[Improvement of the technique of positioning the endocardial electrodes of the cardiac contractility modulation device in patients with CHF with reduced ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation].

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the advanced technique for positioning the endocardial electrodes of a cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CCM system was implanted in 100 patients, of which 60 CCM electrodes were positioned in the most optimal zones of myocardial perfusion, in particular, in the zone of the minor focal-scar/fibrotic lesion (the Summed Rest Score of 0 to 1-2, the intensity of the radiopharmaceutical at least 30%), and in 40 patients according to the standard procedure. Before the implantation of the CCM system, 60 patients underwent tomography (S-SPECT) of the myocardium with 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile at rest to determine the most optimal electrode positioning zones and 100 patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography at baseline and after 12 months to assess the effectiveness of surgical treatment. RESULTS: Improved ventricular electrode positioning technique is associated with the best reverse remodeling of the left ventricular myocardium, especially in patients with ischemic chronic heart failure, with less radiation exposure to the surgeon and the patient, and without electrode-related complications. CONCLUSION: At the preoperative stage, it is recommended to perform a synchronized single-photon emission computed tomography of the myocardium with 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile at rest before implantation of the CCM device to assess the presence of scar zones/myocardial fibrosis in the anterior and inferior septal regions of the interventricular septum of the left ventricle, followed by implantation of ventricular electrodes in the zone of the minor scar/fibrous lesion, which will allow to achieve optimal stimulation parameters, increase the effectiveness of CCM therapy, reduce the radiation exposure on medical personnel and the patient during surgery.

Results of new-generation self-expanding transcatheter Porticoтм valve implantation in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis.

Aim    To evaluate 30-day results of the transcatheter correction of degenerative aortic stenosis using a novel self-expandable valve, PorticoTM.Material and methods    Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was performed in 42 patients with an intermediate surgical risk (mean age, 74.3±6.5 years, 8 men, 34 women, EuroSCORE II risk, 2.5 (1.5;4.1)) with severe degenerative aortic stenosis (AS). 20 (48 %) patients had ischemic heart disease; 8 (19%) of patients had atrial fibrillation, and 16 (38%) of patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Most of the patients (88 %) had preserved systolic function, and 5 patients had a pronounced decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction. Early efficacy and safety of the intervention were evaluated with VARC-2 criteria.Results    In-hospital and 30-day mortality following TAVI was absent. Also, there were no adverse events, including cerebrovascular disorders, perioperative myocardial infarction, and conversion to open surgery. One patient had prosthesis migration to the aorta, which required implantation of the second self-expandable valve. Mean duration of the procedure was 90 min (80;110), fluoroscopy time was 21 min (19;24), and contrast volume 154 ml (200;240). Following TAVI, the mean aortic valve (AV) pressure gradient significantly decreased from 56.1±21.2 to 11.2±4.0 mm Hg, the maximal gradient decreased from 88.9±27.8 to 20.0±7.0 mm Hg, and the AV effective orifice area increased from 0.67±0.2 to 1.9±0.3 cm2 (p<0.001). By the time of discharge from the hospital, all patients showed regression of AS clinical manifestations. The percentage of patients with NYHA functional class III chronic heart failure reduced from 62 % to 7 % (p<0.001) after TAVI. In one case after the implantation, grade 3 aortic regurgitation was observed, which required endovascular occlusion to close the paraprosthetic fistula. Moderate paraprosthetic regurgitation (grade <2) was observed in 3 (7 %) patients. Only 2 (4.8%) patients required permanent pacemaker implantation.Conclusion    Results of the single-center prospective TAVI study using a novel self-expandable valve Porticoтм showed satisfactory hemodynamic parameters, efficacy and safety of the procedure for the 30-day follow-up period. A relatively low radial force of the carcass can be beneficial for reducing the incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI.

Endovascular repair of the aorti arch. / Éndovaskuliarnoe protezirovanie dugi aorty.

AIM: The study was aimed at assessing the in-hospital results of aortic arch endoprosthetic repair using different variants of endovascular supraaortic debranching. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The analysis included 27 patients subjected within the framework of aortic arch endoprosthetic repair to various types of supraaortic endobranching, including the technique of parallel prostheses and implantation of fenestrated stent grafts. We analysed the clinical and morphological status of patients prior to operation, peculiarities of the intervention (type of debranching and Ishimaru's classification zones in which the reconstruction was performed) and in-hospital results of treatment. RESULTS: The patients' mean age amounted to 66 years. The main nosology (70%) was an aortic aneurysm. Nearly in 30% of cases, the operation was performed emergently for acute aortic syndrome. The main causes of refusal from the traditional prosthetic repair included chronic kidney disease (22.5%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (11%), acute cerebral ischaemia within the previous 6 months (15%). The technical success rate of the operation was achieved in 100% of cases. The average duration of the intervention amounted to 226 min, with the mean blood loss equalling 355 ml. The majority of reconstructions were performed in zones 1 and 2 according to Ishimaru (59 and 33%, respectively), in 2 (7%) patients prosthetic repair was performed in zone 0. The total number of the aortic branches involved into reconstruction amounted to 45. Intervention-related complications included 3 (11%) cases of acute cerebral circulation impairment, 2 (7.4%) aortic branch occlusions, and 1 (3.7%) type II endoleak. The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates amounted to 3.7 and 7.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Aortic arch endoprosthetic repair using supraaortic endobranching is considered to be an effective alternative method of treatment for patients with various pathology of the aortic arch and contraindications to traditional prosthetic repair involving artificial blood circulation.

[In-hospital outcomes of endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting in multiple diffuse lesions of coronary arteries]. / Gospital'nye rezul'taty éndarteréktomii i koronarnogo shuntirovaniia pri mnozhestvennom diffuznom porazhenii koronarnykh arterii.

BACKGROUND: According to a series of studies, performing coronary endarterectomy in direct myocardial revascularization increases the risk of myocardial infarction and in-hospital mortality. There are no commonly accepted indications for carrying out endarterectomy, and in clinical practice this technique is used in severe diffuse lesions of coronary arteries. AIM: The study was aimed at assessing in-hospital clinical outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with the use of endarterectomy in patients with severe multiple diffuse lesions of coronary arteries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single-centre retrospective study enrolling a total of 205 patients presenting with multiple diffuse lesions and subjected to CABG procedures. Of these, after excluding those with severe concomitant pathology (n=28), 177 were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: 76 patients during formation of a coronary anastomosis were subjected to forced endarterectomy from the native channel (Group 1, n=76) and the remaining patients to prolonged anastomosis and/or bypass grafting of distal branches of the diffusely damaged artery (Group 2, n=101). In-hospital outcomes were analysed in both groups. RESULTS: The demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable by all parameters except for age: Group 1 patients were older (66.3±8.4 vs 63.0±8.5, p<0.05). The groups were comparable by severity of coronary lesions by both the SYNTAX Score and diffuse lesion index. The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction during coronary endarterectomy (Group 1) amounted to 9.2% (7/71) and in the group without endarterectomy (Group 2) to 0. There were no cases of in-hospital mortality in either group. CONCLUSION: In severe diffuse coronary lesions, endarterectomy combined with CABG makes it possible to perform adequate myocardial revascularization. Performing endarterectomy from coronary arteries is associated with an increased risk for the development of myocardial infarction, but its use is justified if it is impossible to create an anastomosis by means of other techniques.

[The possibilities of using levosimendan in medical preparation to Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in coronary artery disease patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction].

AIM: to work out an approach of preoperative drug preparation for CAD patients with low LVEF and varying degrees of compensation for CHF, to study the possibility of using levosimendan (L) in this preparation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 82 patients with severe angina pectoris, multivascular coronary disease, extensive postinfarction zone, LVEF ≤35%, chronic heart failure and proven viable myocardium, which performed CABG. All patients received long - term standard CHF therapy before surgery: loop diuretic, ACE/ARA, beta - blocker, aldosterone antagonist. In the first, retrospective part of the study (39 pts), it was determined which factors could be associated with perioperative AHF. In the second, prospective part (43 pts), the course of the operation and the early postoperative period in patients with compensated and uncompensated heart failure were compared; uncompensated pts received L 2 days before surgery in addition to standard therapy. The third, retro - prospective part of the study (37 pts) was the assessment of operation outcome in patients only with uncompensated pre - operative CHF, but with different preoperative drug preparation. RESULTS: Statistically significant direct influence on the perioperative AHF development was provided by the combined clinical sign - venous pulmonary congestion+orthopnea (p.

Energy Metabolism in Cellular Regenerative Processes: Focus on PPARα.

Reduced expression of the key regulator of cardiac metabolism, transcription factor PPARα, in surgical samples of the auricles from patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. These changes indicate reduced activity of this factor and a shift of energy metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis typical of dedifferentiated cells. Electron microscopy revealed dedifferentiated cardiomyocytes with disassembled contractile apparatus and disorganized sarcomeres. In the examined specimens from patients with heart failure, severe myocardial fibrosis was revealed.

[Microsurgery of coronary arteries using an operating microscope]. / Mikrokhirurgiia koronarnykh arterii s ispol'zovaniem operatsionnogo mikroskopa.

The world experience of coronary artery bypass surgery using an operating microscope is reviewed in the article. Important role of operating microscope and microsurgical techniques for coronary anastomoses formation is shown. High optical magnification provided by operating microscope directly affects the quality of surgical technique and accuracy of coronary anastomoses suturing that affects postoperative graft patency. Thus, the use of operating microscope can affect the results of coronary artery bypass surgery, as shown in several reports.

[State of the art of the problem concerning endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms of infrarenal localization]. / Sovremennoe sostoianie problemy éndovaskuliarnogo lecheniia anevrizm briushnoi aorty infrarenal'noi lokalizatsii.

The problem concerning diagnosis and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is important today because of a high proportion of this pathology within the structure of population morbidity and mortality, with a tendency of these indices to increase, as well as high lethality rates in development of complications. Endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms is one of the most rapidly developing methods of treatment in vascular surgery. Over the last two decades this type of treatment has been playing an important part in the armamentarium of the vascular surgeon and is often considered as primary treatment of patients with AAA of infrarenal localization. Nevertheless, long-term efficacy and reliability of this method have been argued. These argues are based on the fact that according to the findings of various studies the advantages of endovascular treatment of aneurysms over open surgical treatment are completely leveled after 6-8 years. The main disadvantage of endovascular treatment is the necessity of repeat interventions in the long-term period of follow-up. However, in a series of studies repeat interventions in groups of both surgical and endovascular treatment were either not taken into account or not specially studied. It should also be taken into consideration that first European studies were carried out with the use of grafts of first generations, and some of them are not used any more. Therefore, the necessity of carrying out further studies still remains. Perhaps, new generations will be able to decrease the frequency of repeat interventions and thereby improve the overall results of endovascular treatment. The possibilities of endovascular treatment of AAAs will constantly be extended, including due to the development of X-ray equipment and software, as well as at the expense of various auxiliary technologies.

[Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension developed in a female patient with lupus erythematosus and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome]. / Khronicheskaia tromboémbolicheskaia legochnaia gipertenziia, sformirovavshaiasia u bol'noi sistemnoi krasnoi volchankoi c vtorichnym antifosfolipidnym sindromom.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is one of the potentially curable forms of pulmonary hypertension, in which pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is the gold standard treatment. However, over the last decade, great attention has been given to a combined therapeutic approach including both drug therapy and surgical treatment and the application of endovascular technologies. This clinical case demonstrates the diagnostic difficulties of CTEPH and the opportunities of a comprehensive approach to therapy for the disease with mandatory assessment of preoperative surgical and medical treatment in order to improve the patient status and to prepare for surgery.

[Use of an iliac branched endoprostheis in endovascular treatment for an abdominal aortic aneurysm combined with aneurysms of both common iliac arteries]. / Ispol'zovanie podvzdoshnogo branshirovannogo endoproteza pri endovaskulyarnom lechenii anevrizmy bryushnoi aorty i obeikh obshchikh podvzdoshnykh arterii.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm appears to be combined with aneurysmatic lesions of the common iliac arteries in 30-40% of cases. Like abdominal aortic aneurysms, aneurysms of the common iliac arteries rarely manifest themselves clinically. The lethality rate in case of rupture is comparable to that for rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. During endoprosthetic repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms combined with aneurysms of the common iliac arteries, in order to prevent endoleaks and to improve the distal zone of fixation of endografts surgeons often resort to embolization of internal iliac arteries, which may lead to ischaemic postoperative complications. One of the methods of preserving pelvic blood flow is the use of an iliac branched endograft. A series of studies evaluating long-term outcomes demonstrated that this method proved to be both safe and effective, and with the suitable anatomy is a method of choice in high surgical risk patients. The present article deals with a clinical case report concerning bilateral endoprosthetic repair of the common iliac arteries, combined with endoprosthetic repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, with the description of technical peculiarities of implanting an iliac branched graft.

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CARDIAC PROGENITOR CELLS OBTAINING FROM MYOCARDIAL RIGHT ATRIAL APPENDAGE TISSUE.

Resident stem cells of the heart are denoted as heterogeneous population of immature cells, which reside in the myocardium and characterized by their ability to self-renewal and are multipotent differentiation capacity into cardiomyocyte-like and vascular like cells. CSCs were originally isolated directly by long enzymatic digestion of heart tissue and selection using stem cell markers. However, long exposure to enzymatic digestion and small myocardial sample size can affect the possibility of obtaining a significant amount of viable cells. To avoid these problems, we developed a method consisting of growing of the CPC in explant culture and subsequent immunomagnetic selection.

[Transaortic Implantation of Aortic Valve Bioprosthesis in High-Risk Patient With Simultaneous Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting].

Transaortic approach represents an alternative variant of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) which combines benefits of antegrade transapical approach and high safety profile characteristic of transfemoral approach. This method has substantial advantages over subclavian and transapical approaches in cases of pronounced myocardial hypertrophy, left ventricular dysfunction, thinning of left ventricular wall. We describe here a hybrid intervention with simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting and TAVI in a patient from high surgical risk group with multivessel coronary artery involvement and critical aortic stenosis. The intervention was a successful alternative to open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

[Endovascular treatment of spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta].

Spontaneous rupture of the aorta is an uncommonly encountered acute surgical aortic pathology characterised by an utterly unfavourable prognosis. The article deals with a case report concerning successful endovascular treatment of spontaneous rupture of the thoracic portion of the aorta, followed by discussion of problems regarding aetiology, diagnosis, and therapeutic policy for such pathology.

[Monitoring of haemodynamics and function of the aortic prosthesis during transcatheter aortic valve replacement].

PURPOSE: To find an advisability of use of invasive monitoring of intracardiac haemodynamics during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 12 patients underwent transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TTAVR). All patients were monitored according to Harvard standard. Additionally, we performed a catheterization of the right heart chambers, transesophageal or transthoracic echocardiography. Pressure in the left ventricle and aorta was measured directly after implantation ofthe aortic prosthesis. RESULTS: Cardiac output was increased authentically in comparison with baseline in all patients. There was cardiac index increasing, however the increasing was not reliable (p ≤ 0.07). In 9 cases, baseline pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was not changed during surgery. In 3 patients, PAP and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAOP) before surgery were increased. In 2 of this 3 patients, PAP and PAOP were significantly decreased after surgery. In 1 case, the pressure in the pulmonary circulation stayed increased. Ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle was increased after surgeries in 2 patients from 30 to 40% and from 20 to 25%. The values of stroke volume and stroke index were similar in all patients before and after surgeries. Valvular regurgitation after successful implantation of the aortic prosthesis was found in 11 patients (91.6%). We calculated dia- stolic gradient of left ventricle and the aorta and aortic regurgitation index and compared this parameters with data of echocardiography. The index of aortic regurgitation was 36.5 (35; 46), and diastolic pressure gradient in the aorta and ventricle was 48.0 (40.5; 65.5) mmHg. Calculated systolic pressure gradient in the left ventricle and aorta was 5.5 (3.0; 11.5) mmHg., this data proved that there was no stenosis of aortic prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Invasive monitoring of intracardiac haemodynamics during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replace-ment allows to diagnose quality of prosthesis implantation accurately and provides data about valvular regurgitation. Invasive monitoring helps to provide haemodynamic stability in patients with critical aortic stenosis during anaesthesia.

[Experience with implantation of a fenestrated endoprosthesis to a patient with a juxtarenal aortic aneurysm].

In patients with a juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm the unaltered segment is frequently insufficient to secure adequate proximal fixation of the stent graft or is entirely absent, thus making it problematic to exclude the aneurysm from the blood flow by means of classic endoprosthetic repair. For this reason, in order to preserve the blood flow through visceral and renal arteries fenestrated endoprostheses are used as alternative minimally invasive treatment policy. Described herein is the first in the Russian Federation clinical case of using a fenestrated endovascular graft for treatment of a juxtarenal aortic aneurysm. Our patient had high surgical risk due to severe concomitant pathology and was therefore subjected to implantation of a fenestrated endoprosthesis with the preservation of the blood flow through the superior mesenteric artery and both renal arteries. The operation was successful with the complete exclusion of the aneurysm from the blood flow. The first and subsequent controls in the postoperative period showed an adequate position of the endoprosthesis and normal blood flow through the visceral branches.

Surgical treatment of patients with kidney and bladder cancer in case of severe concomitant cardiovascular diseases.

It was operated 17 patients with kidney and bladder cancer against the background of severe concomitant coronary artery disease (52.9%), aortic aneurysm (35.3%) or combination of coronary artery disease with Leriche syndrome (5.9%) or hemodynamically significant stenosis of internal carotid artery (5.9%). Patients were operated for the period from 1998 to 2012. All patients were male at the age from 39 to 80 years (mean 62.1 years). The first stage of kidney cancer was diagnosed in 8 (53.3%) patients, the second stage - in 1 (6.7%) patient, the third stage - in 2 (13.3%) patients and the fourth stage was observed in 4 (26.7%) patients. Bladder cancer had 1 and 2 stages. Simultaneous operations were performed in 3 (17.6%) patients. 12 (70.6%) patients were operated consequentially. Surgery for kidney cancer was not done in 2 (11.8%) of 17 patients because of patient death after coronary bypass surgery or patient refusal of surgery after carotid arteries stenting. Intraoperative and postoperative complications have been developed in 9 (52.9%) of 17 patients. 2 (11.8%) patients died. The complications frequency and mortality after simultaneous operations were 25% (1 of 4) and 0. These parameters were 57.1% (8 of 14) and 14.3% respectively in case of consequent tactics. It was not observed myocardial infarction and aortic aneurysm rupture after surgeries for kidney and bladder cancer. Overall 1, 3, 5 - year survival of patients with kidney cancer and severe concomitant cardiovascular diseases was 100%, 73.3% and 52.4% respectively. It was concluded that surgical treatment of severe concomitant coronary artery disease and aortic aneurysm in patients with kidney and bladder cancer decreases risk of myocardial infarction and aortic aneurysm rupture in intraoperative and postoperative periods.

[Surgical treatment of patients with stomach cancer and severe concomitant cardio-vascular pathology].

51 patients with gastric cancer and severe concomitant ischemic heart disease (90.2%), valvular heart disease (5.9%), critical stenosis of the internal carotid artery (2%) or abdominal aortic aneurism (2%) were operated on during 1995-2011yy. Of them men were 41, women - 10; mean age was 65.1 years (51-82). The first stage of gastric cancer was diagnosed in 18 (35.3%) of patients, second, third and fourth in 12 (23.5%), 17 (33.3%) and 4 (7.8%), respectively. Radical tumor resection was achieved in 37 (72.5%), palliative operations were performed in 13 (25.5%) patients. 17.6% of patients were operated on stomach and vessels simultaneously. 82.4% received the stepwise treatment. Intra- and postoperative complications were registered in 47.1% (24 of 51 patients); of whom 5.9% (3 patients) ended lethally. Simultaneous operations showed the 55.6% complications and zero lethality rate, whereas stepwise treatment resulted in 45.2% complications and 7.1% lethality.

[Clinical characteristics of patients and number of stem cells in the myocardium of right atrial appendage in patients with ischemic heart disease].

In the last years stem cells (SC) have been identified in rodent and human hearts. These cells have ability to multilineage differentiation in vitro and in vivo and improve cardiac function. The development of new methods of isolation SC offers new approaches to cardiac regeneration. However, the question of how individual patient characteristics influence the number of SC remains unclear. In our study we aimed to define the correlation between patient characteristics and SC number. Our findings suggest that clinical characteristics and severity of the disease may affect the yield of SC in heart tissue. Our data contribute to the development of efficient methods for SC isolation for stem cell therapy.

[The mitral valve dysplasia in adults: the choice of surgical tactics].

Early and long-term results of hereditary mitral valve dysplasia surgical treatment were obtained in 203 patients. All patients were divided in 2 groups: 73 (36%) patients after valve-preserving operations and 130 patients after universal chorda-preserving valve prosthetics. The choice of treatment modality depended on the type of anatomical changes and overall surgical volume. Hospital lethality rate was 2.46%. Surgery led to satisfactory functional results, thus, 83.3% of the operated patients have I-II NYHA functional class. Analysis of the own experience allowed to mark out factors, contraindicating the durable plastic mitral valve.

[A clinical case of endovascular prosthetic repair of a gigantic abdominal aorta aneurysm].

To illustrate the present-day possibilities in treatment of aortic dissection we describe herein a clinical case report concerning successful prosthetic repair of a gigantic aneurysm of the infrarenal portion of the aorta with the Gore Excluder using an endovascular surgical approach in a patient running high risk associated with difficult anatomy of the abdominal portion of the aorta, iliac arteries, and accompanying diseases (left lung cancer, CAD, critical stenosis of the RCA. This was followed by balloon angioplasty with stenting of the RCA with Lekton stents with a good angiographic result. EVAR has become an alternative to the conventional open surgery with lower risk of complications, shorter hospital stay, and decreased mortality rate, which was confirmed by the findings of international studies.