Kardiol Pol
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Impact of levosimendan on right ventricular functions by using novel tissue Doppler derived indices in patients with ischaemic left ventricular failure.
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction complicates advanced left ventricular (LV) heart failure (HF) and contributes to a poor prognosis. Levosimendan is a positive inotropic agent improving cardiac contractility without increasing myocardial oxygen consumption in HF. ⋯ Levosimendan improves RV systolic function as expressed by TDI-derived parameters in patients with acutedecompensated HF.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is generally associated with deterioration of the clinical status, functional capacity, and quality of life. It is also an independent risk factor for stroke and death. Studies evaluating the effectiveness of AF ablation in this cohort are relatively scant, have included relatively few patients, and their results are somewhat conflicting. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation of AF in patients with HCM. ⋯ Catheter ablation of AF in patients with HCM is an effective and safe therapeutic option, particularly in patients with paroxysmal AF. Effectiveness of ablation is significantly smaller in patients with persistent AF and even more so in those with long-persistent AF. Repeated procedures were often necessary. Continued antiarrhythmic drug therapy is often required due to a significant degree of atrial remodelling.
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Heart failure (HF) is a chronic disease of great clinical and economic significance for both the healthcare system and patients themselves. ⋯ The costs of treating heart failure in Poland are high; proper allocation of resources to diagnostic procedures and treatment may contribute to rationalisation of the relevant expenditure.
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Case Reports
[Mild induced hypothermia in patient with acute myocardial infarction after cardiac arrest].
Mild induced hypothermia is recommended by both European and American cardiological associations as well as European and Polish Recuscitation Council as a standard therapy in comatose patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest. We report a case of a 60 year-old male patient resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated with mild hypothermia. The use of hypothermia improved patient's neurological prognosis and outcome by preventing severe brain injury.