Comparison of antithrombotic agents during urgent percutaneous coronary intervention following thrombolytic therapy: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The optimal antithrombotic regimen for urgent percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) following thrombolytic therapy for ST segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) is currently unknown.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients referred to our institution from January 2005 to July 2014 who underwent urgent PCI within 24 hr after receiving thrombolytic therapy. The patients were divided into three cohorts based on the anticoagulation strategy during PCI-bivalirudin, heparin alone or heparin plus Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI).

Influence of low-dose aspirin (81 mg) on the incidence of definite stent thrombosis in patients receiving bare-metal and drug-eluting stents.

Background: Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin plus clopidogrel is the mainstay of therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the optimal dose of aspirin following PCI has not been established.

Hypothesis: There is no difference for definite stent thrombosis in patients taking low dose versus standard aspirin.

Initial experience with CentriMag extracorporal membrane oxygenation for support of critically ill patients with refractory cardiogenic shock.

Background: Cardiogenic shock refractory to conventional therapy has very high mortality and limited support options. New technology with peripherally inserted CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) extracorporal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may have the potential to significantly improve survival in these critically ill patients. Outcomes of the first 10 patients to receive this device at our institutions are presented.

Successful treatment of peripartum cardiomyopathy with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

A 24-year-old female developed heart failure within four months of delivering her first child. Echocardiogram revealed a moderately dilated left ventricle with severely reduced systolic function. She continued to decompensate, requiring intubation and inotropic support.

Severe complications of a "Brazilian" bikini wax.

A 20-year-old Australian woman with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes presented with life-threatening Streptococcus pyogenes and Herpes simplex infection of her external genitalia following a routine perineal "Brazilian" bikini wax. Extensive pubic hair removal is now common among young adults in Australia and elsewhere. However, the infectious risks of these practices, particularly among immunosuppressed individuals, are often underappreciated.