Novel doses of sacubitril/valsartan in patients unable to tolerate traditional therapy: Effects on N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels.

Background: Widespread use of angiotensin receptor blocker and neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) remains low, and many patients are unable to tolerate the medication due to hypotension at the currently recommended starting dose.

Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to assess if lower than standard doses of ARNI, sacubitril/valsartan (S/V), significantly reduces NT-proBNP and leads to any change in diuretic dose, serum potassium, or creatinine.

Methods: In a retrospective study of 278 patients who were started on a low dose S/V at a single medical center, 45 patients were selected for the study cohort.

RESIDENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2007 ACC/AHA GUIDELINES ON PREOPERATIVE CARDIAC EVALUATION IN NON-CARDIAC SURGERY PATIENTS: IS CLINICAL EXPERIENCE ENOUGH?

Background: Preoperative evaluation of surgical patients is important, as perioperative complications are associated with increased mortality. Specialties including anesthesiology, internal medicine, cardiology, and surgery are involved in the evaluation and management of these patients. This institutional study investigated the residents' knowledge of the 2007 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines on perioperative evaluation of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Esophageal perforation following cervical spine surgery: A review with considerations in airway management.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a commonly performed surgery for the treatment of spondylosis, radiculopathy, myelopathy, and trauma to the cervical spine. Esophageal perforation is a rare yet serious complication following ACDF with an incidence of 0.02 to 1.

New anticoagulants (dabigatran, apixaban, rivaroxaban) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.

New oral anticoagulants have been found to be as efficacious as warfarin and safer in terms of intracranial bleeding. All patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation should receive antithrombotic therapy for stroke prevention. For those at low risk, antiplatelet therapy is probably sufficient.