0000000000343395
AUTHOR
Filippo Ganci
Short-Term Effects of Hypertonic Saline Solution in Acute Heart Failure and Long-Term Effects of a Moderate Sodium Restriction in Patients With Compensated Heart Failure With New York Heart Association Class III (Class C) (SMAC-HF Study)
INTRODUCTION: Hypertonic saline solution (HSS) and a moderate Na restriction plus high furosemide dose showed beneficial effects in compensated heart failure (HF), in short and long terms. The study was aimed to verify the effects of this combination on hospitalization time, readmissions and mortality in patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III. METHOD: Chronic ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy uncompensated patients with HF in NYHA III functional class with ejection fraction <40%, serum creatinine <2.5 mg/dL, blood urea nitrogen <60 mg/dL and reduced urinary volume were single-blind randomized in 2 groups: the first group received a 30-minute intravenous infusion of fur…
Comparison of Ivabradine Versus Metoprolol in Early Phases of Reperfused Anterior Myocardial Infarction With Impaired Left Ventricular Function: Preliminary Findings
BACKGROUND: beta-blockers in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are indicated for patients without a contraindication, particularly in patients with high heart rates (HR) or blood pressures. Epidemiological studies have shown that elevated HR represents a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity. The study investigates the feasibility, tolerability, and the effects after 30 days of follow-up of ivabradine (IVA) versus metoprolol (METO) in early phases of anterior STEMI reperfused by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with a first anterior STEMI, Killip class I-II, an acceptable echocardiographic window, and admitted within 4hours of the o…
Combination of indomethacin and statin compared with indomethacin and placebo in patients with a first episode of acute pericarditis: preliminary findings
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of indomethacin and statin compared with indomethacin plus placebo in patients with a first episode of pericarditis. A total of 55 consecutive patients with acute pericarditis were randomized in a double-blind manner into two groups: group I (statin group) was treated with 150 mg of indomethacin plus 10 mg of rosuvastatin, and group 2 (placebo group) was treated with 150 mg of indomethacin plus placebo. Both groups received treatment up to the normalization of inflammation markers and for the following week. Clinical and laboratory assessments [white cell count, ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and C…
Use of bivalirudin for heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia after thrombolysis in massive pulmonary embolism: a case report
A 68-year-old man was referred to the emergency department 6 h after onset of sudden acute dyspnoea. Immediate ECG showed sinus tachycardia with the typical S1-Q3-T3 pattern and incomplete right bundle branch block. The echocardiogram showed the presence of mobile thrombus in the right atrium, a distended right ventricle with free wall hypokinesia and displacement of the interventricular septum towards the left ventricle. Lung spiral computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral pulmonary involvement and confirmed the picture of a thrombotic system in the right atrium and caval vein. Thrombolytic treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and heparin (alteplase 10 mg bolus,…
Is delayed facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention better than immediate in reperfused myocardial infarction? Six months follow up findings
Background: There are several new strategies proposed to improve the outcome of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). One approach is the resurgent use of facilitated percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Until recently, deciding whether immediate PCI after combined treatment (facilitated PCI) is more appropriate than delayed PCI (short time) has not been investigated. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the outcomes in patients initially successfully treated pharmacologically and immediate PCI < 2 hr, and in patients initially successfully treated with pharmacological therapy and with delayed PCI (12–72 h). Methods: 451 reperfused STEMI patients, a…
Thrombolysis for massive pulmonary embolism in pregnancy: a case report
Mortality from pulmonary embolism (PE) in pregnancy might be related to challenges in targeting the right population for prevention. Such targeting could help ensure that the correct diagnosis is suspected and adequately investigated, and allow the initiation of the timely and best possible treatment of this disease. In the literature to date only 18 case reports of thrombolysis in pregnant women with PE have been reported, and showed beneficial effects for both mother and fetus in terms of mortality and complications with acceptable bleeding risks. We present here the case of a pregnant patient with massive PE who underwent successful thrombolysis. A 26-year-old pregnant (at 24 weeks) woma…
Thrombolysis Followed by Apixaban for Massive Pulmonary Embolism and Free-floating Thrombus in Right Ventricle in a Patient with Breast Cancer
Free-floating thrombus in the right ventricle, associated with a massive acute pulmonary embolism (PE), is a rare phenomenon. PE is an important clinical entity with considerable mortality despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. The prognosis of PE depends on right ventricular dysfunction, myocardial injury markers, and early treatment. In this report, we present the case of a 71-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer admitted to intensive care unit for PE complicated by syncope. Although our case may seem complex because it is not represented in the guidelines, the result was satisfactory and showed how treatment with new anticoagulants (in this case apixaban) after massive th…
Six-month echocardiographic study in patients with submassive pulmonary embolism and right ventricle dysfunction: comparison of thrombolysis with heparin.
Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to assess the effect of thrombolysis versus heparin treatment on echocardiographic parameters and clinical outcome, during hospitalization and within the first 180 days after admission, in patients with first episode of submassive pulmonary embolism (SPE) and right ventricle dysfunction (RVD). Methods Consecutive patients (age, 18–75 years) with a first episode of SPE, symptoms onset since no more than 6 hours, normal blood pressure (> 100 mm Hg), echocardiographic evidence of RVD and positive lung spiral computed tomography were double-blind randomized: 1 group received 100 mg of alteplase (10-mg bolus, followed by a 90-mg intravenous infusio…
Commotio cordis without arrhythmic event and resuscitation: ECG, echocardiographic, angiographic and cardiovascular resonance imaging study
We describe a case of commotio cordis in which the patient had an extensive cardiac evaluation, including ECGs, a coronary angiogram, a left ventriculogram, repeated echocardiography and cardiovascular MRI (CMRI). A healthy 17-year-old boy sustained an open-handed blow to the anterior part of the chest from a friend with whom he was playing. On admission ECG was performed that showed ST-T alterations and a TNI increase, with echocardiographic evidence of a localised pericardial effusion associated with a persistent myocardial blush at selective angiography. In addition, CMRI confirmed a local delayed enhancement in the same zone. An echocardiogram examination performed 30 days after dischar…