Herz
-
The number of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasing due to the aging of the population. In addition, the number of patients with AF and indications for oral anticoagulation (OAC) for the prevention of stroke, who need dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) plus a P2Y12 inhibitor because of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is also increasing. In the past these patients received a triple therapy (TT) for 3-12 months. ⋯ The international guidelines already permit treatment without TT in cases where the bleeding risk is prevalent. In this situation it is recommended to prescribe a NOAC plus a single antiplatelet therapy. Thus, TT no longer seems to be indicated for most patients with AF and after ACS or PCI.
-
Leadless self-contained intracardiac pacemakers were developed with the aim of abolishing the short- and long-term risk of lead- and pocket-related complications associated with transvenous devices. Leadless pacemakers promise minimally invasive procedures, long battery lives, and small amounts of foreign materials in the body. ⋯ In the future, as more patients receive and live longer with implantable devices, the total risk of procedure- and lead-related complications is expected to increase, adding a sense of urgency to the need for leadless alternatives to transvenous pacemakers. This review surveys the performance of currently available leadless pacemakers as well as emerging new innovative adaptations and applications of the leadless concept.
-
The multifactorial origin of cardiovascular diseases has led to polypharmacy in primary and secondary prophylaxis with evidence-based medications, such as statins, antihypertensive drugs and platelet aggregation inhibitors. The number of prescribed drugs correlates inversely to adherence and can lead to treatment failure. Fixed-dose combination drugs (polypills) could increase the medication adherence of patients, reduce risks and prevent cardiovascular events. ⋯ The polypill can be considered as an alternative to polypharmacy after a risk-benefit assessment, especially in non-adherent patients. Ongoing studies are investigating the effect of the polypill on cardiovascular events. Current polypills are limited by the lack of sufficient dosages of the individual components to avoid overtreatment and undertreatment at the individual treatment level.
-
Clinical Trial
Rise in BNP despite appropriate acute decompensated heart failure treatment : Patient characteristics and outcomes.
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) tends to decrease in response to successful treatment of decompensated heart failure (HF). We identified characteristics and outcomes of patients whose BNP levels rise during admission despite appropriate decongestive therapy. ⋯ Higher BNP levels on discharge identifies a subset of patients with lower degree of decongestion from T0 to T1 and higher 6‑month mortality.
-
Cardiogenic shock is an acute emergency, which is classically managed by medical support with inotropes or vasopressors and frequently requires invasive ventilation. However, both catecholamines and ventilation are associated with a worse prognosis, and many patients deteriorate despite all efforts. ⋯ Of all devices, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the most widely used. Here we review features and strategical considerations for the use of ECMO in cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest.