Clinical Updates in Women's Health Care Summary: Ischemic Heart Disease: Primary and Preventive Care Review.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. Obstetrician-gynecologists often are the sole health care providers for otherwise healthy women. Therefore, they must be aware of risk factors, signs, and symptoms of cardiovascular disease and be prepared to recognize and treat this condition in patients as well as provide referrals when specialized care is indicated.

CHADS(2) score is predictive of left atrial thrombus on precardioversion transesophageal echocardiography in atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The goals of this study were to determine: 1) if the CHADS(2) score correlates with left atrial (LA) or left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus on pre-cardioversion transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF); and 2) what, if any, components of the CHADS(2) score are most important in predicting LA/LAA thrombus.

Background: It is unknown if CHADS(2) score, a marker of thromboembolic risk in NVAF, accurately predicts LA/LAA thrombus on pre-cardioversion TEE.

Methods: We retrospectively studied patients undergoing precardioversion TEE for NVAF at a tertiary hospital.

Comparative diagnostic yield and 3-month outcomes of "triple rule-out" and standard protocol coronary CT angiography in the evaluation of acute chest pain.

Background: "Triple rule-out" CT angiography simultaneously evaluates coronary artery disease, pulmonary embolism, and aortic dissection in a single imaging examination. However, the clinical outcomes of this approach are unknown.

Objective: Using standard cardiac CT angiography as a reference, this study was performed to describe the diagnostic yield and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing triple rule-out in clinical practice.