Sudden death prevented in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The most common cause of sudden cardiac death in individuals aged less than 35 years, including competitive athletes, is the inherited disorder hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Until recently, no therapeutic intervention had been identified to prevent sudden death in HCM. This case report highlights the role of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in preventing sudden death in patients with HCM.

Long-term follow-up of implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In this study, high-risk patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were treated with an implantable defibrillator. Long-term follow-up analysis showed the efficacy of implantable defibrillator therapy, with patients having an appropriate device intervention at a rate of 11%/year, thereby preventing sudden death in an Australian population.

Optimal strategy for administering enoxaparin to patients undergoing coronary angiography without angioplasty for acute coronary syndromes.

The optimal strategy for administration of low molecular weight heparin in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing coronary angiography without percutaneous coronary intervention remains unclear. We studied postangiographic vascular complications in 325 consecutive patients (210 men and 115 women, mean age 63 years) with ACS undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography via a femoral approach followed by immediate sheath removal. At the time of angiography, 44 patients were on intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH), 229 on subcutaneous enoxaparin, and 52 on no heparin.