1. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in the first 500 patients : a single-center retrospective studyMarko Noč, Aleš Pleskovič, Maja Rojko, Nataša Černič Šuligoj, Branko Cvetičanin, Matjaž Špan, Stamenko Šušak, Rok Stopar, Danijel Petrovič, Naomi Ana Noč, Ana Bošnjak, Nenad Danojević, Miladin Djordjevic, Marjeta Zorc, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Aim To determine the procedural characteristics, results, and long-term outcomes of the first 500 consecutive patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) at the MC Medicor International Center for Cardiovascular Diseases Izola (Slovenia). Methods Data were collected from the institutional registry. The date of death was obtained from the National BIRPIS system by using the patient’s health insurance card number. The difference in 30-day mortality was assessed between two consecutive cohorts of 250 patients, patients who received self-expandable (SEV) and those with balloon-expandable (BEV) valves, and between patients ≤80 and >80 years old. Results Between December 2016 and September 2023, 500 patients (80 ± 6 years, 52% men, EuroScore II, 4.09 ± 4.11), including 3.2% with degenerated surgical prosthesis, underwent TAVI. After predilatation (57%), SEV was implanted in 87.5% and BEV in 12.5% of the patients. The mean postprocedural gradient was 10 ± 4 mm Hg, with more than moderate regurgitation in 0.4%. Emergency cardiac/vascular surgery was performed in 1.4%, and stroke occurred in 0.8%. The new permanent pacemaker (PPM) rate decreased from 19% to 7% (P < 0.001) in the second cohort, and the mean postprocedural transaortic gradient was significantly lower after SEV compared with BEV (9 ± 4 vs 13 ± 4 mm Hg; P < 0.001). There was no difference in 30-day mortality between the first and second cohort of 250 patients (1.2% vs 1.2%; P = 1.000), cohorts of 50 patients from number 0 to 500 (0% vs 2.0%; P = 0.391), SEV and BEV groups (0.9% vs 1.6%; P = 0.487), and patients ≤80 and >80 years old (2.0% vs 0.4%; P = 0.119). Conclusion TAVI results in our study are comparable with international standards. PPM rate decreased over time, and postprocedural gradient was lower after SEV. Learning curve, type of valve, and patient age did not affect 30-day mortality. Ključne besede: aortic valve, transcatheter implantation, retrospective study Objavljeno v DiRROS: 05.06.2026; Ogledov: 279; Prenosov: 215
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2. Patent foramen ovale-associated stroke and COVID-19 vaccinationMaja Rojko, Nataša Černič Šuligoj, Marjeta Zorc, Marko Noč, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background: COVID-19 infection has been associated with paradoxical thromboembolism through a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and ischaemic stroke. Such events have not been reported after COVID-19 vaccination. The aim of the present study was to investigate PFO-associated stroke during the mass COVID-19 vaccination in Slovenia. Methods: This prospective study, conducted between 26 December 2020 and 31 March 2022, enrolled consecutive patients (≥18 years) with PFO-associated stroke referred for a percutaneous closure to a single interventional facility in Slovenia. Results: A total of 953,546 people aged between 18 and 70 years received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency. Of the 28 patients presenting with PFO-associated stroke, 12 patients (42.9%) were vaccinated prior to the event, of whom nine were women and three were men, aged between 21 and 70 years. Stroke occurred within 35 days after vaccination in six patients (50%). Clinical presentation included motor dysphasia, paresis, vertigo, ataxia, paraesthesia, headache, diplopia and hemianopia. At hospital discharge, 11 patients (91.6%) had at least one residual ischaemic lesion. Conclusion: A temporal coincidence of COVID-19 vaccination and PFOassociated stroke has been described. A potential cause–effect relationship may only be hypothesised. Ključne besede: PFO-associated stroke, COVID-19 vaccination, patent foramen ovale, stroke Objavljeno v DiRROS: 02.06.2026; Ogledov: 360; Prenosov: 241
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3. Long-term echocardiographic features after percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovaleMaja Rojko, Nataša Černič Šuligoj, Bojana Žvan, Marjeta Zorc, Saibal Kar, Marko Noč, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background: There is a lack of studies systematically addressing long-term echocardiographic features after patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure. Thus, the present study investigated long-term echocardiographic features after percutaneous closure of PFO. Methods: This was a single-centre observational study based on the institutional registry of consecutive patients undergoing PFO closure. Clinical and echocardiographic features during the follow-up were investigated. Results: Between 2006 and 2023, 355 consecutive patients underwent PFO closure following transitory ischaemic attack (TIA) or cerebrovascular insult (CVI). Echocardiography immediately after the procedure and at 6 months was performed in 306 (86%) patients, who had repeat examinations at either between 1 and 5 years (median 1.32 years), between 5 and 10 years (median 7.10 years) or after 10 years (median 11.64 years). The percentage of patients with complete closure (no bubbles during the Valsalva manoeuvre) increased from 64% after the procedure to 80% at 6 months (p<0.05), and ranged between 77% and 81% thereafter (NS). Functional closure (≤10 bubbles) was observed in 93% of patients after the procedure and remained between 94% and 97% thereafter (NS). Except for decreased immediate complete closure (60% versus 83%; p<0.001), there was no difference between the Amplatzer PFO occluder and alternative devices. Among the 15 patients with greater than moderate residual shunt, reasons for the shunt were determined in 73% of patients and included leakage at the level of device, fenestration/atrial septal defect and pulmonary arteriovenous malformation. There was no late device embolisation, thrombus formation or pericardial effusion. Clinical follow-up revealed recurrent TIA and CVI rates of 0.11 and 0.06 per 100 patient-years, respectively. Conclusion: We demonstrated high (>90%) and persistent functional PFO closure beyond 10 years, independent of closure device. There was no late device embolisation, thrombus formation or pericardial effusion. Favourable echocardiographic features were associated with very low rates of recurrent TIA or CVI. Ključne besede: patent foramen ovale closure, residual shunt, echocardiography Objavljeno v DiRROS: 01.06.2026; Ogledov: 374; Prenosov: 261
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