Journal of cardiovascular medicine
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Apr 2018
Radiotherapy and risk of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator malfunctions: experimental data from direct exposure at increasing doses.
During radiotherapy, in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) malfunctions are considered more likely if doses more than 2 Gy reach the ICD site; however, most malfunctions occur with high-energy (>10 MV) radiations, and the risk is less defined using 6-MV linear accelerators. The purpose of the study is to experimentally evaluate the occurrence of malfunctions in ICDs radiated with a 6-MV linear accelerator at increasing photon doses. ⋯ With a low-energy accelerator, neither malfunctions nor electromagnetic interferences were detected radiating the ICDs at doses usually reaching the ICD pocket during radiotherapy sessions. In this context, magnet application to avoid oversensing and inappropriate therapy seems, therefore, useless.
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Jan 2018
Multicenter StudyInitial tadalafil and ambrisentan combination therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension: cLinical and haemodYnamic long-term efficacy (ITALY study).
Initial combination therapy with ambrisentan and tadalafil (upfront therapy) offers clinical benefits in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and reduces the risk of clinical failure compared with monotherapy in naïve patients. The aim of study is to assess the efficacy of a 12-month upfront therapy with ambrisentan and tadalafil in improving haemodynamics in incident PAH patients. ⋯ Initial combination therapy with ambrisentan and tadalafil offers clinical benefits and significant haemodynamic improvement in newly diagnosed PAH patients.
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Dec 2017
Multicenter StudyManufacturer change and risk of system-related complications after implantable cardioverter defibrillator replacement: physicians' survey and data from the Detect Long-term Complications After Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Replacement Registry.
Some barriers seem to exist in changing implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) manufacturer at the time of device replacement. We sought to understand the obstacles to changing ICD manufacturer within the cohort of patients enrolled in the Detect Long-term Complications After ICD Replacement Registry. ⋯ At the time of ICD replacement, a manufacturer change occurred in 24% of patients and it was less likely in CRT-D devices, which are equipped with more specific technology and less frequently require the addition of features. System-related complications are strongly associated to upgrade procedures rather than to manufacturer change.
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Aug 2017
Observational StudyAntithrombotic strategies in the catheterization laboratory for patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions: insights from the EmploYEd antithrombotic therapies in patients with acute coronary Syndromes HOspitalized in iTalian cardiac care units Registry.
In the last decades, several new therapies have emerged for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We sought to describe real-world patterns of use of antithrombotic treatments in the catheterization laboratory for ACS patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). ⋯ URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02015624.
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Jul 2017
ReviewCooling techniques in mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest.
: Therapeutic hypothermia has been shown to reduce brain damage due to postcardiac arrest syndrome. Actually, there is no agreement on which is the best device to perform therapeutic hypothermia. The 'ideal' device should not only 'cool' patient until 33-34°C as fast as possible, but also maintain the target temperature and reverse the therapeutic hypothermia. ⋯ On hospital arrival, these prehospital devices can be quickly and easily replaced with other devices more suitable for the management of therapeutic hypothermia in ICUs (in-hospital hypothermia). Some studies have compared surface and endovascular devices and found no substantial differences in neurologic outcome or survival at hospital discharge. On a clinical ground, the knowledge of the technical aspects of therapeutic hypothermia (such as characteristics of devices) is mandatory for clinicians who have to perform therapeutic hypothermia in cardiac arrest patients because the timing of therapeutic hypothermia, the choice of the device for the single patients, and avoidance of temperature fluctuation have shown to affect outcome in these patients (also in terms of reducing the incidence of complications).