Angiology
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The aim of this study was to determine whether the adoption of new performance processes reduced the door-to-balloon time for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). To reduce the door-to-balloon time, we adopted 3 new performance processes: concurrent activation at the emergency department rather than stepwise activation; direct phone call rather than using a pager or message; patient transferred to catheterization laboratory before the PCI team arrive. ⋯ After the adoption of the new processes, median door-to-balloon time reduced significantly from 133 to 76 minutes (P < .0001) and patients undergoing primary PCI within 90 minutes increased significantly from 16% to 72% (P < .0001). Among the subdivisions of the door-to-balloon time, door-to-consent time and door-to-laboratory arrival time decreased significantly (50.0 vs 20.5 minutes, P < .0001; 95.0 vs 40.0 minutes, P < .0001, respectively).
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and expenditure. Controversial data exist on possible preventive effects of n-3 polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFAs) against postoperative AF. We investigated whether preoperative PUFA therapy is effective in reducing AF after cardiac surgery during the surgical hospitalization and/or the cardiac rehabilitation period. ⋯ Preoperative PUFA therapy is associated with a decreased incidence of early AF after cardiac surgery but not late AF. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery may benefit from a preventive PUFA approach.
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Although takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare entity, it is an important differential in patients presenting with symptoms, signs, and electrocardiographic changes suggestive of an acute myocardial infarction. Since it was first recognized in 1991, it has gained increasing attention worldwide; however, its etiology and consequently the optimal management still remains unclear. Here, the authors provide a review of the current literature accompanied with images of a typical case from our department.
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Comparative Study
Acute limb ischemia caused by femoral arterial line induces remote liver injury in a rabbit model of liver ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Femoral arterial lines are used for continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure in experimental studies. However, placement of a catheter in the femoral artery could produce acute limb ischemia with associated systemic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of femoral arterial line insertion on liver function, in a rabbit liver lobar ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model. ⋯ The sham femoral group showed liver injury, which was more marked than the ear line group (all P < .05). In conclusion, femoral artery cannulation induces remote liver injury. The use of femoral arterial lines should be avoided in experimental studies concerning liver function.