International journal of cardiology
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Review Meta Analysis
Colchicine for primary prevention of atrial fibrillation after open-heart surgery: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Atrial fibrillation occurs frequently after open-heart surgery. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Prophylactic administration of colchicine may mitigate post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF). ⋯ Colchicine demonstrated superior efficacy versus usual care for prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. Moreover, colchicine treatment was associated with shorter hospital stays. These benefits outweigh increased risk of adverse drug-related effects; although further work is needed to minimize gastrointestinal effects.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study Pragmatic Clinical Trial
NOACs and atrial fibrillation: Incidence and predictors of left atrial thrombus in the real world.
Despite optimal oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonist, left atrial (LA) thrombus could be detected in the left appendage (LAA) in >2% of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and CHA2DS2-VASc score≥1 but few data are available for patients treated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). We evaluated the occurrence and predictors of LA thrombi by means of transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) in consecutive patients with non-valvular AF who received for at least 3weeks Apixaban, Dabigatran, or Rivaroxaban. ⋯ The incidence of LAA thrombus in a cohort of patients anticoagulated with NOACs is low but not negligible, in any case similar among the 3 drugs. Preprocedural TOE should be considered in patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score>3.
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Observational Study
Outcomes of adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest after implementation of the 2010 resuscitation guidelines.
The 2015 guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are based on an update of the 2010 guidelines with minor revisions. It is important to assess the 2010 guidelines to ensure their efficacy, which may help promote widespread adoption of the 2015 guidelines. ⋯ Hospital adoption of the 2010 guidelines may improve the neurological and survival outcomes for IHCA patients. This improvement might result from an emphasis on the importance of high-quality CPR, post-cardiac arrest care, and teamwork in the 2010 guidelines.
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Multicenter Study
Association between QRS duration on prehospital ECG and mortality in patients with suspected STEMI.
QRS duration has previously shown association with mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolytics, less is known in patients with suspected ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) when assessing QRS duration on prehospital ECG. Thus, the objective was to investigate the prognostic effect of QRS duration on prehospital ECG and presence of classic left and right bundle branch block (LBBB/RBBB) for all-cause mortality in patients with suspected STEMI. ⋯ In patients with suspected STEMI, QRS prolongation, LBBB, and RBBB on prehospital ECG are associated with increased risk of death.
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American Heart Association has been revising the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines quinquennially. We sought to study the influence of 2010 CPR guidelines on nationwide survival after inhospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ We noted a significant improvement in inhospital survival rate after CPR from 2007 through 2014 in the United States, though there was no statistically significant improvement in survival trends after 2010 CPR guidelines during period 2011-2014, in comparison to period 2007-2010.