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Aims: Permanent pacemaker requirement is a known complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis implantation on atrioventricular conduction., Methods: The study included 28 patients who underwent TAVI due to severe aortic valve stenosis. An electrophysiological study was performed in the catheterization room immediately before the initial balloon valvuloplasty and immediately after Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis implantation., Results: His-ventricle interval was significantly prolonged postprocedure (55.9 ± 11.5 ms) vs preprocedure (47.3 ± 7.8 ms) (P<.001). The antegrade Wenckebach point was observed to be significantly prolonged postprocedure (354.4 ± 41.3 ms) vs preprocedure (333.7 ± 45.4 ms) (P=.001). Despite atrial-His interval prolongation, it was not statistically significant. After the procedure, we observed significant conduction disturbances in 3 patients (10.7%). These conduction problems recovered before discharge. One of the patients (3.6%) with right bundle branch block + left anterior fascicular block required permanent pacemaker implantation. At postprocedure electrocardiogram, QRS duration increased, QRS axis shifted to the left, and both of the values became normal before discharge. The patient's echocardiographic and clinical parameters were improved during follow-up., Conclusion: The effect of Edwards SAPIEN on the conduction system was mostly infranodal and temporary. The physical properties of the Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis may explain this observation. This complication may be lessened if the frame height characteristics can be improved.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative therapy in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and high surgical risk. Despite continuous improvements in operators' expertise and device technology, complications associated with TAVI are common. We present a case in which an Edwards SAPIEN prosthetic valve dislocated to the left ventricular outflow tract with hemodynamic collapse 4 hours following implantation and embolized into the left ventricle (LV) during resuscitation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of heart failure (HF) in adult residents of Turkey based on echocardiography and N-terminal B type natriuretic factor., Study Design: 4650 randomly selected residents aged ≥ 35 years were enrolled. Height, weight, waist and hip circumference, and blood pressure measurements were taken, and a 12-lead ECG was performed. Advanced age, hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, and chronic renal failure (CRF) were assessed. History of any heart disease, any abnormal ECG, or an NT-proBNP ≥ 120 pg/mL was accepted as echocardiography indication. Patients with systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction, or NT-proBNP ≥ 2000 pg/mL were classified as having HF if their functional capacity was NYHA ≥ Class II, and were classified as having asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ASVD) if their functional capacity was NYHA

In this review, we aimed to outline the clinical and pathological conditions for which multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) should be the preferred method because of its advantages over conventional coronary angiography (CCA). A consistent body of literature suggests that MDCT-CA is more than just complementary to CCA and that it provides more valuable diagnostic information in certain clinical situations, such as complex coronary artery variations, aorto-ostial lesions, follow-up of bypass grafts, myocardial bridging, coronary artery fistulas, aortic and coronary artery dissections, and cases in which the coronary ostia cannot be cannulated by a catheter because of massive atherosclerosis or extremely tortuous vascular structures.

Objectives: We evaluated left ventricular (LV) myocardial functions with strain (S) and strain rate (Sr) echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) before and after pericardiocentesis in patients with cardiac tamponade., Study Design: The study included 27 patients (19 men, 8 women; mean age 51.4 ± 16.3 years) who underwent pericardiocentesis following clinical and echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. Besides echocardiographic parameters of LV functions, S/Sr parameters and TDI velocities were measured before and five days after pericardiocentesis, including peak systolic S, peak systolic Sr (Sr-s), peak early diastolic Sr (Sr-e), peak late diastolic Sr (Sr-a), peak lateral and septal mitral annular systolic (Sm), early diastolic (E'), and late diastolic (A') velocities., Results: Pericardiocentesis was successful in all the patients, resulting in significant patient comfort and symptomatic improvement. In segmental analysis, there were no significant differences in peak systolic S and Sr values obtained before and after pericardiocentesis (p>0.05), except for basal lateral segment S and apical anterior segment Sr-s values (p<0.05). After pericardiocentesis, Sr-e and Sr-a values measured in all the walls and segments, and TDI-derived lateral and septal mitral E' and A' velocities showed significant decreases (p<0.05). All these changes demonstrated by S and Sr echocardiography corresponded well to those obtained by TDI., Conclusion: We concluded that S and Sr echocardiography was not superior to TDI in the assessment of LV functions in patients with cardiac tamponade.

Objectives: We evaluated regional left ventricular myocardial functions by strain (S) and strain rate (Sr) echocardiography in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM) without microvascular complications., Study Design: The study included 40 DM patients (20 women, 20 men; mean age 52.4 ± 7.9 years) without microvascular complications, and 40 healthy controls (20 women, 20 men; mean age 52.8 ± 10.1 years). Left ventricular functions were evaluated by conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler, and S-Sr echocardiography. Longitudinal peak systolic S and Sr were measured from the basal, mid and apical segments of the left ventricle walls. Patients with DM duration of >3 years (n=24) and receiving medical therapy for DM (n=30) were also evaluated., Results: Conventional Doppler findings were similar in the patient and control groups. Among tissue Doppler variables, only early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Em) was significantly decreased (10 ± 2.9 vs. 11.4 ± 3.2 cm/sec, p<0.05), and accordingly, mitral inflow E/Em ratio was significantly increased (7.3 ± 2.5 vs. 6.3 ± 2, p<0.05) in patients with DM. The two groups were similar with respect to systolic S and Sr values, except for apical-lateral S, mid-anterior S, basal-anteroseptal S, apical-anterior Sr, and mid-anteroseptal Sr (p<0.05, for all). Patients with DM duration of >3 years and receiving medical therapy showed similar changes as the overall patient group., Conclusion: The frequency of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was higher in patients with DM. Irregular distribution of systolic S and Sr indices in the left ventricular segments may indicate that DM leads to heterogeneous myocardial involvement also in the early period.

Early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up are important in patients with asymptomatic valvular heart disease. Echocardiography is a valuable tool in this respect. In this review, the management of asymptomatic patients with valvular heart diseases is summarized according to the new guidelines.

Diaphragmatic paralysis (DP) due to phrenic nerve paralysis is a rare complication after cardiac surgery. A 48-year-old male patient developed respiratory insufficiency, tachypnea, sinus tachycardia, chest pain, pneumonia, and fever immediately after coronary artery bypass grafting. Paradoxical movement of the epigastrium was noted during spontaneous ventilation and the chest X-ray showed elevation of the left hemidiaphragm. The diagnosis of DP was confirmed by ultrasonographic assessment. Antibiotherapy and intermittent positive airway pressure ventilation by a nasal mask resulted in significant improvement in the general condition of the patient. Respiratory problems were observed only on exertion. Spontaneous recovery of DP was considered and the patient was discharged 10 days after surgery with grade 1 dyspnea. However, after six months of follow-up, increased elevation of the left hemidiaphragm was noted on the chest X-ray with worsening respiratory discomfort even at rest. Thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication was performed. After the operation, dyspnea disappeared, the chest X-ray showed the left hemidiaphragm in its normal position, and there was marked improvement in spirometric values.

Objective: We aimed to compare the effects of carvedilol and metoprolol succinate on left atrial (LA) function in patients with chronic heart failure., Methods: Thirty three patients (6 females, 27 males) who had not received beta blocker treatment previously and whose left ventricular ejection fraction was below 40% were included in this study. LA volumes were measured echocardiographically just before the time of mitral valve opening (V (max)), onset of atrial systole (p-wave at the electrocardiography = V (p)) and mitral valve closure (V (min)) according to the biplane area length method at baseline and in the 3rd month after the administration of beta blockers. NT-proBNP level was measured at the beginning and in the third month of beta blocker treatment. The first group was given carvedilol 6.25 mg/day, the second group was given 12.5 mg/day metoprolol succinate and it was increased to the tolerable maximal dose., Results: LA diameter and LA V (max), V (p), V (min) decreased significantly both in carvedilol group and metoprolol group after beta blocker theraphy (P < 0.01, : P < 0.01, : P < 0.05, : P < 0.05: for metoprolol, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01 for carvedilol). But it was increased in conduit volume (P < 0.05 for two groups). LA-passive emptying fraction, LA-active emptying fraction and reservoir fraction were no significant differences both in carvedilol group and metoprolol group after beta blocker theraphy. NT-proBNP levels were found to decrease significantly in both groups after beta blocker treatment (P < 0.001).:, Conclusion: Our findings indicate that beta blocker treatment leads to a decrease in LA diameters and volumes, and metoprolol succinate and carvedilol had similar effects on this decrease.

Objective: Poisoning with carbon monoxide (CO) due to flash gas heater or stove being an important health problem in our region, causes significant pathologies in the body as well as death by decreasing oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. This study was planned to assess whether or not myocardial damage occurs in patients with CO poisoning., Methods: Forty consecutive adult patients with CO poisoning (30 females and 10 males) were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 28.5+/-9.9 years (range: 15-56). The demographic characteristics, vital signs, the origin of CO gas, risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and smoking habit of the patients were recorded. The evaluation of Glasgow Coma Scale score, electrocardiogram (ECG), peripheral arterial blood gases, complete blood count, creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CKMB), troponin-T measurements were performed in all cases. Additionally, myocardial perfusion SPECT was performed in three cases with carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels over 50%., Results: Sinus tachycardia, was observed in 9 cases. Ventricular bigeminy was seen in a case with troponin-T positive test. Six of 40 cases (15%) had significantly increased CK and CK-MB levels with normal troponin-T measurements. High troponin-T levels (0.13 ng/ml) were detected only in 1 case with COHb level of 61.3%. Myocardial SPECT was performed in 3 cases with COHb levels higher than 50% and no images compatible with defects could be identified., Conclusion: The results suggested that significant myocardial damage and life-threatening cardiac hemodynamic changes do not develop in CO-poisoned patients with COHb level below 60 % and without any known underlying CAD. It is not necessary to routinely measure CK, CK-MB and troponin-T, and perform myocardial perfusion SPECT in acute CO poisoning cases without any ECG abnormality, ischemic cardiac symptoms or known CAD.

It is known that the heart of an athlete has been physiologically adapted by prolonged training. There are a large number of echocardiographic studies which have focused on left ventricular wall thickness and dilatation, but there are few studies concerning right heart function in the athlete's heart. The aim of this study was to assess right heart function in elite athletes by conventional and new echocardiographic methods. The study population consisted of 36 elite highly-trained male athletes and 16 age-matched healthy sedentary controls. Right atrial, right ventricular, and inferior vena cava dimensions, and pulsed Doppler measurements of tricuspid inflow and right ventricular outflow were obtained, and systolic (preejection period, ejection time, preejection time/ejection time, QV peak, isovolumic contraction time) and diastolic (E peak, A peak, E/A ratio, decelaration time, isovolumic relexation time) function parameters were measured. The myocardial performance index was calculated as (isovolumetric contraction time + isovolumetric relaxation time)/ejection time. In addition, right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were determined by Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging (S, E, and A velocities) at the lateral corners of the tricuspid annulus. The left ventricular mass index (P < 0.005), and right atrial (P < 0.001), right ventricular (P < 0.001), and inferior vena cava dimensions (P < 0.001) were significantly greater in athletes than in controls. Tricuspid E peak, A peak, E/A ratio, deceleration time, isovolumic relaxation time, preejection period, right ventricular ejection time, preejection time/ejection time, isovolumic contraction time, QV peak, and myocardial performance index were found to be similar in athletes and in controls (P > 0.05). Systolic, early diastolic, and late diastolic tissue Doppler imaging velocities were not significantly different in athletes and controls (P > 0.05). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LV mass index >134 g/m2) was found in 15 of the athletes. Right atrial dimension was greater in the athletes with left ventricular hypertrophy than in those without hypertrophy (P < 0.05). All right ventricular systolic and diastolic echocardiographic parameters were similar in athletes with and without left ventricular hypertrophy (P > 0.05). The results of this study indicate that right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions do not deteriorate in the athlete's heart despite significant chamber dilatation. They suggest that these changes are a normal physiologic adaptation to prolonged training.

Invasive cardiology laboratory workers are occupationally exposed to chronic ionizing radiation. It is known that ionizing radiation has a damaging effect on chromosomes. In present study. we investigated the frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosomal aberrations in 11 invasive cardiology laboratory workers and 11 healthy controls. After a vacation period, we took blood samples for chromosome analysis in months 0, 4, 8 and 12 (last two month period was the nonradiation time). The SCE frequencies did not change significantly after exposure to ionizing radiation in any worker. Our study has revealed that non-specific structural chromosome aberrations such as gaps, isogaps, acentric chromosomes, chromatids and chromosome breakage could be in the 4th and 8th months after ionizing radiation exposure in the metaphase plaques. All abnormal chromosomal effects had disappeared by the end of the two month non-exposure period in each worker. In conclusion, the results suggest that SCE frequencies are not significantly affected in invasive cardiology laboratory workers who are exposed occupationally to ionizing radiation, although some degree of reversible chromosomal aberrations did appear.