[Antithrombotic prevention in atrial fibrillation: the new anticoagulant drugs].

Thromboembolic events are the most dangerous complications in patients with atrial fibrillation, affecting the central nervous system in 93% of cases. Vitamin K antagonists have been in clinical use since the '50s for the prevention of thromboembolism. Although effective, vitamin K antagonists have several limitations that render them difficult to administer, which have prompted the need for new antithrombotic strategies.

[Does echocardiography have any role in selecting patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy?].

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has an established role in the treatment of end-stage, drug-refractory heart failure patients. Large randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that CRT improves morbidity and mortality and, in current practice, there is a substantial number of patients treated with CRT for off-label indications. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of patients lack clinical and echocardiographic improvement or even deteriorate.