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Key Clinical Message: Asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) during pregnancy remains challenging; however, the postponement of surgery with the possibility of valvuloplasty as a bridge therapy seems reasonable. Our case showed that despite physiological changes during pregnancy, the aortic valve defect did not worsen, which allowed us to avoid dilemmas related to anticoagulation on artificial valve. A 31‐year‐old woman, with a bicuspid aortic aorta, post‐aortic valvulotomy, was listed for cardiac surgery because of severe aortic stenosis. However, the operation was postponed due to procreation plans. During the pregnancy and delivery, we did not observe neither deterioration of symptoms nor changes of echocardiographic parameters. Subsequent monthly echocardiographic studies did not reveal a significant increase of peak and mean aortic gradient. Presented case reports showed that despite physiological changes associated with pregnancy, the aortic valve defect did not worsen, which allowed to avoid dilemmas related to anticoagulation on artificial valves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the case of a successful complex percutaneous intervention in a patient with Fontan circulation and severe heart failure. The patient presented with cyanosis; Fontan conduit stenosis was detected, and the fenestration was patent. The complex interventional procedure allowed for a long‐term stabilization of the patient's condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Taussig‐Bing anomaly is a rare cyanotic congenital heart defect treated surgically in the early infancy. The preferred repair procedure is an arterial switch operation combined with ventricular septal defect closure. Despite promising long‐term functional outcomes and survival benefits, neo‐aortic dysfunction and arrhythmias might be relevant complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common cancer diagnosis in female population is breast cancer, which affects every year about 2.0 million women worldwide. In recent years, significant progress has been made in oncological therapy, in systemic treatment, and in radiotherapy of breast cancer. Unfortunately, the improvement in the effectiveness of oncological treatment and prolonging patients' life span is associated with more frequent occurrence of organ complications, which are side effects of this treatment. Current recommendations suggest a periodic monitoring of the cardiovascular system in course of oncological treatment. The monitoring includes the assessment of occurrence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in combination with the evaluation of the left ventricular systolic function using echocardiography and electrocardiography as well as with the analysis of the concentration of cardiac biomarkers. The aim of this review was critical assessment of the breast cancer therapy cardiotoxicity and the analysis of methods its detections. The new cardio‐specific biomarkers in serum, the development of modern imaging techniques (Global Longitudinal Strain and Three‐Dimensional Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction) and genotyping, and especially their combined use, may become a useful tool for identifying patients at risk of developing cardiotoxicity, who require further cardiovascular monitoring or cardioprotective therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exercise-induced ST-segment elevation in an infarct territory with abnormal Q waves is a known marker for more severe left ventricular wall-motion abnormalities. However, it is reported, that exercise-induced ST-segment elevation in infarct leads may indicate residual viability in the intarctregion. The aim of the study was to test whether exercise-induced ST-segment elevation is related to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction or to persistent viability in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: 145 consecutive patients (119 men, 26 women, age 58 ± 11 years) 2-3 weeks after Q-wave Ml but without ST elevation at rest ECG were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent a target heart rate or symptom-limited exercise testing (ET) with Bruce protocol. Exercise-induced ST-segment elevation < 1 mm above the baseline ST segment level (80 ms after J point) in more than 1 ECG lead with Q wave was considered to be significant. Patients were divided in two groups according to ET results: group I, 25 patients with significant exercise-induced ST-segment elevation and group II, 120 patients without exercise-induced ST-segment elevation. All patients underwent rest ECHO and low dose dobutamine stress echo (LOSE) within 7 days after ET. LV function was estimated using ejection fraction (EF). Results: More severe LV dysfunction was observed in patients from group 1 (EF 31 ± 8.16% vs EF 45 ± 10.3%). Myocardial viability (defined as an improvement of regional systolic wall thickening in the regions with resting regional wall-motion abnormalities during LOSE 5 to 15 g/kg/min was recognized in 8 patients (32%) in group I and 31 patients (25.8%) in group II. There was no relation between exercise-induced ST-segment elevation and myocardial viability (chi-square test: 2,809; NS). Conclusions: Exercise-induced ST-segment elevation in most cases is associated with left ventricular dysfunction. Patients with exercise-induced ST-segment elevation have a lower EF than those without and greater severity of resting wall-motion abnormalities. Our results suggest that exercise-induced ST-segment elevation is not related to residual myocardial viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]