Discordant cardiac biomarker levels independently predict outcome in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: To investigate the prognostic relevance of elevated Troponin T (cTnT) levels in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without significant creatine kinase (CK) elevation on admission.

Methods And Results: From January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2006 patients with STEMI without significant CK elevation (<2-fold) on admission treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included and stratified according to cTnT plasma levels. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to find independent predictors for mortality.

Retrieval of lost coronary guidewires during challenging percutaneous coronary interventions.

Introduction: The presence of symptomatic or asymptomatic intravascular/intracardiac foreign body (FB) is underreported in the literature, but it is more commonly encountered in clinical practice. Nowadays, losing a coronary stent or a guidewire has become a rare event. However, due to the constant increase in the total number of worldwide performed coronary interventions (PCI) and especially due to an increase also in the technical difficulties of these procedures (i.

Contemporary practices in postcardiac arrest syndrome: the role of mild therapeutic hypothermia.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity despite progress in resuscitative practices. The number of survivors with severe neurological impairment at hospital discharge is similarly dismal. Recently, much attention has been directed toward the use of mild therapeutic hypothermia in the care of comatose survivors with postcardiac arrest syndrome.

Long-term outcome of percutaneous catheter intervention for de novo coronary bifurcation lesions with drug-eluting stents or bare-metal stents.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term risks and benefits of drug-eluting stents (DESs) compared with bare-metal stents (BMSs) for treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions.

Methods: Our registry comprised 1,038 patients treated for coronary bifurcation lesion according to the provisional T-stenting strategy who were followed up for 3 years.

Results: Target lesion revascularization rates were 24.

Randomized trial on routine vs. provisional T-stenting in the treatment of de novo coronary bifurcation lesions.

Aims: We investigated whether routine T-stenting reduces restenosis of the side branch as compared with provisional T-stenting in patients with de novo coronary bifurcation lesions.

Methods And Results: Our randomized study assigned 101 patients with a coronary bifurcation lesion to routine T-stenting with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in both branches and 101 patients to provisional T-stenting with SES placement in the main branch followed by kissing-balloon angioplasty and provisional SES placement in the side branch only for inadequate results. Primary endpoint was per cent diameter stenosis of the side branch at 9 month angiographic follow-up.