Atrial fibrillation after surgical correction of mitral regurgitation in sinus rhythm: incidence, outcome, and determinants.

Background: The incidence, determinants, and outcome of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) after surgery for mitral regurgitation (MR) are poorly defined but may have important implications for timing of mitral valve surgery.

Methods And Results: In 762 patients in sinus rhythm with no AF history undergoing MR surgical correction, we examined the rates and prognostic implications of postoperative AF for early AF (within 2 weeks postoperatively) and late AF (>2 weeks after surgery). During postoperative follow-up, 180 patients (24%) experienced new AF (early AF in 136 and late AF in 111).

Does beta-blocker therapy improve clinical outcomes of acute myocardial infarction after successful primary angioplasty?

Objectives: We sought to determine if beta-blocker therapy improves clinical outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: We have shown that pre-treatment with beta-blockers has a beneficial effect on short-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing primary PCI for AMI. It is unknown if beta-blocker therapy after successful primary PCI improves prognosis of AMI.

The incidence, predictors, and outcomes of early reinfarction after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: We sought to identify the incidence, predictors, and clinical consequences of one-month reinfarction (RE-MI) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Background: One-month reinfarction after AMI significantly increases long-term mortality; however, little is known about the incidence and predictors of RE-MI in patients undergoing primary angioplasty.

Methods: We analyzed data from 3,646 patients who underwent primary PCI in the Primary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction (PAMI) studies.

Percutaneous atrial septostomy for urgent palliative treatment of severe refractory cardiogenic shock due to right ventricular infarction.

We report a novel palliative treatment to improve refractory cardiogenic shock due to right ventricular ischemia. We performed percutaneous atrial septostomy to create an atrial septal defect, which resulted in immediate right ventricular decompression and increased left ventricular filling associated with prompt and dramatic hemodynamic and clinical improvement.