Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 2000
Comparative StudyThe role of thoracic ultrasonography for evaluation of patients with decompensated chronic heart failure.
This study examined the usefulness of thoracic ultrasonography for evaluation of fluid accumulation in patients with decompensated chronic heart failure (CHF) in comparison with physical signs, upright posteroanterior chest X-ray and echocardiography. ⋯ Thoracic ultrasonography is a simple, sensitive and accurate method for the evaluation of body fluid accumulation in patients with decompensated CHF. This technique can be used to assist in making the diagnosis of decompensated CHF if other causes of pleural effusion have been clinically ruled out.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 2000
Nonsurgical transthoracic epicardial catheter ablation to treat recurrent ventricular tachycardia occurring late after myocardial infarction.
We sought to evaluate feasibility, safety and results of transthoracic epicardial catheter ablation in patients with ventricular tachycardia occurring late after an inferior wall myocardial infarction. ⋯ Postinfarction pericardial adherence does not preclude epicardial mapping and ablation to control VT related to an epicardial circuit in postinferior wall myocardial infarction.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 2000
Assessment of cardiac risk before nonvascular surgery: dobutamine stress echocardiography in 530 patients.
This study evaluated the incremental value of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for assessment of cardiac risk before nonvascular surgery. ⋯ In this population of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease evaluated before nonvascular surgery, DSE had incremental value over clinical, electrocardiographic and rest echocardiographic variables for identifying patients at low, intermediate and high risk for postoperative cardiac events. Ischemia occurring at less than 60% of age-predicted maximal heart rate identified patients at highest risk.