Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society
-
Multicenter Study
Report from J-PULSE multicenter registry of patients with shock-resistant out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated with nifekalant hydrochloride.
Nifekalant hydrochloride (NIF) is an intravenous class-III antiarrhythmic agent that purely blocks the K(+)-channel without inhibiting β-adrenergic receptors. The present study was designed to investigate the feasibility of NIF as a life-saving therapy for out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation (VF). ⋯ Intravenous administration of NIF seems to be feasible as a potential therapy for advanced cardiac life-support in patients with out-of-hospital VF, and therefore further study is warranted.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of arterial blood gases of laryngeal mask airway and bag-valve-mask ventilation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
Focusing on the efficacy of successful ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with alternative airways, previous reports investigated various parameters such as success rate, tidal volume, incidence of regurgitation, etc. However, there are few investigations of arterial blood gases (ABG) during CPR with alternative airways, especially the laryngeal mask airway (LMA). ⋯ LMA does not greatly benefit the respiratory status of patients such as in this study population. Delayed placement of a LMA will be recommended to achieve minimally interrupted chest compression in an out-of-hospital CPR protocol for witnessed VF cases following shock.
-
Multicenter Study
Active infective endocarditis: management and risk analysis of hospital death from 24 years' experience.
This study was performed to identify risk factors for hospital death in patients with acute and active infective endocarditis (AAIE) after surgical intervention. ⋯ In AAIE, early surgical intervention is advisable before the occurrence of complications such as root abscess and CHF, particularly before the onset of CHF.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Current status of anticoagulation therapy for elderly atrial fibrillation patients in Japan: from Hokuriku atrial fibrillation trial.
The number of the elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasing, but the current status of anticoagulation therapy for elderly patients with AF in Japan is not clear. ⋯ The number of elderly Japanese patients with AF taking warfarin is currently low, but because the population of elderly AF patients will increase in the future, there is a need for safe and suitable anticoagulation therapy for elderly patients.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Rate control and quality of life in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation: the Quality of Life and Atrial Fibrillation (QOLAF) Study.
The present study aimed to determine whether quality of life (QOL) in permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients would be improved by monotherapy with beta-blocker (BB) or calcium antagonist (CAA) as compared with digitalis. ⋯ These results indicate that CAA is preferable to digitalis when monotherapy is selected for short-term improvement of QOL and exercise tolerance in patients with permanent AF.