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Introduction/Objective. Patients with submassive (intermediate risk) pulmonary embolism (PE) represent a very heterogeneous group, whose therapeutic strategy still questions whether some groups of patients would have net clinical benefit from fibrinolytic therapy (FT). Methods. From the institutional pulmonary embolism registry, 116 patients with submassive PE were identified, and the relation of their outcome to FT was analyzed using the propensity score (PS) adjustment. The primary endpoint was the composite of death, in-hospital cardiopulmonary deterioration, or recurrence of PE. Safety outcomes were updated TIMI non-CABG related major and minor bleeding. Results. According to Cox regression analysis, the incidence of composite endpoint was significantly lower in patients treated with FT compared to anticoagulant therapy (AT) only (PS adjusted HR 0.22; 95% CI 0.05–0.89; p = 0.039). But, when patients were stratified into four PS quartiles, only patients in the highest PS quartile that received fibrinolysis, had significantly lower composite event rate than patients treated with AT (HR 0.20; 95% CI 0.01–0.56; p = 0.016). The overall mortality of the study group was 5.2% and there was no significant difference between the treatment groups. Total bleeding was significantly more frequent in FT patients (HR 3.07; 95% CI 1.02–13.29; p = 0.047), but not the major one. Conclusion. The use of FT was associated with a better outcome compared to AT in patients with submassive PE, but the benefit was mainly driven from those with highest values of PS, i.e. with the highest baseline risk. The rate of major bleeding was not significantly increased by FT.

Background: Since serial analyses of NT-proBNP in patients with acute coronary syndromes have shown that levels measured during a chronic, later phase are a better predictor of prognosis and indicator of left ventricular function than the levels measured during an acute phase, we sought to assess the association of NT-proBNP measured 6 months after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with traditional risk factors, characteristics of in-hospital and early postinfarction course, as well as its prognostic value and optimal cut-points in the ensuing 1-year follow-up. Methods: Fasting venous blood samples were drawn from 100 ambulatory patients and NT-proBNP concentrations in Lithium-heparin plasma were determined using a one-step enzyme immunoassay based on the "sandwich" principle on a Dimension RxL clinical chemistry system (DADE BehringSiemens). Patients were followed-up for the next 1 year, for the occurrence of new cardiac events. Results: Median (IQR) level of NT-proBNP was 521 (335-1095) pg/mL. Highest values were mostly associated with cardiac events during the first 6 months after AMI. Negative association with reperfusion therapy for index infarction confirmed its long-term beneficial effect. In the next one-year follow-up of stable patients, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed the independent prognostic value of NTproBNP for new-onset heart failure prediction (p=0.014), as well as for new coronary events prediction (p=0.035). Calculation of the AUCs revealed the optimal NT-proBNP cut-points of 800 pg/mL and 516 pg/mL, respectively.

Ventricular arrhythmias are the most common cause of mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Arrhythmias in acute coronary syndrome occur because of unbalanced function of the autonomic nervous system, because of electrolyte status disturbances (hypokalemia, hypomagnesaemia, intracellular hypercalcemia) and because of slow conduction in ischemical myocardium zones. Arrhythmias contribute to acidosis and release of free oxygen radicals occurring during reperfusion of ischemic myocardium. Ventricular arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction indicate the presence of extensive myocardial damage at a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and not infrequently in the formation of an aneurysm of the left ventricle. In patients with acute coronary syndrome, the most common ventricular arrhythmias are premature ventricular beats, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular flutter and fibrillation and accelerated idioventricular rhythm. Ventricular fibrillation, still the leading cause of sudden death in patients with acute coronary syndrome within the first four hours of myocardial infarction, occurs in 80 % of all ventricular fibrillations. The use of beta-blockers in the first 24 hours of acute myocardial infarction in patients with early ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia does not affect the degree of worsening heart failure and is directly associated with reduced rates of early mortality in these patients. Quick and adequate treatment of ventricular arrhythmias is a major advancement in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction. Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) in the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a rare but very serious complication, still associated with high mortality, despite significant improvements in pharmacological and surgical treatment. Therefore, hybrid approaches are introduced as new therapeutical options. Case Outline. We present an urgent hybrid approach, consisting of the initial percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the infarct-related artery, followed by immediate surgical closure of the ventricular septal rupture, for treatment of high risk, hemodynamically unstable female patient with AMI caused by one-vessel disease and complicated by VSR and cardiogenic shock. Since the operative risk was also very high (EUROSCORE II 37%), this therapeutic decision was based on the assumption that preoperative PCI could promptly establish blood flow and thereby lessen the risks, duration and complexity of urgent cardiosurgical intervention, performed on the same day. This approach proved to be successful and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the fifteenth postoperative day in stable condition. Conclusion. In selected cases, with high operative risk and unstable hemodynamic state due to AMI complicated by VSR, urgent hybrid approach consisting of the initial PCI followed by surgical closure of VSR may represent an acceptable treatment option and contribute to the treatment of this complex group of patients.

Background: Although chest trauma happens very often, accompanying tricuspid valve injuries occur rarely and may be manifested by scarce symptoms and signs. Pericardial rupture with cardiac herniation is even a bigger rarity. Transthoracic echocardiography plays a key role in the diagnosis of valve injuries but is of limited value in cardiac herniation., Case Presentation: We present the case of 58-year-old man who experienced severe chest trauma in a car accident. Symptoms of right heart failure occurred 10 years after the injury, due to the loss of tricuspid leaflet support caused by the rupture of tendinous chords with significant tricuspid regurgitation. Intraoperatively, old posttraumatic pericardial rupture into left pleura was also found, with partial cardiac herniation and pressure of the edge of pericardium on all left-sided coronary arteries simultaneously. The patient was successfully operated and is free of symptoms 4 years later., Conclusions: This case emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and underlines a mechanism that leads to delayed rupture of the tricuspid valve apparatus. Repeated echocardiography in all patients who experienced chest trauma could be of great importance. Also, given the limited value of echocardiography in posttraumatic pericardial rupture and cardiac herniation, cardiac computed tomography should be performed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: There is conflicting information about sex differences in presentation, treatment, and outcome after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the era of reperfusion therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention. The aim of this study was to examine presentation, acute therapy, and outcomes of men and women with ACS with special emphasis on their relationship with younger age (≤65years)., Methods: From January 2010 to June 2015, we enrolled 5140 patients from 3 primary PCI capable hospitals. Patients were registered according to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry protocol (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01218776). The primary outcome was the incidence of in-hospital mortality., Results: The study population was constituted by 2876 patients younger than 65years and 2294 patients older. Women were older than men in both the young (56.2±6.6 vs. 54.1±7.4) and old (74.9±6.4 vs. 73.6±6.0) age groups. There were 3421 (66.2%) patients with ST elevation ACS (STE-ACS) and 1719 (33.8%) patients without ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). In STE-ACS, the percentage of patients who failed to receive reperfusion was higher in women than in men either in the young (21.7% vs. 15.8%) than in the elderly (35.2% vs. 29.6%). There was a significant higher mortality in women in the younger age group (age-adjusted OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.01-2.29), but there was no sex difference in the older group (age-adjusted OR 1.10, 95% CI: 0.87-1.41). Significantly sex differences in mortality were not seen in NSTE-ACS patients., Conclusions: In-hospital mortality from ACS is not different between older men and women. A higher short-term mortality can be seen only in women with STEMI and age of 65 or less., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.)

Background: Nicorandil, as a selective potassium channel opener, has dual action including coronary and peripheral vasodilatation and cardioprotective effect through ischemic preconditioning. Considering those characteristics, nicorandil was suggested to reduce the degree of microvascular dysfunction., Methods: Thirty-two patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) were included in the study. Index of microvascular resistance (IMR) was measured in all patients immediatelly after pPCI before the after administration of Nicorandil. ST segment resolution was monitored before intervention and 60 min after terminating the procedure. Echocardiographic evaluation of myocardial function and transthoracic Doppler derived Coronary flow reserve (CFR) of infarct related artery (IRA) was performed during hospitalization and 3 months later., Results: IMR was significantly lower after administration of Nicorandil (9.9 ± 3.7 vs. 14.1 ± 5.1, p < 0.001). There was significant difference in ST segment elevation before and after primary PCI with administration of Nicorandil (6.9 ± 3.7 mm vs. 1.6 ± 1.6 mm, p < 0.001). Transthoracic Doppler CFR measurement improved after 3 months (2.69 ± 0.38 vs. 2.92 ± 0.54, p = 0.021), as well as WMSI (1.14 ± 0.17 vs. 1.07 ± 0.09, p = 0.004)., Conclusion: Intracoronary Nicorandil administration after primary PCI significantly decreases IMR, resulting in improved CFR and ventricular function in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

To investigate whether biphasic response during dipyridamole echocardiography test (DET), which represents viable but potentially ischemic myocardium in the infarcted region, affects prognosis of patients after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, we performed high-dose DET in 80 consecutive patients younger than 65 years with first acute myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricular function. Patients were followed up for 27 +/- 12 months for new coronary events. According to DET results all patients were classified into 4 groups: group 1 consisted of 20 patients with biphasic response; group 2 included 14 patients with sustained improvement in regional contractility; group 3 consisted of 24 patients showing no change in contractility; and group 4 included 22 patients with worsening response. Cumulative survival free of total coronary events was significantly lower in group 1 patients compared with all other groups (P < .05). By multivariate Cox analysis biphasic response was the strongest independent predictor of stable angina pectoris (odds ratio = 12.1, P = .0002), followed by hyperlipoproteinemia (odds ratio = 5.9, P = .006). On the other hand, development of acute coronary syndromes could not have been predicted by actual clinical or DET parameters.