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Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare opened (OVH) and the endoscopic (EVH) great saphenous vein harvest techniques in coronary surgery. Leg wound morbidity, total patient morbidity, endothelium damage and bypass grafts patency will be observed. Our initial results summarize the effect on patient morbidity. Backgrounds: The great saphenous vein is the most common coronary bypass graft. The endoscopic harvest technique has been available since 1998. Expansion of the method demands a comparison of the influence of harvest techniques on patient morbidity, endothelium traumatisation and bypass graft patency. Methods: In a prospective study, following great saphenous vein USG-mapping, 100 consecutive patients undergoing elective CABG where randomized into EVH and OVH group. The graft harvest data and perioperative complications were observed. The wound healing and leg morbidity were recorded on day 7 after the procedure and 1 month after dimission. Results: The length of grafts in the EVH and OVH groups were similar (36.9 cm EVH and 38.4 cm OVH), the harvest time was 36.2 minutes and 37.7 minutes. The skin incisions length was 7.6 cm in EVH and 40.3 cm in the OVH group. Clinical follow-up at day 7 shows higher incidence of large haematoma in the EVH group (18 % vs. 2 %), but lower incidence of pain (12 % vs. 42 %), edema of extremity (8 % vs.26%) and n.saphenus-region dysaesthesia (0 % vs. 10%). The incidence of edema, pain and dysaesthesia is lower in EVH also one month after dimission. There is no more difference in incidence of haematomas. Conclusions: EVH has fewer wound healing complications and a much better cosmetic outcome compared with OVH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Traumatic thoracic aortic transection is one of the most severe complications of high-energy injuries, but patients rarely receive treatment, and it is fatal in the vast majority of cases. Due to the complexity of surgical revision for transection, endovascular repair with stent graft implantation is the preferred approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the short-term and long-term treatment results for 31 patients (29 men, 2 women) treated at the Interventional Radiology Department, University Hospital Ostrava, for the isthmus part of a descending thoracic aorta injury between 2004 and 2020. RESULTS The median patient age was 48 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 28-63 years). The most common causes of injury were traffic accidents and falls or jumps, with the trauma location at the Ishimaru zones 2 to 4 of the aortic isthmus. Aortic stent grafts were successfully implanted in all patients; 13% of patients had complications and 10% died due to the trauma severity. The median procedure duration was 30 min (IQR: 25-43 min) and the median hospital stay was 29 days (IQR: 28-63 days). CONCLUSIONS Aortic stent graft implantation appears to be a safe and effective method for dealing with thoracic aorta injury, with a low complication rate and high patient survival. The endovascular approach is the method of choice for treating this severe disease, and a multidisciplinary approach for emergency medical treatment with a comprehensive trauma protocol is essential.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the Magseed magnetic marker in breast cancer surgery., Methods: Thirty-nine patients with 41 implanted Magseeds undergoing surgical treatment in 3 surgical oncology departments were included in the retrospective trial to study pilot use of the Magseed magnetic marker in the Czech Republic for localisation of breast tumours or pathological axillary nodes in breast cancer patients., Results: Thirty-four breast cancer and 7 pathological lymph node localisations were performed by Magseed implantation. No placement failures, or perioperative detection failures of Magseeds were observed (0/41, 0.0%), but one case of Magseed migration was present (1/41, 2.4%). All magnetic seeds were successfully retrieved (41/41, 100.0%). Negative margins were achieved in 29 of 34 (85.3%) breast tumour localisations by Magseed., Conclusion: Magseed is a reliable marker for breast tumour and pathological axillary node localisation in breast cancer patients. Magseed is comparable to conventional localisation methods in terms of oncosurgical radicality and safety., Competing Interests: Magseeds were provided by Sysmex CZ, Inc. without any charge as part of the Magseed pilot use in the Czech Republic project. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020 by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: The aim of this pilot retrospective study is to evaluate the complication rate in patients after axillary dissection comparing preparation with harmonic scalpel vs traditional ligation technique, and to analyse risk factors for complications occurrence., Methods: 144 patients with 148 axillary dissections operated in a single centre between January 2014 and 2019 were included into the study. Axillary dissection was performed using harmonic scalpel in 73 and absorbable ligations in 70 cases., Results: Seroma formation was observed in 41 patients (56.2%) in the harmonic scalpel group and in 21 patients (30.0%) in the ligations group (p=0.003). The mean period from the surgery to drain removal was 4.0 days in the harmonic scalpel group and 3.0 days in the ligations group (p<0.001). The mean amount of the drained fluid after mastectomy was 300.9 ml in the harmonic scalpel group and 168.7 ml in the ligations group (p=0.005); after breast conserving surgery, it was 241.9 ml and 107.4 ml, respectively (p =0.023)., Conclusion: In comparison with traditional ligations with absorbable material, axillary dissection using harmonic scalpel significantly increases the risk of postoperative seroma formation, prolongs the time from the surgery to drain removal, and increases the amount of drained fluid.

Since mammographic screening programmes were initiated, the spectrum of breast cancer has changed in terms of impalpable tumours, thus causing the development of new localisation methods, including magnetic markers. We offer herein an up-to-date review focused on two magnetic markers (Magseed, MaMaLoc) currently used in breast cancer surgery for the localisation of breast tumours or pathological axillary nodes. Magnetic marker localisation presents a safe and reliable method for breast tumour marking. Four currently available prospective studies demonstrate that the Magseed system has a negative margin rate and a successful localisation rate, both of which are comparable to standard marking systems used in breast cancer surgery. The main benefits of magnetic markers are that they require no radiation safety measures, and they offer the possibility of longer deployment times, thus simplifying surgery scheduling. The most important drawbacks are cost of the system, depth limitation and need for frequent probe recalibration., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Termedia & Banach.)

Background: The aim of our study was to investigate, whether enhancement of left atrial cryoablation by ablation of the autonomic nervous system of left atrium leads to influencing the outcomes of surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with structural heart disease undergoing open-heart surgery., Methods: The observed patient file consisted of 100 patients, who have undergone a combined open-heart surgery at our department between July 2012 and December 2014. The patients were indicated for the surgical procedure due to structural heart disease, and suffered from paroxysmal, persistent, or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. In all cases, left atrial cryoablation was performed in the extent of isolation of pulmonary veins, box lesion, connecting lesion with mitral annulus, amputation of the left atrial appendage and connecting lesion of the appendage base with left pulmonary veins. Furthermore, 35 of the patients underwent mapping and radiofrequency ablation of ganglionated plexi, together with discision and ablation of the ligament of Marshall (Group GP). A control group was consisted of 65 patients without ganglionated plexi intervention (Group LA). The main primary outcome was establishment and duration of sinus rhythm in the course of one-year follow-up., Results: Evaluation of the number of patients with a normal sinus rhythm in per cent has shown comparable values in both groups (Group GP - 93.75%, Group LA - 86.67%, p = 0.485); comparable results were also observed in patients with normal sinus rhythm without anti-arrhythmic treatment in the 12th month (Group GP - 50%, Group LA - 47%, p = 0.306). We have not observed any relation between the recurrence of atrial fibrillation and the presence of a mitral valve surgery, or between the presence of a mitral and tricuspid valves surgery and between the left atrial diameter > 50 mm., Conclusions: Enhancement of left atrial cryoablation by gangionated plexi ablation did not influence the outcomes of surgical ablation due to atrial fibrillation in our population in the course of 12-month follow-up., Trial Registration: The study was approved retrospectively by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Ostrava ( reference number 867/2016).

Here, we examined whether intraoperative sonolysis can alter the risk of new ischemic lesions in the insonated brain artery territory during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or valve surgery.Silent brain ischemic lesions could be detected in as many as two-thirds of patients after CABG or valve surgery.Patients indicated for CABG or valve surgery were allocated randomly to sonolysis (60 patients, 37 males; mean age, 65.3 years) of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) during cardiac surgery and control group (60 patients, 37 males; mean age, 65.3 years). Neurologic examination, cognitive function tests, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were conducted before intervention as well as 24 to 72 hours and 30 days after surgery.New ischemic lesions on control diffusion-weighted MRI in the insonated MCA territory ≥0.5 mL were significantly less frequent in the sonolysis group than in the control group (13.3% vs 26.7%, P = 0.109). The sonolysis group exhibited significantly reduced median volume of new brain ischemic lesions (P = 0.026). Stenosis of the internal carotid artery ≥50% and smoking were independent predictors of new brain ischemic lesions ≥0.5 mL (odds ratio = 5.685 [1.272-25.409], P = 0.023 and 4.698 [1.092-20.208], P = 0.038, respectively). Stroke or transient ischemic attack occurred only in 2 control patients (P = 0.496). No significant differences were found in scores for postintervention cognitive tests (P > 0.05).This study provides class-II evidence that sonolysis during CABG or valve surgery reduces the risk of larger, new ischemic lesions in the brain.www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01591018).

We present an example of a patient with confirmed cold agglutinin disease who underwent cardiac surgery in hypothermia to illustrate a known fact that, when exposed to cold, cold agglutinins induce haemolysis of erythrocytes and that cryoglobulins and cryofibrinogens may, upon exposition to cold during a surgery under hypothermia, precipitate or gelify and thus increase plasma viscosity and damage microcirculation. Detailed immunological and haematological investigations in all patients awaiting cardiac surgery with a risk of developing hypothermia is not advantageous considering the low number of patients with clinical and laboratory signs of cold agglutinin disease, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia or paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria and considering that these investigations, in addition, might not detect cryoglobulinaemia and cryofibrinogenemia. Identification of in-risk patients from the warning signs in the medical history, physical or basal laboratory testing who would subsequently undergo confirmatory investigations to verify the presence of these entities and define them accurately might be a potential solution to this clinical issue. Cardiac surgery strategy and peri-operative care should be tailored to the results of these investigations. Well-structured, practiced and functional cooperation between clinicians and laboratory personnel is a prerequisite for success in these circumstances.

Cardiac surgery has been advancing intensively in recent years. However, it is often forgotten that cardiac surgery interventions represent a significant interference with patient's coagulation status. This paper summarizes the main processes in the course cardiac surgery that lead to coagulation disorder. These include: * haemodilution resulting from extracorporeal circuits crystalloid priming and the use of cardioplegic solutions leading to the reduction in coagulation factors concentration and the thrombocytes count * full heparinisation during extracorporeal circulation that represents a significant interference with coagulation that may persist for some time even after all heparin has been bound * contact of the blood with inorganic surface that results in an activation of the coagulation cascade and subsequent consumption of coagulation factors and thrombocytes * surgery-related trauma with activation of the external coagulation pathway leading to activation of the coagulation cascade and subsequent consumption of coagulation factors and thrombocytes * blood re-transfusion from the pericardial cavity and subsequent activation of the external coagulation pathway leading to consumption of coagulation factors and thrombocytes * hypothermia leading to thrombocyte dysfunction and initiation of fibrinolysis * blood loss furthering the haemodilution and reduction in coagulation factors concentration and thrombocytes count. The overview provided suggests that cardiac surgery conducted with the support of extracorporeal circuit represents a significant interference with the coagulation status of the patient. Awareness of the above listed changes is necessary to secure correct post-operative management of coagulation disorders.

Unlabelled: Pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery is common, but only in a small part of patients it has progressive character and cardiac tamponade occurs. Accurate diagnosis and well-timed pericardiocentesis are necessary to effective management of this life threatening complication. The study aimed at presentation of our centre outcomes of echocardiographically-guided pericardiocentesis in patients after cardiac surgery., Methods: Between December 2005 and November 2007, 2,232 patients underwent open-heart surgery in our centre. At 48 (2.2%) of them pericardiocentesis for clinically significant pericardial effusion was performed., Results: Pericardiocentesis was significantly more frequent after valve surgery (7.1%, p < 0.001), aortic root surgery (8.2%, p < 0.001) and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation (6.6%, p < 0.001), i.e. in patients who had received postoperative anticoagulation therapy. Echo-guided pericardiocentesis was technically and therapeutically successful in 100% of cases and no complications were registered. The time elapsed between surgery and puncture was in range 6 to 80 days (median, 13 days). The median volume initially aspirated was 450 ml (range, 50 to 1,550 ml). Forty five patients (93.8%) had extended catheter drainage with active suction, the median duration of the drainage was 1 day (range, 1 to 6 days), the mean volume of catheter drainage was 328 ml (median, 145 ml; range, 20 to 2,950 ml). Four patients (8.3%) required repeated pericardiocenteses because of recurrence of significant pericadial effusion. Extended pericardial catheter drainage (after initial evacuation of the effusion) was associated with a significant reduction of recurrence of significant pericadial effusion and with lower probability of repeated pericardiocentesis. We can conclude, echo-guided pericardiocentesis was effective and safe method for primary treatment of postoperative pericardial effusions.

In our article we inform about complete preoperative preparation and about required examinations before the scheduled cardiosurgical procedure. Important part of the preoperative preparation is also detailed instruction about the character of the operation, a way of its realization and about the operation risks. In the end of this article we discus the instruction of the patient about the types of the valvular prosthesis.

A case of blood culture-negative aortic and mitral valve infective endocarditis caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei is reported. A 33-year-old man showed no clinical manifestations of Whipple's disease, with the exception of arthralgia as given in his history. The disease was complicated by recurrent cerebral and left upper limb embolization of vegetations. The causative agent was detected in a valve sample using broad-range polymerase chain reaction. The patient underwent successful surgery (aortic and mitral valve replacement) and his clinical condition during six-month antibiotic therapy was good.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent sustained arrhythmia. It is associated with higher morbidity and mortality of patients. Cryoablation was introduced to the current practise in cardiac surgery as a non-pharmacological method of therapy of atrial fibrillation. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation on the attainment and maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients undergoing concomitant cardiac surgery., Methods and Results: Ninety four consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal, persistent or permanent) were followed up prospectivelly. The mean age was 67.8 years; there were 39 (41.5%) women in the study group. Forty two patients (44.7%) had paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation and 52 (55.3%) of them had permanent atrial fibrillation before surgery. Patients with permanent atrial fibrillation had significantly bigger preoperative left atrial diameter (51.2 versus 46.6 mm) and more severe tricuspid regurgitation (grade 2.3/4 versus grade 1.4/4) compared to the group with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. Mitral valve surgery was significantly more frequent in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation too. Operations were performed between January 2005 and July 2006 using flexible argon-based cryoablative device. Sinus rhythm was achieved statistically significantly more frequently in patients with preoperative paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation in comparison with patients with permanent atrial fibrillation--at discharge, 1, 3.5 and 6 months after operation (90.5-96.3 % versus 50-65.9%). At 12 months it was only statistical trend (84.6% versus 63.3%). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a 79.4% freedom from atrial fibrillation at 12 months. Preoperative atrial size and duration of atrial fibrillation were the most significant negative predictors of maintenance of sinus rhythm. Four patients (9.3%) required postoperative permanent pacemaker placement. Ischemic stroke occured in 5 (5.3%) patients. Thirty-day motality was 12.9% (12 patients)., Conclusions: Perioperative ablation of atrial fibrillation using cryoenergy is effective therapeutic method for restoring and maintenance of sinus rhythm in relatively high proportion of patients. The most significant predictors of late recurrence are preoperative atrial size and duration of atrial fibrillation. This non-pharmacological method should be routinely used in patients undergoing concomitant cardiac surgery.

Background: Surgical ablation is one of the most effective techniques for treatment of atrial fibrillation. Stable sinus rhythm is achieved and effective atrial contractions are restored in the majority of patients. The aim of the prospective study is to assess the presence of atrial transport function after surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation using cryoenergy and to evaluate predictors of the procedural success., Methods and Results: Between January 2005 and September 2006, 100 consecutive patients underwent left atrium cryoablation as a concomitant cardiac procedure. Their mean age was 67.6 years (range 50 to 82 years), there were 41 (41 %) women. Forty six patients (46 %) suffered from paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation and 54 (54 %) of them from permanent atrial fibrillation before surgery. Atrial mechanical function was assessed by echocardiography (pulsed Doppler examination of the mitral and tricuspidal inflow, presence of the atrial filling [A] wave) after 3.5, 6, 12 and 18 months postoperatively. 79.6 % of patients, who have had sinus rhythm at 3.5 months, were free from atrial fibrillation at 18 months after surgery. The effective left atrial contractions were present at 3.5, 6, 12 and 18 months postoperatively in 70.2 %, 71.9 %, 81.4 % and 73.5 % of patients and we found right atrial transport function in 97 %, 95.3 %, 97.7 % and 97.1 % of patients. There was no significant difference between group with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation and permanent fibrillation. Negative predictors for restoration of the left atrial transport function were: preoperative mitral stenosis (at 3.5 and 6 months, p=0.02 and p=0.03 respectively), bigger left atrial dimension prior to procedure (only at 3.5 months, p=0.01) and severity of tricuspid regurgitation before surgery (only at 18 months, p=0.01). An ischaemic stroke occured in 7 %. Thirty-day motality was 12 % (12 patients)., Conclusions: Left atrial mechanical funtion was detected in 70-80 % of patients and right atrial function in 95-98 % of patients with sinus rhythm during follow-up of 18 months. Preoperative left atrial dimension, presence of mitral stenosis and severity of tricuspid regurgitation were the most significant predictors for postoperative restoration of the left atrial transport function. Significant reduction in occurence of ischaemic stroke by surgical ablation was not achieved.

Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation is a rare disease owing to penetrating or nonpenetrating thoracic trauma. In the last 40 years, since motorism is increasing, this disease can be seen more frequently. In most cases, rupture of chordae tendinae on the tricuspid valve, damage of the front papillary muscle and rupture of the tricuspid valve leaflets. On an acute stage, the damage of the valve can remain undiagnosed. Later on, the patient might have no symptoms; however, symtoms of right heart failure indicating an operation appear. This case-study is concerned with a patient with traumatic tricuspid regurgitation.

Background: A retrospective study analysing effects of surgical treatment of active infective endocarditis was performed in our centre between January 1998 and December 2005., Methods and Results: 57 consecutive patients with infective endocarditis underwent surgical intervention in active phase of infection (fulfilment of Durack diagnostic criteria, persisting elevation CRP at the time of cardiac surgery, indications for surgery according to actual guidelines of the Czech Society of Cardiology). Male to female ratio was 38:19. The patients' mean age was 52.5 years without any significant differences among men and women. The most frequent causative agents were staphylococci--28.1 % and streptococci--19.3 %. 26 cases of aortic valve involvement were the most frequent, followed by 21 cases of mitral endocarditis, and 7 cases were both aortic and mitral valve endocarditis. 3 cases of tricuspid endocarditis were also observed. Native valve endocarditis prevailed over the prosthetic ones--49 versus 8. Surgery was most often performed using a mechanical prosthesis (45 cases), bioprostheses were implanted in 13 patients and 6 patients underwent mitral or tricuspid valve repair operation. In 1 patient, the procedure was complemented with mitral valve annuloplasty, and in 5 patients, the operation was completed with tricuspid annuloplasty--because of significant regurgitation of other aetiology. Coronary artery bypass surgery (at the same time) was necessary in 9 patients. Surgery was followed by a significant shift from classes III and IV to classes I and II of NYHA classification. Relapsing or recurrent endocarditis developed in 7 %. Thirty-day mortality of patients who had undergone surgery for active infective endocarditis was 15.8 %, 9 patients died. During follow up period 7 patients died, the overall mortality was 28.1 %. Survivors were followed up for 0.5-90 (median 40) months., Conclusions: Operation for active infective endocarditis carries a relatively higher mortality in comparison with elective surgery. Nevertheless, this is acceptable because the operation in active phase is enforced by life-threatening complications and it also reduces assumed mortality at conservative therapy. Our results are comparable with data from other studies.

Aim: Obesity is generally presented to be a risk factor in surgical procedures including the cardiac ones. The aim of this work was to conduct a retrospective study comparing surgical results of the cardiosurgical procedures depending on each patient's body mass index data (BMI)., Methodology: All 4266 patients operated by our team during 1998-2002 have been included in the study. The patient subjects were allocated in 5 groups according to their individual BMIs. Preoperative, peroperative and postoperative data of all groups were compared., Results: There were no significant differences in the preoperative and peroperative data between the groups. The postoperative results showed no statistical differences between the individual groups, indicating a trend towards better results in the groups with higher BMIs. On the contrary, the results of the group with the BMI of less than 20 kg/m2 were the worst, however they were also of no statistical significance., Conclusion: The restrospective study did not prove the obesity to be a risk factor in cardiosurgical procedures. On the contrary, it suggested the BMI of less than 20 kg/m2 to be a risk factor.

The surgical management of aneurysms and dissections of the thoracic aorta, as well as their endovascular management, all have their technical and medical limits. The aim of this work is to point out possibility for combination of the both treatment methods and to share our first practical experience with this procedure. The procedures conducted have been divided into the following groups: combined procedures, where the surgical part enables implantation of the stentgraft into the descending aorta or is managing imperfect results of such implantations, procedures, where combining the surgical and endovascular treatment lowers operational stress of the patient, as the extracorporeal circulation and the circulation arrest are not required, procedures, where advantages of both the surgical treatment in the region of the aortic arch and the endovascular treatment in the region of the descending aorta, are combined. Using the combination of both the surgical and endovascular techniques in the management of the large aneurysms and dissections of the thoracic aorta, appears to be a perspective method. The patient may benefit from its lower perioperative risk rates and lower postoperative morbidity rates. A good long-term effect of the above treatment method may be expected, however, it has to be verified in long-term patient studies.

Aortal dissection belongs to the group of aortal diseases with a high mortality rate and varied clinical account. This disease does not appear very often and therefore it is often diagnosed late. Diagnostic and therapeutic developments have recently improved. Classification and indication criteria about prophylactic interventions on aorta have become more specific. It leads to the gradual decrease of mortality caused by this disease. Frequent accumulation of familiar aortal dissection was described. It can be important for the early identification of individuals at risk. In our casuistry we describe a family with the accumulation of aortal dissection coinciding with Marfan syndrome from the mother's side and the prevalence of this disease in siblings from their patient's father. The evident predisposition was not clearly demonstrated in these cases. We also examined and began to dispenser other members of the family but we did not find an evident predisposition factor. We would like to emphasize the importance of good interdisciplinary and institutional cooperation in diagnostic and treatment of this disease. Further we want to emphasize the contribution of careful sampling of familiar anamnesis in the cases stricken with the disease. We focused on sudden death. It is well known that the gene analysis may contribute to the identification of individuals at risk in these families. We do not have this possibility in our country now.

This case report demonstrates successful cardiopulmonary and cerebral resuscitation (CPCR) of a young male explored 15 hours following a suicide attempt (carbamazepine intoxication) in deep hypothermia (19 degrees C) with circulatory arrest. An extracorporeal circuit was used to rewarm the patient's blood. Weaning from extracorporeal circulation (ECC) was successful and without complications as was recovery from multiorgan dysfunction, severe rhabdomyolysis and carbamazepine intoxication. An excellent outcome was achieved without any neurological deficit at the time of discharge from the hospital.

Aims: This retrospective study evaluates early and midterm results in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction., Technique: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with coronary artery disease and ejection fraction of left ventricle (LVEF) less or equal to 25 % underwent elective coronary artery bypass graft procedure between September 1998 and December 2001. Mean age at operation was 66 (47-86) years. The main symptoms were angina class III-IV Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) in 78 patients (80 %) and dyspnoea class III-IV New York Heart Association (NYHA) in 43 patients (44 %). The major indications for surgery were severe angina, dyspnoea in 90 patients (93 %). Cardiac index (CI), echocardiography (ECHO), planimetry, end-diastolic pressure of left ventricle (LVEDP), end-diastolic diameter of left ventricle (LVEDd) were used to access left ventricular function preoperatively. ECHO was also used to access left ventricular function postoperatively., Results: Early postoperative (30 days) mortality was 4.1 %. Complications had 25 patients (26 %) postoperatively. Two years survival was 95.7 %. Class III-IV CCS and/or NYHA had 17 patients (17.5 %) two years after surgery. LVEF (assessed by ECHO) improved from 23.1 % preoperatively to 36.0 % postoperatively (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The study showed that elective myocardial revascularisation in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and signs of myocardial viability is not necessarily associated with high operative mortality. It can be performed safely with respectable midterm survival in concordance with left ventricular function improvement, symptom relief and quality of life improvement.

The case-history describes successful resuscitation of a young man who was found after 15 hours following attempted suicide (intoxication with carbamazepine) in deep hypothermia (19 degrees C) with cardiac arrest. For rewarming the patient extracorporeal circulation was used. The patient was successfully disconnected from the extracorporeal circulation, relieved of the shock incl. severe rhabdomyolysis and intoxication with carbamazepine and discharged to domiciliary treatment without suffering from a neurological deficiency.

This study was done to compare the protective effect of blood and crystalloid cardioplegia in patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Sixty consecutive patients with left ventricular ejection fraction < 35% scheduled for CABG with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass without additional procedures were randomly divided into two groups. In the first group we used cold blood cardioplegia, in the second group cold crystalloid cardioplegia, both delivered only ortogradely. We measured hemodynamic data in early hours after operation, enzyme release and we collected other clinical data which could be influenced by perioperative myocardial protection. There was no death in either group. We also didn't find any significant difference in incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and use of intraaortic balloon pumping between both groups. In an early hours after operation in the group with blood cardioplegia we found significantly better hemodynamic data (LVSWI, RVSWI) and significantly lower enzyme release. We conclude, that cold blood cardioplegia shows superior perioperative myocardial protection resulting in earlier restoration of myocardial function. This difference could be important in patients with high degree of left ventricular dysfunction.

The authors analyze in detail a group of 48 patients treated on account of acute pancreatitis in 1988. As regards the severity and prognosis of the disease, they divide it according to the Mainzer classification into three groups. The first mildest one was not subjected to acute operation. Serious cases in group 2 and 3 called in a total of 22 cases for operation. The authors discuss in detail indications for surgical intervention from four basic aspects: laboratory findings, ultrasonographic and CT examination, the clinical picture and character of the exudate in the abdominal cavity. It is essential to evaluate in a comprehensive way all symptoms and the dynamics of their development, in particular, however, the clinical picture of the disease. The possible lack of of some paraclinical examinations (ultrasonography, CT) must not play a decisive role for the indication.