-
Percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an emerging technique for the treatment of aortic stenosis (AS). By this method, a bioprosthetic valve (bovine pericardium) attached to a stent can be deployed in the aortic valve position via a catheter delivery system inserted through either the femoral artery or via the apex of the left ventricle. This technique is available in Europe and is being considered by the FDA for release in the United States.
-
In this paper, the authors present data from the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT) on the circumstances and outcomes of cardiac arrest after myocardial infarction (MI).
-
This paper presents data from the Nurses' Health Study. This is a large study that was begun in 1976 which surveyed nurses with initial ages between 30 and 55 and collected data on lifestyle and other risk factors and correlated these data with the development of cardiac disease.
-
New emphasis on optimal medical therapy in atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease has focused attention on the short-term variability of blood pressure (BP) measurements and the difficulty this poses for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.
-
High-dose loop diuretics are often necessary to reduce elevated filling pressures in patients with heart failure. However, they are known to activate neurohormonal mechanisms that may be harmful.
-
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is now accepted as a disease-modifying therapy in patients with heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, and intraventricular conduction defects. In this paper, Sipahi and colleagues review the data on the benefits of CRT in relationship to baseline QRS duration.
-
-
ACEI/ARB therapy for AS; safety alert issued for dronedarone; statins and cancer risk; nesiritide and heart failure; and FDA actions.
-
The echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function of the left ventricle (LV) involves five measurements derived from two-dimensional imaging, pulsed Doppler, Color M-mode, and tissue Doppler. Not only is it complicated, but sometimes the measurements are discordant.
-
Computed tomography (CT) imaging has progressed substantially in recent years, and we are now able to non-invasively image coronary artery disease in many patients.
