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Introduction: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) poses significant diagnostic challenges with potentially fatal outcomes if not promptly identified and treated. Despite the availability of clinical guidelines, adherence to diagnostic strategies varies globally, impacting patient outcomes., Objectives: To investigate the current diagnostic practices for PE among Polish physicians and their adherence to the contemporary European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2019 Guidelines., Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study utilizing a web-based survey developed through a Delphi methodology, we included hospital-based physicians across various specialties in Poland. The survey was focused on diagnostic practices, risk stratification, and adherence to the ESC 2019 Guidelines for PE., Results: The study found limited use of guideline-recommended clinical prediction rules, with a large reliance on D-dimer assessments and CT pulmonary angiography. Risk stratification practices varied, often based on individual experience rather than evidence-based strategies. The vast majority of physicians (80.5%) had never contacted a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT), but 88% stated that they would if it were available. Cardiologists were more likely to employ guideline-recommended methods compared to other specialties., Conclusions: There is a need for increased adherence to guideline-recommended diagnostic and risk stratification strategies of acute PE among physicians in Poland. Enhancing the availability of Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERTs) and promoting guideline-directed practices could improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.

Coronary artery aneurysm or ectasia (CAAE) is a term that includes both coronary artery ectasia (CAE) and coronary artery aneurysm (CAA), despite distinct phenotypes and definitions. This anomaly can be found in 0.15-5.3% of coronary angiography. CAE is a diffuse dilatation of the coronary artery at least 1.5 times wider than the diameter of the normal coronary artery in a patient with a length of over 20 mm or greater than one-third of the vessel. CAE can be further subdivided into diffuse and focal dilations by the number and the length of the dilated vessels. Histologically, it presents with extensive destruction of musculoelastic elements, marked degradation of collagen and elastic fibers, and disruption of the elastic lamina. Conversely, CAA is a focal lesion manifesting as focal dilatation, which can be fusiform (if the longitudinal diameter is greater than the transverse) or saccular (if the longitudinal diameter is smaller than the transverse). Giant CAA is defined as a 4-fold enlargement of the vessel diameter and is observed in only 0.02% of patients after coronary. An aneurysmal lesion can be either single or multiple. It can be either a congenital or acquired phenomenon. The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the formation of CAAE are not well understood. Atherosclerosis is the most common etiology of CAAE in adults, while Kawasaki disease is the most common in children. Other etiological factors include systemic connective tissue diseases, infectious diseases, vasculitis, congenital anomalies, genetic factors, and idiopathic CAA. Invasive assessment of CAAE is based on coronary angiography. Coronary computed tomography (CT) is a noninvasive method that enables accurate evaluation of aneurysm size and location. The most common complications are coronary spasm, local thrombosis, distal embolization, coronary artery rupture, and compression of adjacent structures by giant coronary aneurysms. The approach to each patient with CAAE should depend on the severity of symptoms, anatomical structure, size, and location of the aneurysm. Treatment methods should be carefully considered to avoid possible complications of CAAE. Simultaneously, we should not unnecessarily expose the patient to the risk of intervention or surgical treatment. Patients can be offered conservative or invasive treatment. However, there are still numerous controversies and ambiguities regarding the etiology, prognosis, and treatment of patients with coronary artery aneurysms. This study summarizes the current knowledge about this disease's etiology, pathogenesis, and management.

Purpose: Intermediate-high-risk pulmonary embolism (IHR PE) is a challenging form of embolism obstruction that causes right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. The optimal management of IHR PE has not been established. This single-center prospective, observational study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of complex catheter-directed therapy (CDT) - catheter-directed mechanical aspiration thrombectomy (CDMT) supplemented with catheter-directed thrombolysis (hybrid CDT) in comparison to CDMT alone for IHR PE., Methods: A propensity score based on the pulmonary embolism severity index class and Miller obstruction index (MOI) was calculated, and 21 hybrid CDT cases (mean age 54.8 (14.7) years, 9/21 women) were matched with 21 CDMT cases (mean age 58.8 (14.9) years, 13/21 women). The baseline demographics, clinical, and treatment characteristics were analyzed., Results: No significant differences were detected regarding baseline demographics and PE severity parameters. Hybrid CDT demonstrated a higher reduction in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (hybrid CDT: median mPAP reduction 8 mmHg (IQR: 6-10 mmHg) vs CDMT: median mPAP reduction 6 mmHg (IQR: 4-7 mmHg); P = 0.019), MOI score (hybrid CDT: median change - 5 points (IQR: 5-6 points) vs CDMT median change - 3 points (IQR: 3-5 points); P = 0.019), and median RV: left ventricular ratio (hybrid CDT: median change 0.4 (IQR: 0.3-0.45) vs CDMT median change 0.26 (IQR: 0.2-0.4); P = 0.007). No major bleeding was observed. Both the hybrid CDT and CDMT alone treatments are safe and effective in managing IHR PE., Conclusions: Hybrid CDT is a promising technique for the management of IHR PE with insufficient thrombus load reduction by CDMT., Trial Registration: NCT0447356-registration date 16 July 2020., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Catheter directed therapies (CDT) are widely used in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). A multicenter registry was organized to evaluate their application in real life and to determine efficacy and safety of these procedures. Local experience of participating centers in percutaneous techniques for PE treatment was assessed., Methods: An internet-based registry was designed to collect clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory data of consecutive PE patients treated with CDT in participating centers between 2017 and 2022., Results: Under analysis were 145 consecutive patients with acute PE, aged 61 ± 15 years, treated with CDT in 7 centers: 50 (34.5%) patients with high-risk PE (HRPE), and 95 (65.5%) patients with intermediate-high risk PE (IHRPE). 100 (69%) patients were treated with dedicated devices, in 45 (31%) subjects a pigtail catheter was used. Total PE or CDT related in-hospital mortality in HRPE reached 14% (7 patients), while in IHRPE 3.2% (3 patients) (p = 0.032). 50% of PE or CDT related deaths occurred in patients treated with a pigtail catheter. All-cause mortality in 145 patients was 9.7%, and it was higher in HRPE than in IHRPE (18% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.019). The use of pigtail catheters compared to dedicated systems was associated with higher mortality (20% vs. 5%, p = 0.01)., Conclusions: Catheter directed therapies is a real option of treating PE. It was used as primary therapy also in patients without contraindication for thrombolysis suggesting that clinical practice does not always follow current PE guidelines. Patients treated with dedicated CDT systems had a higher survival rate than subjects treated with pigtail catheters.

Aims: High- (HR) and intermediate-high risk (IHR) pulmonary embolisms (PEs) are related to high early mortality and long-term sequelae. We aimed to describe clinical outcomes and adverse events in IHR and HR pulmonary embolism (PE) treated with catheter-directed mechanical thrombectomy (CDMT) in a real-world population., Methods and Results: This study is a multicenter, prospective registry enrolling 110 PE patients treated with CDMT between 2019 and 2022. The CDMT was performed using the 8F Indigo (Penumbra, Alameda, CA, USA) system bilaterally in pulmonary arteries (PAs). The primary safety endpoints included device or PE-related death during the 48-h after CDMT, procedure-related major bleeding, or other major adverse events. Secondary safety outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization or the follow-up. The primary efficacy outcomes were the reduction of PA pressures and change in the right-to-left ventricular (RV/L) ratio assessed in the imaging 24-48 h after the CDMT.71.8% of patients had IHR PE and 28.2% HR PE. 11.8% of patients had a failure and 34.5% had contraindications to thrombolysis, and 2.7% had polytrauma. There was 0.9% intraprocedural death related to RV failure and 5.5% deaths within the first 48 h. CDMT was complicated by major bleeding in 1.8%, pulmonary artery injury in 1.8%, and ischaemic stroke in 0.9%. Immediate haemodynamic improvements included a 10.4 ± 7.8 mmHg (19.7%) drop in systolic PAP (P < 0.0001), a 6.1 ± 4.2 mmHg (18.8%) drop in mean PAP, and 0.48 ± 0.4 (36%) drop in RV/LV ratio (P < 0.0001)., Conclusion: These observational findings suggest that CDMT may improve hemodynamics with an acceptable safety profile in patients with IHR and HR PE., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to present the authors´ comments on the analysis of the conditions for admitting a person to a psychiatric hospital against their will on the basis of a judgment issued by a guardianship court as part of proceedings initiated at the request of an authorized entity, and the assumptions contained therein are based on applicable normative acts., Methods: The method of analyzing the current provisions of medical law was used, and of the social security law were also referred to. The judicature of the courts, in particular the Supreme Court, was collected, presented and considered, which constitute a practical guide in assessing whether or not the conditions for admitting a patient to a psychiatric hospital without their consent have been met., Results: Placing a mentally ill person in a psychiatric hospital without their consent, in a situation where the person does not pose a direct threat to their health and life, or to the health and life of third parties, and does not pose a threat to public safety, is quite a specific restriction of the human right to freedom, sanctioned by the state., Conclusions: The provision of Article 29 (1) of the Mental Health Act is a special provision, it should be interpreted strictly, without referring to the principles of broad interpretation or analogy, and the supreme directive of the courts' actions should be the requirement that the ruling should be purposeful from the point of view of the good and interest of the person concerned.

Although the treatment and prognosis of patients after heart transplantation have significantly improved, late graft dysfunction remains a critical problem. Two main subtypes of late graft dysfunction are currently described: acute allograft rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy, and microvascular dysfunction appears to be the first stage of both. Studies revealed that coronary microcirculation dysfunction, assessed by invasive methods in the early post-transplant period, correlates with a higher risk of late graft dysfunction and death during long-term follow-up. The index of microcirculatory resistance, measured early after heart transplantation, might identify the patients at higher risk of acute cellular rejection and major adverse cardiovascular events. It may also allow optimization and enhancement of post-transplantation management. Moreover, cardiac allograft vasculopathy is an independent prognostic factor for transplant rejection and survival rate. The studies showed that the index of microcirculatory resistance correlates with anatomic changes and reflects the deteriorating physiology of the epicardial arteries. In conclusion, invasive assessment of the coronary microcirculation, including the measurement of the microcirculatory resistance index, is a promising approach to predict graft dysfunction, especially the acute allograft rejection subtype, during the first year after heart transplantation. However, further advanced studies are needed to fully grasp the importance of microcirculatory dysfunction in patients after heart transplantation.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are currently investigated as crucial regulatory factors which may serve as a potential therapeutic target. Reports on the role of miRNA in patients with coronary artery aneurysmal disease (CAAD) are limited. The present analysis aims to confirm the differences in the expression of previously preselected miRNAs in larger study groups and evaluate their usefulness as potential markers of CAAD. The study cohort included 35 consecutive patients with CAAD (Group 1), and two groups of 35 patients matched Group 1 regarding sex and age from the overall cohort of 250 patients (Group 2 and Group 3). Group 2 included patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD), while Group 3 enrolled patients with normal coronary arteries (NCA) assessed during coronary angiography. We applied the RT-qPCR method using the custom plates for the RT-qPCR array. We confirmed that the level of five preselected circulating miRNAs was different in patients with CAAD compared to Group 2 and Group 3. We found that miR-451a and miR-328 significantly improved the CAAD prediction. In conclusion, miR-451a is a significant marker of CAAD compared to patients with CAD. In turn, miR-328-3p is a significant marker of CAAD compared to patients with NCA.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third leading cause of cardiovascular death in the western world. Prompt recognition, risk stratification, and individualized treatment are crucial to improve outcomes in patients with PE. Anticoagulation alone is a sufficient therapeutic option in low-risk patients, whereas primary reperfusion with systemic thrombolysis (ST) is usually chosen in high-risk patients. The choice of treatment in intermediate-risk patients is complex and depends on the clinical presentation. Catheter-directed therapy (CDTh) includes all therapies delivered via a catheter placed in the branches of the pulmonary arteries directly into the thrombus. Because ST bears a high risk of major bleeding and numerous patients have contraindications to ST, CDTh is an alternative to ST in intermediate- and high-risk PE patients. CDTh includes local thrombolysis using low-dose alteplase, ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis, and mechanical fragmentation and aspiration of the thrombi, as well as their combinations. In this review article, we have summarized devices and technical details for CDTh, discussed the efficacy and safety of CDTh in comparison to ST in previous clinical trials, and outlined future research directions regarding CDTh, both based on the literature and our personal experience from the local PE Response Team of the Center for the Management of Pulmonary Embolism (CELZAT) in Warsaw.

Thanks to advances in interventional cardiology technologies, catheter-directed treatment has become recently a viable therapeutic option in the treatment of patients with acute pulmonary embolism at high risk of early mortality. Current transcatheter techniques allow for local fibrinolysis or embolectomy with minimal risk of complications. Therefore, these procedures can be considered in high-risk patients as an alternative to surgical pulmonary embolectomy when systemic thrombolysis is contraindicated or ineffective. They are also considered in patients with intermediate-high-risk pulmonary embolism who do not improve or deteriorate clinically despite anticoagulation. The purpose of this article is to present the role of transcatheter techniques in the treatment of patients with acute pulmonary embolism. We describe current knowledge and expert opinions in this field. Interventional treatment is described in the broader context of patient care organization and therapeutic modalities. We present the organization and responsibilities of pulmonary embolism response team, role of pre-procedural imaging, periprocedural anticoagulation, patient selection, timing of intervention, and intensive care support. Currently available catheter-directed therapies are discussed in detail including standardized protocols and definitions of procedural success and failure. This expert opinion has been developed in collaboration with experts from various Polish scientific societies, which highlights the role of teamwork in caring for patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: The impact of left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) ostium atherosclerosis in left main coronary artery (LM) bifurcation disease is not well-known., Aim: The study aimed to assess whether the involvement of LCX ostium carries prognostic implications in patients undergoing unprotected LM percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Methods: Consecutive 564 patients with unprotected LM (ULMCA) disease who underwent LM PCI between January 2015 and February 2021, with at least 1 year of available follow-up were included in the study. The first group was composed of 145 patients with ULMCA disease with LCX ostium stenosis, and the second group consisted of 419 patients with ULMCA disease without LCX ostium stenosis., Results: Patients in the group with ULMCA disease with LCX ostium stenosis were significantly older and had more comorbidities. The two-stent technique was used more often in the group with LCX ostium stenosis (62.8% vs. 14.6%; P <0.001). During 7-year follow-up, all-cause mortality did not differ significantly between groups with and without LCX ostium stenosis (P = 0.50). The use of one-stent or two-stent technique also did not impact mortality in patients with LCX ostial lesions (P = 0.75). Long-term mortality subanalysis for three groups of patients: (1) patients with LM plus LCX ostium stenosis; (2) LM plus left anterior descending artery (LAD) ostium stenosis; (3) LM plus LCX ostium plus LAD ostium stenosis also did not differ significantly (P = 0.63)., Conclusions: LCX ostium involvement in LM disease PCI is not associated with adverse long-term outcomes, which is highly beneficial for the Heart Team's decision-making process.

Left main (LM) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are challenging and highly invasive procedures. Periprocedural myocardial injury (Troponin (Tn) elevation > 99th percentile) is frequently detected after LM PCI, being identified even in up to 67% of patients. However, the prognostic implications of periprocedural Tn elevation after LM PCI remain controversial. We aim to assess the impact and prognostic significance of the periprocedural troponin elevation on long-term outcomes in patients undergoing LM PCI in a real-world setting. Consecutive 673 patients who underwent LM PCI in our department between January 2015 to February 2021 were included in a prospective registry. The first group consisted of 323 patients with major cardiac Troponin I elevation defined as an elevation of Tn values > 5× the 99th percentile in patients with normal baseline values or post-procedure Tn rise by >20% in patients with elevated pre-procedure Tn in whom the Tn level was stable or falling (based on the fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction). The second group consisted of patients without major cardiac Troponin I elevation. Seven-year long-term all-cause mortality was not higher in the group with major Tn elevation (36.9% vs. 40.6%; p = 0.818). Naturally, periprocedural myocardial infarction was diagnosed only in patients from groups with major Tn elevation (4.9% of all patients). In-hospital death and other periprocedural complications did not differ significantly between the two study groups. The adjusted HRs for mortality post-PCI in patients with a periprocedural myocardial infarction were not significant. Long-term mortality subanalysis for the group with criteria for cardiac procedural myocardial injury showed no significant differences (39.5% vs. 38.8%; p = 0.997). The occurrence of Tn elevation (>1×; >5×; >35× and >70× URL) after LM PCI was not associated with adverse long-term outcomes. The results of the study suggest that the isolated periprocedural troponin elevation is not clinically significant.

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a working diagnosis and requires identification of the underlying causes to optimize treatment, improve prognosis, and prevent the recurrence of myocardial infarction. According to the literature, the prognosis of patients diagnosed with MINOCA is comparable to the group of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and significant stenosis of the coronary arteries. Intracoronary imaging is a crucial diagnostic tool used in identifying epicardial causes of MINOCA that are not visible in coronary angiography. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides the highest spatial resolution, simultaneously allowing detailed visualization of plaque pathology in individuals with MINOCA and identifying the cause of MI in up to 80% of patients. Common causes of a MINOCA may include plaque disruption, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), coronary artery spasm, and coronary thromboembolism. The optimization of pharmacological treatment in this group of patients, especially dual antiplatelet therapy and statins, improves the prognosis. Data on the indications for invasive treatment of patients with MINOCA based on OCT findings are insufficient. There is a strong need for research comparing treatment strategies, especially in high-risk lesions visualized in OCT. The main aim of this review is to demonstrate the usefulness of OCT in determining the mechanism of MINOCA., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Termedia Sp. z o. o.)

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome caused by atypical antipsychotic drugs may present in an atypical manner without symptoms such as hyperthermia and/or muscle rigidity. A detailed description of atypical neuroleptic malignant syndrome induced by atypical antipsychotic drugs, practical information to distinguish neuroleptic malignant syndrome from other related conditions, and the diagnostic criteria that may be used to settle the diagnosis of atypical neuroleptic malignant syndrome are highlighted in this paper. This study was conducted searching PubMed and Science Direct, resulting in 525 articles. 26 case reports that met inclusion criteria were identified. Atypical neuroleptic malignant syndrome was found to develop mainly in male patients suffering from schizophrenia (14 cases) and bipolar disorder (2), and was induced by clozapine (6 cases), olanzapine (5 cases), aripiprazole and quetiapine (4 cases). Muscle rigidity did not develop in patients treated with clozapine and quetiapine, whereas a lack of hyperthermia was common with aripiprazole and clozapine treatment. Atypical neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a difficult matter, especially when symptoms of hyperthermia or muscle rigidity is lacking, but using Levenson's or Adityanjee and Aderibigbe's criteria may increase it detectability, can permit earlier intervention and prevent development of life-threatening typical neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

To understand the mechanism underlying coronary artery abnormal dilatation (CAAD), the present study identified and compared the expression of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in three groups of patients. Group 1 included 20 patients with CAAD, Group 2 included 20 patients with angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD), and Group 3 included 20 patients with normal coronary arteries (control). miRNAs were isolated from plasma samples and were profiled using PCR arrays and miRCURY LNA Serum/Plasma Focus PCR Panels. The present study demonstrated that the plasma miRNA levels were significantly different in Group 1 compared with in Group 2 and Group 3 (fold change >2 and P<0.05). The comparison of Group 1 with Group 3 identified 21 significantly upregulated and two downregulated miRNAs in patients with CAAD compared with in the control group. Moreover, six upregulated and two downregulated miRNAs were identified in patients with CAD compared with in the controls. The third comparison revealed four upregulated and three downregulated miRNAs in Group 1, when compared with patients with CAD. In conclusion, the present study identified a specific signature of plasma miRNAs, which were upregulated and downregulated in patients with CAAD compared with in patients with CAD and control individuals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Iwańczyk et al.)

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is an ominous disease leading to progressive right ventricular failure (RVF) and death. There is no reliable risk stratification strategy for patients with CTEPH. The pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPI) is a novel hemodynamic index that predicts the occurrence RVF. We aimed to investigate prognostic value of PAPI in inoperable CTEPH. Consecutive patients with inoperable CTEPH were enrolled. PAPI was calculated from baseline right heart catheterization data. A prognostic cut-off value was determined, and characteristics of low- and high-PAPI groups were compared. The association between risk assessment and survival was also evaluated. We included 50 patients (mean age 64 ± 12.2 years, 60% female). The number of deaths was 12 (24%), and the mean follow-up time was 52 ± 19.3 months. The established prognostic cut-off value for PAPI was 3.9. The low-PAPI group had significantly higher mean values of mean atrial pressure (14.9 vs. 7.8, p = 0.0001), end-diastolic right ventricular pressure (16.5 vs. 11.2, p = 0.004), and diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (35.8 vs. 27.7, p = 0.0012). The low-PAPI group had lower survival as compared to high-PAPI (log-rank p < 0.0001). PAPI was independently associated with survival and may be applicable for risk stratification in inoperable CTEPH.

The study aims to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of left main percutaneous coronary interventions (LM PCI) in patients disqualified from coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We included 459 patients (mean age: 68.4 ± 9.4 years, 24.4% females), with at least 1-year follow-up; 396 patients in whom PCI was offered as an alternative to CABG (Group 1); and 63 patients who were disqualified from CABG by the Heart Team (Group 2). The SYNTAX score (29.1 ± 9.5 vs. 23.2 ± 9.7; p < 0.001) and Euroscore II value (2.72 ± 2.01 vs. 2.15 ± 2.16; p = 0.007) were significantly higher and ejection fraction was significantly lower (46% vs. 51.4%; p < 0.001) in Group 2. Patients in Group 2 more often required complex stenting techniques (33.3% vs. 16.2%; p = 0.001). The procedure success rates were very high and did not differ between groups (100% vs. 99.2%; p = 0.882). We observed no difference in periprocedural complication rates (12.7% vs. 7.8%; p = 0.198), but the long-term all-cause mortality rate was higher in Group 2 (26% vs. 21%; p = 0.031). LM PCI in patients disqualified from CABG is an effective and safe procedure with a low in-hospital complication rate. Long-term results are satisfactory.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a promising therapy for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who are ineligible for pulmonary endarterectomy., Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BPA for CTEPH using the first multicentre registry of a single European country., Methods: Data were obtained from the Database of Pulmonary Hypertension in the Polish Population (NCT03959748), a prospective, multicentre registry of adult and paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and CTEPH, for a total of 236 patients with confirmed CTEPH (124 women; mean age 67 years) who underwent 1,056 BPA procedures at eight institutions in Poland., Results: In 156 patients who underwent follow-up assessments after a median of 5.9 (IQR: 3.0-8.0) months after final BPA, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure decreased from 45.1±10.7 to 30.2±10.2 mmHg (p<0.001) and pulmonary vascular resistance from 642±341 to 324±183 dynes (p<0.001), and the six-minute walking test (6MWT) improved from 341±129 to 423±136 m (p<0.001). Pulmonary injury related to the BPA procedure occurred in 6.4% of all sessions. Eighteen patients (7.6%) died during follow-up, including 4 (1.7%) who died within 30 days after BPA. Overall survival was 92.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 87.6%-94.9%) three years after the initial BPA procedure., Conclusions: This multicentre registry confirmed significant improvement of haemodynamic, functional, and biochemical parameters after BPA. Complication rates were low and overall survival comparable to the results of another registry. Therefore, BPA may be an important therapeutic option in patients with CTEPH in Poland.

The role of electrocardiography (ECG) in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) diagnosis and prognosticating has not been yet established. We aimed to assess the relationships of the recommended ECG criteria of right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) with clot localization in CTEPH patients. ECG patterns of RVH according to the American College of Cardiology Foundation were assessed in patients with newly diagnosed CTEPH. We enrolled 58 (45.3%) patients with proximal and 70 (54.7%) with distal CTEPH. Receiver-operating characteristics curves analysis indicated that the following ECG abnormalities predicted proximal CTEPH localization: R V1 > 6 mm-AUC 0.75 (CI: 0.66-0.84, p < 0.00001); S V6 > 3 mm-AUC 0.70 (CI: 0.60-0.79, p < 0.00001); S I > R I wave-AUC 0.67 (CI: 0.58-0.77, p = 0.0004); R V1 :S V1 > 1.0-AUC 0.66 (CI: 0.56-0.76, p = 0.0009); R V1 peak > 0.035 s (QRS < 120 ms)-AUC 0.66 (CI: 0.56-0.75, p = 0.0016); R V1 :S V1 > R V3(V4) :S V3(V4)- AUC-0.65 (CI: 0.54-0.75, p = 0.0081); R aVR > 4 mm-AUC 0.62 (CI: 0.52-0.71, p = 0.002) and P II > 2.5 mm-AUC 0.62 (CI: 0.52-0.72, p = 0.00162). Pulmonary vascular resistance significantly correlated with amplitudes of R V1 (r = 0.34, p = 0.008), S V6 (r = 0.53, p = 0.000027) and P II (r = 0.44, p = 0.00007). In patients with CTEPH, only 8 out of 23 ECG RVH criteria were useful for differentiating between proximal and distal CTEPH localization and we found that R V1 and S V6 may contribute as potential discriminators.

Backgrounds: The data concerning the use of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) in coronary bifurcation lesions are limited., Aims: The objective of the study was to evaluate the early and very long-term clinical outcomes of bifurcation stenting with ABSORB BVS., Methods: One hundred consecutive patients with coronary bifurcation lesions treated with BVS were included. A total of 124 BVS were implanted. Provisional side branch stenting was performed in 66 patients, distal main stenting in 14 patients, systematic T stenting in 2, and T with minimal protrusion (TAP) in 5 patients. Side branch ostial stenting was performed in additional 12 patients., Results: The procedural success was achieved in 98% of patients. In long-term follow-up, the rate of cardiac death was 4.0%, target vessel myocardial infarction was 5.0%, and target vessel revascularization (TVR) was 11%. The cumulative incidence of definite/probable scaffold thrombosis (ST) was 2% at long-term follow-up. Comparison with the historical drug-eluting stents (DES) group revealed higher mortality and major adverse cardiac events rate in the ABSORB group., Conclusions: Stenting of coronary bifurcation lesions of low-to-moderate complexity with BVS was feasible with good acute performance and acceptable results. However, the risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular events was higher as compared with DES.

Aims: The number of cardiovascular procedures using the coronary sinus (CS) as a gateway is constantly increasing. The present study aimed to define specific structures within CS, which could potentially complicate CS cannulation and to develop a new Thebesian valve (TV) classification system., Methods and Results: The study was performed on 560 consecutive unfixed cadaveric hearts during routine autopsy examination (1-3 days post-mortem). Basic CS dimensions were measured and the presence and dimensions of the TV and the Vieussens valve (VV) were assessed. Thebesian valves were classified according to their morphology into six main types: remnant fold, semilunar, fenestrated, chord, fused strands, and mixed shaped. The median age of hearts was 48 years (range 16-95 years), and 38.9% were female. Thebesian valve was present in 79.5%. The most common TV type was semilunar (54%) followed by fenestrated (8.2%), remnant fold (5.5%), fused strands (4.8%), chord (4.0%), and mixed shaped (3.0%). In 1.1% of hearts, TV totally covered the coronary sinus ostium (CSO). The VV was detected in 67.9%. Potentially occlusive VV was found in 1.1% hearts and in all of which it coexisted with obstructive TV. The median CSO area was 87.9 mm2 [interquartile range (IQR): 56.5-127.1 mm2] and median CS length was 38 mm (IQR: 29.5-45 mm). The CSO area and CS length correlated with each other and with the right atrium's dimensions., Conclusion: We identified six types of TVs, among which only 1.1% TVs caused total occlusion of CSO. The obstructive TV co-existed with potentially occlusive VV what might hinder CS cannulation., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

The present study aimed to evaluate the plasma concentration of pro and antiangiogenic factors and their role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery abnormal dilation (CAAD). We measured the plasma concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), Angiopoietin-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) using a sandwich ELISA technique in the plasma of patients with coronary artery abnormal dilation (CAAD, Group 1), coronary artery disease (CAD, Group 2), and normal coronary arteries (NCA, Group 3). Patients suffering from CAAD showed significantly higher plasma concentrations of VEGF ( p = 0.002) than those from the control group. Both pathological angiogenesis and inflammation appear to be crucial in the pathogenesis of aneurysmal dilatation of the coronary arteries.

There is still controversy whether the female gender is associated with worse outcomes after the percutaneous coronary intervention within the left main (LM PCI). This study aimed to examine gender-based differences in real-life LM PCI patients and present a gender-personalized LM PCI approach. Consecutively, 613 patients underwent LM PCI in our department from January 2015 to June 2019. Five hundred and thirty-three patients, with at least a one-year follow-up, were included in the study. There were 130 (24.4%) women and 403 (75.6%) men. Compared with men, women were older (70.0 ± 9.4 vs. 67.7 ± 9.2; p = 0.006) and had higher diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease rates. Left ventricle ejection fraction was higher in women (53.5 ± 9.4 vs. 49.5 ± 11.2; p = 0.001). Euroscore II and SYNTAX scores did not differ between the genders. However, we observed a trend towards more frequent use of complex PCI techniques in women (26.2% vs. 19.4%; p = 0.098). The overall periprocedural complication rates (10.0% vs. 7.7%; p = 0.406) and the periprocedural myocardial infarction rates did not differ. Contrast-induced nephropathy was more frequent in women (6.9% vs. 3.0%; p = 0.044). Long-term all-cause mortality did not differ (20% vs. 22.5%; p = 0.069). Both genders presented similar rates of periprocedural complications, and no significant differences in long-term all-cause mortality were revealed. Our results suggest that the female gender in LM PCI is not a predictor of adverse outcomes. Further studies are required to determine the optimal revascularization strategy in women.