Cardiology General
RSSArticles
-
Blood Transfusion After Cardiac Surgery
Due to the cost of blood transfusions and the lack of data supporting liberal transfusion policies, newer guidelines recommend more restrictive transfusion thresholds (e.g., hemoglobin < 7 g/dL). However, many believe cardiac surgery is an exception due to the myocardium’s high oxygen requirement.
-
Unintended Consequences of Public Reporting of Procedure Outcomes
Public reporting of clinical outcomes associated with cardiovascular care has been touted as a means to improve health care delivery and patient outcomes.
-
Atrial Fibrillation Risk Scores and Anticoagulation Treatment
Several guidelines recommend using the CHA2DS2-VASc score for determining the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but the treatment recommendations are not the same in all guidelines.
-
Utility of the New Cholesterol Guidelines
The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) released new guidelines for the use of statin drugs to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 2013.
-
Delays in Transfer For Primary PCI in STEMI
Most patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) present to hospitals that are not capable of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Rapid transfer to PCI-capable facilities for primary PCI may result in earlier reperfusion of the infarct artery and better clinical outcomes. However, delays in transfer may diminish the mortality benefit achieved with primary PCI in STEMI. -
Assessment of Functional Severity of Coronary Lesions by CT Angiography — FFRCT
Anatomic definition of coronary artery lesions by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) or computed tomography coronary angiography (CCTA) has limitations. -
BNP in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation
The most appropriate time to intervene in asymptomatic patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation is controversial. Since brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is released by the heart in response to increased wall stress, it has been proposed as a biomarker of the time to intervene in chronic valvular regurgitation patients. -
Laser Pacemaker Lead Extraction in Octogenarians
In this paper, Rodriguez and his colleagues from the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Miami report their experience with laser-assisted cardiac rhythm device lead extraction in a large group of patients. -
Pharmacology Watch
New recommendations for HPV vaccine; guidelines for treatment of essential tremor; updates on smoking cessation drugs; and FDA actions. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement