Impact of sex-specific target dose in chronic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: A recent study suggested that women with heart failure and heart failure reduced ejection fraction might hypothetically need lower doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers ( = renin-angiotensin-system inhibitors) and β-blockers than men to achieve the best outcome. We assessed the current medical treatment of heart failure reduced ejection fraction in men and women in a large contemporary cohort and address the hypothetical impact of changing treatment levels in women.

Methods: This analysis is part of a large contemporary quality of heart failure care project which includes 5320 (64%) men and 3003 (36%) women with heart failure reduced ejection fraction.

Differences in guideline-recommended heart failure medication between Dutch heart failure clinics: an analysis of the CHECK-HF registry.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is associated with poor prognosis, high morbidity and mortality. The prognosis can be optimised by guideline adherence, which also can be used as a benchmark of quality of care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in use of HF medication between Dutch HF clinics.

Veno arterial-extra corporal membrane oxygenation for the treatment of cardiac failure in patients with infective endocarditis.

Introduction: Surgery for infective endocarditis imposes great challenges in post-operative circulatory and pulmonary support but the role of veno-arterial extra-corporal membrane oxygenation in this respect is unclear.

Methods: All patients undergoing veno-arterial extra-corporal membrane oxygenation after infective endocarditis surgery were analysed for age, gender, medical history, microorganisms, clinical outcome, complications and surgical procedure.

Results: Between 2012 and 2016, 13 patients received veno-arterial extra-corporal membrane oxygenation following infective endocarditis surgery.