Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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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.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Apr 2000
Long-term clinical events following creatine kinase--myocardial band isoenzyme elevation after successful coronary stenting.
We sought to evaluate the impact of intermediate creatine kinase-myocardial band isoenzyme (CK-MB) elevation on late clinical outcomes in patients undergoing successful stent implantation in native coronary arteries. ⋯ Patients with CK-MB elevation >5 times normal had higher late mortality and more unfavorable event-free survival than those patients with normal or lower CK-MB rise after coronary stenting. While intermediate CK-MB elevation (>1 to 5 times normal) is frequent after coronary stenting (26%), this was not associated with an increased risk of late mortality or major adverse clinical events.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Apr 2000
Closure of patent foramen ovale for paradoxical emboli: intermediate-term risk of recurrent neurological events following transcatheter device placement.
We report the largest and the longest follow-up to date of patients who underwent transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure for paradoxical embolism. ⋯ Transcatheter closure of PFO is an alternative therapy for paradoxical emboli in selected patients. Improved device performance may reduce the risk of recurrent neurological events. Further studies are needed to identify patients most likely to benefit from this intervention.