International journal of cardiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Effects of intracoronary compared to intravenous abciximab administration in patients undergoing transradial percutaneous coronary intervention: A sub-analysis of the EASY trial.
In the EASY trial, we have shown the clinical equivalence between abciximab bolus-only and abciximab bolus followed by 12-h infusion in a wide spectrum of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Some reports have suggested better outcomes following intracoronary (IC) abciximab administration compared to intravenous (IV) delivery. We sought to compare cardiac biomarkers release and early and late clinical outcomes after IC or IV abciximab bolus delivery. ⋯ Compared to IV abciximab administration, IC abciximab was not associated with less cardiac biomarkers release or better clinical outcomes after uncomplicated transradial PCI. Further studies are required in clinical scenarios including patients with higher thrombotic burden and/or occluded vessels as in primary and rescue PCI.
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Letter Case Reports
The use of Levosimendan for myocardiopathy due to acute Chagas' disease.
Acute Chagas' disease corresponds to the initial period of a Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Levosimendan is a positive inotropic drug with vasodilatory properties that is indicated for acute heart failure. ⋯ Both developed acute decompensated heart failure refractory to Dobutamine. We describe for the first time in the medical literature the use of Levosimendan for myocarditis due to acute Chagas' disease, with excellent clinical and hemodynamic results.
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Letter Case Reports
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a potential cause of long QT syndrome and torsades de pointes.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an increasingly reported syndrome characterized by transient apical left ventricular dysfunction in absence of flow limiting coronary artery disease. Prolongation of QT interval associated with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy has been previously reported in published case series but none of these series reported occurrence of torsades de pointes. ⋯ The patient had a complete recovery of cardiac function in a week. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy should be considered among the causes of long QT syndrome and torsades de pointes.
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Letter Case Reports
Automated continuous chest compression for in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation of patients with pulseless electrical activity: a report of five cases.
Of patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest, those with pulseless electrical activity (PEA) have the worst outcome. Especially in these patients effective chest compressions according to the guidelines may be the key strategy to improve survival. Recently, a novel automatic mechanical chest compression device (LUCAS-CPR) has been shown to ensure effective continuous compressions without interruption during transport, diagnostic procedures and in the catheter laboratory, and may thus significantly improve outcome after resuscitation of in-hospital cardiac arrest. We report here on the first five well documented cases of in-hospital resuscitation of PEA using the LUCAS-CPR compression device.
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Letter Case Reports
Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy induced by emotional stress leading to severe mitral regurgitation, cardiogenic shock and cardiopulmonary arrest.
Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) which is usually precipitated by profound emotional and physical stress has been widely reported in the past. In this case we report a young female patient who developed sudden dyspnea and palpitation after an profound stress (fierce argument). The patient had characteristic feature of progressive pulmonary edema. ⋯ Semi-elective surgical valve replacement was performed. One year after the acute event the patient remained asymptomatic. Clinicians should recognize that Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy is one etiology of acute pulmonary edema with normal coronary artery finding.