Case Report: Transient Stress Hyperglycemia in the Patient With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Transient stress hyperglycemia in the setting of acute myocardial infarction is a frequent phenomenon. Its transient nature should not dissuade the clinician from management of elevated blood glucose in a patient after an ST-elevation myocardial infarction. This case presents an adult patient after an ST-elevation myocardial infarction with transient stress hyperglycemia and the evidence used to identify optimal pharmacologic management and secondary prevention.     

Three-year duration of benefit from abciximab in patients receiving stents for acute myocardial infarction in the randomized double-blind ADMIRAL study

Aims The Abciximab Before Direct Angioplasty and Stenting inMyocardial Infarction Regarding Acute and Long-term Follow-up(ADMIRAL) study demonstrated that early inhibition of the plateletglycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa) receptor with abciximabled to improved coronary patency, left ventricular function,and clinical outcomes. The current long-term follow-up studyevaluated the durability of the positive outcomes. Methods and results The randomized double-blind ADMIRAL trialenrolled 300 patients who received either abciximab plus stentingor placebo plus stenting for the treatment of ST-elevation myocardialinfarction (STEMI). Abciximab (bolus of 0.25 mg/kg bodyweight, followed by 12 h infusion of 0.125 µg/kgper min) was administered to 149 patients, whereas 151 patientsreceived placebo. Long-term follow-up was conducted in a blindedmanner by either patient chart review or telephone interview.Long-term follow-up data were obtained on 288 patients (96%).After 3 years, using an intent-to-treat analysis, the outcomeof all-cause mortality occurred in 9.1% of abciximab-treatedpatients when compared with 12.2% of placebo patients, absoluteand relative risk reductions of 3.1 and 25%, respectively (P=0.36).Parallel Kaplan–Meier curves were observed for the cumulativeincidence of death or re-infarction, which was reduced from16.9% in the placebo group to 11.8% in the abciximab group,absolute and relative risk reductions of 5.1 and 30%, respectively(P=0.20). Rates of recurrent ischaemia were significantly reducedfrom 21.7 to 11.5% (P=0.05). Conclusion Adjunctive abciximab to primary stenting for STEMIelicits favourable clinical outcomes with the same absoluterisk reductions of hard clinical outcomes from 30 days up to3 years of follow-up.     

Role of oxidative stress,angiogenesis and chemo-attractant cytokines in the pathogenesis of ischaemic protection induced by remote ischaemic conditioning: Study of a human model of ischaemia-reperfusion induced vascular injury

Aims

We explored the effect of remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) on endothelial function and on circulating mediators.

急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者提前肝素化的疗效评价及风险观察

目的探讨急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死(STEMI)患者提前肝素化的疗效及风险。方法选取2019年5月至2020年5月我院收治的160例STEMI患者作为研究对象,随机分为两组各80例。治疗组给予提前肝素化PCI术治疗,对照组给予常规肝素化PCI术治疗。比较两组的TIMI血流分级、不良事件发生率以及治疗前后的症状评分、 LVEF。结果术后,治疗组的TIMI血流0~1级率低于对照组,3级率高于对照组(P <0.05)。治疗后,两组的症状评分均低于治疗前,LVEF水平均高于治疗前(P<0.05);治疗组的症状评分低于对照组,LVEF水平高于对照组(P <0.05)。治疗组的不良事件发生率低于对照组(P <0.05)。结论 PCI术提前肝素化可以提高灌注效果,有效缓解STEMI患者的病情,改善患者心功能,改善预后,且具有较高的安全性。     

Door to balloon time in patients presenting with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction and time factors influencing it; an observational study from a tertiary care teaching hospital in India

The objective of this prospective observational study was to assess the door-to-balloon time (D2B), in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients and the time factors influencing it. The following timeframes were measured during the study: ED to ECG time, ED to coronary care unit time (ED2CCU), consent time, post-consent to balloon time (POSTCONSENT2B) and D2B. Effective D2B was 54 ± 12.2 min. Of the dependent variables, D2B had a strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.903) with consent time. This study sheds light on consent time a previously unrecognized entity as a significantly influencing factor for the D2B time.     

Analysis of time intervals related to STEMI management in 2008–2016

IntroductionA modern treatment of patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is based on a rapid primary percutaneous coronary intervention with direct recanalization of the affected coronary artery (dPCI). The outcome of the treatment depends largely on the pre-hospital care management, which can reduce the total ischaemic time and subsequently improve patient's outlook.AimsThe principal aims of this retrospective study were to assess the development of time intervals related to the pre-hospital care and the effect of the mode of transportation to the cathlab (primary vs secondary) on these intervals in patients with acute STEMI treated by primary PCI in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.MethodsWe have analysed patients with STEMI treated using PCI within 12 h of symptoms onset. In total, 1250 patients were included. To evaluate the development over the last 8 years, uni- and multivariate analyses were used. Categorical variables were analysed using chi-squared tests while continuous variables were analysed using one-way ANOVA and general linear models. The effect of the year and of mode of transportation on time intervals were studied.ResultsThe time intervals did not significantly differ among years with the exception of 2014 where the reason of the deviation was however not related to the quality of the pre-hospital care. The 120 min limit from the first medical contact to unblocking the affected artery (FMCTB) was met in more than 80% patients (80.8), the recommended limit of 90 min in 55.2% of patients. The key factor affecting the total ischaemic time was however the patients’ choice of the mode of transportation – in patients who opted for the primary route of transportation, i.e., called the ambulance, the intervals were significantly shorter (FMCTB on average by 38.2 min and total ischaemic time by 92.9 min). The principal delays were detected in the patients’ delay (103 min inpatients with primary transportation route, 131 in patients with secondary route) as well as, unfortunately, in the intervals between reporting the patients’ problem to the system and ECG-confirmed diagnosis (26 min if the patient calls ambulance vs 52 min if they present at a general practitioner or outpatient clinic) and subsequent transportation to the cathlab (60 min for primary route, 97 for secondary). The latter two should be in particular targeted and we can see a significant room for improvement here.ConclusionThe time intervals do not vary among individual years (with some exceptions). The route of transportation, which is a patient's choice, on the total ischaemic time is however a crucial and predominant factor affecting the total ischaemic time as well as individual intervals.     

Case Report: Severe Hypercalcemia Mimicking St-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

The identification of ST-segment elevation on the electrocardiogram is an integral part of decision making in patients who present with suspected ischemia. Unfortunately, ST-segment elevation is nonspecific and may be caused by noncardiac causes such as electrolyte abnormalities. We present a case of ST-segment elevation secondary to hypercalcemia in a patient with metastatic cancer.     

Coronary Artery Disease in Patients ≥80 Years of Age

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients ≥80 years of age. Nonetheless, older patients have typically been under-represented in cardiovascular clinical trials. Understanding the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and optimal means of diagnosis and treatment of CAD in older adults is crucial to improving outcomes in this high-risk population. A patient-centered approach, taking into account health status, functional ability and frailty, cognitive skills, and patient preferences is essential when caring for older adults with CAD. The present systematic review focuses on the current knowledge base, gaps in understanding, and directions for future investigation pertaining to CAD in patients ≥80 years of age.     

Advances in Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Elderly Patients

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and the most common cause of death in older adults. Paradoxically, elderly patients tend to be systematically excluded from randomized-controlled cardiovascular trials, which complicates decision-making in this population. Management of CHD in the elderly is frequently more difficult in virtue of chronic comorbid conditions and aging-intrinsic dynamics. Despite these challenges, the number of elderly and very elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is increasing. Elderly patients in many registries and large clinical series exhibit even a greater benefit from interventional procedures than younger patients, but they have a higher rate of overall complications. We present an overview of the current available evidence of PCI in older adults with stable and unstable CHD, including comparisons between drug-eluting and bare-metal stents, transfemoral and transradial access, and methods of revascularization. Adjuvant antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapies are also discussed.