Takotsubo cardiomyopathy--a clinical review.

Stress cardiomyopathy is characterised by reversible left ventricular dysfunction. It simulates an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), presenting with precordial pain or dyspnoea, changes of the ST segment, T wave, or QTc interval on electrocardiogram, and raised cardiac enzymes. Typical findings are disturbances of segmental contractility (apical hypokinesia or akinesia), with normal epicardial coronary arteries.

Evaluation of the performance of echocardiography in acute coronary syndrome patients during their stay in coronary units.

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency and the factors associated with performance of echocardiography in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients during their stay in intensive care units or coronary care units (ICU/CCU).

Methods: Retrospective cohort study including all patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome-unstable angina (UA), acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-included in the 'ARIAM' Spanish multi-centre register. The study period was from June 1996 to December 2005.

Heart rupture predictors in Spanish myocardial infarction patients: evaluation using propensity score analysis.

Background: The aim was to evaluate factors associated with the development of heart rupture in a Spanish registry of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.

Material/methods: This was a retrospective study of cohorts, including all patients diagnosed with AMI included in the ARIAM Spanish multicenter registry. The study period was from June 1996 to December 2005.

Septic shock secondary to infection of a left ventricular thrombus.

We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who developed severe shock with multiorgan failure requiring admission to intensive care. Endomyocardial biopsy was performed and she was diagnosed with sepsis secondary to left ventricular thrombus abscess. Surgery was contraindicated and the patient received exclusively medical treatment; the clinical course was satisfactory and the patient is alive one year later.

Successful administration of alteplase in a venous thromboembolism crossing through a patent foramen ovale.

We describe a case report observed via an echocardiography of a venous thromboembolism (VTE) that crosses through the patent foramen ovale to the left atrium and is successfully treated with alteplase. This is a case report of a tertiary care hospital without cardiac surgery facilities. An 81-year-old female seeking medical attention for dyspnoea, arriving at hospital with hypoxaemia, hypotension and prerenal failure.

Sustained ventricular arrhythmias in unstable angina patients: results of the ARIAM database.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate patients with unstable angina (UA) and the predictive factors of these arrhythmias and to determine whether this complication behaves as an independent variable with regard to mortality, increased length of stay in an ICU/CCU, and the performance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Material/methods: The retrospective cohort study included all patients diagnosed with UA and included in the Spanish "ARIAM" database between June 1996 and December 2005. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors associated with these arrhythmias.

Cardiogenic shock in acute coronary syndrome.

This is a review of current knowledge on cardiogenic shock (CS), with particular attention to recommended management. The bibliography for the study was compiled through a search of different databases between 1966-2008. The references cited in the selected articles were also reviewed.

Administration of intrapericardial tissue adhesive after cardiac rupture and cardiac tamponade.

Objective: To describe a series of patients treated with intrapericardial glue.

Design: Case reports. Descriptive study.

Cardiogenic shock in acute coronary syndrome in the Spanish population.

Background: To evaluate the frequency and factors associated with cardiogenic shock (CS) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina (UA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Material/methods: Spanish registry. The study period was June 1996 to December 2005.

Giant right atrial thrombi treated with thrombolysis.

The present report describes giant atrial thrombi that were treated with thrombolysis in a community hospital. Two patients with giant atrial thrombi whose treatment involved complications are presented. Both patients developed cardiogenic shock and were treated unsuccessfully with thrombolysis.

[Mean length of stay and prognosis in unstable angina. Results from the ARIAM database].

Background And Objective: The objective of this project is to investigate the factors predicting mortality and mean length of stay in patients diagnosed with unstable angina (UA) during admission to the Intensive Care Unit or Critical Care Unit (ICU/CCU).

Patients And Method: A retrospective cohort study including all the UA patients listed in the Spanish ARIAM register. The study period comprised from June, 1996 to December, 2003.

Post-thrombolysis intracerebral hemorrhage: data from the Spanish Register ARIAM.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the predisposing factors in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with thrombolysis and complicated by intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), as well as the factors associated with death for patients whose conditions were complicated by ICH.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: An intensive care/critical care unit.

Reversible myocardial dysfunction after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Objective: Myocardial stunning frequently has been described in patients with an acute coronary syndrome. Recently, it has also been described in critically ill patients without ischaemic heart disease. It is possible that the most severe form of any syndrome, leading to cardio-respiratory arrest, may cause myocardial stunning.