Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 1998
Comparative StudyClinical experience with primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty compared with alteplase (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator) in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a report from the Second National Registry of Myocardial Infarction (NRMI-2).
We sought to compare outcomes after primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (MI). ⋯ These findings suggest that in lytic-eligible patients not in shock, PTCA and rt-PA are comparable alternative methods of reperfusion when analyzed in terms of in-hospital mortality, mortality plus nonfatal stroke and reinfarction.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialConversion efficacy and safety of intravenous ibutilide compared with intravenous procainamide in patients with atrial flutter or fibrillation.
This multicenter study compared the efficacy and safety of ibutilide versus procainamide for conversion of recent-onset atrial flutter or fibrillation. ⋯ This study establishes the superior efficacy of ibutilide over procainamide when administered to patients to convert either atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter to sinus rhythm. Hypotension was the major adverse effect seen with procainamide. A low incidence of serious proarrhythmia was seen with the administration of ibutilide occurring at the end of infusion.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 1998
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialCombined oral positive inotropic and beta-blocker therapy for treatment of refractory class IV heart failure.
We sought to assess the effects of combined oral positive inotropic and beta-blocker therapy in patients with severe heart failure. ⋯ Combination therapy with a positive inotrope and a beta-blocker appears to be useful in the treatment of severe, class IV heart failure. It may be used as a palliative measure when transplantation is not an option or as a bridge to heart transplantation. Further study of this form of combined therapy is warranted.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 1998
Electrocardiographic identification of abnormal ventricular depolarization and repolarization in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.
We sought to gain more insight into the arrhythmogenic etiology of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF) by assessing ventricular depolarization and repolarization properties by means of various electrocardiographic (ECG) techniques. ⋯ In patients with idiopathic VF, ventricular areas of slow conduction, regionally delayed repolarization or dispersion in repolarization can be identified. Therefore, various electrophysiologic conditions, alone or in combination, may be responsible for the occurrence of idiopathic VF. Body surface QRST integral mapping may be a promising method to identify those patients who do not show a recurrent episode of VF.