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The goal: To compare the results of most distal femoral bypasses in our institution with results in literature. Patients and Methods: A single centre retrospective analysis of femoral to crural and distal-leg bypass performed in University Hospital Centre Zagreb between 2014 and 2018. Results: Primary one-year patency is even a bit better in our hospital than in literature (80% vs 77% respectively) and secondary patency is in the range of the world literature (54% vs 68% respectively). Conclusion: Surgical revascularization in form of the most distal bypasses, performed in this institution observed, although reserved for a smaller number of patients, is very good and reliable method of treatment, and its results are at the level of world standards and percentages.

Smaller stent diameter represents risk factor for target lesion failure (TLF). Drug coated balloons (DCB) could represent valid substitution for stents in selected patients.The aim of the study was to assess clinical and angiographic outcomes after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) using DBC in treatment of coronary arteries ≤ 2.5 mm.

Aim: Aim of the study was to compare angiographic and clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) using drug coated balloons (DCB) between patients treated for “de novo” lesions and in-stent restenosis (ISR) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients and Methods: Study included 128 ASC patients treated with DCB between 2012 and 2019. All coronary angiographies were reviewed to determine indication, lesion complexity, vessel size and procedural success. Baseline and follow up clinical data were extracted from hospital digital database. Results: Mean patient age was 63.8 years, with the majority being men (75.8%, N=97). In total, 24 (18.8%) patients were treated for ISR. Comparison of clinical, angiographic and procedural characteristics between groups is presented in Table 1. Patients in the non-ISR group had more often multivessel disease (56.7 vs 25.0%, p=0.005), bifurcation PCI (45.0 vs 20.8%, p=0.042) and more DCB used in the index event (1.1±0.3 vs 1.0±0, p=0.004). Furthermore, they had more concomitant PCI with stent implantation in other lesions (75.9 vs 33.3%, p

Development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy represents the major determinant of long-term survival in patients after heart transplantation. Due to graft denervation, these patients seldom present with classic symptoms of angina pectoris, and the first clinical presentations are progressive heart failure or sudden cardiac death. Although coronary angiography remains the routine technique for coronary artery disease detection, it is not sensitive enough for screening purposes. This is especially the case in the first year after transplantation when diffuse and concentric vascular changes can be easily detected only by intravascular ultrasound. The treatment of the established vasculopathy is disappointing, so the primary effort should be directed toward early prevention and diagnosis. Due to diffuse vascular changes, revascularization procedures are restricted only to a relatively small proportion of patients with favorable coronary anatomy. Percutaneous coronary intervention is preferred over surgical revascularization since it leads to better acute results and patient survival. Although there is no proven long-term advantage of drug-eluting stents for the treatment of in-stent restenosis, they are preferred over bare-metal stents. Severe vasculopathy has a poor prognosis and the only definitive treatment is retransplantation. This article reviews the present knowledge on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Cardiologia CROATICA Background: At the time of transplantation, donor heart is susceptible to a myriad of factors including both ischaemia and acute immune response that could result in early and reversible thickening of the left ventricular wall. It is vital to differentiate that early thickening of the left ventricular (LV) wall from late hypertrophy that is due to denervation, immune response and myoproliferation. Therefore, we compared early postoperative echocardiography findings with the same measurements performed six months after transplantation. Methods: 22 patients after heart transplantation were assessed by echocardiography during postoperative hospital stay and at the follow-up visit at six months using standard M-mode, 2D and Doppler measurements. Baseline measurements of end-diastolic interventricular septum (IVSd), LV posterior wall thickness (LVPWd) and LV cavity dimension (LVIDd) were assessed using M-mode echocardiography. LV mass was estimated in calculation using cubed formula, volumes and systolic function were assessed using Simpson method. Diastolic function was assessed through analysis of transmitral and pulmonary venous Doppler flow and tissue Doppler analysis of movement of mitral anulus and classified according to grades of disfunction. Student T-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: IVSd decreased significantly from 11.8 mm ±2 to 9.3 mm ±2 (P