Cor et Vasa, 2005 (vol. 46), issue 9
Original research articles
Supraventricular extrasystolia in patients undergoing cardioversion for persisting atrial fibrillation
Vlastimil Vančura, Tomáš Marek, Petr Frídl, Jana Vrbská, Jiří Kettner, Martin Florian, Jan Bytešník, Kateřina Lefflerová, Josef Kautzner
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(9):329-332
Aim of study:Atrial premature beats (APBs) originating from an automatic focus located predominantly in the atrial myocardium around the pulmonary veins play an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the study was to describe the incidence of APBs after cardioversion for persistent AF. Patient population and methods:The study population consisted of 50 patients (35 males) with an average age of 63.3 ± 9.9 years without structural heart disease undergoing cardioversion for persistent AF. Ambulatory EKG monitoring was started prior to cardioversion. Two to four weeks after cardioversion,...
Radiofrequency ablation of typical atrial flutter using standard catheters and cooled-tip catheters. Early and medium-term results
Zdeněk Stárek, Libor Zaoral, Martin Eisenberger, Pavel Leinveber
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(9):335-341
Introduction:Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of typical atrial flutter requires the creation of complete, uninterrupted, transmural linear radiofrequency lesion to produce bidirectional blockade of the cavotricuspidal isthmus as the critical site of this arrhythmia. Compared with conventional catheters, cooled-tip catheters allow for easier and quicker creation of this line. Our study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of cooled-tip catheters versus conventional ones in typical atrial flutter ablation and the risk for atrial flutter recurrence and for development of atrial fibrillation following RFA in a minor Central European...
Case reports
Paradoxical renal and splenic embolism in a patient with pulmonary embolism, patent foramen ovale and right atrial embedded embolus.
Pavel Franc, Jiří Kvasnička, Petr Vojtíšek, Dušan Spitzer, Jan Harrer
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(9):342-344
n patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO), pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with a risk for paradoxical embolism. Patients with PFO and PE show higher mortality rates and higher of brain and arterial embolism rates compared with PE patients not demonstrating echocardiographic signs of PFO. The prognosis of PE patients is made further worse by the presence of flowing right atrial thrombi. The present case report describes a 43-year-old man hospitalized for mesogastric pain and dyspnoe with subsequent evidence of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, free right atrial thrombosis and renal and splenic embolism. The condition was managed successfully...
Recurrent acute coronary syndrome in patients with several risk factors
Marián Pirchala
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(9):345-347
Coronary heart disease and its progression are closely related to several risk factors. Our case report describes two pa-tients in whom the coincidence of several of these risk factors resulted in recurrent acute coronary syndromes requiring repeated percutaneous coronary interventions within a year.
Right atrial and ascending aorta perforation following percutaneous atrial septal closure
Jan Vojáček, Jana Popelová, Martin Mates, Jan Burkert, Jaroslav Hlubocký, Jaroslav Špatenka, Petr Pavel
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(9):348-350
Percutaneous atrial septal defect closure has become an alternative to surgical treatment. The authors present an interest-ing case report of a female patient developing right atrial and ascending aorta perforation following percutaneous atrialseptal defect closure. The causes of this rare complication are analyzed and discussed in the present paper.
Short communication
Soluble apoptotic markers in stable heart transplant recipients treated with Neoral vs. Tacrolimus.
Jan Hökl, Jan Černý, Jiří Ondrášek, Helena Bedáňová, Marie Ošmerová
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(9):351-353
Neoral (n = 9) and Tacrolimus (n = 9) were used as main immunosuppressive drugs in two subgroups of stable adult heart transplant recipients. The patients, followed up for 18 months, were free from rejection episodes (> 1A) and infection. In their plasma, soluble apoptotic markers, i. e., antiapoptotic Fas and proapoptotic Fas Ligand, were assessed by ELISA. There were no differences in the levels of soluble Fas (sFas) and Fas Ligand (sFasL) between the Neoral and Tacrolimussubgroups; in both subgroups sFas values increased significantly in comparison with the patients before transplantation (p < 0.001) as well as healthy controls (p <...
Cardiovascular risk factors in two nutritional groups of an elderly population
Marica Krajčovičová-Kudláčková, Viera Spustová, Pavel Blažíček, Martina Valachovičová
Cor Vasa 2005, 46(9):354-358
Through a variety of mechanisms, the nutrient and non-nutrient components of plant food may reduce the risk of chronic degenerative diseases. Lipid and non-lipid cardiovascular risk parameters were assessed in two groups of randomly select-ed, apparently healthy elderly subjects aged 60-75 years: a vegetarian group (41 lacto-ovo-vegetarians who consumed plant food, dairy products and eggs) and a non-vegetarian one (46 subjects on a traditional mixed diet). Mean blood values of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin as well as calculated values of the atherogenic index and insulin resistance were significantly...