Postangioplasty restenosis rate between segments of the major coronary arteries

__Abstract__ Conflicting data have been published regarding the rate of postangioplasty restenosis observed in diverse segments of the coronary tree. However, these studies may be criticized for their biased selection of patients, methods of analysis, and definitions of restenosis. In the present study, 1,353 patients underwent a successful coronary dilatation of ≥1 site. In all, 1,234 patients (91%) had a f

The role of cell tracing and fate mapping experiments in cardiac outflow tract development, new opportunities through emerging technologies

Whilst knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of congenital heart disease (CHDs) has advanced greatly in recent years, the underlying developmental processes affecting the cardiac outflow tract (OFT) such as bicuspid aortic valve, tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great arteries remain poorly understood. Common among CHDs affecting the OFT, is a large variation in disease phenotypes. Even though the different cell lineages contributing to OFT development have been studied for many decades, it remains challenging to relate cell lineage dynamics to the morphologic variation observed in OFT pathologies. We postulate that the variation observed in cellular contribution in these congenital heart diseases might be related to underlying cell lineage dynamics of which little is known. We believe this gap in knowledge is mainly the result of technical limitations in experimental methods used for cell lineage analysis. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of historical fate mapping and cell tracing techniques used to study OFT development and introduce emerging technologies which provide new opportunities that will aid our understanding of the cellular dynamics underlying OFT pathology.Cardiolog

Antibiotic prophylaxis for acute cholecystectomy: PEANUTS II multicentre randomized non-inferiority clinical trial

BACKGROUND\nMETHODS\nRESULTS\nCONCLUSION\nGuidelines recommending antibiotic prophylaxis at emergency cholecystectomy for cholecystitis were based on low-quality evidence. The aim of this trial was to demonstrate that omitting antibiotics is not inferior to their prophylactic use.\nThis multicentre, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority clinical trial randomly assigned adults with mild-to-moderate acute calculous cholecystitis (immediate cholecystectomy indicated) to 2 g cefazolin administered before incision or no antibiotic prophylaxis. The primary endpoint was a composite of all postoperative infectious complications in the first 30 days after surgery. Secondary endpoints included all individual components of the primary endpoint, other morbidity, and duration of hospital stay.\nSixteen of 226 patients (7.1 per cent) in the single-dose prophylaxis group and 29 of 231 (12.6 per cent) in the no-prophylaxis group developed postoperative infectious complications (absolute difference 5.5 (95 per cent c.i. -0.4 to 11.3) per cent). With a non-inferiority margin of 10 per cent, non-inferiority of no prophylaxis was not proven. The number of surgical-site infections was significantly higher in the no-prophylaxis group (5.3 versus 12.1 per cent; P = 0.010). No differences were observed in the number of other complications, or duration of hospital stay.\nOmitting antibiotic prophylaxis is not recommended.Pharmacolog

Conservative versus invasive strategy in elderly patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: insights from the international POPular age registry

This registry assessed the impact of conservative and invasive strategies on major adverse clinical events (MACE) in elderly patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Patients aged ≥75 years with NSTEMI were prospectively registered from European centers and followed up for one year. Outcomes were compared between conservative and invasive groups in the overall population and a propensity score-matched (PSM) cohort. MACE included cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, and stroke. The study included 1190 patients (median age 80 years, 43% female). CAG was performed in 67% (N = 798), with two-thirds undergoing revascularization. Conservatively treated patients had higher baseline risk. After propensity score matching, 319 patient pairs were successfully matched. MACE occurred more frequently in the conservative group (total population 20% vs. 12%, adjHR 0.53, 95% CI 0.37–0.77, p = 0.001), remaining significant in the PSM cohort (18% vs. 12%, adjHR 0.50, 95% CI 0.31–0.81, p = 0.004). In conclusion, an early invasive strategy was associated with benefits over conservative management in elderly patients with NSTEMI. Risk factors associated with ischemia and bleeding should guide strategy selection rather than solely relying on age

Anticoagulation with or without Clopidogrel after Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation

BACKGROUND The roles of anticoagulation alone or with an antiplatelet agent after transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) have not been well studied. METHODS We performed a randomized trial of clopidogrel in patients undergoing TAVI who were receiving oral anticoagulation for appropriat

Diagnosing Heart Failure in Primary Care

The aim of this thesis is to assess diagnostic strategies in patients suspected of heart failure (defined as a syndrome in which patients suffer from the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body) in primary care. B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP or NT-proBNP, a blood sample measurement) is used as a leverage to assess diagnostic strategies encompassing besides BNP other diagnostic tests as well, with special emphasis on physical examination. Diagnostic research is about using the appropriate patient domain: patients suspected of the disease. And diagnostic research is about multivariable hierarchical tests resulting in an estimated probability of presence of disease. A new diagnostic test should have additional value on top of the other tests usually performed, including history taking and physical examination. In the main study, the Utrecht Heart Failure Organisation – Initial Assessment (UHFO-IA) study, data were collected of 721 patients with suspected heart failure After referral 207 (28.7%) were categorized as having heart failure and 514 as not (yet). A diagnostic rule, based on signs and symptoms, the patient’s medical history and the plasma NT-proBNP test, was derived to help general practitioners decide whether the patient has heart failure. The UHFO rule includes 10 items: age; history of myocardial infarction, CABG or PCI; using a loop diuretic; displaced apex beat; pulmonary rales; irregular pulse; pulse rate; heart murmur; elevated jugular venous pressure and the NT-proBNP level. The rule output is an estimated probability of heart failure present. This study estimated the quantitative diagnostic contribution of elements of the history and physical examination in the diagnosis of heart failure in primary care patients, and may help to improve clinical decision making. The largest additional quantitative diagnostic contribution to those elements was provided by NT-proBNP. The UHFO rule was assessed with respect to cost-effectiveness. Application of UHFO rule based diagnostic strategies are explored over the full course of the patient, starting from being suspected of the disease, being diagnosed timely or later, being treated and experiencing the vicious nature of heart failure, frequently experiencing hospital admissions until an often early death. it is cost effective to apply the UHFO diagnostic rule to arrive at one of three outcomes: 1) heart failure probably not present (probability 80%); start treatment and 3) diagnostic uncertainty remains; refer for cardiology consultation. In the general discussion it is argued that diagnostic studies assessing the value of items from physical examination in suspected heart failure, but also in other suspected diseases, have been too small and often lacked a valid study design. As a consequence, these studies tend to discredit solitary elements of the physical examination. The plea is made to perform large descriptive studies in the relevant patient domain, optimally designed to study the value of diagnostic tests, including findings from physical examination

Clinically relevant diagnostic research in primary care: the example of B-type natriuretic peptides in the detection of heart failure

With the emergence of novel diagnostic tests, e.g. point-of-care tests, clinically relevant empirical evidence is needed to assess whether such a test should be used in daily practice. With the example of the value of B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP) in the diagnostic assessment of suspected heart failure, we will discuss the major methodological issues crucial in diagnostic research; most notably the choice of the study population and the data analysis with a multivariable approach. BNP have been studied extensively in the emergency care setting, and also several studies in the primary care are available. The usefulness of this test when applied in combination with other readily available tests is still not adequately addressed in the relevant patient domain, i.e. those who are clinically suspected of heart failure by their GP. Future diagnostic research in primary care should be targeted much more at answering the clinically relevant question 'Is it useful to add this (new) test to the other tests I usually perform, including history taking and physical examination, in patients I suspect of having a certain disease'

Predicting hospital mortality among frequently readmitted patients: HSMR biased by readmission.

BACKGROUND: Casemix adjusted in-hospital mortality is one of the measures used to improve quality of care. The adjustment currently used does not take into account the effects of readmission, because reliable data on readmission is not readily available through routinely collected databases. We have studied the impact of readmissions by linking admissions of the same patient, and as a result were able to compare hospital mortality among frequently, as opposed to, non-frequently readmitted patients. We also formulated a method to adjust for readmission for the calculation of hospital standardised mortality ratios (HSMRs). METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal retrospective analysis of routinely collected hospital data of six large non-university teaching hospitals in the Netherlands with casemix adjusted standardised mortality ratios ranging from 65 to 114 and a combined value of 93 over a five-year period. Participants concerned 240662 patients admitted 418566 times in total during the years 2003 - 2007. Predicted deaths by the HSMR model 2008 over a five-year period were compared with observed deaths. RESULTS: Numbers of readmissions per patient differ substantially between the six hospitals, up to a factor of 2. A large interaction was found between numbers of admissions per patient and HSMR-predicted risks. Observed deaths for frequently admitted patients were significantly lower than HSMR-predicted deaths, which could be explained by uncorrected factors surrounding readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted more frequently show lower risks of dying on average per admission. This decline in risk is only partly detected by the current HSMR. Comparing frequently admitted patients to non-frequently admitted patients commits the constant risk fallacy and potentially lowers HSMRs of hospitals treating many frequently admitted patients and increases HSMRs of hospitals treating many non-frequently admitted patients. This misleading effect can only be demonstrated by an analysis over a prolonged period, but occurs, in effect, every day of the year. This finding is relevant for all countries where hospitals use HSMR for monitoring and improving hospital performance. The use of 'admission frequency' as additional adjustment variable may provide a more accurate HSMR. (aut. ref.