A Review of the Potential Pathogenicity and Management of Frequent Premature Ventricular Contractions.

Very frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) may be a reversible cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. Literature on this largely unrecognized entity has increased in the last 15 years. This paper reviews the literature on the consequences of frequent PVCs on myocardial function and management of PVC-associated cardiomyopathy.

Screening for subclinical coronary artery disease measuring carotid intima media thickness.

Traditional coronary risk assessment is based on major cardiovascular risk factors using the Framingham risk score. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measured by ultrasonography is a noninvasive test used to assess for the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. CIMT has been shown to be an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events and is used in research trials as a surrogate for the presence as well as regression of coronary artery disease.

Timing of bypass surgery in stable patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: To determine the optimal timing for bypass surgery in stable patients after acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is a proven treatment for coronary artery disease. Because of the hypothesized risk of hemorrhagic transformation, it had become common practice to wait four to six weeks after MI.

Congenital anomalies of the coronary circulation.

Congenital anomalies of the coronary circulation have been associated with significant cardiac consequences, ranging from angina pectoris to sudden death in otherwise healthy individuals, yet neither systematic evidence nor published guidelines exist to guide cardiologists in the care of such patients. Three cases of coronary anomalies that were detected incidentally in the course of routine cardiac catheterization are presented. Although none of the patients presented suffered complications as a direct result of their coronary anomaly, little is known about the long term effects.

Arterial switch operation after Mustard procedures in adult patients with transposition of the great arteries: is it time to revise our strategy?

Background: After the Mustard or Senning procedure, adults with transposition of the great arteries may have right ventricular failure and require consideration of new therapies. A 2-stage arterial switch operation (ASO) may be performed as an alternative to heart transplantation. This procedure is relatively successful in children, but little is known about the 2-stage ASO in adults.