Perioperative management of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture: a comparison of Impella with intra-aortic balloon pump.

Postinfarction ventricular septal rupture (PIVSR) is a rare but serious complication of acute myocardial infarction. Determining how to conduct surgical repair safely is critical. We compared the outcomes of Impella and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) implantation during perioperative mechanical circulatory support management in patients with PIVSR (n = 22).

Trend of anticoagulant therapy in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation considering risks of cerebral infarction and bleeding.

The introduction of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has greatly changed the use of anticoagulant therapy in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (Af). Therefore, this study aimed to examine changes in the proportions of oral anticoagulant prescriptions in patients with non-valvular Af aged ≥ 65 years, taking into consideration the risk of cerebral infarction and bleeding. Anticoagulant prescriptions in outpatients aged ≥ 65 years with Af were temporally analyzed using the nationwide claims database in Japan.

Long term prognosis in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia.

Various forms of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) occur in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH). Despite the high efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for SVT, insufficient data exist regarding patients with PH. Thirty SVTs in 23 PH patients (age 47 [35-60] years; mean pulmonary artery pressure 44 [32-50] mmHg) were analyzed.

Updates to and quality of clinical practice guidelines for high-priority diseases in Japan.

Purpose: To examine the update status of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for 24 main diseases in Japan, and to clarify the quality of and issues pertaining to the most recent versions of CPGs for each disease.

Data Sources: CPGs were searched in two Japanese guideline databases.

Study Selection: All relevant Japanese CPGs published between January 1999 and July 2016 were selected.

Vasospastic limb ischemia presenting acute and chronic limb ischemia.

Vasospastic limb ischemia might have been underappreciated compared to vasospasm in other territories such as heart and brain. However, an increasing awareness of this vascular disorder can be translated to an improved patients' care. Herein, we report a case of vasospasm presenting acute and chronic limb ischemia in four extremities.