Heart, lung & circulation
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Heart, lung & circulation · May 2014
Clinical TrialPre-hospital ambulance notification and initiation of treatment of ST elevation myocardial infarction is associated with significant reduction in door-to-balloon time for primary PCI.
Mortality in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is strongly predicted by the time from first medical contact to reperfusion. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of pre-hospital diagnosis by paramedics in the field on the door-to-balloon (DTB) times of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous intervention. ⋯ Pre-hospital intervention at our centre had a powerful effect in reducing the time to reperfusion in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous intervention.
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Heart, lung & circulation · May 2014
Single-centre experience with perioperative use of intraaortic balloon pump in cardiac surgery.
Intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) is frequently used in cardiac surgery in order to prevent or treat low cardiac output syndrome. Although being widely used and forming the first line therapy in these haemodynamically unstable patients despite maximal medication, optimal timing for IABP insertion is still discussed. This retrospective study evaluates hospital outcomes of patients receiving IABP at preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative periods during cardiac surgery. ⋯ IABP insertion timing in cardiac surgery is crucial and many reports advocate early insertion since patient outcomes are poor for late insertions. This single centre study also confirms that the least favourable results are among patients with postoperative IABP insertion.