Herz
-
Since the introduction of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) for coronary multivessel disease there was growing interest to evaluate the impact of OPCAB surgery compared to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CCAB) with cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest. However, subsequent prospective randomized studies and meta-analyses comparing OPCAB and CCAB surgery were performed on low-risk patients or mixed-risk populations. They usually failed to demonstrate a significant benefit of OPCAB surgery on early mortality or perioperative major cardiac and cerebrovascular events. ⋯ However, these patients seemed to benefit from avoiding global cardiac ischemia and maintaining native coronary blood flow. Follow-up results were comparable for these patients. In conclusion, beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting seems to be advantageous in various risk populations and should be considered for patients with more than average risks for cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest.
-
Many studies demonstrate a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in cardiovascular patients. Findings show that patients often do not talk about their sexual problems. Many patients believe that their physician would not take their problem seriously. However, they wish to be asked by their physician and want to get information. The medical staff also avoids to broach the issue of sexual problems even when they assume an ED. Reasons for an insufficient inquiry are often lack of time or knowledge as well as emotional inhibitions. ⋯ The reported prevalence of sexual dysfunction in cardiac rehabilitation is very high. This requires skills concerning diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction, which are only scarcely present. Furthermore, there are many impediments that are mainly positioned in the health-care system. The skills should be improved by an effort in continuing medical education. Patients with ED often have depression and a reduced quality of life. To improve the quality of life of patients in the cardiovascular rehabilitation, the treatment of ED is a necessary condition. Trials show that a widespread rehabilitation program which includes a sexual education leads to a better sexual activity. The patients' quality of life can only be improved, if the medical staff includes relevant concomitant disorders to cardiovascular disease, like ED, in the treatment program of patients.
-
The Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, which was inaugurated in 2000, is an ongoing population-based study to evaluate the prediction of cardiovascular events by integrating new imaging and nonimaging modalities in risk assessment. A focus is the additional prognostic value of coronary artery calcification (CAC). Currently used risk stratification algorithms often describe the individuals' risk based on few established risk factors only inaccurately. ⋯ Based on recently published data, serial CAC measurements have been granted allowing for (1) characterization of the natural history of CAC progression, and (2) identification of its determinants. The rationale of serial CAC quantification is discussed in this article. The Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study will contribute to the appraisal of new imaging modalities in risk stratification.
-
Review Meta Analysis
[Effects of thiazolidinediones on dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Are all equally vasoprotective?].
Patients with type 2 diabetes face a high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In these patients a whole cluster of cardiovascular risk factors is found, with insulin resistance being the most significant. Thiazolidinediones, in activating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, lower the insulin resistance. ⋯ The correlation of improved dyslipidemia, reconfirmed by PROactive, and cardiovascular prevention is yet to be resolved. However, as long as the vascular protective mechanism of pioglitazone is not conclusively resolved, findings may not be transmitted to other thiazolidinediones. For these substances, results from major outcome studies are to be required that prove a reduction of the cardiovascular risk.
-
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for the first time issued guidelines for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in spring 2005. The strengths of recommendations stated in the ESC guidelines (as in those of the AHA/ACC [American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology]) are traditionally a combination of recommendation classes (I, IIa, and IIb) and a level of evidence (A, B, or C). This paper explains and discusses selected focal points of the ESC PCI guidelines based on three representative cases from daily practice. 1. ⋯ The traditional levels of evidence according to ESC, AHA and ACC criteria (levels A, B, or C) do no longer meet the actual requirements to assess the scientific evidence of randomized PCI trials and registry studies. For example, only two small randomized studies with few patients and insufficient statistical power utilizing a clinically insignificant surrogate endpoint would be enough to attain level of evidence A. Consequently, a new scoring system will be proposed, which considers criteria such as the importance of a primary clinical endpoint, the statistical power achieved, and the presence of an independent external data review and safety monitoring board.