Journal of Invasive Cardiology

This issue is completed with articles from three of our special sections. In the first special section, Acute Coronary Syndromes, edited by Dr. Lloyd Klein from the Section of Cardiology, Rush Heart Institute at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago Illinois, Dr. Klein has invited Drs. Rami Doukky and James Calvin from Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois to describe their development of risk stratification for patients presenting with unstable angina and non-ST segment elevation MI. The authors have provided a thorough examination of risk stratification models and cardiac markers used in evaluating non-ST elevation, and provide practical guidance in applying risk factor stratification to this challenging group of patients presenting with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome. We will publish part 2 of this article in our next issue. In the special section the Electrophysiology Corner, edited by Dr. Todd Cohen at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, New York, Dr. Cohen has invited Dr. S. Hanna-Moussa and colleagues from Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan to discuss the challenge of implanting a dual chamber pacemaker via a persistent left superior vena cava utilizing a steerable stylet called the locator. Although this is a rare situation, this clinical presentation poses a problem for the cardiologist and the authors illustrate how to approach treating this situation. Finally, in the Clinical Decision Making section, edited by Dr. Michael Sketch from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, Drs. Niccoli, Orr and Banning from the Department of Cardiology at John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington, Oxford, UK present a challenging case involving an extensive right coronary artery dissection following cutting balloon treatment of in-stent restenosis. Dr. Gregg Stone of the Cardiology Research Foundation, Dr. Scott Goldman of Mainline Health System, Dr. Barry George from Riverside Methodist Hospital, and Dr. Patrick Whitlow of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation have provided their perspectives on treating this case.

It is my hope that all of the articles in this issue provide information that is useful for cardiovascular specialists in their daily care of patients with cardiovascular disease.