Kardiol Pol
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Echocardiography is one of the most important diagnostic tools in cardiology. The two most widespread modes of echocardiography are transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal (TEE) echocardiography, both requiring extensive training. In TEE the manual skills seem to be less important, but it is more challenging for the trainee to imagine the orientation of the cutting planes in space. This becomes more complicated, even for an experienced echocardiographer, in patients with congenital heart disease. There is a growing interest in TEE simulators. All of them are, however, manikin based and their use is limited to only a few medical centres. ⋯ The CT2TEE simulator, described in this paper, is the first fully interactive, internet-based TEE simulator. It can be a training tool both in learning TEE basics and in congenital heart disease.
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In up to 36% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery prolonged intensive care unit stay may be necessary. Mortality rates of these patients range from 11% to 94%, causing enormous clinical and ethical issues. ⋯ The present study found that the preoperative presence of diabetes mellitus, and postoperative multiorgan failure syndrome decreased the probability of survival in patients with prolonged intensive care unit stay after elective isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.
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A case of a 50-year-old man admitted to the cardiology department due to massive infective endocarditis is presented. Diagnosis was confirmed by further investigations and patient was referred to cardiosurgery department. The surgery revealed destruction of mitral, tricuspid and aortic valve, thus three bioprostheses were implanted. The treatment was successful and six months after surgery patient was in good overall condition.
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Increased homocysteine (Hcy) levels predispose to atherosclerosis. Vitamin B6, B12 and folate play an important role in Hcy metabolism. ⋯ In the Polish population insufficient folate intake was common (deficiency was noted in nearly 80-90% of the population) and despite the correct average, a high proportion of subjects did not fulfil B6 and B12 intake recommendations; an inverse association between vitamins B6, B12 and folate consumption and Hcy concentration and prevalence of hyper-Hcy was observed