Acta Cardiologica Sinica
中華民國心臟學會,正常發行
選擇卷期
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Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) on the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: We identified and included in this study AMI cases treated with IABP from January 1970 to May 2014. For statistical analysis, we utilized RevMan 5.0 software. Results: Fourteen RCTs with a total population of 2538 were included in this study. The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rate in the IABP group was not significantly lower than those in the non-IABP group. Subgroup analysis according to the type of revascularization, OR values of TT subgroup, PCI subgroup, and CABG subgroup were 0.64 (95% CI 0.25-1.61, p = 0.34), 0.85 (95% CI 0.65-1.11, p = 0.23) and 0.46 (95% CI 0.13-1.63, p = 0.23). And OR values of AMI patients in the before and after PCI subgroup were 0.43 (95% CI 0.21-0.91, p = 0.03) and 1.36 (95% CI 0.76-2.41, p = 0.30). The 6-month mortality in the IABP group was not significantly lower than that in the non-IABP group. And OR values of 6-month mortalities of the before and after PCI subgroup were 0.47 (95% CI 0.26-0.86, p = 0.01) and 1.40 (95% CI 0.57-3.45, p = 0.47). Conclusions: IABP did not reduce the in-hospital and 30-day mortality of AMI patients, and did not reduce the 6-month mortality. But IABP used in AMI patients before PCI was associated not only with reduced in-hospital and 30-day mortality, but also reduced 6-month mortality.
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As medical research techniques and quality have improved, it is apparent that cardiovascular problems could be better resolved by more strict experiment design. In fact, substantial time and resources should be expended to fulfill the requirements of high quality studies. Many worthy ideas and hypotheses were unable to be verified or proven due to ethical or economic limitations. In recent years, new and various applications and uses of databases have received increasing attention. Important information regarding certain issues such as rare cardiovascular diseases, women’s heart health, post-marketing analysis of different medications, or a combination of clinical and regional cardiac features could be obtained by the use of rigorous statistical methods. However, there are limitations that exist among all databases. One of the key essentials to creating and correctly addressing this research is through reliable processes of analyzing and interpreting these cardiologic databases.
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Objectives: To investigate whether the fragmented QRS (fQRS) complexes can be used to distinguish patients with early non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) from those with unstable angina (UA). Background: fQRS complex has been found to be linked to myocardial infarction and cardiac death. Methods: The clinical data of 302 patients who had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease were retrospectively reviewed. Incidence of fQRS complex within 48 h of presentation was analyzed and patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (n = 240) were followed up by telephone interviews for a mean of 61.47 (range, 59.60-63.35) months. Results: Patients with NSTEMI exhibited higher incidence of fQRS than those with UA (p = 0.047). The incidence of fQRS in the inferior wall leads was significantly higher than that of other leads in patients with anterior wall infarction (p ＜ 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a higher mortality rate in AMI patients with fQRS compared to non-fQRS patients (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Presence of fQRS complexes within 48 hours of presentation may be used to differentiate NSTEMI patients from UA patients. fQRS may also be used as a survival predictor for patients with AMI.
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Background: Acute coronary syndrome is the most common cause of cardiac morbidity and death. Various scoring systems have been developed in order to identify patients who are at risk for adverse outcome and may benefit from more aggressive and effective therapies. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the CHA_2DS_2VASC score as a predictor of mortality inpatients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI). Methods: We evaluated 300 patients diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent p-PCI and calculated their CHA_2DS_2VASC scores. According to their CHA_2DS_2VASC scores, patients were divided into three groups. Group 1: 0-1 points (n = 101), Group 2: 2-3 points (n = 129), and Group 3: 4-9 points (n = 70). The mean, median and minimum duration of follow-up were 21.7 ± 9.4, 21, and 12 months, respectively. All-cause mortality was defined as the primary endpoint of the study. Results: All-cause mortality was 4% in Group 1, 8.5% in Group 2 and 27.1% in Group 3 respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that Group 3 (CHA_2DS_2VASC ≥ 4) had a significantly higher incidence of death [p (log-rank) ＜ 0.001]. In ROC analysis, AUC values for in hospital, 12-month and long-term mortality were 0.88 (0.77-0.99 95% CI), 0.82 (0.73-0.92 95% CI) and 0.79 (0.69-0.88 95% CI), respectively. Conclusions: CHA_2DS_2VASC score can be used for predicting both in-hospital, 12-month and long-term mortality in patients with STEMI who have undergone p-PCI.
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Background: Coronary artery perforation (CAP) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with increased mortality. Polytetrafluoroethylene covered stents (CS) are an effective approach to treat CAP, but data regarding elderly patients requiring CS implantation for CAP are limited. The aim of this study is to report clinical data for elderly CAP patients undergoing CS implantation during PCI. Methods: Nineteen consecutive elderly patients (≥ 65 years) undergoing CS implantation due to PCI-induced CAP in a tertiary referral center from July 2003 to April 2016 were retrospectively examined. Results: There were 13 men and six women, with a mean age of 75.3 ± 5.6 years (range: 65-86 years). Perforation grade was Ellis type II in five patients (26.3%), and Ellis type III in 14 patients (73.7%). Cardiac tamponade developed in six patients (31.6%), and intra-aortic balloon pumping was needed in four patients (21.1%). The overall success rate for CS implantation rate was 94.7%. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 15.8%; the in-hospital myocardial infarction rate was 63.2%. Among 16 survival-to-discharge cases, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was prescribed in 14 cases (87.5%) for a mean duration of 14 months. Overall, there were five angiogram-proven CS failures among 18 patients receiving successful CS implantation. The 1, 2 and 4 years of actuarial freedom from the CS failure were 78%, 65%, and 43% in the angiogram follow-up patients. Conclusions: CS implantation for CAP is feasible and effective in elderly patients, while CS failure remains a major concern that encourages regular angiographic follow-up in these case.
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Background: Available data on the use of the Bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) in real-world patients is limited, particularly in Asian populations. The aim of this study was to assess clinical outcomes of patients treated with a BVS in real-world practice in Taiwan. Methods: This study focused on 156 patients with coronary artery disease and a total of 249 lesions who received BVS implantation from October 2012 to October 2015. The study's primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac event (MACE), such as a myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), target lesion revascularization (TLR), definite or possible scaffold thrombosis, cardiovascular death, and all-cause mortality during the thirty-day follow-up period. The secondary endpoint was MACE during the one-year follow-up period. Additionally, the composite clinical secondary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF), which was called device-oriented composite endpoint. Results: The average age of the patients was 60.34 ± 10.15 years, and 81.4% were male. The average of Syntax score was 12.42 ± 8.77 points. 44.2 % lesions were type B2 or C. At 31 days, one patient experienced a MACE (1/156) the composite of two TLF (2/249) with ST elevation MI, which was related to scaffold thrombosis. At one-year, 5.1 % (8/156) of the patients experienced a MACE and 3.6% (9/249) of the lesions experienced a TLF. There was no cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in the 30-day follow-up. The one-year cardiovascular and all-cause mortality rates were each 1.3%, respectively. Diabetes, ostial lesion, bifurcation lesion, and non-standard dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) were the strong associations of one-year TLF. Conclusions: Even with difficult and complex lesions of patients in this study, acceptable outcomes were achieved with low definite or possible scaffold thrombosis rates after BVS implantation. And despite anatomical issues, it is important to complete standard DAPT.
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Background: Cardiac surgery - associated iatrogenic laryngeal trauma is often overlooked. We investigated the risk factors of vocal cord paralysis in cardiac surgery. Methods: Medical records were reviewed from 169 patients who underwent elective or emergency cardiac surgeries. Patients had transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) placed either under video fiberscopic image guidance (guided group) or blind placement (blind group). Routine postoperative otolaryngologist consultation with video laryngoscopic recording were performed. Results: Vocal cord paralyses were found in 18 patients (10.7%; left-13, right-4, bilateral-1). The risk of vocal cord paralysis was associated with emergency operation [odds ratio, 97.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9 to 366), p = 0.01]. Use of fiberscope-guided TEE [odds ratio, 0.04 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.87), p = 0.04] can effectively reduce vocal cord injury. Conclusions: Emergency cardiac surgery increased the risk of vocal cord paralysis. Fiberscope-guided TEE placement is recommended for all patients having cardiac surgery to decrease the risk of severe peri-operative laryngeal trauma.
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Background: Acute volume-overload (AVO) predisposes to cardiac failure. Global cardiac injury may ensue after acute right-sided distension of the heart due to AVO. We experimentally investigated whether surgical AVO impacts early on the myocardium and some markers of injury. Methods: Thirty-four syngeneic Fisher rats underwent surgical abdominal aortocaval fistula to induce AVO. The hearts were procured for regional and quantitative histology after one and three days. Gene expressions for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP9), transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and YKL40 were investigated for myocardial injury. Results: The relative number of ischemic intramyocardial arteries were abundant in the septum of the hearts with AVO compared with controls at day 1 and 3 [0.16 ± 0.02 vs. 0.02 ± 0.01, point score unit (PSU), p = 0.002 and 0.14 ± 0.02 vs. 0.02 ± 0.01, PSU, p = 0.009, respectively] followed by similar changes in the left ventricle at day 3 (0.11 ± 0.02 vs. 0.04 ± 0.01, PSU, p = 0.007). Indicating early myocardial injury, ANP (p = 0.019) was increased in AVO hearts as compared with controls at day 1, as expected. More interestingly, MMP9 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.006), TGFβ (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004) and YKL40 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003) expressions were significantly increased at day 1 and 3, along with macrophage infiltration into the myocardium supporting the role of factors produced by alternatively activated macrophages in the pathogenesis of AVO-induced pathophysiology in the heart. Conclusions: Surgical AVO induces an early ischemic myocardial response observed in the intramyocardial arteries. Early expression of key parameters of cardiac remodeling suggest for the onset of early cardiac failure after AVO.