American heart journal
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American heart journal · Jun 2014
Association between prehospital electrocardiogram use and patient home distance from the percutaneous coronary intervention center on total reperfusion time in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients: a retrospective analysis from the national cardiovascular data registry.
Current guidelines recommend ≤90 minutes from first medical contact to percutaneous coronary intervention (FMC2B) for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. We evaluated the relationship between patient home distance from a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) center, prehospital electrocardiogram (ECG) use, and FMC2B time among patients with STEMI. ⋯ Prehospital ECGs are associated with a 10-minute reduction in the FMC2B time. However, patient home distance from a PCI center does not substantially change this association.
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American heart journal · Jun 2014
The quality of antiplatelet and anticoagulant medication administration among ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients transferred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
Timely and appropriate use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies has been shown to improve outcomes among ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients but has not been well described in patients transferred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ⋯ ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients transferred for primary PCI in community practice are at risk for delayed and excessively dosed antithrombotic therapy, highlighting the need for continued quality improvement to maximize the appropriate use of these important adjunctive therapies.
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American heart journal · Jun 2014
Observational StudyImplications of prior myocardial infarction for patients presenting with an acute myocardial infarction.
Prior myocardial infarction (MI) is a known risk factor for long-term mortality among acute MI patients; but its prevalence and implications for the short-term outcomes of patients with a new, acute MI remain uncertain. ⋯ More than 20% of patients with acute MI treated in contemporary practice have a history of a prior MI; despite differences in the baseline risk profile, there was little difference in the adjusted risk of in-hospital mortality by prior-MI status.
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American heart journal · Jun 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPROspective Multicenter Imaging Study for Evaluation of chest pain: rationale and design of the PROMISE trial.
Suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common, potentially life-threatening diagnostic problems clinicians encounter. However, no large outcome-based randomized trials have been performed to guide the selection of diagnostic strategies for these patients. ⋯ Multispecialty community practice enrollment into a large pragmatic trial of diagnostic testing strategies is both feasible and efficient. The PROMISE trial will compare the clinical effectiveness of an initial strategy of functional testing against an initial strategy of anatomical testing in symptomatic patients with suspected CAD. Quality of life, resource use, cost-effectiveness, and radiation exposure will be assessed.
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American heart journal · Jun 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of double (360 mg) ticagrelor loading dose with standard (60 mg) prasugrel loading dose in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients: the Rapid Activity of Platelet Inhibitor Drugs (RAPID) primary PCI 2 study.
In ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, residual platelet reactivity soon after a loading dose (LD) of prasugrel or ticagrelor is higher than that reported for healthy volunteers or subjects with stable coronary artery disease; and the majority of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) procedures with bivalirudin monotherapy are performed without proper platelet inhibition. However, ticagrelor LD is just the daily dose, whereas prasugrel LD is 6-fold the long-term daily dose. We hypothesized that an increased ticagrelor LD may result in a faster and more effective platelet inhibition as compared with the standard prasugrel LD. ⋯ In patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI, double (360 mg) ticagrelor LD failed to achieve a faster and more intense platelet inhibition as compared with the standard prasugrel LD. Intravenously administered aspirin allowed to achieve a very early inhibition of acid arachidonic pathway.