Clopidogrel discontinuation within the first year after coronary drug-eluting stent implantation: an observational study.

Background: The impact of adherence to the recommended duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after first generation drug-eluting stent implantation is difficult to assess in real-world settings and limited data are available.

Methods: We followed 4,154 patients treated with coronary drug-eluting stents in Western Denmark for 1 year and obtained data on redeemed clopidogrel prescriptions and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, i.e.

[Considerable regional differences in visitation and initial handling of acute cardiac patients in Denmark].

Danish emergency departments (EDs) are undergoing a reorganisation in which the EDs are changed to serve as the single portal of entry for all acute patients. This survey-based study evaluates the entry to the Danish hospitals for acute cardiac patients. In 62% of the EDs there is not a cardiologist on call around the clock, thus compromising the availability of echocardiography and cardiac supervision.

Safety of therapeutic hypothermia combined with primary percutaneous coronary intervention after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: The safety of therapeutic hypothermia combined with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has been challenged after reports of high risk of stent thrombosis.

Methods: We searched the Western Denmark Heart Registry to identify patients with an acute coronary angiography due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest performed at our institution between September 2010 and September 2013. We identified 68 unconscious patients, who were resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and underwent acute PCI with stent implantation and immediate therapeutic hypothermia, and followed these for 30 days.