Revista portuguesa de cardiologia : orgão oficial da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia = Portuguese journal of cardiology : an official journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology
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Comparative Study
Prehospital activation of cardiac catheterization teams in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
Current clinical guidelines for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) suggest prehospital activation of the cardiac catheterization team. In previous protocols in our center activation occurred once patients arrived at the hospital. In January 2011, we initiated a new primary angioplasty activation protocol from prehospital locations. Our objective was to quantify the influence of this change on reperfusion times. ⋯ Prehospital activation of the cardiac catheterization team resulted in earlier reperfusion of STEMI patients.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a leading cause of total and fatal ischemic stroke. Stroke risk after AF ablation appears to be favorably affected; however, it is largely unknown whether the benefit extends to all stroke CHADS2 risk profiles of AF patients. ⋯ In our study populations, AF ablation patients have a significantly lower risk of stroke compared to AF patients who do not undergo ablation independent of baseline stroke risk score.