No abstract

Between December 1982 and August 2001, coil embolization of coronary artery-to-cardiac chamber fistula was attempted in 15 patients aged 11 months to 44 years (mean, 7.2 +/- 2.5 years). The fistulae connected the left anterior descending artery to the right ventricle in 4 patients, the right coronary artery to the right ventricle in 3, the right coronary artery to the right atrium in 3, the circumflex artery to the right ventricle in 2, the circumflex artery to the right atrium in 2, and the right coronary artery to the trunk of the pulmonary artery in 1. Complete fistula occlusion was achieved in 14 patients (93%); one had a residual shunt and underwent repeat embolization one year later, resulting in complete occlusion. There was one early death (7%) in a 4-year-old girl who developed femoral artery thrombosis and acute renal failure. Complications comprised migration of the coil into the pulmonary artery (2), femoral artery thrombosis (2), and perforation of the vessel wall by the guidewire (1) with immediate thrombosis and occlusion of the fistula (no coil was deployed). The 13 survivors with coils were followed up for 0.5 to 13 years; complete occlusion of the fistula was confirmed in all cases.

Palliative surgical treatment of CHDs associated with UAPA can be performed with a relatively low risk. Systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt and transluminal balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty are methods of choice in patients with non-severe hypoplasia of the single pulmonary artery. The intravascular intervention is indicated more in patients with a prevailing valvular component of the pulmonary stenosis. Palliative reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract is a more favourable procedure for patients with a severe hypoplasia of the single pulmonary artery.

If unrepaired, concomitant moderate-to-severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation significantly worsens the results of the Fontan procedure. Longer observation is needed to define the strategy in patients with mild atrioventricular valve regurgitation that remained unrepaired during Fontan operation.

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread worldwide and present in about 30-50% of population. In most cases, this problem is associated with musculoskeletal system pathology: rickets in children, and osteomalacia or osteoporosis in adults. However, in recent years, convincing data was obtained on the links between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular pathology. Low Vitamin D levels in humans are associated with the unfavorable cardiovascular risk factors, such as arterial hypertension (AH), diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, which are the predictors of the severe cardiovascular diseases, including strokes and infarctions. It has been demonstrated that vitamin D has a strong vasoptotective effect via endothelial dysfunction improvement, prevents blood vessels and myocardium remodeling, improves blood pressure parameters, reduces the risk of development of left ventricular hypertrophy, slows down fibrosis, reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, reduces insulin resistance, and also affects inflammation and immunity. This article provides data of Russian and foreign studies demonstrating the effect of Vitamin D deficiency on the development of atherosclerosis, AH, heart rhythm disorder and progression of chronic heart failure.