[Equivalent occlusion of the left main coronary artery--case report]. / Ekwiwalent niedroznosci pnia lewej tetnicy wiencowej--opis przypadków.

In the paper two cases are described of patients in whom during angiography coexistent occlusion of the left descending artery and left circumflex artery was found. ECG and echocardiography in both cases were not indicating such a high coronary vessel defect. In both patients angiography was performed leading in one case to development of shock with fatal outcome.

[Analysis of usefulness for quantitative methods determining segmental mobility in assessing contrast ventriculography of the left ventricle]. / Analiza przydatnosci ilosciowych metod wyznaczania ruchomosci odcinkowej dla oceny wentrykulogramów kontrastowych lewej komory.

The aim of this study was to compare two different quantitative methods used to determine left ventricular regional wall motions. Circumferential and radial methods were used to distinguish between normo- and hypokinesia of the 5 segments proposed by AHA for RAO position. One hundred ventriculograms were analyzed. Fifty cases with normal wall motion and ejection fraction greater than 55% were chosen as a base to enumerate normokinetic values of regional contractility. The other fifty cases represented hypokinesia of different segments. Respective values for the radial method were 61.42 vs 38.10 for antero-basal segment, 73.8 vs 58.5 for antero-lateral segment, 67.74 vs 42.5 for apical segment, 69.88 vs 47.70 for postero-lateral segment and 41.72 vs 33.4 for postero-lateral segment. The values obtained with the circumferential method were 12.27 vs 10.21, 20.06 vs 16.21, 22.19 vs 18.78, 17.08 vs 11.39 and 8.50 vs 8.15, respectively. These results suggest that the radical method allows to better differentiate between hypo- and normokinesia. Postero-basal segment proved to be most difficult to assess. Both methods fail to make a clear distinction in these cases.

[A new multipolar transesophageal electrode for assessment of activation sequence in the left atrium]. / Nowa, wielobiegunowa elektroda przelykowa do badania sekwencji pobudzenia lewego przedsionka.

A new multipolar transoesophageal electrode is described. Two patients were analysed. One with recurrent coronary sinus rhythm and the other with concealed WPW syndrome. Obtained recordings showed difference of sequence of left atrial depolarisation during recovery of the sinus rhythm after its overdrive suppression and during provoked tachycardia. Results are very promising and require further investigation.

[Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty--personal experience]. / Przezskórna plastyka tetnic wiencowych--doswiadczenia wlasne.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was employed in a group of 178 patients (151 males and 27 females) aged 24 to 68 years (mean 42 +/- 12 years). Stable angina was diagnosed in 136 patients, unstable angina in 38, and an acute infarct in 4. In 150 patients there was one, in 25 two and in 5 patients 3 target stenoses. Lesions were localised in the left anterior descending artery in 130 cases, in the circumflex artery in 32 cases and in the right coronary artery in 49 cases. The attempts to dilate 78 stenoses with a fixed-wire, non-guided system was successful in 78% of cases. Success rate with the over-the-wire system was 85%. In total, we successfully dilated 173 patients, i.e. 82%. The highest success rate, 85%, was achieved in lesions localized in the left anterior descending artery and lowest in lesions localized in the left circumflex artery. Success rate in the groups with stable and unstable coronary artery disease was similar. Complications occurred in 6% of the cases. Experience of the operators involved in PTCA is an important factor influencing the success rate. In the first year of using this technique, good results were achieved in 48% of patients, in the second year in 63%. During the next two years 86% of the stenoses were successfully dilated.

[Value of endomyocardial biopsy in the assessment of the degree of the changes in myocarditis]. / Znaczenie biopsji endomiokardialnej dla oceny nasilenia zmian w stanach zapalnych miesnia sercowego.

Right ventricular diagnostic biopsy was performed in 25 patients (12 females and 13 males) aged 19-48 (mean 32) with suspicion of acute or subacute myocarditis for definitive diagnosis verification and to determine indications for therapy with corticosteroids or azathioprine. 3-4 specimens taken from different sites of ventricle were estimated under the light microscope according to Dallas classification distinguishing active myocarditis with or without fibrosis from borderline myocarditis with inflammatory infiltration not causing myocytes damage. Routine clinical and laboratory tests, echocardiographic examination, ECG Holter monitoring and nuclear examination to evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction were performed in all patients. 6 patients underwent coronarography to exclude atherosclerotic changes in coronary arteries. Bioptic examination result confirmed myocarditis suspicion in all patients. Active inflammation was stated in 18 patients including 7 with coexisting fibrosis. Borderline myocarditis was stated in 7 cases. Comparison of clinical examination results with those of pathomorphologic study made possible to state, that tachycardia, cardiac murmur, arrhythmias and left ventricular function impairment were frequent observed in the group of active myocarditis. Ejection fraction less than 30% was observed only in patients with active myocarditis and mainly in those with coexisting fibrosis. Based on performed study we consider that myocardial biopsy allows not only to diagnose myocarditis but also is helpful for lesion extent assessment in myocardium with all clinical implications.

[Possibilities of echocardiographic evaluation of hemodynamic disorders in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]. / Mozliwosci echokardiograficznej oceny zaburzen hemodynamicznych w kardiomiopatii przerostowej.

In a group of 59 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy relationship between echocardiographic parameters (interventricular septal thickness, left ventrical diastolic diameter, presence of SAM, distribution of hypertrophy) and certain hemodynamic measurements (diastolic compliance, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, intraventricular pressure gradient, mean wall thickness and left ventricular mass index) were assessed. Substantial elevation of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP greater than 20 mmHg) was significantly more prevalent among patients with small left ventricular diameter and gross septal hypertrophy. Extensive ventricular hypertrophy (Maron type III) was not characterized by any distinctive hemodynamic pattern. Presence of SAM reaching interventricular septum was indicative of left ventricular outflow obstruction.