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The article aims to evaluate safety and effects CR program on physical capacity and QoL in patients after open-heart surgery complicated with sternomediastinitis. This observational cohort study included 104 patients, of them 58 were males and 34 females, who underwent cardiac surgery made by sternotomy. We divided the cohort into two groups: 1st group clustered of 92 patients, who did not have sternomediastinitis complications after the surgery; 2nd group clustered of 12 patients, who had sternomediastinitis complications after the surgery. We assessed following variables: physical capacity using 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the metabolic equivalent (MET) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), QoL using SF36 survey. Statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 19). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests were used to check the normality of distributions. Then, the Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare not normally distributed independent variables, in order to see the difference (significance level was accepted at p<0.05). After that, the Pearson's two tailed correlation test was used to find the connection between variables of two groups. Properly selected physical exercises during CR improve the fitness and physical activity of patients after sternomediastinitis, as well as, QoL mesures - general health and mental status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Congenital VSDs require early correction to avoid serious complications. For many years, the gold standard was the median longitudinal sternotomy, but given the gross cosmetic effect, miniapproaches were developed, but right anterior mini-thoracotomies gained popularity. We modified the method of anterior right-sided minithorcatomy by preserving a. et v. mammaria interna and the purpose of the study was to evaluate its effectiveness. Material and Methods The design of the study was prospective with historical control. A total of 82 patients who underwent VSD correction were included in the study. All patients were divided into three groups: group 1 operated by median sternotomy (MS) - 15 patients; Group 2 operated by right anterior minithoracotomy (RAMT) - 38 patients; and the 3rd main group operated on by right antero-lateral thoracotomy (RLMT) with preservation of the artery and vein of the internal mammary artery - 29 patients. Results We revealed the older age in RAMT group. Cardio pulmonary bypasstime and total operation time were shorter in RLMT group, but the time of aortic cross-clamping is shorter than in RAMT group, but longer than in MS group. The length of the skin incision is also the shortest in RLMT group, which enhances the cosmetic effect. Also there were revealed a shorter mechanical lung ventilation time and ICU stay, moreover we observed reduced amount of drainages, as well as quick discharge home. Conclusion Therefore, improved and modificated right antero-lateral minithoracotomy method with preserving a et v mammaria interna is feasible, has a good cosmetic effect, and short hospitalization stay, but should perform with careful preparation of the entire cardiac team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide during cardiovascular diseases. An important step in the secondary prevention of recurrent myocardial infarction is cardiac rehabilitation (CR). However, with the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the CR programs in many clinics were limited due to the quarantine measures. Knowledge about the effects of CR on quality of life and exercise tolerance in AMI patients with COVID is scarce. Aim: To evaluate the use of a modular CR program on quality of life and exercise tolerance among post-AMI patients with COVID-19 recovery, and in those with no history of COVID-19 infection. Material and methods: This study included 118 patients with or recovering from acute myocardial infarction. They were divided into 2 groups: the first group included 86 patients, who had slight "ground-glass opacity" changes on the computed tomography (CT) scans, and the second group comprised 32 patients, who had no history of coronavirus infection or no change on CT scan of the lungs during the pandemic. The CR program was modified due to the pandemic era. Results: Physical tolerance increased in both groups after CR 3.6 months as compared to before the CR program (duration of training in seconds (p < 0.05), a 6-minute walk test (p < 0.05), the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) (p < 0.05), and the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) (p < 0.05)). Similarly, quality of life measures improved in both groups. Treatment satisfaction was higher in the first group at the beginning and the end of CR. Conclusions: The modular CR program improves exercise capacity and quality of life with AMI and COVID-19 similar to that of patients without AMI. Patients after COVID-19 should undergo rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most formidable supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, which worsens the natural course of mitral valve disease. In this study, we evaluated early and long-term results and quality of life (QOL) after simultaneous surgical radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of AF, left atrial reduction and mitral valve repair or replacement. Methods: Overall, 147 patients with mitral valve diseases who underwent mitral valve surgery were included in this prospective cohort study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of operation: the study group-patients after mitral valve surgery with concomitant radiofrequency surgical ablation and left atrial reduction procedure (54 patients), and the control group-patients undergoing only mitral valve surgery (93 cases). We assessed AF recurrence and sinus rhythm restoration rates and mortality rates, QOL measures, postoperative complications rates, and left atrial size during follow-up. Results: In the study group, sinus rhythm restoration rate in the early postoperative period was 63%, but at the time of discharge it reduced to 29%; after 6 months, it significantly increased to 72% and after 3 years, to 81% (p=0.02). In the control group, the sinus rhythm restored only in 14% after 1 year, and at 3 years, it was 22%, although in the early postoperative period it, was 43%. Analysis of left atrial size before and after surgery showed that dimension significantly reduced in both groups (study group, p=0.013; control group, p=0.024). In addition, in patients undergoing surgical RFA procedure, there was a significant association between shorter heart disease history (p=0.02) and shorter AF history (p=0.074) with maintenance of sinus rhythm. The mortality rate in the study group was 4% (two patients) and in the control group 5% (five patients). Comparison of QOL measures between study and control groups after 1 year showed that patients undergoing concomitant atrial reduction surgery and RFA had significant improvement of QOL physical (p=0.03) and role (p=0.03) functioning, heartbeat (p=0.01), general (p=0.03) and mental health (p=0.01), vitality (p=0.007), and social role (p=0.02) functioning measures as compared to preoperative state, being higher than in patients who underwent only mitral valve surgery. Conclusion: Application of surgical RFA using irrigated cooling electrode and atrial reduction during mitral valve surgery is associated with higher restoration and maintenance of SR as compared to patients undergoing only mitral valve surgery. We did not observe complications related to AF surgery that required permanent pacemaker implantation. Performing concomitant surgery as surgical RFA, atrial reduction along with mitral valve surgery, improves QOL in the short- and long-term and reduces the feeling of heartbeat and discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]