Reducing length of stay with the direct oral anti-coagulants in low and intermediate risk pulmonary embolism: a single center experience

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Direct oral anti-coagulants (DOACs) reduce hospital length-of-stay (LOS) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in clinical trials. There is a...     

Diagnostic and prognostic value of ambulatory ECG (Holter) monitoring in patients with coronary heart disease: a review

Silent ischemia, the most common expression of atherosclerotic heart disease, affects approximately 30–50% of patients during their activities of daily living. The present review provides a comprehensive and practical summary of current knowledge on perioperative myocardial ischemia through MEDLINE searches up to June 2005, using keywords including “silent ischemia,” “transient ischemia,” and “Holter monitoring.” Holter monitoring (i.e., continuous ambulatory ST-segment monitoring) is an effective tool for assessing the frequency and duration of silent transient myocardial ischemia, particularly in patients who are post-acute myocardial infarction (MI), those with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and in patients in the acute post-operative period. Holter monitoring allows for further risk stratification of patients who have a positive exercise ECG by collecting long-term ECG data on ischemic and arrhythmic events while patients perform routine activities. Both the presence and increased duration of transient ischemia as detected by continuous ST-segment Holter monitoring are associated with increased rates of coronary events and mortality. Holter monitoring may aid in the identification of patients and subgroups of patients with ACS who may derive the greatest benefit from antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy. Indeed, many ongoing and upcoming trials of pharmacotherapy include ischemia on Holter monitoring as an endpoint.     

A narrative review of red blood cell distribution width as a marker for pulmonary embolism

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a marker of variability in red blood cell size, and is routinely reported as part of a patient’s complete...     

Radiation-induced heart disease

Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is becoming an increasing concern for patients and clinicians alike as the use of radiation therapy for the treatment of certain malignancies increases, and patient mortality secondary to neoplasms of the thorax, in particular Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer, decreases. The spectrum of pathology affecting the heart spans from acute to chronic and can affect almost all facets of the heart, including but not restricted to the pericardial sac, coronary arteries, myocardium, and heart valves. Significant research has been conducted over the past 40 years to further understand the toxic effects of radiation therapy and those protective methods that could curtail these adverse reactions. This article will focus on RIHD, the pathophysiological mechanisms for RIHD, the clinical presentations, and current and future directions for attempting to reduce the incidence of this condition.     

Impact of iodinated contrast injections on percent diameter coronary arterial stenosis and implications for trials of intracoronary pharmacotherapies in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Administration of fibrinolytic, antiplatelet, and antithrombotic agents by the intracoronary route may disaggregate clot, but the potential role of the mechanical force of the injection itself in decreasing clot burden has not been studied. Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who were pretreated in the emergency room (ER) with unfractionated heparin and aspirin in the TITAN-TIMI 34 study were randomized to treatment with eptifibatide in the ER (n = 131) versus after diagnostic catheterization (n = 150). Quantitative coronary angiography was used to assess change in diameter stenosis from time of first contrast injection to injection before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) immediately preceding wire placement down the culprit artery in a matching view. Successful perfusion of the myocardium was assessed after PCI by the presence of Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction myocardial perfusion grade of 2 or 3. In patients treated with eptifibatide in the ER, there was a 1.3% absolute improvement in diameter stenosis from the first injection to the injection before PCI (p = 0.02), whereas there was no change in diameter stenosis in patients not treated with eptifibatide in the ER (0.0%, p = NS). Each 1% improvement in percent diameter stenosis during diagnostic injections before PCI was strongly correlated with an open muscle after PCI (adjusted odds ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.16, p = 0.012). In conclusion, the mechanical force of a contrast injection decreases thrombotic burden in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction pretreated with eptifibatide but not with placebo. Future trials of intracoronary pharmacotherapies should include a control arm in which saline is injected to account for the potential clot disaggregation that occurs as a result of iodinated contrast injections, particularly if the patient has been pretreated with aggressive pharmacotherapy.