Standalone epicardial left atrial appendage exclusion for thromboembolism prevention in atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: Most strokes associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) result from left atrial appendage thrombi. Oral anticoagulation can reduce stroke risk but is limited by complication risk and non-compliance. Left atrial appendage exclusion (LAAE) is a new surgical option to reduce stroke risk in AF.

Supplemental value of troponin I combined with a clinical risk model to predict in-hospital events in intermediate and high risk patients with acute coronary syndromes.

To evaluate the supplemental value of serial troponin I (Trp) measurements when combined with a clinical model composed of six clinical parameters in predicting in-hospital adverse event rates, a total of 118 consecutive patients admitted over a 23-month period with intermediate- or high-risk unstable angina or non-Q wave myocardial infarction (MI) as defined by AHCPR criteria who had coronary angiography within 72 hours of hospitalization were studied. Presenting clinical characteristics were graded using a previously validated variation of the Braunwald criteria (RUSH model). The RUSH model clinical score includes six clinical parameters: age, diabetes, intravenous nitroglycerin, pre-admission calcium-channel and beta-blocker, ST depression and post-MI angina (< 2 weeks), and creates an estimated probability of MI or death.