[Anticoagulation useful in short episodes of atrial fibrillation?] / Antistolling zinvol bij kortdurend atriumfibrilleren?

In patients with short episodes of clinical, non-triggered AF is the evidence for long-term anticoagulation based on the CHA2DS2-VASc score strong. In situations where a temporary trigger for AF is observed (e.g. after surgery or an infection), or when AF is only detected on a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) or smartwatch, the evidence for anticoagulation is less well established. Despite the short duration of the AF episode(s), both patients with subclinical or triggered AF are often at an inherently increased risk of stroke or thromboembolism. In some of these cases long-term anticoagulation can be considered, especially when other cardiovascular risk factors are present. Important considerations when deciding to start with long-term anticoagulation are the individually estimated risk of thrombosis and bleeding, the implementation of shared decision making, and the optimization of the overall cardiovascular risk management.

[Beta-blockers after a myocardial infarction: when to discontinue safely?] / Bètablokkers na een hartinfarct.

For decades beta-blockers have been used in the treatment of patients after a myocardial infarction (MI). Current guidelines on the use of beta-blockers after myocardial infarction are based on studies that date back to 3 decades ago. Since then advances in the treatment of myocardial infarction have been made, thanks to the implementation of percutaneous coronary intervention, statins and ACE-inhibitors. This has resulted in increased survival and lower rates of post-MI heart failure. Long-term beta-blocker treatment is a cornerstone for treatment in patients with decreased left ventricular systolic function. However, the efficacy of the long-term treatment in post-MI patients with preserved ventricular function is unknown. Side-effects of beta-blockers can considerably impact patient's quality-of-life. This contribution reviews available data on the efficacy and possibilities for discontinuation of treatment with beta-blockers.

RESPONSE study: Randomised Evaluation of Secondary Prevention by Outpatient Nurse SpEcialists: Study design, objectives and expected results.

Background. Patients with coronary artery disease are at high risk of coronary events and death, but effective secondary prevention can reduce this risk. There is a gap between guidelines on secondary prevention and the implementation of these measures, which could potentially be reduced by nurse led prevention clinics (NLPC).Objectives. The aim of the current study is to quantify the impact of NLPC on the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with established coronary artery disease.Methods. A randomised, multicentre clinical trial of NLPC in addition to usual care or usual care alone in post-acute coronary syndrome patients. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:322-8.).

[Suicide attempt with sotalol: a proarrhythmic intoxication]. / Tentamen suicidii met sotalol: een proaritmische intoxicatie.

A 62-year-old man was brought into the intensive care unit because of a cardiac arrest. After extensive resuscitation, including defibrillation, sinus bradycardia occurred with marked QT prolongation, followed by recurrent episodes of torsade de pointes. Hetero-anamnestic data revealed a suicide attempt with sotalol. Treatment consisted largely of temporary pacing using an external transvenous overdrive pacemaker and administration of glucagon, milrinon and norepinephrine. Eventually, the patient was discharged in good condition. A suicide attempt with sotalol is a rare intoxication with considerable morbidity and mortality. Treatment is primarily based upon counteracting the proarrhythmic effects of sotalol. However, even when therapeutic levels of this drug are used, proarrhythmic effects can occur.

LDL-C goal attainment with the addition of ezetimibe to ongoing simvastatin treatment in coronary heart disease patients with hypercholesterolemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the addition of ezetimibe or placebo to on-going simvastatin treatment on attaining the LDL-C treatment target of 2.60 mmol/L and 100 mg/dL and

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery connected to the pulmonary artery in a 31-year-old woman.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery connected to the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital defect with a high mortality rate in infancy if left untreated. It may cause myocardial ischaemia and can lead to myocardial infarction, mitral dysfunction, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and sudden death. Without operation, survival into adulthood is rare. We report clinical findings, diagnostic characteristics and therapy in a 31-year-old woman with ALCAPA and preserved left ventricular function.

Meningococcal pericarditis and tamponade.

We report the case of a 37-year-old female with a complex manifestation of serogroup C meningococcal disease. The patient presented with symptoms and signs of pneumonia, sepsis and diffuse intravascular coagulation. Moreover, she suffered from a culture-proven pyogenic pericarditis that deteriorated into cardiac tamponade. Immediate pericardiocentesis was successful and eventually the patient recovered.

Implantable defibrillator therapy.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most important cause of death in the industrialised world. Treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD), however, proved disappointing in preventing SCD. From drugs with electrophysiological properties, only treatment with beta-blockers has been shown to improve clinical outcome. This lack of efficiency of AADs heralded a new era of secondary and primary prevention trials, comparing implantable cardioverterdefibrillator (ICD) with drug therapy. Three large randomised secondary prevention trials were conducted in patients with prior myocardial infarction who where resuscitated from VT or VF. Meta-analysis of these three studies show consistent ICD benefit. This ICD benefit is also observed in three large randomised primary prevention trials in patients with a prior myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction. The beneficial effect of ICD therapy proves to be significantly more pronounced in patients with the lowest left ventricular ejection fraction (26-30%). In patients with nonischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy and low ejection fractions, however, currently the only evidence-based indication for ICD implantation is secondary prevention.