A comparison of bleeding complications post-ablation between warfarin and dabigatran.

Introduction: Although warfarin has traditionally been used for reducing risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, over the past year, the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran has become an accepted alternative. No study has conclusively investigated bleeding risks of patients treated with dabigatran immediately following radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) procedures.

Methods: We evaluated 156 consecutive patients referred for RFCA of atrial arrhythmias: 31 patients were on dabigatran and 125 patients were on warfarin.

Late toxicity after postprostatectomy salvage radiation therapy.

Purpose: To evaluate late toxicity in patients who received salvage external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for a detectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods: A cohort of 308 consecutive patients underwent salvage EBRT from July 1987 through June 2003 for a detectable PSA level after RP. All were treated with high-energy photons (6-20 MV) to a median dose of 64.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in older patients: outcomes and complications.

Introduction: Catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) has become a treatment option for younger patients with drug refractory AF. It is not known whether pulmonary veins (PV) have an important mechanistic role in elderly patients with AF or whether CA is an effective treatment for the elderly.

Methods: We evaluated 240 consecutive patients that were referred to the electrophysiology laboratory for CA for AF using a PV antral isolation approach.

Combined prostate brachytherapy and short-term androgen deprivation therapy as salvage therapy for locally recurrent prostate cancer after external beam irradiation.

Purpose: We describe the treatment outcome in 17 patients who received combined salvage brachytherapy and short-term androgen deprivation therapy for local prostate cancer relapse after prior external beam irradiation.

Materials And Methods: Median patient age was 68 years. Local relapse after external beam irradiation was confirmed by biopsy.

Salvage radiotherapy for isolated prostate specific antigen increase after radical prostatectomy: evaluation of prognostic factors and creation of a prognostic scoring system.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the results and prognostic factors associated with radiotherapy for a detectable serum prostate specific antigen level after radical prostatectomy.

Materials And Methods: From July 1987 through July 2003, 368 patients received radiotherapy for a detectable prostate specific antigen level (biochemical relapse) as the sole evidence of recurrence after radical prostatectomy for node negative prostate cancer. Estimated survival and relapse-free probabilities were obtained via Kaplan-Meier estimation.