Cor et Vasa, 2004 (vol. 45), issue 6
Original research articles
A comprehensive approach to the treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms - the timing of run-off tract restoration and arterial surgical reconstruction
Jan Vojáček, Pavel Šebesta, Petr Czinner, Tomáš Klika, Petr Štádler, Petr Šedivý, Petr Křiváček, Vladimír Borůvka
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(6):260-263
Objectives:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms (PAA). Materials and methods:We present a cohort of 80 patients with the diagnosis of PAA treated in our department in the years 1992 to 2000 with a mean follow-up period of 51 (1-108) months. The group included 76 men (95%) and 4 women (5%). The mean age was 64 years. In 49 patients (61%), PAA was present bilaterally whilst the remaining 31 (39%) had only unilateral lesions. Seventy-five patients (94%) were eligible for surgical treatment. Among those, a total of 87 PAA were operated. The remainder (6%) received...
Cardiac autonomic nervous system testing in patients with atrial fibrillation. A summary and our own experience
Jan Galuszka, Jan Lukl, Jaroslav Opavský, Jiří Salinger, Jana Zapletalová
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(6):265-272
Aim of study:To assess cardiac autonomic control in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and echocardiographically normal left atrial size. Group of patients and method:The group of patients included 30 subjects free of structural heart disease, and treated for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Upon sinus rhythm restoration, patients were examined under standard conditions using reflex tests (deep breathing test, orthostatic test) and spectral analysis of a short-term heart rate variability recording during the supine-standing-supine. The results of reflex tests were compared with normal values reported in the literature....
Infectious endocarditis in intravenous drug addicts. Patients hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Disease of Na Bulovce Hospital over the 1981-2002 period
Maria Kabelková, Jiří Beneš, Miroslav Helcl, Jana Příhodová, Rudolf Feuereisl, Jan Zeman
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(6):274-280
Aim of study:To point to infectious endocarditis (IE) as a complication of intravenous drug addiction, its incidence, course, and complications in this country. Method:A retrospective study of IE cases in intravenous (i. v.) drug addicts hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Disease of Na Bulovce University Hospital in the years 1981-2002. The fate of surviving patients was traced retrospectively for a period of one year from cure. Results:Our group includes 29 cases of IE in 26 i. v. drug addicts (3 cases of recurrence in two patients). Tricuspid valve was involved in 21 cases (72%), left heart valves...
Review articles
The relevance and management of anemia in chronic heart failure
Petr Lupínek
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(6):281-284
The author addresses the issue of anemia in chronic heart failure, a topic that has recently received increasing attention. Anemia is quite frequent, particularly in the more advanced stages of heart failure, and is also an independent predictor of a grim prognosis. Most patients develop chronic disease-related anemia-heart failure in this particular case-or dilution anemia in hypervolemia, which is often clinically not manifest. The question is whether or not anemia itself is involved pathogenetically in the progression of heart failure or whether it is just a marker of heart failure severity. Results emerging from initial small studies testing the...
Case reports
P-R segment depression as an early sign of acute pericarditis
Michal Wiesner
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(6):285-286
The article points to an early change in the P-R electrocardiographic curve in acute pericarditis as a feature disregarded in the Czech-language relevant literature to date. The paper is supported by the author's own case report.
Transcatheter coronary fistula closure as a treatment of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
Marcela Škvařilová, Vladimír Rozsíval, Antonín Krajina, Alan Bulava, Martin Fiala, Jan Lukl
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(6):287-289
The authors present the case of a 62-year-old female with clinical signs of coronary artery disease and repetitive sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) diagnosed to have a coronary fistula between the circumflex artery and the pulmonary artery. Transcatheter closure of the fistula was performed using histoacryl in September 1995. An electrophysiological study was performed postoperatively and no VT was induced. The patient remained free of any malignant arrhythmic events during eight-year follow-up.
Short communication
The importance of slowing heart rate. Potential therapeutic use of ivabradin
Jiří Widimský
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(6):291-295
A high heart rate (HR) indicates the risk of adrenergic hyperactivity, thus contributing to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, insulin resistance; it is associated with a lower fibrillation threshold, lower exercise tolerance, and carries an increased risk for coronary thrombosis.One should thus reasonably assume that therapeutic HR slowing could have a beneficial effect. This premise seems to be fully justified in modulating angina where HR is one of the main determinants of myocardial oxygen consumption thereby affecting total cardiac work. HR slowing results in an increase in ischemic threshold and improved myocardial exercise...
Myocardial perfusion and function gated SPECT imaging in patients with left bundle branch block
Milan Kamínek, Marcela Škvařilová, Jiří Ostřanský, Otto Lang, Miroslav Mysliveček
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(6):297-300
The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of dipyridamole cardiac gated SPECT for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). The scintigraphic finding was subsequently verified by coronary angiography in a total of 38 patients: 10 women and 28 men, with a mean age of 60 years, 7 after myocardial infarction (MI), 5 after coronary revascularization. SPECT findings were classified as normal (n = 16) or abnormal perfusion (n = 22). Fixed reduced septal uptake was not qualified as abnormal perfusion provided gated SPECT revealed abnormal septal thickening and normal stress perfusion...