European heart journal
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European heart journal · Dec 2006
ReviewClinical and cost-effectiveness of left ventricular assist devices as a bridge to heart transplantation for people with end-stage heart failure: a systematic review and economic evaluation.
To evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of left ventricular (LV) assist devices (LVADs) as a bridge to transplant (BTT) for people with end-stage heart failure (ESHF) through a systematic review and economic evaluation. ⋯ Although LVADs appear clinically effective as a BTT for people with ESHF, it is unlikely that they will be cost-effective unless costs decrease or the benefits of their use increase.
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European heart journal · Dec 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudySubstrate modification combined with pulmonary vein isolation improves outcome of catheter ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation: a prospective randomized comparison.
To investigate the effectiveness of additional substrate modification (SM) by left atrial (LA) linear lesions as compared with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in a prospective randomized study. Percutaneous PVI has evolved as an accepted treatment for paroxysmal AF but seemed to be less effective in patients with persistent AF. The benefit of PVI alone and additional linear lesions has not been validated in a randomized study so far. ⋯ PVI alone is insufficient in the treatment of persistent AF. However, additional left linear lesions increase the success rate significantly. Early AF-relapses are associated with a negative outcome after PVI alone but not following additional SM.
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European heart journal · Dec 2006
Predicting survival with good neurological recovery at hospital admission after successful resuscitation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the OHCA score.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is common and carries a bleak prognosis. Early prediction of unfavourable outcomes is difficult but crucial to improve resource allocation. The aim of this study was to develop a simple tool for predicting survival with good neurological function in the overall population of patients with successfully resuscitated cardiac arrest. ⋯ The outcome can be accurately predicted after OHCA using variables that are readily available at ICU admission.