Dabigatran in Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Call for a Randomized Control Trial
We read the study by Sardar et al entitled Meta-Analysis of Risk of Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack With Dabigatran for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation . Sardar et al have conducted a rigorous…
Eighth Joint National Committee: Evidence Versus Eminence
The authors start out with the very promising statement “This report takes a rigorous, evidence-based approach to recommended treatment thresholds, goals and medications in the management of hypertension in adults.” Given that within 1…
Combined Score Using Clinical, Electrocardiographic, and Echocardiographic Parameters to Predict Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients Having Had Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Six Months Earlier
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a scoring system integrating clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic measurements can predict left ventricular reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The…
Electrocardiographic Markers of Repolarization Heterogeneity During Dofetilide or Sotalol Initiation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Serial electrocardiographic monitoring of ΔQTc as an assumed harbinger of proarrhythmia is currently recommended for dofetilide and sotalol initiation. Markers of repolarization heterogeneity such as increased peak to end of…
Prevalence of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Among Patients Receiving Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator Implantation in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry During the Years 2006 to 2008
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces morbidity and mortality among selected patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and severe heart failure symptoms despite guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Contemporaneous guidelines provided clear…
Usefulness of Tissue Doppler Imaging to Evaluate Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure During Exercise in Patients With Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
The early diastolic transmitral velocity/tissue Doppler imaging mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/e′) ratio is used to estimate left ventricular (LV) filling pressures at rest. However, there are only limited…
Statin and the Risk of Renal-Related Serious Adverse Events: Analysis from the IDEAL, TNT, CARDS, ASPEN, SPARCL, and Other Placebo-Controlled Trials
A recent study has shown an association between high-potency statins and risk of acute kidney injury. However, these data are from observational studies, and it is not clear if similar…
Effect of One-Cycle Remote Ischemic Preconditioning to Reduce Myocardial Injury During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Up to 1/3 of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are complicated by troponin release. Remote ischemic preconditioning (IPC) confers effective cardioprotection; however, a 30-minute remote IPC protocol may be difficult to…
