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BACKGROUND: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease in elderly people. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a revolutionary treatment for elderly patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. The authors present the first experiences with transcatheter aortic valve implantation treatment in Macedonia and compare their findings in regard to differences between open vascular vs. minimalistic transfemoral TAVI approach. METHODS: The procedure was performed in 54 patients with severe and symptomatic AS in the period from December 2014 until February 2018. All patients were deemed having high surgical risk or were denied surgery. Pre-procedural screening included detailed clinical and echocardiographic evaluation, coronary, peripheral and carotid angiography and computed tomography scan of the aortic root. A self-expandable aortic valve (Core Valve/Evolut R, Medtronic, USA) was implanted in all patients. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 75 ± 7.2 years, 28 (52%) were female, 26 patients (48%) male. All interventions were successfully performed through right transfemoral approach with 100% implantation success. Ancillary right radial and ulnar approach was used for correct valve positioning and control. 22(40%) cases were performed under general anesthesia and open vascular access to the femoral artery. All other 32(60%) cases were performed with minimalistic approach (local anaesthesia and analgosedation of the patients, access site was closed with closure devices). Patients in the minimalistic approach group were older, with more chronic conditions as anaemia, chronic kidney disease, poor mobility and peripheral vascular disease (p<0.0001). Also 4(12.5%) patients in the minimalistic group had bicuspid valve TAVI implantation (p<0.0001). Procedural time and contrast amount spent were shorter in this group with 97± 38 vs. 121± 38.3(p<0.0001) and 287± 122 vs. 330± 115 ml, while fluoroscopy time was similar in both groups. Immediate hemodynamic improvement was obtained in all patients. Echocardiographic peak gradient decreased from 85 ± 25 to 17 ± 8 mmHg (p < 0.001) and mean pressure gradient from 49 ± 26 to 8.3 ± 4.2 mmHg, (p < 0.001). Effective valve orifice area was 1.8±0.4 cm2 after intervention. None of the patients had significant aortic regurgitation after implantation. After intervention 7(12%) patients developed a permanent heart block and required implantation of a permanent pacemaker. There was a larger Hgb drop after intervention with open vs. minimalistic approach 1,9±0.9 vs. 0.7±0,2 g/dL (p<0.0001). 3 (13% vs.0%) patients from the open vascular access group had a major bleeding complication with 2 requiring transfusion after intervention (p<0.0001). Mortality was 5.5%, 2 with open-vascular and 1 with minimalistic approach. MACCE rate that included MI, Stroke, Major bleeding and Death rate, was recorded in 5(18%) patients with open vascular approach vs. 1(3.1%) in minimalistic approach (p<0.0001). Hospital discharge was 8.7±3.1 vs. 4±3.1 days respectively (p<0.0001). All TAVI patients with minimalistic approach were discharged the following day after intervention. All discharged patients had a good neurological condition, which was assessed based on the CPC-1 (Cerebra Performance Categories Scale). After median follow up of 26 months, the survival rate was 95% with clinical improvement in all patients. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous aortic valve implantation can be successfully conducted with high success rate and low rate of complications in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Using a less invasive approach with local anaesthesia and analgosedation is associated with shorter length of stay and a decrease in post-procedural complication rates and MACCE.

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BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis, known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), are associated with a high proportion of morbidity and mortality. AIM: Aim of this review is to emphasise current diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for VTE. RESULTS: No differences have been noticed in European and American guidelines in diagnostic approach of this disorder. Today there is enough clinical information for the use of heparin (either, unfractionated or low molecular) and vitamin K antagonists in the treatment of acute and chronic phases of VTE. Novel oral anticoagulants seem to have some advantages in the treatment of this disorder. Rivaroxaban has been approved widespread, for use as a single-drug approach of VTE. CONCLUSION: Both guidelines are almost similar and good basis for evidence-based treatment of this disorder.

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AIM: Left ventricular (LV) transient ischemic dilatation (TID) is not clear how it relates to inducible myocardial ischemia during stress echocardiography (SE). METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-eight SEs were examined from the site certification phase of the ISCHEMIA Trial. LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV) were measured at rest and peak stages and the percent change calculated. Moderate or greater ischemia was defined as ≥3 segments with stress-induced severe hypokinesis or akinesis. Optimum cut points in stress-induced percent EDV and ESV change that identified moderate or greater myocardial ischemia were analyzed. Analysis from percentage distribution identified a > 13% LV volume increase in EDV or a > 9% LV volume increase in ESV as the optimum cutoff points for moderate or greater ischemia. Using these definitions for TID, there were 27 (31%) with TIDESV and 12 (14%) with TIDEDV . By logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves, the percent change in ESV had a stronger association with moderate or greater myocardial ischemia than that of EDV change. Compared to those without TIDESV , cases with TIDESV had larger extent of inducible wall-motion abnormalities, lower peak stress LVEF, and higher likelihood of moderate or grater ischemia. For moderate or greater myocardial ischemia detection, TIDESV had a sensitivity of 46%, specificity of 83%, positive predictive value of 70%, and negative predictive value of 64%. CONCLUSION: Transient ischemic dilatation by SE is a marker of extensive myocardial ischemia and can be used as an additional marker of higher risk.

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The presence of atherosclerotic lesions in the blood vessels is a predisposition for the development and occurrence of acute ischaemic attacks. Bigger atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary blood vessels cause lumen occlusion, which is a cause of acute myocardial infarction. Endothelial dysfunction is defined as an ability of the endothelium to produce vasorelaxing nitric oxide (NO), or deregulation of the other vasoactive substances, such as angiotensin II and endothelin [13]. This definition describes endothelial dysfunction as an improper vasomotor constriction of the vessel, that leads to lumen occlusion of the already existing atherosclerotic lesions. According to the modern model, the development of atherosclerotic plaque and inappropriate endothelial NO production have a synergistic role in patho-physiological and molecular processes in the blood vessels [14]. Lesions in the coronary arteries are deposits of huge quantities of foamy cells and fibrous plaques. The thin fibrous plaques are 10-20% of the total plaque population and are the cause of 80-90% of clinical cases due to their ability to rupture [48]. According to all the results from published studies by far, it has been pointed out that the plaque stability, not the absolute size influences the rupture potential. Elucidating the risk factors that may modify in the atherogenesis and the consequent atherothrombic effect is the first step to this goal.

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