Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society
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Comparative Study
Rapid assessment of longitudinal systolic left ventricular function using speckle tracking of the mitral annulus.
Evaluation of left ventricular function (LV) is one of the most important tasks of echocardiography. Left ventricular longitudinal function has been recognized to differentiate myocardial disorders better than ejection fraction (EF) alone. But recent parameters are still dependent on image quality and time consuming. ⋯ Tissue motion annular displacement is a rapid, sensitive and reproducible method for the assessment of LV longitudinal function, which is less dependent on image quality.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Thiamine supplementation in symptomatic chronic heart failure: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study.
Diuretic treatment for heart failure may lead to an increased urinary thiamine excretion and in long-term thiamine deficiency, which may further compromise cardiac function. This study evaluated the effect of high dose thiamine supplementation in heart failure patients. ⋯ This study suggests that thiamine supplementation has beneficial effects on cardiac function in patients with diuretic drugs for symptomatic chronic heart failure. Subclinical thiamine deficiency is probably an underestimated issue in these outpatients.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Influence of algorithm-based analgesia and sedation in patients after sudden cardiac arrest.
The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of an algorithm-based analgesic-sedative management on mechanical ventilation time and length of stay in a cardiological ICU with critical ill patients after sudden cardiac arrest. ⋯ Our results demonstrate a tendency towards a reduction of mechanical ventilation time for patients without severe illness after sudden cardiac arrest achieved by implementation of a new sedation management, whereby significant longer ventilation time was observed for severe ill patients. Because of lack of statistical significance of our present study, a randomized study with sufficient power is necessary to demonstrate positive effects of a standardized sedation management and its influence on severity of illness.
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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.