European heart journal. Acute cardiovascular care
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Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care · Apr 2015
Review Case ReportsPatient characteristics and predictors of mortality associated with pericardial decompression syndrome: a comprehensive analysis of published cases.
Pericardial decompression syndrome (PDS) is a rare and potentially fatal complication of pericardial drainage, either by needle pericardiocentesis or surgical pericardiostomy. It manifests with paradoxical hemodynamic deterioration and/or pulmonary edema, commonly associated with ventricular dysfunction. We sought to elucidate factors associated with mortality in PDS. ⋯ PDS is a rare complication of pericardial drainage with a high mortality rate. Surgical pericardiostomy was associated with mortality in PDS.
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Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care · Apr 2015
Multiple biomarker strategy for improved diagnosis of acute heart failure in older patients presenting to the emergency department.
Biomarkers can help to identity acute heart failure (AHF) as the cause of symptoms in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). Older patients may prove a diagnostic challenge due to co-morbidities. Therefore we prospectively investigated the diagnostic performance of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) alone or in combination with other biomarkers for AHF upon admission at the ED. ⋯ In older patients presenting to the ED, the addition of CT-proET-1 or MR-proADM to NT-proBNP improves diagnostic accuracy of AHF. Both dual biomarker approaches offer significant risk reclassification improvement over NT-proBNP.
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Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care · Apr 2015
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Observational StudyFast assessment and management of chest pain without ST-elevation in the pre-hospital gateway: rationale and design.
For chest pain patients without ST-segment elevation in the pre-hospital setting, current clinical guidelines merely offer in-hospital risk stratification and management, as opposed to chest pain patients with ST-segment elevation for whom there is a straightforward pre-hospital strategy for diagnosis, medication regimen and logistics. The FAMOUS TRIAGE study will assess the effects of introducing a pre-hospital triage system that reliably stratifies chest pain patients without ST-segment elevation into 1) patients at high risk for NSTEMI requiring a direct transfer to a PCI-hospital; 2) patients at intermediate risk for a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) who could be evaluated at the nearest non-PCI hospital; and 3) patients at low risk for MACE (benign non-cardiac chest pain) who could have further evaluation at home or in a primary care setting. ⋯ The FAMOUS TRIAGE project is a triple phase study that aims to optimize the pre-hospital management of chest pain patients without ST-segment elevation by providing tools for pre-hospital identification of NSTEMI or exclusion of acute coronary syndrome at home.
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Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care · Apr 2015
Case ReportsAcute mitral regurgitation in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a well-recognised entity that commonly manifests with chest pain, ST segment abnormalities and transient left ventricular apical ballooning without coronary artery obstructive disease. This syndrome usually portends a favourable outcome. ⋯ Bedside echocardiography is key in recognition of this latter condition as vasodilators, inotropic agents or intra-aortic balloon counter-pulsation worsen the patient's clinical status. We discuss here a case of TTC where nitrate-induced subaortic obstruction and mitral regurgitation led to haemodynamic instability.
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Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care · Apr 2015
Predictive impact on medium-term mortality of hematological parameters in Acute Coronary Syndromes: added value on top of GRACE risk score.
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) prognostic value in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) has been well validated whereas that of Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) is less well known. ⋯ Simple markers such as RDW and PDW can be useful in risk stratification of death after ACS. Combining both markers with GRACE risk score improved the predictive value for all-cause mortality and reduced the estimated risk of those who did not die.