ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Contemporary Management From the Multicenter START Registry.

Background: Recent studies suggest that primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and targeted temperature management (TTM) improve outcome in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The objective of this study was to evaluate a contemporary series of patients with STEMI and OHCA to characterize treatment approaches and predictors of neurologic outcome.

Methods: From January 2009 through November 2012, a total of 239 patients who underwent emergent coronary angiography at 10 medical centers across the United States were enrolled.

Pooled comparison of regadenoson versus adenosine for measuring fractional flow reserve and coronary flow in the catheterization laboratory.

Background: Adenosine is the gold standard for augmenting coronary flow during fractional flow reserve (FFR) testing of intermediate coronary stenoses. However, intravenous infusion is time-consuming and intracoronary injection is subject to variability. Regadenoson is a newer adenosine alternative administered as a single intravenous bolus during nuclear stress testing, but its efficacy and safety during FFR testing have been evaluated only in small, single-center studies.

Use of regadenoson for measurement of fractional flow reserve.

Objective: To compare the use of regadenoson to adenosine for measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Background: FFR is an accepted method to assess the functional significance of intermediate coronary artery stenoses and uses adenosine to induce maximal hyperemia. The use of the selective A2a receptor agonist regadenoson for FFR is not established.

The implementation of therapeutic hypothermia in the emergency department: a multi-institution case review.

Background: The use of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is a burgeoning treatment modality for post-cardiac arrest patients.

Objectives: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent post-cardiac arrest TH at eight different institutions across the United States. Our objectives were to assess how TH is currently being implemented in emergency departments and to examine the feasibility of conducting TH research using multi-institution prospective data.

Reversal of warfarin-induced hemorrhage in the emergency department.

Warfarin, an oral vitamin K antagonist, is used to prevent arterial and venous thromboembolism in patients suffering from a multitude of diseases. In 2004, 31 million warfarin prescriptions were dispensed in the United States. Warfarin inhibits the activation of the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors (Factors II, VII, IX, and X) and regulatory proteins (proteins C, S, and Z).