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Optimizing AED Placement Locations

A study of the location of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) compared to the location of automatic external defibrillators (AED) in Denmark showed that if the placements of AEDs more closely matched the location of OHCAs, bystander defibrillation and 30-day survival would improve.

Cardiac Constriction vs. Cardiac Restriction

The five Mayo Clinic Doppler echocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis (CP) were tested in a group of surgically confirmed CP compared to a group of cardiac biopsy proven amyloid restrictive cardiomyopathy. Interventricular septal bounce and an elevated mitral annular medial e’ were found to be the most accurate criteria, especially if used together.

Value of PET Scans in Infective Endocarditis

18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in a consecutive series of patients with proven infective endocarditis was of diagnostic value in those with prosthetic value endocarditis and of prognostic value in all cases.

Dapagliflozin Treatment Improves Life Quality for Systolic Heart Failure Patients

Treatment with dapagliflozin for 12 weeks resulted in improved health status, either a reduction in NT-proBNP or improvement in quality of life measures, in systolic heart failure patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Cardiac Arrest in Takotsubo Syndrome

Investigators sought to determine whether secondary prevention interventions could reduce the mortality rate of takotsubo patients with cardiac arrest.

Safety of Carvedilol for Cocaine Users

The use of beta-blockers in cocaine users is controversial, and there are few data on their use in cocaine-associated heart failure. This prospective, observational, registry study of cocaine-associated heart failure patients showed that carvedilol is safe and effective in such patients.

Planning Therapy for Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation

A retrospective study of moderate to severe secondary tricuspid valve regurgitation showed that right ventricular systolic dysfunction (but not dilatation alone) is predictive of all-cause mortality.

Predicting Chemotherapy Cardiotoxicity

Administering trastuzumab after a course of anthracycline therapy for breast cancer can result in cardiac toxicity. Serial echocardiograms in this study showed that a lower initial left ventricular ejection fraction before anthracycline therapy and the amount of decrease in ejection fraction after the anthracycline course are predictive of subsequent trastuzumab cardiac toxicity.

When and How to Stop Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After PCI

Among patients with high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention who had completed three months of dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor, patients who were randomized to ticagrelor alone experienced similar ischemic outcomes and a lower risk of bleeding at one year compared with those maintained on ticagrelor and aspirin.

Size Matters Regarding Left Heart Valve Vegetations

An international registry study of left-sided valvular infective endocarditis patients revealed that large vegetations (> 10 mm) are associated with increased mortality at six months, but not if early surgery is performed.