Induced apnea for better CT visualization of coronary arteries in children under 1 year. And is heart rate so essential?

Marek Kardoš, Jana Valachová, Martin Fula, Kristián Kopáčik, Tomáš Hrtánek, Dávid Kocan

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):422-426 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.074  

Background: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in children under one year of age is a usefull technique in visualization of coronary arteries with high spatial resolution. CT examination of children under 1 year remains a challenge for radiologists and clinicians due to radiation and motion artefacts. Objectives: To evaluate image quality of CCTA examinations performed in children under 1 year using qualitative and quantitative parameters. Materials and methods: A single center retrospective study of CCTA with induced apnea, performed between April 2022 and August 2024. We investigated quality of coronary arteries imaging via a visual grading analysis...

The Prognostic Importance of Right Ventricular Functional Echocardiographic Parameters of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Patients in Intensive Care

İbrahim Saraç

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):427-435 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.076  

Purpose: The relationship between transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) parameters and the prognosis of patients hospitalized in intensive care with a diagnosis of pneumonia is not well known. This study planned to investigate the relationship between patients' right ventricular functions (RVF) and clinical outcomes. Materials and methods: It is a retrospective study including patients with pneumonia and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who were followed up in the intensive care unit. The severity scores of the patients, complications, and mortality rates during follow-up and TTE data were compared. Results: One hundred and seven patients...

Sex-Based Differences in Heart Failure: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Management and Outcomes in a Portuguese Cardiology Department

Ana Rodrigo Costa, José Luís Ferraro, Mauro Moreira, Joel Ponte Monteiro, Joana Correia, Liliana Reis, Aurora Andrade

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):437-442 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.082  

Aim: Understand sex-specific differences in heart failure (HF) with a focus on their implications for clinical management strategies and patient outcomes. Methods: This retrospective single-center observational cohort study included all patients admitted with a diagnosis of heart failure to a Portuguese cardiology department during the year of 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on sex. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, HF hospitalization, oral diuretic up-titration, and unplanned visits for intravenous diuretic therapy. Secondary outcomes included the prescription of complete guideline-directed...

Effects of psychotropic medications on electrocardiography

Cenk Conkbayir, Abidin Akbirgün, Ersan Berksel, Didem Melis Oztas, Burak Onal, Murat Ugurlucan, Ayse Ulgen, Evren Hincal

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):443-448 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.022  

Background and aim: In recent years number of psychiatric patients has increased and psychotropic medications are becoming mostly used drugs. These drugs may affect cardiovascular system and we can check side effects with electrocardiography (ECG). In this study we aimed to analyse psychiatric medications' side effects on ECG. Objective and methods: Eighty-five patients included in this study have psychiatric diagnosis and have used psychoactive medications. Forty-five of these patients are male and 40 of them are female. Age varies from 23 to 94 years. ECG has been taken from the patients and PR duration, QRS duration, and corrected QT measured from...

(Blood sampling for culture and interpreting microbiological findings at suspicion of infective endocarditis)

Jiří Beneš

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):449-456 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.083  

Blood culture, together with echocardiography, is the basic examination used in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. The article summarizes the principles of correct blood sampling for culture, from the classic principles to the modern approach of a single collection of 40-60 ml of blood. The author explains under what conditions the modern concept is advantageous and when, on the contrary, it can be problematic. The article also describes the most common mistakes that doctors make when taking blood cultures and interpreting microbiological findings. The text is intended primarily for cardiologists but it can also be useful for physicians of other...

(Mitral regurgitation - a review article)

Alena Večeřová, Jana Podzimková, Kristýna Bayerová, Gabriela Dostálová

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):457-463 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.071  

Mitral regurgitation (MR) represents one of the most prevalent valvular heart pathologies, with its pathophysiological mechanism closely associated with structural and morphological alterations of the mitral valve (MV), which may be of congenital or acquired origin. Accurate and systematic echocardiographic evaluation of both anatomical and functional components of the MV is essential for the optimal timing of therapeutic interventions, whether surgical, transcatheter, or conservative, with the aim of improving clinical outcomes and long-term prognosis. A comprehensive assessment of MV anatomy, including leaflet morphology, annular geometry, subvalvular...

(Coronary microvascular dysfunction)

Martin Pumprla, Radka Hazuková, Milan Kamínek, Petr Heinc

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):465-468 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.062  

The recent 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) include, in addition to the standard issue of CCS on the basis of obstructive coronary disease (most commonly coronary artery disease, rarely congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries, and muscle bridges), also the issue of CCS on the basis of the non-obstructive coronary arteries/non-obstructive coronary artery diseases (NOCA/NOCAD). The main reason for the currently increased interest in CCS with NOCA/NOCAD is probably the recent data documenting their relatively frequent occurrence and their relatively unfavourable prognosis, which contrast with...

(Sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)

Michael Jenšovský, Veronika Puchnerová, Petr Ošťádal, Jiří Bonaventura

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):469-482 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.086  

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most feared complication of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and can be the first and only manifestation of HCM. Our review focuses on the evolution of epidemiology and pathophysiology of SCD in HCM patients, with an emphasis on current risk stratification options for the primary prevention of SCD in HCM. It provides a detailed overview of the individual risk factors of SCD, the benefits and potential risks of physical activity, as well as the benefits and complications of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in patients with HCM.

(Vasospastic angina pectoris - current diagnostic possibilities and management of patients)

Hana Moravcová, Petr Kala, Veronika Gašpárková, Petr Hájek, Michal Rezek, Ota Hlinomaz

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):483-492 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.066  

Angina with non-obstructive coronary artery disease is a frequent finding in patients with chest pain. Its pathophysiology involves two main mechanisms: structural and functional dysfunction of microcirculation, functional dysfunction of epicardial arteries, and their combination. The review article focuses on diagnosis of vasospastic angina and management of patients with this disease.

Open vs. Endovascular Aortic Repair: Guidelines and Real-World Outcomes

Abubakar I. Sidik, Vladislav V. Dontsov, Maxim L. Khavandeev, Grigorii A. Esion, Ivan G. Karpenko, Dmitriy Sobolev, Md Limon Hossain, Abdulmajid Ilyas Shafii, Ahlam Derrar, Farjana Najneen, Gulten Ak, Debraj Ghosh, Oralee Bonifacio Parera

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):493-504 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.065  

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains a critical vascular condition with significant morbidity and mortality, necessitating timely intervention through either open surgical repair (OSR) or endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). This review evaluates the latest clinical guidelines and real-world outcomes of these two approaches, synthesizing evidence from randomized controlled trials, large-scale registry data, and emerging technological advancements. OSR, traditionally the gold standard, offers superior long-term durability but carries higher perioperative risks, whereas EVAR provides a less invasive alternative with reduced short-term mortality but...

Controlling Nutritional Status Score is Linked to Cardiovascular Diseases

Lutfu Askin, Yahya Urkmez, Okan Tanriverdi

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):505-509 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.029  

Higher Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) scores have been linked to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure. Poor nutrition may cause inflammation and oxidative stress, which can lead to CVDs. However, the CONUT score and CVDs are complicated and impacted by age, sex, and comorbidities. Thus, the CONUT score should be used as part of a thorough evaluation of a patient's nutritional status and CV risk, not for diagnosis or therapy.

(Critical comments on the document "2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension")

Renata Cífková, Aleš Linhart, Miloš Táborský

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):541-547 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.073  

The article is a critical appraisal of the Guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension, published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in 2024, which were translated into Czech and published in this year's January supplement of the journal Cor et Vasa. The text draws attention to controversial aspects of the ESC guidelines, especially in the context of the guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension, published in 2023. The existence of two different European guidelines for the treatment of hypertension and "elevated blood pressure" is misleading for both doctors and patients.

Genetické vyšetření v kardiologii: Aktualizované souhrnné vyjádření a doporučení odborníků pracovní skupiny kardiogenetiky při ČAPK/ČKS, SLG a ČSSL a ST při ČSL JEP

Alice Krebsováa, Eva Kutílkováa, Miloš Kubáneka, Veronika Zoubkováb,, Terézia Tavačovác, Petra Peldováb, Lenka Piherovád, Pavel Votýpkab,, Štěpánka Pohlová Kučerováe, Ilga Grochováf, Andrea Gřegořovág,, Daniela Žákováh,ch, Tomáš Freibergerh,i, Jan Janoušekc, Tomáš Novotnýj,, Jiří Bonaventurak, Milan Macekb

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4) | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.084  

In contemporary cardiology, genetics is mainly applied to cardiovascular diseases with Mendelian inheritance. These diseases include cardiomyopathies, hereditary forms of arrhythmic syndromes, aortic syndromes, congenital heart defects, and hyperlipoproteinemias. Complex testing in cardiogenetics includes family cascade screening, which should be performed in conjunction with molecular genetic testing and contributes to the identifi cation of pathogenic DNA variants. Sudden cardiac death is a common risk for all of these disease groups; therefore, postmortem genetic testing (molecular autopsy) is an important part of cardiogenetics and includes...

(Angiotensin II - mechanism of action, current evidence, and statement of the interdisciplinary working group on the use of angiotensin II in intensive care units)

Martin Balík, Jan Beneš, Vladimír Černý, Roman Kula, Martin Matějovič, Hynek Říha, Tomáš Tencer

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4):535-540 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.044  

The medicinal product Giapreza containing angiotensin II for intravenous administration has been registered in the Czech Republic since 2023. Article describes the mechanism of action of the drug, summarizes current scientific evidence of its efficacy and safety, and presents opinion of the interdisciplinary working group on the use of angiotensin II in intensive care units, especially in patients with refractory vasoplegic shock. The text has been endorsed by the Czech Society of Intensive Medicine, the Czech Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine, and the Czech Association of Acute Cardiology.

Lubomír Elbl, Petr Kala, Igor Kiss a kolektiv autorů Klinická kardioonkologie

Prof. MUDr. Michael Aschermann, DrSc. FACC, FESC

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(4) | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.090