International journal of cardiology
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To evaluate whether right ventriculo-arterial coupling obtained by the estimation of the two-dimensional right ventricular (RV) longitudinal strain and of the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) could improve prognostic stratification of chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients. ⋯ Indexing RV function, assessed by speckle-tracking analysis, with an estimation of pulmonary systolic arterial pressure provides a parameter of ventricular arterial coupling that is independently associated with an increased risk of mortality.
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Syncope is considered a risk factor for life-threatening arrhythmias in Brugada patients. Distinguishing a benign syncope from one due to ventricular arrhythmias is often difficult, unless an ECG is recorded during the episode. Aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of syncopal episodes in a large population of Brugada patients and evaluate the role of electrophysiological study (EPS) and the prognosis in the different subgroups. ⋯ Etiological definition of syncope in Brugada patients is important, as it allows identifying two groups with different outcome. Patients with unexplained syncope and ventricular fibrillation induced at EPS have the highest risk of arrhythmic events. Patients presenting with neurally mediated syncope showed a prognosis similar to that of the asymptomatic and the role of EPS in this group is unproven.
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Review Meta Analysis
Aortic stenosis and non-cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Aortic stenosis (AS) poses a perioperative management dilemma to physicians looking after patients who require non-cardiac surgery. The objective of this review is to investigate mortality and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with and without AS who underwent non-cardiac surgery. ⋯ Patients with AS undergoing non-cardiac surgery have not been shown to be at increased risk of mortality, but have significantly higher rates of adverse cardiovascular events compared to patients without AS.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Tricuspid annuloplasty versus a conservative approach in patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation undergoing left-sided heart valve surgery: A study-level meta-analysis.
Tricuspid valve (TV) repair at the time of left-sided valve surgery is indicated in patients with either severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) or mild-to-moderate TR with coexistent tricuspid annular dilation or right heart failure. We assessed the benefits of a concomitant TV repair strategy during left-sided surgical valve interventions, focusing on mortality and echocardiographic TR-related outcomes. ⋯ A concomitant TV repair strategy during left-sided valve surgery is associated with a reduction in cardiac-related mortality and improved echocardiographic TR outcomes at follow-up.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well-known complication in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Data on the long-term prognostic implications of New-Onset AF (NOAF) complicating STEMI in the era of complete revascularization remains controversial. Our aim therefore was to evaluate the long-term prognosis of prior AF (pAF) and new-onset AF (NOAF) in STEMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ⋯ Prior AF and not new-onset AF is an independent predictor of both short and long term mortality in patients treated with PCI.