atorvastatin administered in regular daily doses. Group of patients:29 males, non-smokers with untreated combined hyperlipidemia, without associated diseases, aged 47.4 ± 7.8 years, with the levels of total cholesterol of 7.53 ± 1.22 mmol/L, HDL-cholesterol 1.25 ± 0.32 mmol/L, LDL-chole- sterol 4.39 ± 0.89 mmol/L, and triglycerides 5.40 ± 4.66 mmol/L, were randomized into two groups. One group wasfirst...
Atrial fibrillation: current potential for treatment or (old) new guidelines
Robert Čihák
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(1):38-42
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia with increasing prevalence. Management is individualized depending on the severity and frequency of problems and presence of heart disease. The mainstay of therapy is prevention of thromboembolic events using anticoagulation or antiaggregation therapy, depending on risk stratification in a specific patient. A similar technique of prevention should be used for atrial flutter. It is not clear at the moment whether it is better-in terms of morbidity and mortality-to make every effort to maintain sinus rhythm with antiarrhythmics or just to monitor heart rate and prevent thromboemobolic events. Should pharmacotherapy...
Review articles
Intravascular ultrasound and the current potential of its use
Tomáš Kovárník, Vít Řezníček, Alfréd Hornig, Kateřina Nováčková, Michael Aschermann
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(1):24-30
Intravascular ultrasound is a diagnostic technique enabling one both to look into the arterial lumen and to assess the vessel wall. It is irreplaceable in vivo measurement of vessel wall remodeling and in evaluating atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. It allows exact measurement of the vessel lumen, diameter, and the atherosclerotic plaque. IVUS plays a major role before, during and after coronary intervention (indication for intervention, assessment of outcome, diagnosis of complications).The authors address in detail the technique of IVUS and summarize current indications for IVUS in interventional cardiology including the limitations and...
Aldosterone receptor inhibition in the treatment of chronic heart failure
Filip Málek, Rudolf Špaček
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(1):32-36
Despite comprehensive treatment, the long-term prognosis of patients in the advanced stages of chronic heart failure is grim. An explanation for this might be the secondary increase in aldosterone levels occurring after some time even during neurohumoral activation inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone therapy using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Aldosterone receptor inhibition by the non-selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone reduces, in patients with severe heart failure NYHA Class III and IV, total mortality and the need for hospitalization, and improves the quality of life of these patients. This was...