May 2009

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Volume 21 Issue 5
Chronicling the Evolution of Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation and Ventricular Tachycardia
Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: An Attempt at Abating the Epidemic The evolution of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Over the past decade, atrial fibrillation ablation (AF) has evolved from an investigational therapy to one that…
The ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities (full title below)
The ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities: Their Relevance to the Cardiologist, Internist and Family Physician The purpose of this review is to highlight the important and new features of the 2008 Guide…
Update on Laser Lead Extraction
In recent years, lead extraction has become an increasingly common procedure which has moved from the realm of cardiothoracic surgery to interventional cardiac electrophysiology. This article reviews indications for lead extraction and briefly discus…
Adjunctive Intracoronary Antithrombotic Therapy: Time to Revisit an Old Strategy?
There have been major advances in the field of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) since its introduction 30 years ago. The improved safety and outcomes can be attributed to increasing operator experience, advances in device technology and the p…
Takotsubo Syndrome: An Opportunity to Better Understand Post-Infarction Myocardial Recovery?
In this issue of the Journal, Jabara et al1 provide an intriguing summary of differences between apical and non-apical Tako-tsubo syndrome based on case summaries of individuals with most often stress-induced ischemic events in the absence of major c…
Comparison of the Clinical Characteristics of Apical and Non-Apical Variants of “Broken Heart” (full title below)
ABSTRACT: Objectives. The present study was designed to delineate and compare the clinical characteristics of patients with apical and non-apical takotsubo syndrome in a high-volume U.S. hospital. Background. A comparison between apical and non-apica…
Stent Thrombosis Aspiration Thrombectomy: Is This Another Glimmer of Hope?
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become the default therapy for obstructive coronary artery disease and invariably involves coronary stenting. Currently, stenting with a drug-eluting stent (DES) has become the default method for intervent…
Impact of Thrombus Aspiration Use for the Treatment of Stent Thrombosis on Early Patient Outcomes
ABSTRACT: Background. Recent data suggest a clinical benefit with the systematic use of thrombus aspiration (TA) for the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Nevertheless, the impact of TA as a treatment strategy for stent thrombo…
Pre-PCI White Blood Cell Count: Should We Care?
Numerous epidemiologic and clinical studies have shown leukocytosis to be an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events.1 While a causal mechanism has yet to be determined, the relationship remains consistent, temporal and dose-dependent i…
Preprocedural White Blood Cell Count as a Predictor of Death and Major Adverse Cardiac Events (full title below)
Preprocedural White Blood Cell Count as a Predictor of Death and Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Drug-Eluting Stents ABSTRACT: Background. Patients with elevated white blood cell (WBC) cou…