Automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: is early implantation cost-effective?

The evaluation of survivors of sudden cardiac death with serial electrophysiologic studies involves a lengthy and expensive hospitalization, especially when an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is ultimately necessary. The cost efficacy of this conventional approach was therefore compared with direct implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator after the first electrophysiologic study. Thirty-two survivors of sudden death who had inducible ventricular tachycardia during their initial electrophysiologic study underwent serial drug trials.

Usefulness of fish oil supplements in preventing clinical evidence of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

This study assesses the effect of dietary supplements with high dose omega-3 fatty acid (N3FA) on the frequency of clinical restenosis during the 6 months after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). One hundred ninety-four patients (214 significant coronary narrowings) were randomized after successful PTCA to receive conventional medical therapy or to an identical regimen supplemented by high dose N3FA (4.5 g/day).