Intramyocardial haemorrhage and infarct size after reperfusion

Ivo Bernat

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):125-126  

Catheterisation Interventions in Patients with Total Cavopulmonary Connection

Ondřej Materna, Petr Tax, Oleg Reich, Michal Jičínský, Denisa Jičínská, Karel Koubský, Václav Chaloupecký, Jan Janoušek

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):127-131 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.026  

Background: A small proportion of congenital heart disease cases are united under the diagnosis of a functionally single ventricle. The only management strategy for this group of patients is a series of palliative surgical procedures creating a unique situation of the so-called Fontan circulation. Currently, total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) is the target intervention in which the superior vena cava is connected directly to the pulmonary artery branch and the inferior vena cava via a valveless intracardiac or extracardiac conduit. The heart is excluded from the pulmonary circulation and the functionally single ventricle is connected only to the...

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) - method in retreat or rising star?

Martin Hudec, Jan Kaňovský, Ivona Kask, Kristýna Hlaváčová, Vojtěch Brázdil, Petr Kala

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):132-138 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.016  

The development of interventional cardiology has been going on for more than 50 years. During this time, great progress has been made not only in the materials used, but also in intravascular imaging (IVI). IVI plays a key role in the identification of vulnerable plaques (VP). The methods established and used in common clinical practice are mainly optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). NIRS (near infrared spectroscopy) is a modern method based on spectral analysis that evaluates the chemical composition of an artery. It can be used in identification of VP, the prediction of periprocedural infarctions, evaluation of...

Management of ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure: current perspectives

Adam Rafaj, Petr Peichl, Josef Kautzner

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):139-149 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.019  

Congestive heart failure (HF) is a progressive disease defined as the inability of the heart to maintain adequate blood flow. Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are common in patients with HF. Moreover, an advanced HF increases the risk of VAs. The management of VAs in patients with HF requires a systematic, multimodal approach consisting of an optimized medical therapy, use of ICD and/or cardiac resynchronization therapy. Another possibility is catheter ablation (CA), which is the method of choice for arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy and may represent a life-saving procedure for patients with electric storm. Novel approaches in the treatment of refractory...

Has the time come to consider expanding functional assessment of coronary circulation?

Vladimír Rozsíval

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):150-155 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.022  

Coronary flow is affected by epicardial arterial stenosis, thrombosis, microcirculation, and dynamic changes - dilatation and spasms (1). For several years, emphasis has been placed on flow reserves which are already firmly embedded in our recommendations (2, 3). The opposite of vasodilatation - vasoconstriction - is neglected in the assessment of circulation. Examination of potential spasms is performed only rarely and non-invasively in our catheterization laboratories. Our Guidelines deal with spasms only minimally and marginally (3). The case report mentions provocation of spasm by hyperventilation which resulted in the temporary closure of a large...

Acute myocardial infarction in anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus

Veronika Bednárová, Andrej Nagy, Vladimír Kincl, Lukáš Opatřil, Jiří Seménka, Eva Šimarová

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):156-160 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.025  

Congenital coronary artery anomalies are rare abnormalities in the anatomy and represent relatively rare findings on coronary angiography. The consequences of the presence of a coronary anomaly can be benign and often diagnosed incidentally. However, in some cases, they can have serious consequences, with the initial clinical manifestations being arrhythmias, the development of heart failure, or acute myocardial infarction (1-3). We present a case report of a 48-year-old patient with acute myocardial infarction of the inferior wall with an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus with an interarterial course and the...

Invading the heart

Mariana Santos, Sofia B. Paula, Helder Santos, Margarida Figueiredo, Samuel Almeida, Maria de Lurdes Almeida

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):161-162 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.021  

EMPEROR­‑Preserved - Empagliflozin and cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

Jindřich Špinar, Lenka Špinarová, Jiří Vítovec

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):168-172 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.030  

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors reduce the risk of hospitalisations for heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, but their effects in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction are uncertain. The EMPEROR-Preserved study tested the effect of empagliflozin in patients with preserved ejection fraction. Methods: In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 5,988 patients with NYHA class II-IV heart failure and an ejection fraction > 40% to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or placebo in addition to recommended therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death and hospitalisation...

The EMPULSE Trial

Lenka Špinarová, Jindřich Špinar, Jiří Vítovec

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):174-177 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.029  

Since the publication of the 2021 Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure, gliflozins have been among the four cornerstones of the treatment for chronic heart failure (CHF). The efficacy of gliflozins has been clearly demonstrated in patients with reduced ejection fraction, regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus (the DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced trials). The SOLOIST-WHF was the first trial in patients with decompensated HF to have shown the benefit of sotagliflozin in diabetic patients. The EMPULSE trial evaluated the administration of empagliflozin in patients with acute HF following the stabilization of their...

Prof. MUDr. Jan Harrer, CSc., sedmdesátiletý

Jan Vojáček, Pavel Žáček

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):185-186  

MUDr. Pavel Jebavý, CSc., oslavil 80 let

prof. MUDr. Jan F. Vojáček, DrSc.

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):187-188  

Characteristics of Patients Referred to Basrah Cardiac Center for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Asaad Hassan Kata Nwessry

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):178-182 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.018  

Aim of study: To determine the current use of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and adherence to clinical practice guidelines in managing patients with ST­‑elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: Patients with acute STEMI were referred to our cardiac center for PPCI. Immediately after admission, a complete medical history was taken focusing on the duration of chest pain, past medical history, and social history. Risk factors for ischemic heart disease were stratified for each patient, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking. In patients with STEMI, rapid opening of the occluded coronary artery and restoration...

Effect of precipitating factors and signs of acute heart failure on length of hospital stay

Sidhi Laksono

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):183 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2022.035  

Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy in a patient with atrial fibrillation and arterial hypertension

Štěpán Havránek

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):163-166  

The case report presents a young hypertensive male patient with atrial fibrillation complicated with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. Patient non-compliance was responsible for the recurrence of arrhythmia and heart failure symptoms. Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation was an effective treatment option, and optimisation of pharmacotherapy was required to control blood pressure. A literature review is included.

Opustil nás MUDr. Tomáš Klíma

Michael Aschermann, Jan Starý

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2022;21(3):190