The American journal of medicine
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The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of mortality and potentially modifiable factors related to arrhythmias in patients that undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Patients that undergo TAVR are at risk for complete heart block requiring pacemaker implant. Additionally, other arrhythmias, specifically atrial fibrillation (AF), are common in this population. It is unclear how arrhythmias and their management contribute to mortality risk. ⋯ AF, diabetes, and low albumin levels are independently associated with mortality after TAVR. In particular, patients with AF who are not anticoagulated are at highest risk for death. Efforts to identify AF and consider anticoagulation should be emphasized.
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Optimal management of acute pulmonary embolism requires expertise offered by multiple subspecialties. As such, pulmonary embolism response teams (PERTs) have increased in prevalence, but the institutional consequences of a PERT are unclear. ⋯ Pulmonary embolism response teams may increase risk stratification assessment and alter application of advanced therapies, but a mortality benefit was not identified.