Feasibility and safety of the antecubital venous access for right heart catheterization in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Background: The diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension requires right heart catheterization (RHC) which is typically performed via proximal venous access (PVA). Antecubital venous access (AVA) is an alternative approach for RHC that can minimize complications, decrease procedural duration and allow for immediate patient recovery. A direct comparison between the two procedures in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) is lacking.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Limited data are available regarding the optimal management of patients with cancer in the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) setting.

Patients And Methods: We studied consecutive patients with AMI included in a national registry (years 2010, 2016) with the diagnosis of past or active malignancy and followed them for 1 year.

Results: Our cohort consisted of 2937 cancer-naive patients and 152 patients with cancer, of whom 35% presented with active malignancies.

Feasibility and safety of exclusive echocardiography-guided intravenous temporary pacemaker implantation.

Background: The standard approach for urgent trans-venous temporary cardiac pacemaker (TVTP) implantation is fluoroscopy guidance. The delay in activation of the fluoroscopy-room and the transfer of unstable patients may be life-threatening. Echocardiography-guided TP implantation may increase the safety of the patients by obviating the need for in-hospital transfer.

Serial imaging after pulmonary embolism and correlation with functional limitation at 12 months: Results of the ELOPE Study.

Introduction: Risk factors for exercise limitation after acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are unknown. As a planned sub-study of the prospective, multicenter ELOPE (Evaluation of Long-term Outcomes after PE) Study, we aimed to describe the results of serial imaging by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and perfusion scan during 1 year after a first episode of acute pulmonary embolism, and to assess the association between imaging parameters and exercise limitation at 1 year.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 100 patients were recruited between June 2010 and February 2013 at five Canadian university-affiliated hospitals.

Myocardial Infarction With No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Angiographic and Clinical Insights in Patients With Premature Presentation.

Background: Premature myocardial infarction (MI) is an increasingly prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A subset of patients, predominantly young women, present with MI with no obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA), a nomenclature gaining recognition. However, few data exist on presentation and prognosis according to the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Atrial Fibrillation Characteristics in Patients on Haemodialysis vs. Peritoneal Dialysis.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly prevalent in dialysis patients, however whether its impact differs between patients on haemodialysis (HD) vs. peritoneal dialysis (PD) is unknown. We aimed to compare the association of AF and clinical outcomes in different dialysis modalities.

Contemporary Determinants of Delayed Benchmark Timelines in Acute Myocardial Infarction in Men and Women.

Treatment delays in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are related to increased morbidity and mortality. Hence, identifying determinants of delay may help reduce time to treatment. Importantly, limited data suggest that there may be sex-related disparities in benchmark timelines.

Editor's Choice - Acute Cardiovascular Care Association Position Paper on Intensive Cardiovascular Care Units: An update on their definition, structure, organisation and function.

Acute cardiovascular care has progressed considerably since the last position paper was published 10 years ago. It is now a well-defined, complex field with demanding multidisciplinary teamworking. The Acute Cardiovascular Care Association has provided this update of the 2005 position paper on acute cardiovascular care organisation, using a multinational working group.

Quality of Life, Dyspnea, and Functional Exercise Capacity Following a First Episode of Pulmonary Embolism: Results of the ELOPE Cohort Study.

Background: We aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (QOL), dyspnea, and functional exercise capacity during the year following the diagnosis of a first episode of pulmonary embolism.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter cohort study of 100 patients with acute pulmonary embolism recruited at 5 Canadian hospitals from 2010-2013. We measured the outcomes QOL (by Short-Form Health Survey-36 [SF-36] and Pulmonary Embolism Quality of Life [PEmb-QoL] measures), dyspnea (by the University of California San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire [SOBQ]) and 6-minute walk distance at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after acute pulmonary embolism.

Functional and Exercise Limitations After a First Episode of Pulmonary Embolism: Results of the ELOPE Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: We aimed to determine the frequency and predictors of exercise limitation after pulmonary embolism (PE) and to assess its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and dyspnea.

Methods: One hundred patients with acute PE were recruited at five Canadian hospitals from 2010 to 2013. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed at 1 and 12 months.

Sex Differences in Clinical Outcomes After Premature Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Over past decades, the incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has increased in young women, and greater mortality rates after discharge were observed among young women vs men. We revisited this issue with contemporary data from the Gender and Sex Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease: From Bench to Beyond Premature Acute Coronary Syndrome (GENESIS-PRAXY), a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Methods: One thousand two hundred thirteen patients were enrolled in GENESIS-PRAXY from 26 centres across Canada, the United States, and Switzerland between January 2009 and April 2013.

Combination Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Combination therapy (CT) for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has been recommended for many years, despite weak evidence of efficacy over monotherapy (MT). A previous meta-analysis comparing CT vs MT with pulmonary vasodilators failed to demonstrate a clear reduction in clinical worsening events.

Methods: We searched for relevant articles in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database, and clinicaltrials.

In-hospital switching from clopidogrel to prasugrel following thrombolysis for ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a 3-year single center experience.

Background: Prasugrel has proved its superiority over clopidogrel for reducing ischemic events among patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Data on switching of antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndrome patients in clinical practice are very limited. Importantly, the safety of in-hospital switching from clopidogrel to prasugrel following thrombolysis has not been addressed.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized controlled pilot and feasibility study.

Objective: Chronic lymphedema occurs frequently in breast cancer patients and is associated with significant morbidity and reduced quality-of-life. In this pilot study, the authors (1) addressed whether conducting a larger randomized controlled trial of aqua lymphatic therapy (ALT) would be feasible and (2) estimated the extent to which ALT combined with home-based exercise compared with home-based exercise alone would reduce arm disability in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Design: Twenty-five women with breast cancer-related lymphedema were randomized to either ALT in addition to a home land-based exercise program (ALT group; n = 13) or to a home land-based exercise program alone (control group; n = 12).

Sex-related differences in access to care among patients with premature acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Access to care may be implicated in disparities between men and women in death after acute coronary syndrome, especially among younger adults. We aimed to assess sex-related differences in access to care among patients with premature acute coronary syndrome and to identify clinical and gender-related determinants of access to care.

Methods: We studied 1123 patients (18-55 yr) admitted to hospital for acute coronary syndrome and enrolled in the GENESIS-PRAXY cohort study.

Anatomical considerations for the development of a new transcatheter aortopulmonary shunt device in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Abstract Morbidity from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) ensues when the pulmonary pressure reaches suprasystemic levels. A transcatheter alternative to the Potts shunt would allow decompression of the right heart without the surgical risks. To aid development of a transcatheter aortopulmonary shunt (TAPS) device, we described the anatomic relationship between the left pulmonary artery (LPA) and the descending aorta (dAO) in adults with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Usefulness of right ventricular dysfunction to predict new-onset atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass grafting.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) is a serious yet common complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Risk factors for postoperative AF have been identified, including echocardiographic parameters, and these are relied on to implement preventative strategies that reduce the incidence of AF. There has yet to be a study examining the impact of echocardiographic right-sided cardiac parameters on the prediction of postoperative AF.

Utilization of evidence-based therapy for acute coronary syndrome in high-income and low/middle-income countries.

Limited data exist regarding the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in high-income countries compared with low/middle-income countries. We aimed to compare in-hospital trends of revascularization and prescription of medications at discharge in patients with ACS from high-income (Canada and United States) and low/middle-income (India, Iran, Pakistan, and Tunisia) countries. Data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial investigating the effect of bupropion on smoking cessation in patients after an enzyme-positive ACS was used for our study.

Bupropion for smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Smoking remains the most important modifiable risk factor for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of bupropion therapy started in-hospital for smoking cessation in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: We systematically searched the medical literature to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of in-hospital initiation of bupropion therapy for smoking cessation in patients with CVD.

The effect of bariatric surgery on echocardiographic indices: a review of the literature.

Obesity is the new epidemic and is associated with an increased risk of diastolic and systolic heart failure. Effective treatment options with drastic results such as bariatric surgery have raised interest in the possible reversal of some of the cardiovascular sequelae. Many studies have assessed individually the effect of weight loss on specific echocardiographic indices, mostly employing nonhomogeneous groups.