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Background: There is evidence that right ventricular (RV) contractile function, especially its coupling with the pulmonary circulation, has an important prognostic value in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Aims: This study aimed to identify the best echocardiographic parameters of RV function and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) alone or in the form of the index of right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling (RV-PA coupling) to determine the best predictor of 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which were defined as cardiovascular death and cardiac decompensation in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods and results: The study enrolled 191 HFrEF patients (mean age 62.28 ± 12.79 years, 74% males, mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 25.53 ± 6.87%). All patients underwent clinical, laboratory, and transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) evaluation, focusing on assessing RV function and non-invasive parameters of RV-PA coupling. RV function was evaluated using fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and peak tricuspid annular systolic velocity (TAS'). PASP was estimated by peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRVmax) and corrected by assumed right atrial pressure relative to the dimension and collapsibility of the inferior vena cava. The TAPSE/PASP and TAS'/PASP ratios were taken as an index of RV-PA coupling. During the follow-up (mean period of 340 ± 84 days), 58.1% of patients met the composite endpoint. The independent predictors of one-year outcome were shown to be advanced age, atrial fibrillation, indexed left atrial systolic volume (LAVI), LVEF, TAPSE/PASP, and TAS'/PASP. TAS'/PASP emerged as the strongest independent predictor of prognosis, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.67 (0.531–0.840), p < 0.001. Reconstructing the ROC curve 0.8 (0.723–0.859), p < 0.001, we obtained a threshold value of TAS'/PASP ≤ 0.19 (cm/s/mm Hg) (sensitivity 74.0, specificity 75.2). Patients with TAS'/RVSP ≤ 0.19 have a worse prognosis (Log Rank p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study confirmed previously known independent predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with HfrEF—advanced age, atrial fibrillation, LAVI, and LVEF—but non-invasive parameters of RV-PA coupling TAPSE/PASP and TAS'/PASP improved risk stratification in patients with HFrEF. Variable TAS'/PASP has been shown to be the most powerful, independent predictor of one-year outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is defined as a dissection that has not occurred with atherosclerosis, trauma, or has not developed iatrogenically. Case outline. A 53-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to chest pain and ischemic electrocardiographical changes. Coronarography was performed and 85% of the stenosis of the first diagonal branch (D1) was registered. During percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), one drug-eluting was directly implanted into the D1. About three hours after the intervention, the patient developed an acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation (STEMI) and recoronarography was performed. The previously implanted stent in D1 was patent without thrombi. The subocclusive stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was registered and PCI was performed. After implantation of the stents into the LAD, propagation of dissection towards left circumflex artery (LCx) was creating significant stenosis. Following the registration of the stenosis, PCI was performed on this branch. In order to determine the cause of acute STEMI, intravascular imaging was performed, seven days after last PCI. Optical coherence tomography showed an excellent stent apposition and expansion. In the area under the stents, in the proximal segment of LAD and LCx, showed duplication in the blood vessel wall. This duplication represents an unresorbed intramural hematoma as a consequence of SCAD. Conclusion. When performing coronarography on younger patients, on women in the peripartum and on patients with connective tissue, SCAD disorders should be kept in mind. The use of intravascular imaging could reduce the number of unrecognized SCAD.

Background/Aim. Contrast echocardiography (CE) is an echocardiographic modality where ultrasound contrast echocardiographic agent (CEA) is introduced peripherally for the image enhancement. The aim of this study was to present the initial clinical experience of the use of CEA Optison™ (GE Healthcare, Princeton, NJ) at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina, Serbia and prospectively monitor the occurrence of possible side effects. Methods. A total of 357 patients were referred for resting or stress echocardiographic examinations, with an approved indication for CEA administration. The average age of patients was 63.3 years (range, 21–92 years), 62% of them were men. Most of the patients (77.31%) had some form of ischemic heart diseases. Hypertension was the most frequent risk factor (77.03%), but 57 patients had diabetes mellitus and 33 patients had chronic kidney disease as comorbidity. Most (90.5%) of the patients were on beta blocker therapy, 83.5% of them on angiotensin converting enzyme/angiotensin receptor blockers. Majority (80.3%) of the patients received single or dual (49.5%) antiagregation therapy, 74 (26.3%), of them were on anticoagulation therapy, 55.1% of the patients were taking diuretics. The global ejection fraction (EF) was preserved in 39.85% of them, the majority (136 of them), had left ventricle (LV) impairment, with an EF less than 50%. Patients were followed up for 30 minutes after CEA administration for potential side effects. In 118 patients, vital signs (heart rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) were measured before and 30 minutes after CEA administration. Results. The administration of CEA was not associated with side effects. Diastolic blood pressure drop and heart rate increase were statistically, but not clinically significant (p = 0.027 and p = 0.028, respectively). Conclusion. Changes in analyzed vital signs were clinically non relevant. CE is a safe noninvasive diagnostic modality for patients undergoing rest and stress echocardiography.

Study aim: To asses and compare the aerobic capacity and respiratory parameters in recreational basketball-engaged university students with age-matched untrained young adults.

Aim: Sacubitril/valsartan treatment reduces mortality and hospitalizations in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction but has limited application in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on peak oxygen consumption (VO2) in patients with non‐obstructive HCM. Methods and results: This is a phase II, randomized, open‐label multicentre study that enrolled adult patients with symptomatic non‐obstructive HCM (New York Heart Association class I–III) who were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive sacubitril/valsartan (target dose 97/103 mg) or control for 16 weeks. The primary endpoint was a change in peak VO2. Secondary endpoints included echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function, natriuretic peptides and other cardiac biomarkers, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure quality of life. Between May 2018 and October 2021, 354 patients were screened for eligibility, 115 patients (mean age 58 years, 37% female) met the study inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to sacubitril/valsartan (n = 79) or control (n = 36). At 16 weeks, there was no significant change in peak VO2 from baseline in the sacubitril/valsartan (15.3 [4.3] vs. 15.9 [4.3] ml/kg/min, p = 0.13) or control group (p = 0.47). No clinically significant changes were found in blood pressure, cardiac structure and function, plasma biomarkers, or quality of life. Conclusion: In patients with HCM, a 16‐week treatment with sacubitril/valsartan was well tolerated but had no effect on exercise capacity, cardiac structure, or function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous closure of the patent foramen ovale (PFO) is generally regarded as a safe and effective procedure, indicated in patients with a prior PFO-associated stroke. While it is highly safe, rarely, it could be accompanied by a migration of the device, mainly caused by the interplay of a specific PFO morphology and inappropriate device sizing. Herein, we outline a seldom-observed complication of an unintentional detachment of the PFO closure device during implantation, leading to its migration into the abdominal aorta, and a unique management approach. Due to the inability to recapture the occluder with a snare, which is considered to be a mainstay of endovascular retrieval methods, two coronary guidewires were maneuvered through the mesh of the occluder and then captured with a snare proximally to the occluder. This innovative dual-wire–snare system was carefully pulled to the common femoral artery, a position deemed suitable for surgical extraction via arteriotomy, which was achieved successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Objective Patients who have had symptoms for more than 12h before receiving treatment are considered to be myocardial infarction late presenters. The literature contains scarce and often controversial data about treating such patients. The objective of the paper is to present treatment outcome in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), whose therapy was initiated more than 12h and less than 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. Methods the research included 130 patients who had suffered from acute STEMI in 2017, all of whom presented more than 12h and less than 48h after the onset of symptoms. A primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) was used to treat 109 patients, while 21 patients were treated conservatively. An analysis was performed correlating treatment results, intrahospital mortality, one-year survival rate depending on the type of treatment, risk factors and comorbidity. Results A statistically significant difference (x 2 =7,119; p=0,017) has been verified when comparing the mortality of STEMI patients treated with PPCI(8.3%) and those treated conservatively (28.6%). A statistically significant difference (t=9,385; p=0,005) has been verified when it came to treating STEMI patients that were also suffering from diabetes. In the group treated with PPCI, 77.8% of the patients that had died had diabetes. No comorbidity showed a statistically significant difference in distribution depending on the type of treatment and treatment results. Conclusion When deciding on the type of treatment these patients shall receive, the following should be taken into consideration: clinical presentation, hemodynamic status and presence of life-threatening arrhythmias. There is still no clear guideline for treating such patients.

The relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and myocardial injury was established at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was also observed. This case report aims to point to the prothrombotic and proinflammatory nature of coronavirus infection, leading to simultaneous coronary vessel thrombosis and subsequently to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a 46-year-old male patient with no comorbidities suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with ventricular fibrillation as the first recorded rhythm. The applied cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) measures initiated by bystanders and continued by emergency medical service (EMS) resulted in the return of spontaneous circulation. The stabilized patient was transferred to the tertiary university center. Electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed "lambda-like" ST-segment elevation in DI and aVL leads, necessitating an immediate coronary angiography, which demonstrated simultaneous occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) and right coronary artery (RCA). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the implantation of one drug-eluting stent (DES) in LAD and two DES in RCA was done. Due to the presence of cardiogenic shock (SCAI C), an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was implanted during the procedure, and due to the comatose state and shockable cardiac arrest, targeted temperature management was initiated. The baseline chest X-ray revealed bilateral interstitial infiltrates, followed by increased proinflammatory markers and a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) demasking underlying COVID-19-related pneumonia. Within the following 48 h, the patient was hemodynamically stable, which enabled weaning from IABP and vasopressor discontinuation. However, due to the worsening of COVID-19 pneumonia, prolonged mechanical ventilation, together with antibiotics and other supportive measures, was needed. The applied therapy resulted in clinical improvement, and the patient was extubated and finally discharged on Day 26, with no neurological sequelae and with mildly reduced left ventricle ejection fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The ventricular septal defect (VSD) incidence today is less than 1%. It presents with a rapid clinical deterioration and acute heart failure. A loud systolic murmur appears over the precordium. Doppler echocardiography is the golden standard for diagnosis. Case Report A female patient was admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of an acute myocardial infarction with the involvement of the inferior wall and right ventricle. At admission, a loud systolic murmur above the precordium was noted and an emergency echocardiography was performed. A suspected interruption of the interventricular septum continuity was registered at the inferoseptal level. An emergency coronography was immediately performed to uncover a subocclusion of the medial segment of the right coronary artery. Ventriculography was performed in the same act and passage of contrast was registered from the left ventricle to the right at the septal level. A cardiac surgeon was consulted, but the patient died while being prepared for surgery. Conclusion Keeping in mind the high mortality rate, a prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment with a timely surgical intervention are necessary to enable a favorable outcome. Poor prognosis parameters are advanced age and a myocardial infarction involving the inferior wall, which were both present in our patient.

The most common cause of coronary artery aneurysms is atherosclerosis, which is associated with over 50% of all aneurysms diagnosed in adults. Although patients can be asymptomatic throughout their lives, giant coronary artery aneurysms can manifest themselves as myocardial infarction, aneurysmal rupture, and sudden cardiac death as well. Herein, we describe an asymptomatic patient with numerous risk factors and a positive cardiopulmonary exercise test who was admitted to the cardiology clinic for coronary angiography. A giant coronary artery aneurysm (3.0 x 2.0 cm in diameter) in the left anterior descending coronary artery and significant stenosis in both left and right coronary arteries were found. After discussing possible treatment options, the hospital 's heart team recommended the surgical resection of the aneurysm and double coronary artery bypass graft. Four years after the cardiac surgery, at the time of writing the current manuscript, the patient is still in good condition and with no symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Myxoma is the most common intracardiac tumor accounting for about 50% of all heart tumors. The symptoms depend on the size of the tumor, its location and mobility. Embolic manifestations of coronary arteries are extremely rare, occurring in about 0.06% of cases, and they are caused by tumor fragments. Case Report. A 54-year-old female patient was admitted for an acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation in the inferior leads. Urgent coronary angiography was performed showing no coronary vessel stenosis. In the projection of the left atrium, a mobile mass with partial calcification was registered, which was stained to a lesser extent with a contrast agent. These were nutrient vessels with a typical “tumor blush” sign. An echocardiographic examination showed a round, inhomogeneous mass in the left atrium, which was fixed to the interatrial septum. The findings were presented to the cardiology team and urgent surgical extirpation was performed. During the follow-up period of two years, the patient was doing well and echocardiographic examination showed a normal finding, without recurrence of the tumor. Conclusion. Acute myocardial infarction in people without risk factors for ischemic heart disease is very rare. The most common cause of this type of acute coronary syndrome is spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Acute myocardial infarction caused by embolization of the coronary artery by myxoma fragments is a rare phenomenon. Echocardiographic examination is the method of choice in the diagnosis of myxoma. The most effective treatment for these patients is surgical resection of the tumor with low operative mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]