American heart journal
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American heart journal · Feb 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEarly cardiac catheterization is associated with lower mortality only among high-risk patients with ST- and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: observations from the OPUS-TIMI 16 trial.
Early cardiac catheterization has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes but not yet in those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The benefit of catheterization in both syndromes may depend on patient risk for adverse clinical outcomes. ⋯ Inhospital cardiac catheterization is associated with lower mortality in high-risk patients and no difference in mortality in low-risk and intermediate-risk patients after STEMI and NSTEMI. These data support the hypothesis that high-risk patients with either STEMI or NSTEMI may benefit from an early invasive strategy. New prospective randomized trials are warranted, particularly in the STEMI population.
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American heart journal · Feb 2005
Comparative StudyComparative efficacy of monophasic and biphasic waveforms for transthoracic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
Transthoracic cardioversion fails to restore sinus rhythm in 6% to 33% of patients with atrial fibrillation. This study sought to determine the relative efficacy of biphasic waveforms compared with monophasic waveforms in the treatment of atrial arrhythmias. ⋯ When used to cardiovert atrial arrhythmias, the rectilinear biphasic waveform was associated with higher success rates and lower cumulative energies than the monophasic damped sine waveform.
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American heart journal · Jan 2005
Factors associated with an increased chance of survival among patients suffering from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a national perspective in Sweden.
To describe factors associated with an increased chance of survival among patients suffering from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden. ⋯ Among patients suffering from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, which were not crew witnessed, in Sweden and in whom CPR was attempted, 6 factors for an increased chance of survival could be defined. These include (1) initial rhythm, (2) delay to arrival of the rescue team, (3) place of arrest, (4) witnessed status, (5) bystander CPR, and (6) age.