Fluid status telemedicine alerts for heart failure: a randomized controlled trial.

Aims: Hospital admissions are frequently preceded by increased pulmonary congestion in heart failure (HF) patients. This study evaluated whether early automated fluid status alert notification via telemedicine improves outcome in HF patients.

Methods And Results: Patients recently implanted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) with or without cardiac resynchronization therapy were eligible if one of three conditions was met: prior HF hospitalization, recent diuretic treatment, or recent brain natriuretic peptide increase.

Interventional therapy of bifurcation lesions: a TIMI flow-guided concept to treat side branches in bifurcation lesions--a prospective randomized clinical study (Thueringer bifurcation study, THUEBIS study as pilot trial).

Background: Treatment of bifurcations is a complex problem. The clinical value of treating side branches is an unsolved problem in the field of interventional cardiology.

Methods And Results: We initiated a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Acute coronary syndrome without significant stenosis on angiography: characteristics and prognosis.

The characterization of patients who have acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without critical stenosis is unclear. First, we wanted to learn more about the angiographic and demographic characteristics of patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who were not in need of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Second, we wanted to look for further cardiac events during follow-up.

Tako-Tsubo-like cardiomyopathy: specific ECG findings, characterization and clinical findings in a European single center.

Objectives: A newly discovered heart syndrome mimicking acute coronary syndrome has been termed 'Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy' (TTC). Differentiation from acute myocardial infarction using the ECG is an important issue in clinical practice.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients admitted for cardiac catheterization between September 2003 and September 2006.

A new vascular closure device for the transradial approach: the D Stat Radial system.

Background: The transradial approach is associated with low complication rates. The D Stat Radial vascular closure system offers hemostatic pressure locally at the puncture site with residual venous flow.

Methods: We prospectively included 113 consecutive patients presenting between August 2006 and December 2006.

Export aspiration system in patients with acute coronary syndrome and visible thrombus provides no substantial benefit.

Objective: A visible thrombus remains a risk factor during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Between October 2004 and March 2005, we treated all patients who consecutively presented with acute coronary syndrome + angiographically visible thrombus using the Export Aspiration System (group 1, n = 79). We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive patients who had been treated without a thrombectomy device (group 2, n = 79).

Safety and efficacy of a new filter-based protection system for aorto-coronary bypass graft interventions: the ev3 Spider device.

Purpose: Treatment of aorto-coronary bypass grafts without a protection devices is associated with a high incidence of ischemic events. The Spider(R) system is a new protection device.

Methods And Results: We included 40 consecutive patients with 50 lesions and stenosis > 50% in bypass grafts.