[Importance of functional assessment in patients with heart failure]. / Význam funkcného vysetrenia u chorých so zlyhaním srdca.

Functional tests are included in to the assessment of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). In the patients, the indices of resting ventricular function are poor predictors of exercise capacity. Spiroergometry is a cardiopulmonary exercise test using respiratory gas exchange analysis in assessing the functional status and prognosis in patients with CHF. It identifies individuals with poorest prognoses and can be used for optimal timing of cardiac transplantation. This paper provides objective determination of functional capacity in 17 patients with CHF and their comparison with New York Heart Association Classification.

[Heart transplantation in patients with coronary disease. Preoperative period]. / Transplantácia srdca u pacientov s koronárnou chorobou. Predoperacné obdobie.

The authors report on the current heart transplantation (= HTx) frequency in international as well as domestic--Slovak conditions. The exact criteria for selection of patients who will gain maximum benefit from HTx are given. The alternative procedures namely in patients with progressive coronary artery (ischemic heart) disease, which could substitute or at least postpone HTx until the time when definitive solution of chronic and terminal congestive heart failure will be available are discussed. Apart from that, medical, as well as, psychological problems of pre-operative period and the possibilities of their solution are analysed.

[Heart transplantation in patients with coronary disease. Long-term care of patients after heart transplantation]. / Transplantácia srdca u pacientov s koronárnou chorobou. Dlhodobá starostlivost o pacientov po transplantácii srdca.

The authors present information on basic principles of the long term follow-up of patients after heart transplantation (HTx) and about the present state of HTx programme in Slovakia. "Unique normal" cardiac findings after HTx are described. The most important causes of mortality (infection, rejection, graft vascular disease, malignancy) and morbidity (hypertension, chronic renal insufficiency) are analysed and basic information for rational diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive measures is provided. The authors also discuss long term survival and quality of life after HTx. The paper is dedicated to the large medical community which will take care of the patients after HTx. There is no doubt that the results of clinical transplantology are highly dependent on the level of medical care in wide medical practice.