[Initial experience with transesophageal echocardiography]. / První zkusenosti s transesofageální (jícnovou) echokardiografií.

The authors present their initial experience with a new echocardiographic method, transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). From an oesophageal approach it gives a remarkable view of the anatomy and functional parameters of the heart in practically all examined patients. It opens also new diagnostic possibilities. The main advantages of the method include the possibility to use high frequency probes (5 MHz, or more), which visualize more subtile structures than transthoracic echocardiography (TEE). A valuable aspect is also the absence of interfering structures such as lungs and ribs.

[Anticoagulantion and antiaggregation therapy in patients with unstableangina pectoris]. / Antikoagulacní a antiagregacní lécba u nemocných s nestabilní anginou pectoris.

Heparin, aspirin with dipyridamol or 5% dextrose were administered to 266 patients admitted to the coronary unit with unstable angina. All patients were concurrently treated with isosorbide dinitrate, a beta-blocker and nifedipine. The number of patients who developed an acute myocardial infarction (IM) during the subsequent 72 hours was comparable in all three groups. However, in the heparin treated group only 3.2% patients developed Q IM, as compared with 20% patients treated with aspirin and dipyridamol (p = 0.005) and with 19% in the control group (p = 0.006). The magnitude of the IM was evaluated according to the highest serum value of creatine phosphokinase. In the heparin treated group its value was 810.5 +/- 538 i.u./l which was significantly less than in the aspirin + dipyridamol group where it was 1229 +/- 829 i.u./l (p = 0.048) and in the control group where it was 1417 +/- 919 i.u./l (p = 0.009). The authors defined the group of patients with a high risk of development of IM who had protracted anginous pain longer than 45 mins. with ST segment depression deeper than 1 mm on the ECG on admission. 55% of these patients developed an infarction in the course of the subsequent 72 hours.

[Detection of atrial septal defects using esophageal echocardiography]. / Prukaz defektu sínového septa jícnovou echokardiografií.

By means of transoesophageal (oesophageal) echocardiography (TEE) the authors examined a group of 20 subjects. In 10 there was clinical suspicion (physical finding, ECG, X-ray) of an atrial septal defect. Common precordial echocardiographic examination (TTE) and dilution of indocyan green by means of an acustic sensing unit were negative or only marginally positive and did not provide a final decision. By means of TEE the defect was confirmed in 8 subjects by the finding of anatomical discontinuity of the septum and the presence of coloured Doppler shunt flow. In two subjects the finding was negative, in 10 controls no pathological findings were detected. The authors confirmed that TEE is a reliable method which proves even slight shunts in the area of the atrial septum. It is probably the most sensitive existing method.

[Evaluation of the therapeutic and toxic action of platinum cis-dichlorodiamine]. / Otsenka terapevticheskogo i toksicheskogo deistviia tsis-dikhlordiamina platiny.

The substance under study was employed in 9 patients with a far-advanced lesion. Dosage of 7.5 mg/m2 of the body surface failed to render any effect, whereas 15 mg/m2 induced partial regression in 2 patients and stabilization of the process in another 2 patients. Some toxic phenomena were noted on the part of the digestive tract.