Neth Heart J
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Hypothermia can cause several ECG changes which can be mistaken for other cardiac diseases, most importantly acute transmural ischaemia. These ECG changes correlate strongly with the degree of hypothermia and the prognosis of the patient. ⋯ After resuscitation a 12-lead electrocardiogram showed changes typical for hypothermia: atrial fibrillation and Osborn waves. The ECG of the patient normalised after rewarming.
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The purpose of this observational study was to provide an impression of the outcomes of prehospital thrombolysis in combination with an active coronary angioplasty intervention (PCI) strategy for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. ⋯ In our region, we successfully implemented the prehospital thrombolysis system achieving a competitive call-to-needle time and reperfusion rate. The percentage of patients who violated the protocol, suffered an intracerebral haemorrhage, died and/or had severely impaired left ventricular function was acceptable.
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To test the validity of using assumed oxygen consumption for Fick cardiac output during administration of epoprostenol. ⋯ Before as well as during administration of epoprostenol, it is justified to use CO values calculated with oxygen consumption according to Bergstra et al. instead of thermodilution CO; CO values calculated with oxygen consumption according to LaFarge and Miettinen show significant underestimation.
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In 60 to 80% of patients with stable angina pectoris at low risk for future coronary events, monotherapy with a β-blocker is an effective treatment. When patients with stable angina pectoris and low risk for events do not respond adequately to optimal β-blocker monotherapy, combination therapy or even triple therapy is may be recommended, but little is known of the actual benefit of such a strategy. We reviewed the evidence from the literature on the effectiveness of combination and triple therapy. ⋯ Direct comparison shows that combination therapy of a β-blocker with a calcium antagonist is more effective than the combination of a β-blocker with a nitrate. An inadequate response to β-blocker monotherapy is more effectively improved by addition of a calcium antagonist than by alternative use of a calcium antagonist. The use of triple therapy is controversial and not recommended in patients with mild angina pectoris, while for patients with severe angina pectoris not responding to combination therapy of a β-blocker with a nitrate, triple therapy may be of advantage, although the number of patients studied has been small.