Kardiol Pol
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) often coexist. In some patients, AF remission is seen after successful percutaneous radiofrequency current ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI). ⋯ Based on the results of our study, we were unable to identify factors determining remission of AF coexisting with AFL in patients after percutaneous CTI ablation. These findings may indicate the need for complex ablation procedure (involving both CTI and pulmonary venous ostia ablation) in patients in whom these two arrhythmias coexist.
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Case Reports
Osborn waves during therapeutic hypothermia in a young ST-ACS patient after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
A 37 year-old male patient was admitted to the intensive care unit after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation in a course of ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. On admission, the patient was unconscious with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 5. ⋯ During HT on ECG, we observed Osborn waves, which resolved spontaneously after re-warming. After five days of recovery, the patient scored 15 on GCS and did not show any neurological deficits.
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N terminal-proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is synthesised and secreted from the ventricular myocardium. This marker is known to be elevated in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated NT-proBNP asa significant diagnostic marker and an important independent predictor of short-term mortality (one month) in patients with ACS. ⋯ We demonstrated the differences and the correlation in the secretion of NT-proBNP and cTI in patients with STE-ACS vs. NSTE-ACS. Our results provide evidence that NT-proBNP is a significant diagnostic marker and an important independent predictor of short-term mortality in patients with ACS.
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Management of patients with acute non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) depends on risk evaluation. The recommended approach involves the use of risk stratification tools such as TIMI and GRACE risk scores. However, these clinical scores do not include variables derived from coronary angiography which is currently performed in most patients. ⋯ The extent score added to the TIMI risk score improves the prognostic value of the latter in patients with NSTEMI. Angiographic variables should be more widely used in risk stratification models in patients with acute coronary syndromes.