Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jun 2016
Comparative StudyEndovascular Repair Compared With Medical Management of Patients With Uncomplicated Type B Acute Aortic Dissection.
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been used in patients with uncomplicated type B acute aortic dissection (B-AAD) to reduce late morbidity and mortality. The outcomes of comparisons between TEVAR and best medical treatment (BMT) on patients with uncomplicated type B-AAD are inconsistent in the published reports. ⋯ This study confirmed the feasibility of TEVAR for uncomplicated type B aortic dissection in the acute setting with fewer aortic-related adverse events and a lower mortality rate compared with BMT.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jun 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialReduction in Ischemic Events With Ticagrelor in Diabetic Patients With Prior Myocardial Infarction in PEGASUS-TIMI 54.
Patients with diabetes appear to be at elevated risk of atherothrombotic events. ⋯ In patients with diabetes with prior MI, adding ticagrelor to aspirin significantly reduces the risk of recurrent ischemic events, including cardiovascular and coronary heart disease death. (Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Prior Heart Attack Using Ticagrelor Compared to Placebo on a Background of Aspirin [PEGASUS]; NCT01225562).
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jun 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialTicagrelor for Prevention of Ischemic Events After Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with heightened ischemic and bleeding risk in patients with prior myocardial infarction (MI). ⋯ Among stable patients with prior MI, those with concomitant PAD have heightened ischemic risk. In these patients, ticagrelor reduced MACE, with a large absolute risk reduction, and MALE. (Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Prior Heart Attack Using Ticagrelor Compared to Placebo on a Background of Aspirin [PEGASUS-TIMI 54]; NCT01225562).
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Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the leading cause of disability worldwide and among the leading causes of mortality. Although intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-rtPA) was approved nearly 2 decades ago for treatment of AIS, only a minority of patients receive it due to a narrow time window for administration and several contraindications to its use. Endovascular approaches to recanalization in AIS developed in the 1980s, and recently, 5 major randomized trials showed an overwhelming superior benefit of combining endovascular mechanical thrombectomy with IV-rtPA over IV-rtPA alone. In this paper, we discuss the evolution of catheter-based treatment from first-generation thrombectomy devices to the game-changing stent retrievers, results from recent trials, and the evolving stroke systems of care to provide timely access to acute stroke intervention to patients in the United States.