American heart journal
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American heart journal · Oct 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEvaluation of prasugrel compared with clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndromes: design and rationale for the TRial to assess Improvement in Therapeutic Outcomes by optimizing platelet InhibitioN with prasugrel Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 38 (TRITON-TIMI 38).
Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is standard for prevention of thrombotic complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Prasugrel is a thienopyridine that is more potent, more rapid in onset, and more consistent in inhibition of platelets than clopidogrel. TRITON-TIMI 38 is designed to compare prasugrel with clopidogrel in moderate to high-risk patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ⋯ TRITON-TIMI 38 is a phase 3 comparison of prasugrel versus clopidogrel in patients with moderate to high-risk ACS undergoing PCI. In addition, it is the first large-scale clinical events trial to assess whether a thienopyridine regimen that achieves a higher level of inhibition of platelet aggregation than the standard therapy results in an improvement in clinical outcomes.
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American heart journal · Oct 2006
ReviewBroken bodies, broken hearts? Limitations of the trauma system as a model for regionalizing care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the United States.
Many cardiovascular experts have called for the creation of specialized myocardial infarction centers and networks in the United States analogous to the current model for major trauma. Patients suffering ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and trauma share an essential feature that makes the argument for regionalization persuasive: rapid triage and treatment by highly trained personnel improve survival in both conditions. Despite this similarity, however, the trauma system may be limited as a model for regionalizing STEMI care. ⋯ These same obstacles would need to be overcome if STEMI care is regionalized. Second, unique characteristics related to STEMI care, such as its varied clinical presentation and more lucrative reimbursement, will create new challenges. In this article, we briefly review the current status of trauma systems in the United States and describe why the regionalization of STEMI care may require different methods of healthcare organization.
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American heart journal · Oct 2006
Association between thrombolysis in myocardial infarction myocardial perfusion grade, biomarkers, and clinical outcomes among patients with moderate- to high-risk acute coronary syndromes: observations from the randomized trial to evaluate the relative PROTECTion against post-PCI microvascular dysfunction and post-PCI ischemia among antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 30 (PROTECT-TIMI 30).
A variety of imaging modalities have implicated impaired myocardial perfusion in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). ⋯ An abnormal TMPG, but not an angiographic CFR, is associated with biomarker status, the occurrence and duration of Holter ischemia, and adverse clinical outcomes among patients with moderate- to high-risk non-ST-elevation ACS undergoing PCI.
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American heart journal · Oct 2006
The impact of emergency department structure and care processes in delivering care for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.
We sought to assess the influence of emergency department (ED) structure and care processes on adherence to practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes. ⋯ Quality improvement strategies that have the full support of hospital administration, focus on increasing collaboration between emergency physicians and other health care providers, and specified protocol-driven management algorithm may be the most successful methods for improving the care and outcomes of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.
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American heart journal · Oct 2006
Interhospital transfer for early revascularization in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock--a report from the SHould we revascularize Occluded Coronaries for cardiogenic shocK? (SHOCK) trial and registry.
Early revascularization (ERV) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) reduces mortality rates. Patients admitted to hospitals without revascularization capability have high mortality rates and are not often transferred for ERV. ⋯ Despite longer time to treatment, transfer patients are a selected population with similar adjusted inhospital mortality and ERV benefit as direct-admit patients. Selected patients with STEMI and CS admitted to hospitals without revascularization capability should be transferred to centers with revascularization capability for immediate angiography.