Association of left atrial strain and fibrin clot properties in patients with heart failure and severe mitral regurgitation undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

The link between heart failure (HF) and increased prothrombotic risk has gathered attention, with several studies exploring this association. Patients with HF and severe mitral regurgitation (MR) undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) may present enhanced left atrial (LA) function and improve thrombosis-related factors due to the procedure. This study investigates the role of left atrial strain (LAS), assessed via speckle-tracking echocardiography, in detecting subtle LA abnormalities and its potential link to thrombotic risk in severe MR patients.

Simulation training significantly improves the performance of novice students achieving the standard transesophageal echocardiography views.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an important cardiovascular imaging modality, offering detailed images surpassing other techniques, including transthoracic echocardiography. TEE's efficacy relies on skilled physicians operating the probe. Adequate TEE training is often overlooked, leading to potential patient discomfort or harm during TEE examinations.

Experience with transvenous lead extraction of His bundle pacing leads.

Background: Nowadays, we observe a growing interest in conduction system pacing (CSP). Therefore, we expect the number of patients with CSP to increase significantly in the coming years. However, there is a lack of large data on transvenous lead extraction (TLE) procedures of CSP leads, particularly His bundle pacing (HBP) leads in the adult population.

Thrombin generation, fibrin clot permeation and lysis in patients with severe mitral regurgitation undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair: Mitral Fibrin Study.

Introduction: Intricate management of heart failure (HF), especially in the context of reduced ejection fraction, is further complicated by an elevated risk of thromboembolic events. Studies published so far offer inconclusive insight into the interplay between mitral regurgitation (MR) and the coagulation system.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of transcatheter edge‑to‑edge repair (TEER) on specific coagulation parameters in HF patients.

The Prognostic Significance of Atrial Fibrillation and Left Atrium Size in Patients with Aortic Stenosis.

Aim    Aortic stenosis increases left atrial (LA) pressure and may lead to its remodeling. This can cause supraventricular arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to determine if the size of the LA and the presence of atrial fibrillation are related to the prognosis of patients with aortic stenosis.

Right ventricle to pulmonary artery coupling as a predictor of perioperative outcome in patients with secondary mitral valve insufficiency.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess some parameters of right ventricle (RV) function as predictors of short-term mortality in patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) after mitral valve surgery.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 112 consecutive patients with severe SMR who had undergone mitral valve repair or replacement with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass surgery. We assessed RV to pulmonary artery coupling by calculating the ratio of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to non-invasively estimated RV systolic pressure (RVSP).

The usefulness of echo-based hemodynamic parameters in cardiac resynchronization therapy with conduction system pacing for optimal device programing.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) has proved to be a valuable alternative enabling the physiological activation of cardiac contraction in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). At present, however, little is known about the optimal method of programming of the His bundle-paced CRT systems in terms of achieving the best cardiac output.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy with conduction system pacing (CRT+CSP) on echo-based hemodynamic parameters in the early post-operative measurements.

Hemodynamic parameters of aortic valve prostheses - KRAK-AS registry analysis.

Introduction: The treatment of choice for aortic stenosis is a valve replacement. Some patients have post-procedural increased pressure gradient on the implanted prosthesis because of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM), known to adversely influence prognosis. The PPM risk should be initially predicted and effort made to avoid this complication, specifically in large body size patients.

The electrocardiographic interpretation of ventricular pacing suppression algorithms in the pacemaker.

Algorithms designed to reduce the right ventricular (RV) pacing burden are widely available in modern dual-chamber implantable pacing devices. These algorithms allow the atrioventricular delay for sensed ventricular events to be longer than for ventricular paced events. However, since these features are unique to pacemaker manufacturers, they often produce unfamiliar electrocardiographic (ECG) appearances that suggest pacemaker dysfunction.

Subclinical cardiac performance in obese and overweight women as a potential risk factor of preeclampsia.

Objectives: Failure to increase cardiac output owing to suboptimal cardiac performance in obese women may contribute to placental hypoperfusion, and therefore subsequently to the abnormal placental development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between left ventricle (LV) function in overweight and obese pregnant women and parameters of blood flow in uterine arteries.

Study Design And Main Outcome Measures: We conducted a prospective cohort study, which included consecutive 87 women with singleton pregnancy - 56 women with normal weight and 31 overweight and obese women.

Pulmonary artery dilatation during normal pregnancy.

Background: During pregnancy the cardiovascular system undergoes complex alterations; however, there have been few studies concerning pulmonary artery behaviour during gestation.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the pulmonary artery diameter (PAD) during gestation, with respect to left ventricular (LV) load and remodelling, as well as to systemic vascular resistance (SVR).

Methods: It was a prospective cohort study, which included 69 consecutive healthy outpatient women with a singleton pregnancy.

Fulminant adrenergic myocarditis complicated by pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest.

Adrenergic myocarditis is an uncommon presentation of pheochromocytoma and extremely rare cause of de novo acute heart failure (AHF). We present a case of a 31-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of hypertension and recurrent occipital headaches who was admitted to the emergency department due to severe de novo AHF presenting as pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. During the hospital admission the patient experienced asystolic cardiac arrest and was successfully resuscitated, intubated, and mechanically ventilated.

Relationship between abdominal obesity, platelet blood count and mean platelet volume in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Aim: There is evidence that patients with the metabolic syndrome have altered platelet indices including higher mean platelet volume. According to the 2009 International Diabetes Federation criteria of metabolic syndrome diagnosis, elevated waist circumference (≥94 cm in M, ≥80 cm in F), as a determinant of abdominal obesity, is not an obligatory component. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between platelet indices, including mean platelet volume, and abdominal obesity in patients with metabolic syndrome.