Cardiol J
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Review
A review of the utility of a hypothermia protocol in cardiac arrests due to non-shockable rhythms.
Therapeutic hypothermia and targeted temperature management are considered standard of care in the management of patients following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests due to shockable rhythms to improve neurological outcomes. In those presenting out-of-hospital cardiac arrests associated with non-shockable rhythms, the benefit of hypothermia is less clear. In this review we try to clarify the utility of implementing a hypothermia protocol after cardiac arrests due to non-shockable rhythms. ⋯ It was concluded that further study is needed to characterize patients presenting nonshockable rhythms who would benefit from hypothermia to better guide its use in this population given the costs and implications of treatment and long-term care in those who survive with poor outcomes.
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Three-dimensional (3D) printing has attracted a huge interest in recent years. Broadly speaking, it refers to the technology which converts a predesigned virtual model to a touchable object. In clinical medicine, it usually converts a series of two-dimensional medical images acquired through computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or 3D echocardiography into a physical model. ⋯ The decision of making a 3D cardiac model may seem arbitrary since it is mostly based on a cardiologist's perceived difficulty in performing an interventional procedure. A uniform consensus is urgently necessary to standardize the key steps of 3D printing from imaging acquisition to final production. In the future, more clinical trials of rigorous design are possible to further validate the effect of 3D printing on the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. (Cardiol J 2017; 24, 4: 436-444).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of nicorandil treatment for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac catheterization: A prospective randomized controlled trial.
Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) remains to be a potentially serious complication of radiographic procedures and is the third leading cause of the acute kidney injury (AKI) among hospitalized patients. This clinical trial was performed to assess the preventive effect of oral nicorandil on CIN in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. ⋯ The findings revealed that oral nicorandil had substantial efficacy over hydration protocol for the development of CIN in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.
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Initial experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or replacement (TAVR) has ap-peared as a promising minimally invasive technology for patients disqualified from surgical treatment (SAVR). Safety and efficacy of TAVI has been analyzed and assessed through numerous registries and trials. Furthermore, results obtained from comparative TAVI vs. ⋯ In pursuit of finding new solutions, the CardValve Consortium consisting of leading scientific and research institutions in Poland has been created. Under the name of InFlow and financial support from the National Center for Research and Development, they have started a project with the aim to design, create and implement into clinical practice the first, Polish, low-profile TAVI valve system, utilizing not only biological but also artificial, polymeric-based prosthesis. This review focuses on current developments in TAVI technologies including the InFlow project.
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Ischemic stroke is a common complication of atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently, oral anticoagulant drugs are the most commonly used method of stroke prevention. Left atrial appendage occlusion is thought to be the main source of thrombi in patients with AF. ⋯ Currently, there are several types of devices available for left atrial appendage occlusion. Since the first percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in 2002 many studies have investigated both the safety and efficacy of this therapy using different closure devices. Still unresolved issues include a lack of data on optimal patient selection, risk of complications, and anticoagulant treatment after left atrial appendage occlusion.