End-Tidal CO2 Predicts Reduction in Mitral Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Mitral Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair.

Objectives: We evaluated end-tidal CO2 (etCO2), which has been proposed to assess acute hemodynamic changes, to guide percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (PMVR) with the MitraClip system.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients (aged 78 ± 14 years) undergoing PMVR for moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation (MR) of primary and secondary etiology were included. General anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and constant ventilation parameters to ensure stable etCO2 tension.

Randomized Control of Sympathetic Drive With Continuous Intravenous Esmolol in Patients With Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: The BEtA-Blocker Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction (BEAT-AMI) Trial.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the role of esmolol-induced tight sympathetic control in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background: Elevated sympathetic drive has a detrimental effect on patients with acute STEMI. The effect of beta-blocker-induced heart rate mediated sympathetic control on myocardial damage is unknown.

Ischemic preconditioning for prevention of contrast medium-induced nephropathy: randomized pilot RenPro Trial (Renal Protection Trial).

Background: Contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The underlying mechanism has been attributed in part to ischemic kidney injury. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial was to assess the impact of remote ischemic preconditioning on contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury.

Diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP ratio (BNP-R) for early diagnosis of tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy: a pilot study.

Background: When heart failure and tachycardia occur simultaneously, a useful diagnostic tool for early discrimination of patients with benign tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy (TMC) versus major structural heart disease (MSHD) is not available. Such a tool is required to prevent unnecessary and wearing diagnostics in patients with reversible TMC. Moreover, it could lead to early additional diagnostics and therapeutic approaches in patients with MSHD.

Local thrombolysis for successful treatment of acute stroke in an adolescent with cardiac myxoma.

Intracardiac myxomas are the most common benign cardiac tumors in adults. They are a rare source of cardiogenic embolisms and sudden death, especially in young patients. This report describes the case of a male adolescent who presented with right-sided paresis and aphasia.

Accuracy of Doppler-echocardiographic mean pulmonary artery pressure for diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.

Background: The validity of Doppler echocardiographic (DE) measurement of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) has been questioned. Recent studies suggest that mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) might reflect more accurately the invasive pressures.

Methodology/principal Findings: 241 patients were prospectively studied to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of mPAP for the diagnosis of PH.