The ACC/AHA guidelines give a class ii b recommendation for surgery in asymptomatic patients if aortic stenosis is very severe (area < 0.6 cm2) and operation risk is low. However, the outcome of this approach vs. following patients until symptoms or left ventricular dysfunction occurs has not been tested.
Heart failure due to diastolic dysfunction is common in hypertensive patients, yet little is known about the effect of antihypertensive agents on diastolic dysfunction.
Carotid-artery stenting (CAS) has evolved significantly over recent years to become a reasonable alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for selected patients with carotid-artery disease.
Atrial septal defects (ASD) are among the most common congenital heart defect found in the adult population. Although they are often diagnosed and treated in childhood or infancy, some patients survive into adulthood with unrepaired ASDs.
The presence of cerebral complications of infective endocarditis (IE) can affect diagnostic and treatment decisions. Thus, this group from Paris, France, evaluated whether early cerebral MRI would affect the diagnosis and management of hospitalized patients suspected of having IE.
Sudden cardiac death is a feared complication of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Therapies to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death have included implantable defibrillators and surgical- and catheter-based approaches to reduce obstruction by septal reduction.
Fractures and bisphosphonate therapy, warfarin anticoagulation and influenza vaccine and cotrimoxazole, antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin, FDA Actions.
