Special issue dedicated to imaging methods

Michael Aschermann

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e403-e404 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.10.007  

The role of imaging in coronary artery disease - What do the ESC guidelines say

Michal Tendera, Wojciech Wojakowski

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e405-e407 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.10.006  

The pivotal role of imaging in contemporary cardiology is unquestionable. Our aim is to summarize indications for the use of different imaging techniques in patients with diagnosed or suspected coronary artery disease according to the current ESC practice guidelines.

Echocardiography in coronary artery disease

Regina Votavová, Anna Linhartová, Josef Kořínek, Josef Marek, Aleš Linhart

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e408-e418 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.09.006  

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Imaging techniques represent the key method for disease extent and severity assessment and evaluation of hemodynamic complications. In skilled hands the method provides useful information for clinical management and prognosis assessment. Complex evaluation brings information about global and regional myocardial function, myocardial viability, ischemic mitral regurgitation, and about development of complications such as left ventricular thrombus formation, myocardial rupture and pericardial effusion. The main drawback of echocardiography is the limited echogenicity...

The coronary angiography - An old-timer in great shape

Viktor Kočka

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e419-e424 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.09.007  

The invasive coronary angiography is the gold standard in coronary artery disease evaluation. It is one of the most common operative procedures worldwide. This topic covered in detail would be extensive and the author provides his own, personal view of the indications, technique and complications of this diagnostic test. The advantages and disadvantages are provided together with the opinion about the current role of invasive coronary angiography in modern cardiology.

Coronary CT angiography

Petr Kuchynka, Lukáš Lambert, Vladimír Černý, Josef Marek, David Ambrož, Barbara Anna Danek, Aleš Linhart

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e425-e432 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.09.008  

Coronary CT angiography (coronary CTA) represents an increasingly applied noninvasive method for coronary artery imaging. Due to technical development and improved spatial and temporal resolution of CT, high diagnostic value of coronary CTA is reported when compared to conventional selective angiography. The aim of this review is to present an overview of the clinical applications of coronary CTA. Important factors in patient selection and preparation are also briefly discussed.

The use of coronary artery calcium scanning in detection and risk stratification of coronary artery disease

Zofia Parma

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e433-e438 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.10.003  

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan can be obtained using chest computed tomography, with no use of contrast agents, and with a relatively low radiation exposure. The mere absence of calcium is associated with a good prognosis in asymptomatic subjects and in patients at low to medium risk of coronary artery disease. CAC can be quantified in different ways, with higher scores being associated with a higher cardiovascular risk. CAC carries both diagnostic and prognostic information over and above that determined by classical risk factors. This paper presents the overview of the current use of CAC scanning, its advantages and limitations, as well as potential...

Intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography and near infrared spectroscopy

Tomasz Roleder, Wojciech Wojakowski

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e439-e445 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.10.004  

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) allow for a thorough analysis of the atheroma's morphology in vivo. Moreover, it helps to guide coronary intervention and assess the results of stenting. IVUS, OCT and NIRS provide unique data about the analyzed tissue and thus all of them complement each other. Their application in daily clinical practice helps to understand the underlying pathology of disease and may contribute to the improvement of outcomes in coronary interventions.

Myocardial perfusion imaging in coronary artery disease

Magdalena Kostkiewicz

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e446-e452 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.09.010  

Radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can be used to demonstrate the presence of coronary heart disease and to risk stratify and guide management of patients with known disease. It has the ability to localise haemodynamically important coronary stenoses, and assess the extent and severity of coronary obstruction by the presence and extent of perfusion defects. A normal stress MPI indicates the absence of coronary obstruction and hence of clinically significant disease. Cardiac PET has the advantage from SPECT of higher spatial and temporal resolution, and a decreased radiation exposure to patients. Hybrid cardiac imaging combining SPECT or...

Imaging in coronary artery disease. Cardiac magnetic resonance.

Mateusz Śpiewak

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e453-e461 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.09.009  

Imaging in coronary artery disease should be regarded as a tool supporting patients' management. Imaging helps physicians to diagnose patients more precisely and to treat them more effectively. There is a constant need to improve the decision-making process in patients with coronary artery disease. The growing number of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) centers, patients undergoing CMR studies and the plethora of evidence for the use of CMR both in patients with stable coronary artery disease, as well as acute coronary syndromes, justify reviewing its capabilities. Although research applications and technical developments are of particular value for...

Multimodality imaging in coronary artery disease - "The more the better?"

Simon Greulich, Udo Sechtem

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e462-e469 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.08.007  

Multimodality imaging in coronary artery disease (CAD) comprises a combination of information from more than one imaging technique. These combinations, performed in a side-by-side or fusion mode, include computed tomography (CT) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET) and CT, and PET with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Data thus obtained lead to either a summative or synergistic gain of information. For instance, morphology (coronary plaques/stenosis) can be depicted by coronary CT angiography, whereas functional aspects of CAD such as myocardial perfusion abnormalities or myocardial metabolism...

Electromechanical mapping in electrophysiology and beyond

Tomáš Skála, Miloš Táborský

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):e470-e482 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.10.002  

In this review, we outline contemporary and upcoming electroanatomic technologies focusing on new mapping tools especially in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. The number of catheter ablations has been increasing exponentially in the last few years due to technological advancements enabling complex ablation strategies. The quality of the contemporary systems of electroanatomic mapping is sufficiently high in terms of both standard ablations, such as isolation of pulmonary veins, and evaluation and elimination of complex arrhythmias. New instruments and devices are coming out to facilitate the proces of understanding arrhythmias and thus simplify...

Dabigatran s hrazenou indikací léčby TEN a přesvědčivými výsledky z reálné praxe v prevenci CMP u pacientů s nevalvulární fibrilací síní

Zuzana Zafarová

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):684-687 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2015.067  

Současné možnosti léčby chronické tromboembolické plicní hypertenze

Pavel Jansa, David Ambrož, Michael Aschermann, Jaroslav Lindner, Aleš Linhart

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):681-683  

Zápis ze členské schůze České kardiologické společnosti konané 24. 5. 2015 v Brně

Terezie Bracková

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):677  

Zápis ze schůze výboru ČKS konané 9. června 2015 v kanceláři ČKS v Praze

M. Táborský, L. Klímová, T. Bracková

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):678-679  

Josef Veselka, Vilém Rohn a kolektiv autorů: Kardiovaskulární medicína

Prof. MUDr. Jan Petrášek, DrSc.

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):688  

Eva Chytilová a kol.: Cévní přístupy pro hemodialýzu

Prof. MUDr. Jan Petrášek, DrSc.

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):689  

Josef Kautzner, Vojtěch Melenovský et al.: Srdeční selhání, aktuality pro klinickou praxi

Prof. MUDr. Jan Petrášek, DrSc.

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):690  

Kvalita života pacientů s chronickým srdečním selháním

Jana Haluzíková, Martina Hrubá

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):691-696  

Editorial Board

Editorial board

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):i | DOI: 10.1016/S0010-8650(15)00114-9  

Trombolytická léčba u pacientů se submasivní plicní embolií (plicní embolií s intermediárním rizikem). Studie PEITHO uveřejněna

Prof. MUDr. Jiří Widimský, DrSc., FESC, FAHA

Cor Vasa 2015, 57(6):674-676