Rhythm and rate control of atrial fibrillation in the emergency department - A large community-based observational study.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia presentation to the emergency department (ED) and frequently results in admission to the hospital. Although rarely life-threatening and not usually an emergent condition, AF places a large burden on our health-care system. The objective of this study was to describe the practices of ED physicians in the management of AF in a large urban Canadian city.

No increase in adverse events during aliskiren use among ontario patients receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers.

Background: Some evidence suggests that the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren may increase the risk of severe hyperkalemia, stroke, or acute kidney injury (AKI) when prescribed with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi's) or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs). The extent to which concomitant treatment increases the risk of these outcomes in routine clinical practice is unknown. We addressed this issue with the use of administrative databases.

Hip pain and heart failure: the missing link.

A man presented with hypothyroidism, dilated cardiomyopathy, a pericardial effusion, liver failure, and polycythaemia. He had a history of bilateral hip replacements and new-onset hip pain. The patient progressed to develop shock.