Acute coronary syndrome due to coronary vasospasm: a case report.

Coronary vasospasm can lead to decreased cardiac perfusion and result in acute coronary syndrome. Here is a case of a 49-year-old man presented to the emergency department with epigastric pain and nausea with normal initial electrocardiogram. However, 6 h later, the patient experienced severe chest pain prompting a repeat electrocardiogram demonstrating inferior ST-segment elevation with troponin I levels peaked at 1.

Outpatient Continuous Intravenous Inotropy in the Modern Era.

The use of continuous inotropy in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) has been historically controversial due to the prevailing notion that it will increase mortality. In practice, clinicians have continued to revisit this idea as there remains a lack of treatment options for patients in stage D HF. Clinical trials in the past have generally not shown favorable effects of long-term chronic infusions of positive IV inotropic agents on symptoms and exercise tolerance.

The Impact of Long COVID-19 on the Cardiovascular System.

Long coronavirus disease (COVID) is the development or persistence of symptoms after an acute SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. Fewer patients are developing acute COVID-19 infections, but patients with long COVID continue to have alarming long-term sequelae. Many cardiac magnetic resonance imaging studies show significant changes in cardiac structure after a COVID-19 infection, suggestive of an increased burden of many cardiovascular diseases, notably myocarditis.

Treatment of Acute Heart Failure with Acetazolamide.

The primary treatment for acute heart failure includes the use of intravenous loop diuretics to reduce congestion. Successful decongestion at the time of hospital discharge improves mortality and prevents rehospitalization in these patients. Loop diuretic therapy alone may not be enough for adequate decongestion, especially as diuretic resistance becomes more common.

Ultrasound Guidance for Vascular Access for Coronary Angiogram: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Obtaining vascular access during percutaneous coronary intervention is necessary to facilitate the procedure but carries procedural risks that impact patient outcomes. Historically, vascular access has been accomplished using anatomic landmarks, pulsation, and/or fluoroscopic guidance. Ultrasound (US) guidance has emerged as a modality for achieving vascular access in a multitude of interventional procedures including those in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Impella devices: a comprehensive review of their development, use, and impact on cardiogenic shock and high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction: Impella devices have emerged as a critical tool for temporary mechanical circulatory support (TMCS) in the management of cardiogenic shock (CS) and high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The purpose of this review is to examine the history of the different Impella devices, their hemodynamic profiles, and how the data supports their use.

Areas Covered: This review covers the development and specifications of the Impella 2.

Emerging Modalities for Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support in Cardiogenic Shock.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life-threatening medical condition that requires prompt recognition and treatment. The use of standardized CS criteria, such as the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions criteria, can categorize patients and guide therapeutic strategies. Temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have become valuable tools in the treatment of CS, as they can provide cardiovascular support as a bridge to recovery, cardiac surgery, or advanced therapies such as cardiac transplant or durable ventricular assist devices.

The Role of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Cardiovascular Management.

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide in patients with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes confers an elevated risk of developing heart failure and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Until recently, there have been limited options to prevent and reduce the cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes.

Healthcare Disparities in Cardiovascular Medicine.

There are significant healthcare disparities in cardiovascular medicine that represent a challenge for cardiologists and healthcare policy-makers who wish to provide equitable care. Disparities exist in both the management and outcomes of hypertension, coronary artery disease and its sequelae, and heart failure. These disparities are present along the lines of race, gender, and socioeconomic status.

Review of the Metabolic Risk Factors for Increased Severity of Coronavirus Disease-2019.

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented many new challenges to the healthcare community with the sheer number of individuals affected and the range of symptoms at presentation. Early findings have shown that increased age is an independent risk factor for COVID-19 severity. Diabetes and hypertension were also found to be strong independent risk factors for severe COVID-19.