[Endovascular treatment of common iliac artery aneurisms]. / Rezul'taty endovaskulyarnogo lecheniya anevrizm obshchei podvzdoshnoi arterii.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate endovascular management of common iliac artery aneurysms with iliac branch devices and to discuss some technical aspects of these interventions including bilateral procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with concomitant implantation of iliac branch devices was performed in 9 patients at the Petrovsky National Research Center of Surgery for the period from January 2019 to December 2020. Mean age of patients was 64.8± years (min 52; max 72 years). Preoperative planning and morphometric analysis were based on CT data with a slice thickness of 1 mm. Angiographic reconstruction was made using Osirix 3D software (OsiriX Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland). Abdominal aortic aneurysm was combined with common iliac artery aneurysm in 7 patients (77.7%). Three (33.3%) patients had isolated common iliac artery aneurysm without significant abdominal aorta enlargement (Reber type I). Bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms were detected in 1 (11.1%) patient. All patients had iliac artery aneurysms over 4 cm. Iliac branch device implantation was accompanied by endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair in all patients. RESULTS: Technical success rate was 100%. Six-month results were followed-up in 5 patients (55.5%), annual outcomes - in 2 patients (22.2%). Control examination consisted of a telephone interview, ultrasound of abdominal aorta, pelvic and lower limb arteries and computed tomography. All patients had no endoleaks, stent-graft thrombosis, as well as signs of ischemia of pelvic organs and lower extremities. Incidence of iliac artery aneurysm combined with abdominal aortic aneurysms is about 20%. Until recently, treatment of these patients was performed exclusively with covering of internal iliac artery. Improvement of technologies and development of iliac branch devices made it possible to preserve blood flow in internal iliac artery after endovascular management. This approach allowed avoiding of ischemic complications associated with embolization of internal iliac arteries.

[Pulmonary arteriovenous shunt - a rare cause of recurrent stroke due to paradoxical embolism]. / Legochnyi arteriovenoznyi shunt ­ redkaya prichina retsidiviruyushchikh narushenii mozgovogo krovoobrashcheniya po mekhanizmu paradoksal'noi embolii.

Paradoxical embolism is one of the mechanisms of ischemic stroke in patients younger than 45 years of age, due to opening between the right and left chambers of the heart through a patent foramen ovale, an atrial or ventricular septal defect, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs), etc. The PAVMs are structurally abnormal vessels that provide direct capillary-free communication between the pulmonary and systemic circulations, and hence an anatomic "right-to-left" shunt. Most pulmonary malformations are congenital and associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler-Weber disease). This publication highlights the issues of pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of this pathology, and also describes a clinical case in which multiple PAVMs caused repeated ischemic strokes.

[Proximal fixation devices in endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneyrysm with unfavourable proximal neck anatomy]. / Ustroistva proksimal'noi fiksatsii stent-grafta pri éndovaskuliarnom lechenii anevrizmy briushnogo otdela aorty s neblagopriiatnoi anatomiei proksimal'noi sheiki.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common vascular disease requiring surgical treatment. Currently, endovascular aortic repair is a good alternative to open surgery. However, high incidence of unfavorable anatomical variants of the proximal landing zone limit the use of endovascular aortic repair in these patients. Additional techniques can increase applicability of endovascular procedure with optimal results. Two patients with unfavorable proximal neck anatomy undergoing endovascular aortic repair with anchor type of proximal fixation devices are reported in the article.

[Postoperative care in patients with DeBakey type I aortic dissection: criteria of aortic remodeling and risk factors of disease progression]. / Osobennosti techeniia posleoperatsionnogo perioda u patsientov s rassloeniem aorty I tipa po DeBakey: kriterii otsenki remodelirovaniia aorty i faktorov riska progressirovaniia zabolevaniia.

AIM: To present current treatment modes for DeBakey type I aortic dissection, to compare their early and mid-term postoperative results, to evaluate predictors of negative aortic remodeling after surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis included 78 patients with DeBakey type I aortic dissection who underwent surgical treatment in 2009-2017. Patients were divided into 3 groups depending on type of intervention: group I (n=22) - Elephant Trunk procedure, group II (n=29) - hybrid interventions, group III (n=27) - proximal aortic replacement alone. Early postoperative results and aortic remodeling in mid-term postoperative period were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in postoperative morbidity, in-hospital mortality and freedom from aortic death. However, 7 patients were lost for follow-up in group III. Analysis of false lumen patency showed results in favor of more aggressive approach (groups I and II) with significantly higher rate of false lumen thrombosis in segments 1 and 2 (p<0,001 and p=0,004 respectively). Freedom from negative aortic remodeling was also significantly higher in groups I and II. Risk factors of patent false lumen were residual fenestration, large volume of false lumen in segment 2, dissection of supra-aortic vessels and connective tissue disorders. Risk factors of negative aortic remodeling were connective tissue disorders, patent false lumen and dissection of supra-aortic vessels. CONCLUSION: Advanced surgical approach (Elephant Trunk procedure or hybrid interventions) should be preferred for DeBakey type I aortic dissection.

Myocardial Biopsy In "Idiopathic¼ Atrial Fibrillation And Other Arrhythmias: Nosological Diagnosis, Clinical And Morphological Parallels, And Treatment.

BACKGROUND: The nosological nature of "idiopathic" arrhythmias and the effect of etiotropic and pathogenetic treatment are often unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: 19 patients (42.6±11.3 years, 9 women) with atrial fibrillation (n = 16), supraventricular (n = 10) and ventricular (n = 4) premature beats, supraventricular (n = 2) and ventricular tachycardia (n = 1), left bundle branch block (n= 2), AV block (n = 2) without structural heart changes. Viruses were identified (polymerase chain reaction, PCR) along with measurement of anti-heart antibodies (AHA) and endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). EMB allowed to establish diagnosis in all patients: infectious-immune myocarditis (n = 11, parvovirus-positive in 1),parvovirus-positive endomyocarditis (n = 1),systemic (n = 2) and myocardial (n = 1) vasculitis,Fabry's disease (n = 1), arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (n = 1),unspecified genetic cardiomyopathy (n = 2, herpes virus 6 one positive). Level of AHA had the greatest significance for myocarditis diagnostics. All patients with myocarditis/vasculitis had background therapy: acyclovir (n = 10), IV immunoglobulin (n = 2), meloxicam (n = 12), hydroxychloroquine (n = 15), steroids (n = 14, 31.1±12.5 mg/day), azathioprine 150 mg/day (n = 2). Median follow-up was 4 years. Treatment significantly reduced the rate of arrhythmias (8 [5;8] to 3 [1.25;7.75] points); disappearance of bundle branch block was noted. CONCLUSION: EMB allowed to diagnose immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in 78.9% patients with 'idiopathic' arrhythmias and genetic diseases in 21.1%. Background therapy of myocarditis improved the antiarrhythmic efficiency, and allowed the best premed for interventional treatment.

[Endoprosthetic repair of the abdominal aorta in patients with infrarenal aneurysm and unfavourable anatomy of its proximal neck].

Analysed herein are immediate and remote results of endoprosthetic repair of the abdominal aorta in patients with unfavourable anatomy of its proximal neck. Group I (Study Group) was composed of 31 patients with unfavourable anatomy of the proximal neck, the control group (Group II) comprised a total of 52 patients with no unfavourable anatomical factors. The criteria of assessment were as follows: technical success, adequate position of the endograft, frequency of the development of various endoleaks, duration of the operation and hospital stay, lethality in the remote period, and necessity of secondary interventions. Technical success of endoprosthetic repair was achieved in 100% of patients in the both groups. An adequate position by the proximal end of the coated portion of the endograft was observed in 27 (87.1%) patients of Group I and in 51 (98.1%) patients of the control group (p=0.08). Secondary postdilatation of the endograft's body in the proximal neck was statistically more often performed in the study group of patients. The duration of the operation and hospital stay in the compared groups had no statistically significant differences. In the remote period, patients with unfavourable morphology of the proximal neck were found to develop type I-A endoleaks into the cavity of the aneurysm. By other evaluated criteria such as the total survival rate, secondary interventions, graft migration, type I-B, II and V endoleaks no statistically significant differences were revealed. It was concluded that endoprosthetic repair of the abdominal aorta in patients with unfavourable anatomy of the proximal neck of the aneurysm is associated with admissible immediate, short- and long-term outcomes. Longer follow up is required in order to more adequately asses the reliability of the obtained findings.

[Hybrid surgical intervention in a patient with an aortic arch aneurysm and coronary artery disease].

Presented herein is a clinical case report regarding the use of hybrid technology in surgical treatment of a patient with an aneurysm of the distal portion of the aortic arch and coronary artery disease. The patient underwent a hybrid operation, i.e. debranching of the aortic arch branches, exoprosthetic repair of the ascending aorta, autovenous prosthetic coronary bypass grafting of the branch of the blunt edge of the anterior interventricular artery, stenting of the ascending portion, arch and descending portion of the aorta (stent graft "Medtronic Valiant"). In doing so, we used a non-standard approach to connecting the artificial circulation unit and to choosing the place for establishing proximal anastomoses of autovenous coronary bypass grafts. The early postoperative period was complicated by the development of respiratory insufficiency requiring continuation artificial pulmonary ventilation. The duration of the hospital stay of the patient amounted to 15 days. The check-up multispiral computed tomography showed normal functioning of the reconstruction zones, the stent graft is expanded, with no leak observed. The conclusion was made that hybrid interventions may be considered as an alternative to the classical surgical treatment associated in patients of older age group with a severe course of the postoperative period and high lethality.

[Twelve months results of percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with ischemic heart disease combined with diabetes mellitus using sirolimus and everolimus covered stents].

We included into this study 112 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) subjected to percutaneous coronary interventions with stenting. Everolimus and sirolimus eluting stents (EES and SES) were implanted in 54 (group 1) and 58 (group 2) patients, respectively. After 12 months in groups 1 and 2 rates of repeat target lesion revascularizations (TLR) were 5.5 and 8.6% (odds ratio - OR - 0.62, 95% confidence interval - CI - 0.14- 2.74, p = 0.72); acute myocardial infarctions (MI) - 3.7 and 5.2% (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.11- 4.4, p = 0.94); deaths - 1.85 and 1.7% (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.1- 17.6, p = 1.0), respectively. There was no significant difference between groups by rate of unfavorable cardiac events (composite of cardiac death, nonfatal MI, and clinically indicated TLR) - 11.1 and 15.5% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.225- 2.059, p = 0.69). Rates of stent thrombosis also did not differ (1.85 and 3.4% in groups 1 and 2, respectively; OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.05- 6.0; p = 0.94). Thus the use of EES and SES in patients with IHD and type-2 DM was equally effective.

[Hybrid technology in repeat operation of a patient with aortic arch aneurysm and type A chronic aortic dissection].

Presented herein is a clinical case report concerning successive use of hybrid technology in secondary surgical treatment of a patient with a progressing aortic arch aneurysm and aortic insufficiency, type A chronic aortic dissection after the primary operation of plasty of the aortic valve with prosthetic repair of the ascending aortic portion for type A acute dissection. The patient underwent hybrid operation: prosthetic repair of the aortic valve with mechanical prosthesis "Carbomedics", prosthetic repair of brachiocephalic branches by means of synthetic prostheses "Vascutek" with their switching to the prosthesis of the ascending aorta, stenting of the arch and descending portion of the aorta. The duration of the postoperative hospital stay amounted to 15 days. The control multispiral computed tomography with intravenous contrasting showed that the reconstruction zone was with no deformities, with the stent graft expanded, and no leaks noted. The conclusion was made that further improvement of hybrid technique can make it a true alternative to classical surgical operations in this severely ill cohort of patients. The presented clinical example demonstrates that simultaneous hybrid surgical intervention is the most correct approach in the given situation decreasing lowering the risk of the development of complications in both immediate and remote postoperative period.

[Clinical management of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms combined with coronary artery disease and multifocal atherosclerosis].

We have analyzed clinical management of 137 patients with atherosclerotic aneurysms of the abdominal aorta combined with coronary artery disease treated during last 10 years in the First Cardiac Surgery Department (Surgery of the Aorta and its Branches) of the Petrovsky National Research Center of Surgery. All patients were subjected to surgery involving both vascular regions: in 130 patients (94.9%) the procedures were staged while 7 patients underwent myocardial revascularization simultaneously with the reconstruction of the abdominal aorta from the minimal access. According to our results staged procedures are safer for patients with atherosclerotic aneurysms of the abdominal aorta combined with coronary artery disease given the organism's limited capacity due to age and comorbidities. Endovascular repair techniques applied both to the coronary arteries and to the abdominal aorta should be always regarded primarily as a gentle form of intervention. In cases where open surgery is required one should try to avoid blood loss, reduce the duration of the procedure and use minimal access surgery when applicable. The overall mortality rate in patients treated for this disorder over the last 10 years was 2.1%.

[Early physical rehabilitation after elective percutaneous coronary interventions during incomplete revascularization: exercise regimen calculation by ergospirometry].

AIM: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of outpatient physical exercises (PE), calculated using ergospirometry (ESM) in patients in the early periods after elective percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) during incomplete coronary bed revascularization. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-three patients were screened. The trial enrolled the patients after elective PCI in its early periods (3 to 14 days) who had signed an informed consent document to participate in the investigation and who could perform themselves PE at home or visit the medical center. Patients with angioplasty complications (myocardial infarction, severe hematomas, major bleeding, etc.) who had standard contraindications to exercise testing and PE were excluded. The patients included in the trial (n = 50) were divided into 2 groups: (1) 21 patients who had undergone incomplete revascularization; (2) 29 patients who had complete revascularization. The authors estimated exercise endurance by ergospirometry before the investigation, 8 weeks after a course of exercises, and following 6 months and assessed quality of life (QL) using the SF-36 questionnaire. A physical rehabilitation program was elaborated for all the patients according to exercise test results. During the trial, all the patients were allocated to groups of home and clinic exercises using exercise bikes. Medical control of the patients who were exercising at home was made by their telephone conversation, control visits to the medical center at least once monthly, and their concurrently keeping an exercise diary in which each training (duration, intensity), health status, and blood pressure were recorded. The patients could consult their physician at any time if required. RESULTS: In the incomplete and complete revascularization groups, VO2 max increased by 6 and 15%, respectively. Following 6 months, no additional increment in VO2 max was seen in the study groups. According to SF-36 data, QL improved in patients in both groups after 8 weeks and remained at the same level after 6 months. CONCLUSION: An early time course of exercises only in combination with regular medical control has a positive impact on exercise tolerance and QL and preserves its efficiency for at least 6 months regardless of the degree of revascularization.

[The thoracic aorta aneurism stenting].

27 patients with thoracic aortic aneurism with dissection type III were operated on and stented. The mean age was 56±11,17 years. Men were 24, women 3. 1 patient developed intraoperative stent-graft leakage type IV, and 1 - type II. Both cases needed no additional manipulations. Minimal invasiveness of the procedure and pain absence allowed early activisation of patients. 2 patients had postoperative paraplegia, which was successfully treated by spinal drainage. There were no lethal cases. The long-term follow-up showed no leakage on CT scans; 11 patients demonstrated complete closure of false canal of the stented segment. The overall survival rate was 92.6% after 60 months of follow-up. Unfavorable results were registered in 29.6%.

[Coronary stenting in patients with ischemic heart disease with multivessel involvement of coronary vascular bed and low Syntax score].

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We followed 619 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and multivessel involvement of coronary arteries: 317 patients subjected to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, group 1) and 302 patients subjected to multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, group 2) with implantation of drug eluting stents. Both groups had comparable clinical characteristics. During hospitalization we registered deaths and unfavorable cardiological and cerebrovascular events. In remote period after revascularization we assessed survival, angina recurrences and related repeat revascularizations, and rate of severe cardiovascular complications (composite of deaths, acute myocardial infarctions [AMI], stroke, and repeat myocardial revascularizations). RESULTS: During hospitalization there were no significant differences between groups by parameters studied: death rate was 1.7 and 0.9%, that of AMI 2.6 and 1.9%, of stroke 0.9% and 0, of composite of death, AMI, and stroke 5.1 and 1.9% (p = 0.37) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Survival in remote period was 90.2 (group 1) and 92.7% (group 2). Comparison of Kaplan-Meier survival curves also revealed no significant differences between groups. Angina recurrence/repeat revascularization took place in 54 (17.0%) and in 64 (21.2%) patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.128). Repeat revascularization was carried out in 32 of 54 patients (59.3%) in group 1 and in 58 Of 64 patients (90.6%) in group 2. Rate of severe unfavorable events during whole period of follow up was 33.1% in group 1 and 30.5% in group 2 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In IHD patients with multivessel coronary artery involvement and low Syntax Score immediate and long term (5 year) results of stenting with drug eluting stents are not inferior to results of CABG.

[Possibilities myocardial biopsy in the diagnosis of myocarditis verification in patients with idiopathic arrhythmias].

UNLABELLED: Aim of the study was to elucidate nosological nature of "idiopathic" arrhythmias by means of right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and to assess effect of etiotropic and pathogenetic treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included into this study 19 patients (mean age 42.6 +/-11.3 years, 9 women) with atrial fibrillation (AF, n = 16), supraventricular (n = 10) and ventricular (n = 4) extrasystoles (SVE and VE), supraventricular (n = 2) and ventricular (n = 1) tachycardia (SVT and VT), left bundle branch block (LBBB, n = 2), atrioventricular block (n = 2) without structural changes of the heart. In addition to standard examination we performed the following tests: determination of IgG to herpes and Coxsackie B virus, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA detection of human herpesviruses 1, 2, and 6, Epstein-Barr virus, Varicellae-zoster virus (human herpesvirus 3) and cytomegalovirus in blood; determination of anticardiac antibodies; EMB with subsequent PCR-diagnostics including that of parvovirus B19 and pathomorphological study. DNA diagnostics (n = 4), coronary angiography (n = 6), skin biopsy (n = 1) and some other studies were also performed when indicated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Histological picture was abnormal in all cases. Nosological diagnosis was established in all patients: infectious-immune myocarditis (n = 11), parvovirus positive endomyocarditis (n = 1); systemic vasculitis (n = 2); myocardial vasculitis (n = 1), Fabri disease (n = 1), arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD, n = 1), undetermined genetic cardiomyopathy (n = 2). Level of various anticardiac antibodies including antinuclear factor with bovine heart antigen was most valuable for diagnosis of myocarditis (sensitivity 78.6%, prognostic value of positive result 91.7%). The following therapy was used in patients with myocarditis/vasculitis: intravenous or oral acyclovir (n = 10), gabreglobine (n = 2), meloxicam (n = 12), hydroxychloroquine (n = 15 for 15 [7.0; 24.] months), glucocorticosteroids (n = 14 for 18 [4.0; 25.5] months), azathioprine (n = 2). Mean duration of follow up was 4 years (48 [31; 62] months). At baseline 62.5% of patients with AF were resistant to all antiarrhythmic drugs. Treatment of myocarditis resulted in significant reduction of mean frequency of attacks of AF from 8 to 3 points, more than in 40% of patients AF emerged less than once a month and 1 patient had no attacks at all. Disappearance of tachycardia dependent LBBB was also noted. Cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac pacemaker were implanted to patients with ARVD and Fabri disease, respectively. EMB helped to establish immunoinflammatory and genetic diseases as causes of idiopathic arrhythmias (in 78.9 and 21.1% of patients, respectively). Antiviral immunosuppressive therapy of myocarditis allowed to increase efficacy of antiarrhythmic therapy in resistant patients and when necessary to optimize their preparedness to interventional treatment.

[The comparison of thrombectomy catheters by primary transcutaneous coronary surgery].

Treatment results of 44 cases of myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation were analyzed. Patients were divided in 2 groups. The first group (n=21) received the transcutaneous coronary intervention with the use of catheters for rheolythic thrombectomy. The second group (n=23) received the intervention with catheters for the manual thrombectomy. Patients from the 1st group demonstrated reliably better results considering adequate reperfusion, registered angio- and electrocardiographically. There were no cases of arterial dissection or vessel perforation in both groups. There were two lethal hospital outcomes among patients of the manual thrombectomy group.

[Outcomes of carotid endarterectomy and stenting in patients with carotid artery stenosis].

Analysed in the article are the outcomes of treating a total of 156 patients diagnosed with carotid artery stenosis. Of these, carotid endarterectomy was performed in 82 patients and stenting of carotid arteries was carried out in the remaining 74 patients. The incidence rate of perioperative stroke in the carotid endarterectomy group amounted to 3.6%, being in the stenting group 4.8%, P = 0.57. Multifactorial analysis was used to reveal risk factors for each method. Thus, in the carotid endarterectomy group, the risk factors for cerebrovascular complications appeared to be contralateral occlusion in patients with a history of stroke endured within less than six previous months (P<0.05), as well as the age over 75 years amongst the patients requiring placement of a temporary intraluminal bypass graft (P<0.05). For carotid stenting, risk factors of cerebrovascular complications included a hypoechogenic heterogeneous type of an atherosclerotic plaque (P<0.05) and ulceration of its surface (P<0.05). The presence of the patient's baseline functional class III angina of effort appeared to be a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular complications for carotid endarterectomy (P<0.05). No cardiovascular risk factors for carotid stenting were revealed. Based on the assessment of the risk factors thus detected, the authors worked out an algorithm of choosing an optimal treatment policy for patients presenting with carotid artery stenosis.

[Successful treatment of massive thrombosis of the vena cava inferior with nephrotic syndrome and chronic bilateral pulmonary artery thromboembolism in a patient with genetic thrombophilia].

A case is reported of a 23-year-old male patient who developed, after severe blunt injury of the lumbar region, massive thrombosis of the vena cava inferior (VCI), both renal veins, bilateral pulmonary artery thromboembolism (PATE), nephrotic syndrome (NS). In spite of anticoagulant therapy, the condition of the patient progressively aggravated for 1.5 year: thrombosis involved the ileac and femoral arteries on the right, thrombus floated in the right atrium with PATE recurrent episodes, pulmonary hypertension reached 120 mm Hg with formation of decompensated cor pulmnonale, proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia deteriorated, anasarca edema developed Multigenic thrombophilia was diagnosed (1 homozygous and 5 heterozygous mutations). A radical one-stage operation was successful: thromboectomy from the VCI, right ileac and left renal veins, thrombendarterectomy from the pulmonary arteries, suture of the interatrial septum defect, installation of cava-filter After the operation pulmonary pressure lowered to 40-45 mm Hg, right heart volume normalized, immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone and cyclosporine led to nephropathy remission. The discussion covers mechanisms and factors (including genetic) of thrombosis progression, correlations between intravascular thrombosis, NS and chronic glomerulonephritis (possible NS development due to bilateral thrombosis of the renal veins and nephropathy role in thrombosis progression), approaches to conservative and surgical treatment of such patients. Global experience in conduction of pulmonary thrombendarterectomy and thrombectomy from VCI is reviewed (one-stage operations were not described earlier).

[Dilated cardiomyopathy as clinical syndrome: experience with nosological diagnostics with biopsy and treatment approaches].

AIM: To study possibility of nosological diagnosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) with use of myocardial biopsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial enrolled 62 patients (23 females) with DCMP syndrome (end diastolic left ventricular size > 5.5 cm, ejection fraction < 55%). Mean age of the patients was 46.0 +/- 12.8 years. The examination included diagnosis of viral infections (Herpes virus, parvovirus B19), measurement of anticardial antibodies titer, 99Tc-MIBI single photon emission computed tomography of the myocardium, multislice computed tomography, MRT of the heart, coronarography, morphological study of the myocardium (n=20) with application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for H.simplex viruses of types 1, 2 and 6, herpes zoster, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B-19, adenoviruses. The control group (20 operated patients with valvular heart disease and coronary heart disease) was examined for viral genome in the blood and myocardium. RESULTS: Complex examination of DCMP patients showed the following distribution by nosological entuities: myocarditis (n=41, 66.1%) including virus-positive (n=14), primary DCMP (n=16, 25.9%) including with non-compact myocarditis (NCM) in 3, with debute at delivery of the child--in 3. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia combined with viral myocarditis (n=2), genetic myopathy (n=1) and Takayasu disease (n=1) combined with NCM, isolated NCM (n=1) were diagnosed in the rest cases. Morphological investigation of the myocardium was made in 20 patients: diagnosis of myocarditis and primary DCMP were made in 70% (including in 2 patients with CHD) and 20%. Detection of viral genome was 20 and 15% in the study and control group, respectively, in the myocardium--in 57.9 (test for parvovirus B19 was not made in 26%) and 65.0% (complete diagnosis). All the virus-positive patients with DCMP were diagnosed to have signs of active/borderline myocarditis. Diagnostic criteria and poor prognosis factors were defined. CONCLUSION: The nosological diagnosis of DCMP was made in all the examinees basing on the complex of clinical, case history and device evidence. The diagnosis was morphologically verified in 33.9% patients. Treatment approaches are developed.

[Carotid endarterectomy or carotid stenting: optimal therapeutic decision-making for patients with carotid artery stenoses].

The work was aimed at comparatively studying the outcomes of carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting for optimal therapeutic decision-making in patients presenting with carotid artery stenoses. We examined and treated a total of one hundred and sixty-seven patients. In the group of endarterectomy, we performed a total of 91 operations in 85 patients, and in the group of carotid stenting, a total of 87 stenting procedures were carried out on the internal carotid artery with cerebral protection in 82 patients. This was followed by analysing both short- and long-term outcomes with a follow-up period ranging from 1 year to 3 years. We examined the following postoperative parameters: «stroke + lethality¼, incidence of transitory ischaemic attacks, as well as the rate of craniocerebral neuropathy and acute myocardial infarction. In the remote period we evaluated the prevalence rate of the parameter «stroke + myocardial infarction + lethality¼, as well as restenosis recurrence. In the carotid-endarterectomy group, the predictors of unfavourable surgical outcomes were contralateral occlusion (p=0.048) and cardial pathology (p=0.0245). In the group of carotid stenting, these predictors turned out to be a heterogeneous atherosclerotic plaque with an uneven or ulcerated contour (p=0.004), and the degree of cerebrovascular insufficiency (p=0.005).