The American journal of cardiology
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Comparative Study
Usefulness of phenprocoumon for the treatment of obstructing thrombus in bioprostheses in the aortic valve position.
Bioprosthetic valve replacement is the treatment of choice in older patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve disease. Thrombosis of bioprosthetic valves has been considered a rare complication; however, in the presence of valvular obstruction, therapeutic consequences for the individual patient may be dramatic including repeat valve replacement or thrombolysis. We therefore evaluated oral anticoagulation with phenprocoumon as an alternative treatment for obstructive thrombosis of bioprosthetic valves. ⋯ No adverse events were observed during that period. One patient presenting with dyspnea and fever underwent emergency repeat valve replacement for suspected endocarditis, with histology showing long-term thrombosis of the explanted valve. In conclusion, oral anticoagulation with phenprocoumon represents a safe and effective treatment in clinically stable patients with obstructive thrombosis of bioprosthetic aortic valves, thus obviating repeat valve surgery or thrombolysis.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Usefulness of postoperative atrial fibrillation as an independent predictor for worse early and late outcomes after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (multicenter Australian study of 19,497 patients).
Several studies have shown that postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with poorer short- and long-term outcomes after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Nevertheless, there is considerable debate as to whether this reflects an independent association of POAF with poorer outcomes or confounding by other factors. We sought to investigate this issue. ⋯ In conclusion, POAF is a risk factor for short-term morbidity and decreased long-term survival. Rigorous evaluation of various therapies that prevent or decrease the impact of POAF is imperative. Moreover, patients who develop POAF should undergo strict surveillance and be routinely screened for complications after discharge.
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Right ventricular failure (RVF) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography is a primary imaging method in the assessment of cardiac function; however, visualization of the right-sided heart is often technically difficult in patients with heart failure. We aimed to create a simple and generally applicable scoring system based on "left-sided echocardiographic parameters" to provide complementary information for predicting RVF after LVAD surgery. ⋯ LV echocardiographic RVF score ≥3 was associated with RVF with a sensitivity of 88.6% and score ≥5 with a specificity of 80.3%. In conclusion, patients with relatively small LV size, preserved LV contraction, and dilated left atrium were at higher risk for RVF after LVAD surgery. In conclusion, LV echocardiographic RVF score provides a novel tool to predict RVF after LVAD surgery, which does not involve invasive or technically complicated procedures.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Usefulness of admission red cell distribution width as a predictor of early mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.
Red cell distribution width (RDW) is strongly associated with prognosis in cardiopulmonary disorders such as coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, acute and chronic heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension. However, its prognostic significance in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between admission RDW and early mortality in patients with acute PE. ⋯ Increased RDW >14.6% on admission, age, presence of shock, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and creatinine level were found to have prognostic significance in univariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis. Only increased RDW >14.6% on admission (hazard ratio 15.465, p = 0.012) and the presence of shock (hazard ratio 9.354, p <0.001) remained associated with increased risk for acute PE-related early mortality in a multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model. In conclusion, high RDW was associated with worse hemodynamic parameters, and RDW seems to aid in the risk stratification of patients with acute PE.
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Published reports describe a strong association between plasma glucose levels on admission and mortality in patients who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of admission glucose levels for early and late mortality. From 2005 to 2007, 1,646 patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and were stratified according to admission plasma glucose level in category 1 (<7.8 mmol/L; n = 747), category 2 (7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L; n = 620), or category 3 (>11 mmol/L; n = 279). ⋯ Glucose level on admission was a strong predictor of 30-day mortality: for every 1 mmol/L increase, the hazard increased by 14% (hazard ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval 1.09 to 1.19, p <0.01) in patients without diabetes, by 12% (hazard ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.19, p <0.01) in those with diabetes, and by 13% (hazard ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval 1.09 to 1.17, p <0.01) in the total cohort. After 30 days, glucose level at admission lost its predictive value. In conclusion, in patients with and those without diabetes, glucose level at admission is an independent predictor of early but not late mortality.