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When a paramedic embarks on the process of providing health care, he or she starts a long and difficult journey of professional and personal growth. The high level of complexity and responsibility inherent in the coordinated operation of rescue services while securing and carrying out activities and measures related to the provision of emergency care brings many unforeseen situations. By analyzing the risks of paramedic work, this paper seeks to identify the extent of necessary protective measures with the potential of increasing the safety of the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a paramedic embarks on the process of providing health care, he or she starts a long and difficult journey of professional and personal growth. The high level of complexity and responsibility inherent in the coordinated operation of rescue services while securing and carrying out activities and measures related to the provision of emergency care brings many unforeseen situations. By analyzing the risks of paramedic work, this paper seeks to identify the extent of necessary protective measures with the potential of increasing the safety of the profession., (Copyright © 2022 Euro-Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters.)

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is related to a high risk of stroke. The main role in etiopathogenesis is played by the left atrial appendage (LAA). As many as 95 % of thrombi in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation are located in the appendage. Prevention of stroke then consists in permanent anticoagulation which, however, has its limits and risks. An alternative method is the left atrial appendage occlusion. In our report, we would like to present a new possibility of the closure using the epicardial system AtriClip (AtriCure)., Methodology: In the period beginning in July 2012 - September 2015 we performed LAA closure in 101 patients. A mean age of 65 ± 6 years, 47 women, CHA2DS2 VASc (Ø) 2.47 (0-6). Monitoring 1 837 (Ø 18.5) months. A concomitant procedure was performed in 37 patients, endoscopic MAZE plus clip in 57 patients, and 7 patients underwent stand-alone implantation of the clip. The clip was implanted from full sternotomy, minitoracotomy or through thoracoscopy. Clip loading, residual recess and endoleak were assessed through endoscopic ultrasound according to the Cleveland criteria., Results: The perioperative success rate of loading reached 98 %. The clip was loaded with a neck greater than 1 cm in 2 patients. No migration of the clip occurred, no endoleak was detected and no thrombus at the appendage base was detected. One case of periprocedural stroke was recorded. Within follow-up monitoring TIA occurred in 4 patients and no stroke was recorded., Conclusion: Epicardial LAA occlusion using the AtriClip system is a safe and reproducible method of LAA occlusion and an important alternative in the prevention of stroke.Key words: atrial fibrillation - occlusion of left atrial appendage - stroke.

Objectives: The treatment of persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) has unsatisfactory results using both medical therapy and/or catheter ablation, where incomplete ablation lines remain a significant problem. This study evaluates the feasibility, efficacy and safety of the sequential, two-staged hybrid treatment combining thoracoscopic surgical and transvenous catheter AF ablation., Methods: Thirty patients with persistent and long-standing persistent AF underwent surgical thoracoscopic radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure using a predefined protocol (pulmonary veins isolation, box lesion, isthmus line lesion, dissection of the ligament of Marshall, left atrial appendage exclusion with an epicardial clip and ganglionated plexi ablation) followed by diagnostic catheterization and RF ablation 3 months later. In this session, electrical mapping of the left atrium was performed and any incomplete isolation lines were completed. Mitral and cavotricuspid isthmus ablation lines were performed during this session as well., Results: The preoperative mean duration time of AF was 33 ± 27 months with 17% patients with persistent and 83% patients with long-standing persistent AF. The mean size of the left atrium was 48 ± 5 mm. The complete surgical ablation protocol was achieved in 97% of patients, with no death, and no early stroke or pacemaker implantation in the early postoperative period. In 63% of patients, the left atrial appendage was excluded with an epicardial clip. An endocardial touch-up for achievement of bidirectional block of pulmonary veins was necessary in 10 patients (33%) and on the box, (roof and floor) lesions in 20 patients (67%). Freedom from atrial fibrillation was 77% after surgical ablation and 93% after the completed hybrid procedure., Conclusions: The sequential, two-staged hybrid strategy (surgical thoracoscopic followed by catheter ablation) is feasible and safe with a high post-procedural success and seems to represent the optimal treatment with low risk load and potentially long-term benefit for patients with a persistent and long-standing persistent form atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is widely used for patients with drug-refractory paroxysms of arrhythmia. Recently, novel technologies have been introduced to the market that aim to simplify and shorten the procedure., Aim:  To compare the clinical outcome of pulmonary vein (PV) isolation using a multipolar circular ablation catheter (PVAC group), with point-by-point PV isolation using an irrigated-tip ablation catheter and the CARTO mapping system (CARTO group; CARTO, Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA)., Methods:  Patients with documented PAF were randomized to undergo PV isolation using PVAC or CARTO. Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences were documented by serial 7-day Holter monitoring., Results: One hundred and two patients (mean age 58 ± 11 years, 68 men) were included in the study. The patients had comparable baseline clinical characteristics, including left atrial dimensions and left ventricular ejection fraction, in both study arms (PVAC: n = 51 and CARTO: n = 51). Total procedural and fluoroscopic times were significantly shorter in the PVAC group (107 ± 31 minutes vs 208 ± 46 minutes, P < 0.0001 and 16 ± 5 minutes vs 28 ± 8 minutes, P < 0.0001, respectively). The AF recurrence was documented in 23% and 29% of patients in the PVAC and CARTO groups, respectively (P = 0.8), during the mean follow-up of 200 ± 13 days. No serious complications were noted in both study groups., Conclusions: Clinical success rates of PV isolation are similar when using multipolar circular PV ablation catheter and point-by-point ablation with a three-dimensional (3D) navigation system in patients with PAF, and results in shorter procedural and fluoroscopic times with a comparable safety profile., (©2010, The Authors. Journal compilation ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)