Background: Patients receiving left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support require long-term anticoagulation to reduce the risk of thromboembolic complications. Apixaban is a direct oral anticoagulant that has become first-line therapy; however, its safety in LVAD recipients has not been well described.
Objectives: This study sought to investigate whether, in patients with a fully magnetically levitated LVAD, treatment with apixaban would be feasible and comparable with respect to safety and freedom from the primary composite outcome of death or major hemocompatibility-related adverse events (HRAEs) (stroke, device thrombosis, major bleeding, aortic root thrombus, and arterial non-central nervous system thromboembolism) as compared with treatment with warfarin.
Implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy is used to improve quality of life, alleviate symptoms and extend survival rates in patients with advanced heart failure. Patients with LVADs require chronic anticoagulation to reduce the risk of thromboembolic complications, and they commonly experience bleeding events. Apixaban is a direct oral anticoagulant that has become first-line therapy for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism; however, its safety in patients with LVADs has not been well characterized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin Anaesthesiol
February 2023
Purpose Of Review: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for women worldwide and continues to be a major determinant of significant morbidity. Several studies have investigated the marked differences in diagnosis, treatment and etiology in cardiovascular disease and how it relates to gender. In this review, several key studies highlight the stark differences and bring light to the disparity and potential opportunities for further research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAorta (Stamford)
August 2021
Statins may be associated with improved outcomes in patient with thoracic aortic aneurysms but there is little data on the role of statins in patients who have undergone thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDeglutition syncope is a rare, neurally mediated reflex syncope associated with swallowing. It is typically associated with pharyngoesophageal disorders with secondary abnormal vagal reflex causing atrioventricular cardiac block and cerebral hypoperfusion. Diagnosis can be delayed and challenging.
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