Publications by authors named "Ramon van Loon"

The acute response to therapeutic afterload reduction differs between heart failure with preserved (HFpEF) versus reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), with larger left ventricular (LV) stroke work augmentation in HFrEF compared to HFpEF. This may (partially) explain the neutral effect of HFrEF-medication in HFpEF. It is unclear whether such differences in hemodynamic response persist and/or differentially trigger reverse remodeling in case of long-term afterload reduction.

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Background: Left atrial volume index (LAVI) serves as a crucial marker for assessing left atrial (LA) remodeling, particularly in patients with mitral valve regurgitation (MR). Recent guidelines recommend a LAVI exceeding 60 mL/m as Class IIa recommendation for mitral valve repair surgery in asymptomatic MR patients with preserved left ventricular function. Traditionally, echocardiography is the standard for assessing LAVI in MR patients.

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We present the case of a patient who was shot through the heart with an air rifle and presented in a stable condition at our emergency department. At the time of presentation, the bullet was still present within the myocardium. Imaging, management, and outcome are discussed in this report.

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Background: Cor triatriatum sinistra (CTS) is a rare condition where the left atrium (LA) is divided by a thin membrane into an upper and lower chamber. Incidentally, the diagnosis is made in late adulthood, usually because of a favourable variant such as in our patient who presented with partial CTS.

Case Summary: We present the case of a 62-year-old female who presented with COVID-19.

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Background: The invasive microvascular function indices, coronary flow reserve (CFR) and the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), exhibit a dynamic pattern after ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. The effects of microvascular injury on the evolution of the microvascular function and the prognostic significance of the evolution of microvascular function are unknown. We investigated the relationship between the temporal changes of CFR and IMR, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance-derived microvascular injury characteristics in reperfused ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients, and their association with 1-month left ventricular ejection fraction and infarct size (IS).

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Article Synopsis
  • Chest CT (ULDCT) was evaluated against chest X-ray (CXR) to see which better impacts health outcomes for patients with suspected lung disease in the emergency department.
  • A randomized clinical trial included 2418 patients, measuring their health status 28 days later using a specific health score, along with hospital admission rates and lengths of stay.
  • Results showed that while ULDCT provided slightly better health scores and found more incidental issues, overall short-term health and admissions were similar to those using CXR, suggesting ULDCT isn't necessary for routine use in these cases.
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  • Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) require quick restoration of blood flow, and a new method called sonothrombolysis uses ultrasound and microbubbles to break down clots and improve blood circulation.
  • A study tested the feasibility of using sonothrombolysis in ambulances for STEMI patients, assessing how long the treatment lasted and its safety during patient transport.
  • Out of twelve screened patients, three were treated; the method showed promising results without complications, highlighting the need for larger clinical trials to confirm its effectiveness and safety.
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To evaluate the effect of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) on left ventricular (LV) strain assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) tissue tracking. In 150 patients with a CTO, longitudinal (LS), radial (RS) and circumferential shortening (CS) were determined using CMR tissue tracking before and 3 months after successful PCI. In patients with impaired LV strain at baseline, global LS (10.

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Objectives: This study evaluated myocardial viability as well as global and regional functional recovery after successful chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using sequential quantitative cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Background: The patient benefits of CTO PCI are being questioned.

Methods: In a single high-volume CTO PCI center patients were prospectively scheduled for CMR at baseline and 3 months after successful CTO PCI between 2013 and 2018.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study was conducted on 552 patients who were resuscitated after cardiac arrest without STEMI, comparing immediate versus delayed coronary angiography and its impact on heart function.
  • Results showed no significant improvement in left ventricular function, with ejection fractions of 45.2% and 48.4% for immediate and delayed groups, respectively.
  • The conclusion indicates that immediate coronary angiography does not enhance heart dimensions or function compared to delaying the procedure after neurological recovery.
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We report a case of a 73-year-old female patient, who was admitted to the coronary care unit due to chest pain, malaise and near syncope. During physical examination, the patient was hypotensive and there were signs of left-sided heart failure and a loud systolic murmur. Echocardiogram showed apical ballooning with dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, based on systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve with important mitral valve regurgitation.

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A 74-year-old man returned to the clinic for follow-up of residual nonculprit lesions after reperfused acute inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Stress cardiac magnetic resonance perfusion imaging demonstrated a severe perfusion defect in the anterior wall. Surprisingly, subsequent invasive assessment did not reveal hemodynamically significant obstruction in the nonculprit vessels.

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Aims: This study aimed to evaluate associations between coronary collaterals and myocardial viability as assessed by quantitative cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients with a chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO).

Methods And Results: A total of 218 patients with a CTO who underwent CMR between 2013 and 2018 were included. A concomitant collateral connection (CC) score 2 and Rentrop grade 3 defined well-developed collaterals in 146 (67%) patients, whereas lower CC scores or Rentrop grades characterised poorly developed collaterals.

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Objectives: This study sought to determine the agreement between cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and invasive measurements of fractional flow reserve (FFR) in the evaluation of nonculprit lesions after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In addition, we investigated whether fully quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion is superior to semiquantitative and visual analysis.

Background: The agreement between CMR and FFR in the evaluation of nonculprit lesions in patients with STEMI with multivessel disease is unknown.

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The annual incidence of hospital admission for acute myocardial infarction lies between 90 and 312 per 100 000 inhabitants in Europe. Despite advances in patient care 1 year mortality after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains around 10%. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has emerged as a robust imaging modality for assessing patients after acute myocardial injury.

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Background: Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) not treated with primary or rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at risk for recurrent ischemia. In non-high risk patients, with proven viability in the infarct-area, the VIAMI trial showed benefit of early in-hospital stenting of the infarct-related coronary artery for the composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or unstable angina (UA) at 1 year follow-up. In this study we evaluated the long-term outcome (median 8 years) of patients included in the VIAMI-trial.

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Background: Viability seems to be important in preventing ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We investigated the influence of viability, as demonstrated with low-dose dobutamine echocardiography, and the role of early revascularization on the process of left ventricular (LV) remodeling after AMI.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 224 patients who were initially included in the viability-guided angioplasty after acute myocardial infarction-trial (VIAMI-trial).

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Background: Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) not treated with primary or rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at risk for recurrent ischemia, especially when viability in the infarct-area is present. Therefore, an invasive strategy with PCI of the infarct-related coronary artery in patients with viability would reduce the occurrence of a composite end point of death, reinfarction, or unstable angina (UA).

Methods: Patients admitted with an (sub)acute myocardial infarction, who were not treated by primary or rescue PCI, and who were stable during the first 48 hours after the acute event, were screened for the study.

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BACKGROUND: Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is becoming the standard therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), to date most patients, even in developed countries, are reperfused with intravenous thrombolysis or do not receive a reperfusion therapy at all. In the post-lysis period these patients are at high risk for recurrent ischemic events. Early identification of these patients is mandatory as this subgroup could possibly benefit from an angioplasty of the infarct-related artery.

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