Post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defects: incidence and treatment trends during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a serious complication of myocardial infarction (MI), with its global incidence significantly reduced in recent years due to advances in coronary reperfusion techniques. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an unexpected rise in the incidence of post-MI VSD, likely driven by delays in seeking treatment. This study retrospectively analyzed 10 cases of post-MI VSD treated at our hospitals from March 2018 to August 2023, comparing incidence rates across pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.

Evolocumab Treatment in Dyslipidemic Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: One-Year Safety and Efficacy Results.

The inhibition of PCSK9 lowered LDL cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. However, the effect on patients who have undergone surgical myocardial revascularization has not yet been evaluated. From January 2017 to December 2022, 180 dyslipidemic patients who underwent coronary artery bypass were included in the study.

Safety and Efficacy of PCSK9 Inhibitors in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Who Underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts: A Comparative Retrospective Analysis.

. The in-hospital reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is recommended in the current clinical guidelines. However, the efficacy of proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors in those patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) has never been demonstrated.

Infective Endocarditis After Percutaneous Device Closure of Atrial Septal Defects: Incidence, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Case Report and Literature Review.

Infective endocarditis (IE) on atrial septal defect (ASD) closure devices, while extremely rare, has been reported to be more frequent early after the procedure. We describe a case of late IE after percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO). We also performed a literature review on this subject.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass Settings for the Prevention of Early Hypotension During CABG.

Background: Vasoplegic syndrome is a form of vasodilatory shock that can occur before, during or after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We introduce a strategy to reduce the incidence of early hypotension phenomena during Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) procedures.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 100 patients underwent elective CABG with two perioperative CPB settings.

The impact of UEFA Euro 2020 football championship on Takotsubo Syndrome: Results of a multicenter national registry.

Objectives: The UEFA 2020 European Football Championship held in multiple cities across Europe from June 11 to July 11, 2021, was won by Italy, providing an opportunity to examine the relationship between emotional stress and the incidence of acute cardiovascular events (ACE).

Methods And Results: Cardiovascular hospitalizations in the Cardiac Care Units of 49 hospital networks in Italy were assessed by emergency physicians during the UEFA Euro 2020 Football Championship. We compared the events that occurred during matches involving Italy with events that occurred during the remaining days of the championship as the control period.

[ANMCO Position paper: Care pathway for advanced heart failure patients candidate for heart transplantation/ventricular assist device].

Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome with a severe prognosis, despite therapeutic progress. The management of the advanced stages of the syndrome is particularly complex in patients who are referred to palliative care as well as in those who are candidates for cardiac replacement therapy. For the latter group, a prompt recognition of the transition to the advanced stage as well as an early referral to the centers for cardiac replacement therapy are essential elements to ensure that patients follow the most appropriate diagnostic-therapeutic pathway.

ANMCO POSITION PAPER: Timing of coronary angiography in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

The European Society of Cardiology guidelines on non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes suggest different temporal strategies for the angiographic study depending on the risk profile. The scientific evidence underlying the guideline recommendations and the critical issues currently existing in Italy, that often do not allow either an extended strategy of revascularization within 24 h or the application of the principle of the same day transfer from a spoke to a hub centre, are analysed. The position paper focuses, in particular, on the subgroup of patients with a defined diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction by proposing a timing of coronary angiography/revascularization that takes into account the available scientific evidence and the organizational possibilities of a considerable part of national cardiology services.

ANMCO POSITION PAPER: The reorganization of cardiology in times of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented event that has brought deep changes in hospital facilities with reshaping of the health system organization, revealing inadequacies of current hospital and local health systems. When the COVID-19 emergency will end, further evaluation of the national health system, new organization of acute wards, and a further evolution of the entire health system will be needed to improve care during the chronic phase of disease. Therefore, new standards for healthcare personnel, more efficient organization of hospital facilities for patients with acute illnesses, improvement of technological approaches, and better integration between hospital and territorial services should be pursued.

[ANMCO Position paper: Reorganization of cardiology in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic].

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented event that has brought deep changes in hospital facilities with reshaping of the health system organization, revealing inadequacies of current hospital and local health systems. When the COVID-19 emergency will end, further evaluation of the national health system, new organization of acute wards, and a further evolution of the entire health system will be needed to improve care during the chronic phase of disease. Therefore, new standards for healthcare personnel, more efficient organization of hospital facilities for patients with acute illnesses, improvement of technological approaches, and better integration between hospital and territorial services should be pursued.

[ANMCO Position paper: Timing of coronary angiography in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome].

The European Society of Cardiology guidelines on non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes suggest different temporal strategies for the angiographic study depending on the risk profile. The scientific evidence underlying the guideline recommendations and the critical issues currently existing in Italy that often do not allow either an extended strategy of revascularization within 24 h or the application of the principle of the same day transfer from a spoke to a hub center are analyzed. The position paper focuses, in particular, on the subgroup of patients with a defined diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction by proposing a timing of coronary angiography/revascularization that takes into account the available scientific evidence and the organizational possibilities of a considerable part of national cardiology services.

Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol versus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in clinical practice: ANMCO position paper.

Bloodstream cholesterol is a central contributor to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. For several decades, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been the main biomarker for the prediction of cardiovascular events and therapeutic target of lipid-lowering treatments. More recently, several findings have supported the greater reliability of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) as a predictive factor and possible therapeutic target in refining antiatherogenic treatments, especially among patients with lower LDL-C and higher triglyceride values.

Updated clinical evidence and place in therapy of bempedoic acid for hypercholesterolemia: ANMCO position paper.

The central role of high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has led to research focused on lipid-lowering agents for cardiovascular risk reduction. Bempedoic acid is an emerging treatment for hypercholesterolemia that has recently been approved for marketing in the United States and Europe. This review focuses on its mechanism of action and summarizes the main preclinical study findings.

ANMCO POSITION PAPER: The role of cardiology in the management of the health needs in the post-Covid-19 era.

At the end of 2019 a new Coronavirus appeared in China and, from there, it spread to the rest of the world. On 24th May, 2020, the confirmed cases in the world were more than 5 million and the deaths almost 350.000.

Evaluation of Safe and Effectiveness of an Injectable Solution Acid Deoxycholic Based for Reduction of Localized Adiposities.

Background: The use of deoxycholic acid to reduce localized fat deposits is a procedure that has been in use for about 30 years. Its effectiveness as treatment is due to emulsification of phospholipids and therefore, solubilization of the biological membranes with resulting fat necrosis. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness and the safety of an injectable solution containing sodium deoxycholtate 1.