Cardiology Journal 2011, tom 18, nr 2

Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a specific cardiomyopathy (CMP) caused by a disruption in the embryogenesis of the endocardium and myocardium. Formerly known as ‘spongy myocardium’ it is characterized by trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses in the ventricular myocardium [1–3]...

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is a common breathing disorder that affects 5% of the North American adult population, with men being affected almost twice as much as women [1]. The condition has well defined associations with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, arrhythmia, daytime hypersomnolence, motor vehicle accidents and neurocognitive dysfunction; but despite this it is grossly under diagnosed [2–6]...

A palliative procedure that has been performed since 1971, named after Fontan and Baudet, is the method of treatment for patients with a functionally single ventricle [1]. A diagnosis of univentricular heart includes the broad category of congenital cardiac malformations, characterized by both atria related entirely, or almost entirely, to one functionally single ventricular chamber...

The incidence of primary malignant tumor of the heart is extremely low: about 0.02% in a series of autopsies [1, 2]. The incidence among the general population varies between 0.001% and 0.03% [3]...

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are a heterogeneous group of conditions with a sudden interruption of the blood flow in infarct-related arteries. According to the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), based on an ECG performedon first medical contact (FMC) with the patient, ACS are divided into ST segment elevation ACS (STACS) and non-ST segment elevation ACS (NSTACS) [1, 2]...

Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. The main pathological manifestation of coronary artery disease is myocardial damage due to ischemia-reperfusion injury [1]. Clinically, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion relates to conditionssuch as myocardial infarction, coronary angioplasty, thrombolytic therapy, coronary revascularization and heart transplantation [2]...

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is a well established treatment for patients with advanced heart failure [1, 2]. The main aim of this method is to restore proper synchrony between the right and left ventricles of the heart. To reach this goal, left ventricle lead implantation is necessary as an addon for right ventricle lead implantation [3, 4]...

Myocardial systolic function is usually assessed by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Nevertheless, an abnormal EF is a late consequence of chronically increased afterload such as it appears in degenerative aortic stenosis (AS). Newer quantitativetechniques such as global longitudinal strain (GLS) analysis and tissue Doppler imaging [1] have been used to better characterize global myocardial systolic function and detect subtle signs of myocardial dysfunction before bold changes in EF occur [2, 3]...

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is well-established as an effective means of managing patients with drug-refractory chronic heart failure (CHF) [1]. Nonetheless, despite the clinical advantages of improved physical capacity and quality of life, and decreased morbidity and mortality related to CHF elicited by CRT, a marked percentage of individuals do not benefit from this novel therapy [2]...

Significant unprotected left main disease (ULM) occurs in around 5% of patients with coronary artery disease [1, 2], with significant prognostic and therapeutic implications, as only coronary revascularization can provide long-term freedom from myocardial ischemia and is thus recommended in all suitable patients...