Morphological, hemodynamic, and clinical independent risk factors for anterior communicating artery aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms still raises some controversies. The aim of this study was to identify morphological, hemodynamic, and clinical independent risk factors for anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm development. METHODS: Computed tomography angiography and transcranial color-coded sonography were performed in 77 patients with a nonbleeding ACoA aneurysm and in 73 controls. Symmetry of A1 segments of the anterior cerebral arteries, angles between A1 and A2 segments, tortuosity, diameter, mean velocity (Vm), pulsatility index, and volume flow rate in both A1 segments were determined. Moreover, all study participants completed a survey on their medical history. Multivariate backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for ACoA aneurysm development. RESULTS: Smoking, hypertension, asymmetry of A1 segments, the angle between A1 and A2 segments, A1 segment diameter, Vm, pulsatility index, and volume flow rate turned out to be associated with the occurrence of ACoA aneurysms on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis identified smoking (odds ratio, 2.036; 95% confidence interval, 1.277-3.245), asymmetry of A1 segments>40% (odds ratio, 2.524; 95% confidence interval, 1.275-4.996), pulsatility index (odds ratio, 0.004; 95% confidence interval, 0.000-0.124), and the angle between A1 and A2 segments≤100° (odds ratio, 4.665; 95% confidence interval, 2.247-9.687) as independent strong risk factors for ACoA aneurysm development. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of ACoA aneurysm formation is determined by several independent clinical, morphological, and hemodynamic factors. The strongest independent risk factors include smoking, asymmetry of A1 segments>40%, low blood flow pulsatility, and the angle between A1 and A2 segments≤100°.

[Severe tachycardiomyopathy and thrombus in the left atrial appendage--a case report]. / Zaawansowana kardiomiopatia tachyarytmiczna i przewlekla, oporna na leczenie skrzeplina w uszku lewego przedsionka.

We describe a case of severe left ventricular (LV) heart failure caused by tachycardiomyopathy with concomitant presence of unsolved thrombus in left atrial appendage despite effective oral anticoagulant treatment. Successful ablation of atrial flutter and atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia entailed resolution of heart failure symptoms and normalisation of LV function.

[Intracardiac echocardiography for optimisation of RF ablation for incessant idiopathic ventricular tachycardia originating from the aorto-mitralis continuity in a patient with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy]. / Echokardiografia wewnatrzsercowa w optymalizacji ablacji RF ustawicznego czestoskurczu komorowego z okolicy ciaglosci aortalno-mitralnej powodujacego rozwój kardiomiopatii tachyarytmicznej.

We describe a case of a 67-year-old woman with incessant idiopathic ventricular tachycardia and tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy who underwent a successful RF ablation of the arrhythmic focus located in the aorto-mitral continuity. The optimal approach and titration of RF energy was achieved by means of the intracardiac echocardiography. The regression of signs of heart failure has been also observed.