[Warfarin combined with blood platelet inhibition].

Dual antiplatelet therapy (acetylsalicylic acid and a thienopyridine) is essential after coronary stent implantation, and in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome. Many patients also need oral anticoagulation. Unfortunately, there are no prospective randomised trials to guide therapy.

Gated SPECT offers improved interobserver agreement compared with echocardiography.

Purpose: Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) is a powerful predictor of prognosis in coronary artery disease. The purpose of the present study was to measure interobserver differences for gated SPECT (GSPECT) software and echocardiography, and to compare these modalities regarding left ventricular volumes and EF.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-four patients scheduled for nuclear imaging underwent a 1-day GSPECT with Tc-99m-tetrofosmin.

[Acute myocardial infarction in Mid-Norway: transportation for thrombolytic treatment or primary percutaneous coronary intervention?].

Background: Occluded coronary arteries should be opened urgently in patients who have acute myocardial infarction and ST-elevation in ECG. When transport times are long, thrombolytic treatment is a good alternative to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The purpose of this study was to assess choice of treatment strategy in cases where time after start of symptoms and transport time are decisive for the outcome.

Feasibility of using tissue Doppler velocities in stress echo during upright bicycle exercise.

Background And Aim: There are several studies on myocardial tissue Doppler velocities during dobutamine stress, but few studies on the same parameters during bicycle exercise. We wanted to examine how sample sites affected velocities, beat-to-beat variability and segments eligible for analysis.

Methods: Twenty patients with normal coronary arteries were included in the study.

Cardiac and psychiatric diagnoses among patients referred for chest pain and palpitations.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of cardiac and psychiatric diagnoses in patients with chest pain and palpitations.

Design: Consecutive patients (n=198), aged between 18 and 65, referred to a cardiac outpatient unit for evaluation for chest pain or palpitations, were asked to participate. Patients with a previous history of heart disease, confirmed by a cardiologist, were excluded.