Cardiol J
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Syncope is a common and challenging presenting complaint to the Emergency Department (ED). Despite substantial research efforts, there is still considerable uncertainty about the optimal ED management of syncope. There is continued interest among clinicians and researchers in improving diagnostic algorithms and optimizing resource utilization. ⋯ For appropriate patients with a negative ED evaluation, we recommend consideration of direct discharge, with ambulatory monitoring and expedited follow-up, as a means of decreasing costs and reducing iatrogenic harms. Finally, we advocate for the use of shared decision-making regarding the ultimate disposition of select, intermediate risk patients who have not had a serious condition revealed in the ED. If properly implemented, these four strategies could significantly improve the care of ED syncope patients by helping clinicians identify truly high-risk patients, decreasing unnecessary hospitalizations, and increasing patient satisfaction.
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Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is one of the leading causes of death associated with transfusion of blood and blood components. The understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of this syndrome has much improved during the last decades, nevertheless numerous issues are still unresolved and symptomatic treatment remains the cornerstone of medical management. ⋯ The awareness of the problem within the medical society is still unsatisfactory which results in a high number of unrecognized cases or of inaccurate diagnoses one of which is cardiogenic pulmonary edema. The aim of this review is to make the TRALI syndrome more familiar to clinicians and to emphasize how significant proper medical management is both for the patients presenting TRALI symptoms as well as for future recipients of blood components.
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Under normal conditions function of the right ventricle (RV) is determined by the heart rhythm, RV filling time, RV systolic synchrony and interdependence between both ventricles. Failure of the left ventricle (LV) can lead to RV failure. Impaired function of the RV significantly worsens the prognosis in patients after myocardial infarction and with LV failure. ⋯ Frequent coexistence of chronic heart failure (CHF) and AF causes overlapping of the arrhythmia and RV dysfunction in the setting of CHF. They may lead to hemodynamic compromise and worsen prognosis in patients with chronic RV failure of various etiologies. RV structure and function can be assessed in 2D, 3D echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imagingand computed tomography.
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Review Case Reports
Epicardial fat necrosis: an uncommon etiology of chest pain.
Epicardial fat necrosis (EFN) is a rare cause of severe chest pain. We present a case of EFN successfully treated conservatively. With the advent of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, the diagnosis can be made more precisely, avoiding the need for surgical intervention. We review the clinical characteristics, pathogenesis and treatment options of EFN.
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Review Meta Analysis
Updated evidence on intracoronary abciximab in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Intracoronary (IC) abciximab administration remains a promising approach aimed to increase a drug concentration in the target area and possibly improve clinical outcomes in the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The goal of this literature review and meta-analysis is to update available knowledge comparing IC and intravenous (IV) abciximab administration in STEMI patients. ⋯ Our updated meta-analysis shows that the clinical superiority of IC over IV abciximab administration in STEMI patients is no longer clear after the release of the AIDA STEMI trial results. Further research in high-risk STEMI patients is warranted to finally determine clinical advantages of IC vs IV abciximab administration.