Results Between 01/2013 and 03/2015 56 patients (32% female; 73 ± 7 years) received PVI and LAA occlusion concomitant to other cardiac surgery. 34 (61%) patients suffered for paroxysmal AF and 22 (39%) for chronic AF. 15 patients underwent isolated mitral valve surgery, 8 in combination with CABG and 3 with aortic valve surgery. 6 patients were admitted for isolated aortic valve surgery, 3 in c...

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the factors associated with long-term survival in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) treated with continuous epoprostenol infusion. BACKGROUND Epoprostenol improves survival in patients with PPH in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV. However, some patients do not benefit from epoprostenol and must be considered for lu...

OBJECTIVE In this study, the effects of anaesthetic technique on mother and newborn were investigated in a retrospective analysis of parturients with cardiac diseases undergoing Caesarean section between 2006-2012. METHODS Our hospital's medical information system records were analyzed, and we found 107 parturients with cardiac disease and were undergoing Caesarean section, and their demograp...

OBJECTIVES This study sought to evaluate the predictive value of copeptin over the entire spectrum of heart failure (HF) and compare it to the current benchmark markers, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). BACKGROUND Vasopressin has been shown to increase with the severity of chronic HF. Copeptin is a fragment of pre-pro-vasopressin that...

INTRODUCTION Diuretic resistance is a common problem in congestive heart failure patients. It has been defined clinically but can be defined objectively in terms of fractional excretion of sodium (FENa). AIM Aim of the study was to find out the association of FENa with prognosis of decompensated heart failure patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and seventy eligible patients with a p...

BACKGROUND AND AIM To evaluate long-term outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) due to significant aortic stenosis (AS) and assess changes in factors affecting survival during a 10-year period in patients referred for surgery from a single centre. METHODS We evaluated 1143 patients (478 women, 665 men; mean age 61 ± 5 years) treated in the Department of Valvular Heart Disease at ...

OBJECTIVES Our aim was assess the prognostic value of midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) using a new immunoassay in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND Assessment of natriuretic peptides represents a useful addition in establishing the diagnosis of chronic HF. Their plasma values are powerful predictors of survival in chronic HF. METHODS We assessed MR-p...