Zeitschrift für Kardiologie
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It was the aim of the Euro Heart Survey on Heart Failure to assess whether patients are being treated according to current guidelines. ⋯ An inadequately low number of patients with heart failure receives medical therapy according to guidelines, despite all the overwhelming evidence for improved morbidity and mortality. Awareness of physicians needs to be improved.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Clinical and hemodynamic results of the mosaic bioprosthesis in aortic position].
Aim of the study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and clinical performance of the Mosaic bioprosthesis in the aortic position. ⋯ The Mosaic bioprosthesis proved to be a reliable and well-functioning device for aortic valve replacement, especially in larger sizes.
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Multicenter Study
Pregnancy in congenital cardiac disease: an increasing challenge for cardiologists and obstetricians -- a prospective multicenter study.
Aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of pregnancy-related complications of mother and child during pregnancy, delivery and puerperium in women with CCD prospectively. STUDY DESIGN, POPULATION: This prospective multicenter study included 122 pregnancies in 106 women with CCD (72 with, 34 without previous cardiac surgery). Patient age was 17-44, median 26 years. Cardiac and non-cardiac complications, mode of delivery, abortion, and CCD of the newborn were assessed. ⋯ Most women with CCD and a good functional class before pregnancy tolerate pregnancy without major problems. However, pregnancy may induce serious cardiac and obstetric complications. The specific risks require an individualized multidisciplinary patient-management by experienced physicians.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Extent of ST-segment deviation in the single ECG lead of maximum deviation present 90 or 180 minutes after start of thrombolytic therapy best predicts outcome in acute myocardial infarction.
In evolving myocardial infarction the extent of ST segment deviation reflects the existing ischemic myocardial injury and thus conveys very useful early prognostic information. In recent years, the sum of ST segment elevation resolution (sum STR) has been proven to be an excellent early prognostic indicator. However, the predictive power of sum STR has never been systematically compared with that of other methods of evaluation of ST segment deviation recovery. We, therefore, proposed to compare the prognostic power of ST segment changes evaluated by either sum STR or by ST segment resolution in only the one lead showing the maximal deviation (lead STR) or only by the existing ST segment deviation in the single ECG lead of maximum ST deviation present at a given time point after thrombolysis (lead STE). ⋯ Simple measurement of the ST segment deviation existing in the one ECG lead with the greatest deviation on the ECG recorded 90 or 180 minutes after thrombolysis enables the identification of the major subsets of patients who are either at very low or exceptionally high risk of mortality.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Medicamentous prevention after electric cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation. Goals and design of the PAFAC Study].
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cardiac arrhythmia. However, despite manifold publications reflecting numerous clinical trials about treatment of AF, the management of this arrhythmia is still under controversial discussion, in daily clinical work as well as in research. The present study concentrates on three major questions: 1. ⋯ Until the end of June 1998, 424 patients have been randomised. It is expected to end recruitment in spring 1999 and to close the study in spring 2000. Final results will be available in summer 2000.