Swiss medical weekly
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Swiss medical weekly · Apr 2010
ReviewCryoballoon ablation for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Cryoballoon ablation has emerged as a novel treatment option for drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of this manuscript is to report the initial experience of a Swiss centre performing cryoballoon ablation, and to provide a critical review of the literature. Fourteen patients (age 59 +/- 10 years, LVEF 57 +/- 5%, left atrial size 41 +/- 3 mm) with paroxysmal AF were studied. ⋯ The success rate of 71% after a 1-year follow-up is not higher when compared to radiofrequency ablation. Furthermore, data on long-term outcomes are lacking. Randomised comparisons with radiofrequency catheter ablation are needed.
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Swiss medical weekly · Apr 2010
Prehospital emergency physician activation of interventional cardiology team reduces door-to-balloon time in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
To explore whether early activation of an interventional cardiology team, by prehospital emergency physicians, reduces door-to-balloon time (DTBT) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) diagnosed with prehospital ECG. ⋯ Catheterisation laboratory activation by a prehospital emergency physician markedly reduces DTBT in STEMI patients.