Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society
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Anemia is a common comorbidity in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to investigate the in-hospital prognostic value of admission hemoglobin (Hb) levels in patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI). ⋯ Lower concentrations of Hb on admission are associated with higher rates of in-hospital mortality, heart failure and major bleeding after p-PCI.
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Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) represents a novel option for elderly with severe aortic valve stenosis who are denied surgical aortic valve replacement due to high perioperative risk. While transfemoral TAVI generally is being performed in general anesthesia (GA), TAVI under local anesthesia plus mild sedation (LAPS) might be an effective and safe alternative. ⋯ Our study indicates that TAVI under LAPS is as effective and safe as TAVI under GA. Furthermore, total procedure time, intervention time and labor costs could be reduced by LAPS. Mobilization of patients could be achieved earlier. We therefore consider LAPS to be favorable in patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI.
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Case Reports
Renal sympathetic denervation for treatment of electrical storm: first-in-man experience.
Sympathetic activity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) is a novel treatment option for patients with resistant hypertension, proved to reduce local and whole-body sympathetic activity. ⋯ Our findings suggest that RDN is feasible even in cardiac unstable patients. Randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to study the effects of RD in patients with electrical storm and CHF.