Italian heart journal : official journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology
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The atrial Fibrillation/flutter Italian REgistry (FIRE) study was designed to obtain updated information regarding the clinical characteristics of and medical approach to patients requiring urgent medical care for atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter in a nationwide and representative series of hospitals. ⋯ AF/atrial flutter represent a significant burden on the health care system with a higher than expected hospitalization rate from the emergency room. One out of three discharged patients is not in sinus rhythm. There is still a wide gap between evidence-based medicine and real practice in the treatment of patients with AF.
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Comparative Study
Off-pump coronary surgery improves in-hospital and early outcomes in octogenarians.
A retrospective study on octogenarians who underwent off-pump (OPCAB) or conventional (CCAB) coronary artery bypass surgery undertaken to evaluate the in-hospital and early outcomes in terms of survival and cardiac and neurological events. ⋯ Our analysis shows that OPCAB improves the early outcome and that octogenarians can lead event-free lives after cardiac surgery.
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Comparative Study
Electrocardiographic features in critical pulmonary embolism. Results from baseline and continuous electrocardiographic monitoring.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) afflicts millions of individuals worldwide. Electrocardiography along with chest X-ray and arterial blood gas analysis represent the basic examinations to reinforce the clinical suspicion of PE. We describe the electrocardiographic (ECG) features in a series of patients with PE and a critical clinical presentation. ⋯ Critical PE induces transient ECG abnormalities reflecting right ventricular overload and/or strain. The patient's clinical status is usually not complicated by major ventricular arrhythmias, not even in case of cardiopulmonary arrest.