Comparison of ticagrelor and clopidogrel in anemic patients with acute coronary syndrome: efficacy and safety outcomes over one year.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the potential impact of ticagrelor and clopidogrel treatment on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with anemia and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to provide insights into the optimal therapeutic approach for this vulnerable patient population. METHODS: A retrospective research design was employed, involving patients diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) between 2014 and 2021. Inclusion criteria required a hemoglobin level below 12 mg/dL and a minimum 12-month P2Y12 inhibitor treatment. Comprehensive clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic data were collected from the hospital's electronic repository. The primary efficacy endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), encompassing total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, reinfarction, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke. Major hemorrhage was the primary safety endpoint. Secondary outcomes included total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, reinfarction, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke, individually. RESULTS: Patients treated with ticagrelor (n = 118) and clopidogrel (n = 538) were compared. No significant difference was observed in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major bleeding between ticagrelor and clopidogrel treatment groups (MACE: clopidogrel 10.0% vs. ticagrelor 11.0%, p = 0.75; major bleeding: clopidogrel 2.8%, ticagrelor 2.5%, p = 0.88). Patients with hemoglobin levels ≤ 8 mg/dL demonstrated significantly higher MACE and major bleeding rates in the ticagrelor group (p = 0.008 and p = 0.002, respectively). Among patients aged ≥ 75 years, ticagrelor treatment was associated with a higher risk of major bleeding (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Ticagrelor and clopidogrel exhibited comparable efficacy and safety outcomes in anemic ACS patients over a one-year period. Although ticagrelor demonstrated superiority in reducing ischemic events, it is crucial to recognize the limitations of retrospective studies in informing clinical practice. This study offers valuable insights into tailoring antiplatelet therapy for anemic ACS patients and provides guidance for personalized treatment strategies, acknowledging the hypothesis-generating nature of retrospective analyses.

The predictive value of PRECISE-DAPT score for long-term mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome complicated by cardiogenic shock.

BACKGROUND: Besides its primary clinical utility in predicting bleeding risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the PRECISE-DAPT (Predicting Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Stent Implantation and Subsequent Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy) score may also be useful for predicting long-term mortality in ACS patients presenting with cardiogenic shock (CS) since several studies have reported an association between the score and certain cardiovascular conditions or events. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of the PRECISE-DAPT score for predicting the long-term all-cause mortality in patients (n = 293) with ACS presenting with CS. METHODS: The PRECISE-DAPT score was calculated for each patient who survived in hospital, and the association with long-term mortality was studied. Median follow-up time was 2.7 years. The performance of the final model was determined with measurements of its discriminative power (Harrell's and Uno's C indices and time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]) and predictive accuracy (coefficient of determination [R2] and likelihood ratio χ2). Hazard ratios (HRs) were used to assess the relationship between the variables of the model and long-term all-cause death. RESULTS: All-cause death occurred in 197 patients (67%). There was a positive association between the PRECISE-DAPT score (change from 17 to 38 was associated with an HR of 2.42 [95% CI: 1.59-3.68], R2 = 0.209, time-dependent AUC = 0.69) and the risk of death such that in the adjusted survival curve, the risk of mortality increased as the PRECISE-DAPT score increased. CONCLUSION: The PRECISE-DAPT score may be a useful easy-to-use tool for predicting long-term mortality in patients with ACS complicated by CS.

The relation of polymer structure of stent used in patients with acute coronary syndrome revascularized by stent implantation with long-term cardiovascular events.

INTRODUCTION: Drug-eluting stents (DES) have revolutionized percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by improving event-free survival compared to older stent designs. However, early-generation DES with polymer matrixes have raised concerns regarding late stent thrombosis due to delayed vascular healing. To address these issues, biologically bioabsorbable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) and polymer-free drug-eluting stents (PF-DES) have been developed. AIM: The aim of the present study is to evaluate and compare the long-term effects of different stent platforms in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing PCI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational study involving 1192 ACS patients who underwent urgent PCI. Patients were treated with thin- strut DP-DES, ultra-thin strut BP-DES, or thin-strut PF-DES. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TVMI), and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CITLR) at 12 months and 4 years. RESULTS: The baseline demographics and clinical characteristics of patients in the three stent subgroups were similar. No significant differences were observed in target lesion failure (TLF), cardiac mortality, TVMI, and stent thrombosis (ST) rates among the three subgroups at both 12 months and 4 years. However, beyond the first year, the rate of CITLR was significantly lower in the ultra-thin strut BP-DES subgroup compared to thin-strut DP-DES, suggesting potential long-term advantages of ultra-thin strut BP-DES. Additionally, both ultra-thin strut BP-DES and thin-strut PF-DES demonstrated lower ST rates after the first year compared to thin-strut DP-DES. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the potential advantages of ultra-thin strut BP-DES in reducing CITLR rates in the long term, and both ultra-thin strut BP-DES and thin-strut PF-DES demonstrate lower rates of ST beyond the first year compared to thin-strut DP-DES. However, no significant differences were observed in overall TLF, cardiac mortality and TVMI rates among the three stent subgroups at both 12 months and 4 years.

Endocarditis-TR: Diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the infective endocarditis patients admitting tertiary centres of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among cardiovascular diseases. ENDOCARDITIS-TR study aims to evaluate the compliance of the diagnostic and therapeutic methods being used in Turkey with current guidelines. METHODS: The ENDOCARDITIS-TR trial is a multicentre, prospective, observational study consisting of patients admitted to tertiary centres with a definite diagnose of IE. In addition to the demographic, clinical, microbiological, and echocardiographic findings of the patients, adverse events, indications for surgery, and in-hospital mortality were recorded during a 2-year time interval. RESULTS: A total of 208 IE patients from 7 tertiary centres in Turkey were enrolled in the study. The study population included 125 (60.1%) native valve IE (NVE), 65 (31.3%) prosthetic IE (PVIE), and 18 (8.7%) intracardiac device-related IE (CDRIE). One hundred thirty-five patients (64.9%) were culture positive, and the most frequent pathogenic agent was methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (18.3%). Among 155 (74.5%) patients with an indication for surgery, only 87 (56.1%) patients underwent surgery. The all-cause mortality rate was 29.3% in-hospital follow-up. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that absence of surgery when indicated (HR: 3.29 95% CI: 0.93-11.64 p = 0.05), albumin level at admission (HR: 0.46 95% CI: 0.29-0.73 P < 0.01), abscess formation (HR: 2.11 95% CI: 1.01-4.38 p = 0.04) and systemic embolism (HR: 1.78 95% CI: 1.05-3.02 p = 0.03) were ascertained independent predictors of in-hospital all-cause mortality. DISCUSSION: The short-term results of the ENDOCARDITIS-TR trial showed the high frequency of staphylococcal IE, relatively high in-hospital mortality rates, shortage of surgical treatment despite guideline-based surgical indications and low usage of novel imaging techniques. The results of this study will provide a better insight to physicians in respect to their adherence to clinical practice guidelines.

Prognostic Significance of Controlling Nutritional Status Score (CONUT) in Patients Undergoing Pericardiocentesis.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is associated with a poor prognosis in cardiovascular diseases, however the prognostic impact of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score in patients with pericardial effusion (PE) is not known. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted among 301 consecutive patients with PE who underwent pericardiocentesis. CONUT score was calculated from serum albumin level, total cholesterol level and lymphocyte count. The prognostic role of admission CONUT score on long-term mortality was evaluated. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups according to long-term mortality. A total of 131 patients died during follow-up. In multivariable regression analysis, chronic heart failure [hazard ratio (HR): 3.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-8.70, p < 0.01], malignancy (HR: 5.67, 95% CI: 3.34-9.63, p < 0.01) and CONUT score (HR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.10-1.33, p < 0.01) were found to be independent predictors of long-term mortality. CONUT score was significantly higher in the patients who died (5.8 ± 2.4 vs. 3.6 ± 2.2, p < 0.01). In receiver operating characteristics analysis, a CONUT score ≥ 4.5 predicted long-term mortality with 66% sensitivity and 69% specificity (area under curve: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.67-0.79, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PE, CONUT score is an independent prognostic factor for mortality.

Fragmented QRS on Admission Electrocardiography Predicts Long-Term Mortality in Patients with Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis and identification of high-risk non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is an important issue. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complexes are defined as various RSR' patterns on 12-lead resting electrocardiography (ECG). Previous studies revealed that fQRS is related with increased ventricular arrhythmias and cardiovascular mortality. The relation between fQRS and mortality in acute coronary syndromes, mitral valve disease severity and structural heart disease has been shown in different studies. The aim of this study was to investigate relation between fQRS and long-term cardiovascular mortality in NSTEMI patients. METHODS: Patients who admitted to our emergency unit and diagnosed NSTEMI between 2012 and 2013, 433 patients were included prospectively. fQRS complexes determined in 85 patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to fQRS existence. All patients evaluated for their clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic characteristics. Angiographic features of 315 patients who underwent coronary angiography was also recorded. In-hospital, 30-day and 12-month mortality was compared between these groups. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors were similar in both groups except hyperlipidemia. GRACE risk score was higher in patients with fQRS and positively correlated with existence of fQRS. In hospital and 30-days mortality were similar but late mortality was higher in fQRS group. Predictors of late mortality were found to be age, heart rate, male sex in addition to fQRS. CONCLUSION: We found a relation between fQRS and late mortality. Fragmented QRS may be seen as a cautionary signal for extensive myocardial damage and thereby increased long-term mortality for patients with NSTEMI.

Relation of contrast nephropathy to adverse events in pulmonary emboli patients diagnosed with contrast CT.

OBJECTIVE: Limited data exist on the incidence of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) and its impact on in-hospital prognosis of patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) using contrast computerized tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). In this study, we examined the frequency of nephropathy after CTPA in APE patients and its link to in-hospital adverse outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 189 patients (mean age 67+16years, 48% male) with APE who underwent CTPA. CIN was defined as a≥0.5mg/dl and/or ≥25% increase in serum creatinine levels >48hours after CTPA. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of CIN to compare clinical characteristics, risk factors, and in-hospital adverse events. RESULTS: Twenty-four (13%) of the patients were diagnosed with CIN. Patients with CIN were older (73±17 vs. 67±15years, P=.01) and had higher rates of heart failure (17% vs. 6%, P=.04). Preexisting renal dysfunction and advanced age were found to be independent predictors of CIN (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.5-11.9, P=.006; OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.1-9.8, P=.03 respectively). The in-hospital adverse event rate was significantly higher in patients with CIN (16.7% vs. 2.4%, P=.001). A multivariate analysis revealed CIN as an independent predictor of in-hospital adverse event rate (OR: 6.1, 95%CI: 1.2-29.3, P=.02). CONCLUSION: CIN is associated with a higher in-hospital adverse event rate in APE patients diagnosed using CTPA. This is first large study to focus specifically on CIN in patients diagnosed with APE using CTPA.

Incremental value of live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography over the two-dimensional technique in the assessment of a tuberculoma involving the left atrium and appendage.

Intracardiac tuberculomas are extremely rare, and cardiac involvement in tuberculosis accounts for only 0.5% of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. We report for the first time incremental value of live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography over two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of a tuberculoma involving the left atrium and left atrial appendage.

Increased Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio is Associated with In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: i ne prognostic relevance of hematological parameters in cardiovascular diseases has been well demonstrated. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the association between the hematological parameters, particularly neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and outcomes of aortic dissection (AD). METHODS: Two hundred patients diagnosed with AD were retrospectively recruited and compared with 76 subjects with ascending aortic dilatation (AAD) and 92 subjects with normal aortic diameters. The independent relation between hematological parameters and in-hospital mortality was analyzed by regression analysis. RESULTS: The NLR was significantly higher in the AD group compared to the AAD and control groups (median 8.83 [8.13] vs. median 1.95 [1.10] vs. median 1.71 [0.77], respectively; p = 0.01). The NLR was higher in the deceased (n = 57) compared to the surviving patients (n = 143) (median 10.37 [10.86] vs. median 7.84 [8.17]; p = 0.01). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis revealed that a NLR measurement higher than > 8.78 predicted in-hospital mortality for patients with acute aortic dissection with a sensitivity of 67.4% and a specificity of 57.2% (AUC: 0.672; p = 0.01). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, increased aortic diameter, acute dissection, and increased levels of NLR remained as the independent markers of in-hospital mortality within the study population. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AD, NLR levels were increased compared to patients with AAD and controls and were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. This finding implicates that admission hematological parameters may have clinical importance in evaluating the mortality risk in patients with AD.

Differentiation between Transudate and Exudate in Pericardial Effusion has almost no Diagnostic Value in Contemporary Medicine.

BACKGROUND: The biochemical analysis of pericardial fluid for differentiating transudate from exudate is often ordered and interpreted according to the criteria extrapolated from pleural effusions. However, the validity of this discrimination when applied to pericardial effusion is under question. METHODS: Patients who underwent pericardiocentesis between January 2004 and February 2014 were identified. Among them, 216 had essential medical records available and constituted the study population. The parameters specifically analyzed were the following: lactate dehydrogenase, total protein and glucose concentrations in both pericardial fluid and serum; pericardial fluid/serum ratios of lactate dehydrogenase and total protein content; and pH and specific gravity of pericardial fluid. RESULTS: Eighty-one percent of pericardial effusions were classified as exudate according to Light's criteria. Both exudate and transudate fluid characteristics were possible for all etiological causes except for tuberculosis in which all were exudates. Although multiple cutoff points for all parameters were tested, significant overlap between different causes persisted (all having an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of < 0.7). Thus, a reasonable accuracy to differentiate one cause from another could not be achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Although often ordered, the biochemical analysis of pericardial fluid has almost no diagnostic value to distinguish among causes of pericardial effusion in contemporary medicine.

Acute myocardial infarction with concomitant pulmonary embolism as a result of patent foramen ovale.

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) and pulmonary embolism canal one lead to life-threatening conditions such as sudden cardiac death and congestive heart failure. We discuss a case of a 74-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute dyspnea and chest pain. Acute anterior MI and pulmonary embolism concomitantly were diagnosed. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention performed because of preliminary acute anterior MI diagnosis. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to determine further complications caused by acute MI because patient had a continuous tachycardia and dyspnea although hemodynamically stable. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a thrombus that was stuck into the patent foramen ovale with parts in right and left atria. Anticoagulation therapy was started; neither fibrinolytic therapy nor operation was performed because of low survey expectations of the patient's recently diagnosed primary disease stage IV lung cancer. Patient was discharged on his 20th day with oral anticoagulation and antiagregant therapy.

A case of Mobitz type II atrioventricular block due to Nerium oleander poisoning successfully managed with digoxin-specific Fab antibody fragments.

Nerium oleander is a popular ornamental plant grown in many tropical and subtropical countries and in the Mediterranean region. It is dangerous because it has been shown to contain several types of cardiac glycosides, and hence can cause cardiac arrhythmias resembling digoxin in their toxicologic manifestations. We report a patient presenting to our hospital with Mobitz type II atrioventricular block after drinking herbal tea prepared from oleander leaves. Three hours after admission, a 200-mg empiric dose of digoxin-specific Fab antibody fragments was administered intravenously over 30 minutes. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed sinus rhythm at the end of infusion. After 72 hours, the patient was discharged without any symptoms.

Efficacy of oral hydration in the prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients undergoing coronary angiography or intervention.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of intravenous (IV) volume expansion in preventing contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is well known. However, the role of oral hydration has not been well established. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of oral hydration in preventing CI-AKI. METHODS: We prospectively randomized 225 patients undergoing coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention in either oral hydration or IV hydration groups. Patients who have at least one of the high-risk factors for developing CI-AKI (advanced age, type 2 diabetes mellitus, anemia, hyperuricemia, a history of cardiac failure or systolic dysfunction) were included in the study. All patients had normal renal function or stage 1-2 chronic kidney disease. Patients in the oral hydration group were encouraged to drink unrestricted amounts of fluids freely whereas isotonic saline infusion was performed by the standard protocol in the IV hydration group. RESULTS: CI-AKI occurred in 8/116 patients (6.9%) in the oral hydration group and 8/109 patients (7.3%) in the IV hydration group (p = 0.89). There was also no statistically significant difference between the two groups when different CI-AKI definitions were taken into account. CONCLUSION: Oral hydration is as effective as IV hydration in preventing CI-AKI in patients with normal kidney function or stage 1-2 chronic kidney disease, and who also have at least one of the other high-risk factors for developing CI-AKI.

Elevated levels of RDW is associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been found to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. Only a few trials have investigated the correlation of these parameters with postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the correlation of these parameters in non-valvular AF is still unclear. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive AF patients from medical records and included 117 non-valvular AF patients (103 paroxysmal and 14 chronic AF). All subjects underwent physical examination and echocardiographic imaging. Complete blood counts (CBCs) were analyzed for hemoglobin, RDW, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts as well as mean corpuscular volume. Results of CBC tests within the previous year were also included and the averages were used. The demographic and echocardiographic properties of non-valvular AF group were comparable to the control group except for left atrial volumes which were increased in AF (median 33.1, IQR 26.3-41.1 cm(3) vs. median 26.4, IQR 24.2-28.9 cm(3); p = 0.01). RDW levels were significantly higher in the AF group (median 13.4 %, IQR 12.9-14.1 %) compared to the control (median 12.6 %, IQR 12.0-13.1 %; p = 0.01). NLR was not statistically different in the AF group and the controls (2.04 ± 0.94 vs. 1.93 ± 0.64, respectively; p = 0.32). Hs-CRP levels were higher in the AF group compared to the controls (median 0.84, IQR 0.30-1.43 mg/L vs. median 0.29, IQR 0.18-0.50 mg/L, respectively; p = 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed RDW (OR 4.18, 95 % CI 2.15-8.15; p = 0.01), hs-CRP (OR 3.76, 95 % CI 1.43-9.89; p = 0.01) and left atrial volume (OR 1.31, 95 % CI 1.06-1.21; p = 0.01) as the independent markers of non-valvular AF. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that hemoglobin levels (standardized ß coefficient = -0.252; p = 0.01) and the presence of AF (standardized ß coefficient = 0.336; p = 0.01) were the independent correlates of RDW levels. Elevated RDW levels, not NLR, may be an independent risk marker for non-valvular AF.

Severity of periodontitis in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia.

The concept that coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is an inflammatory-related disease has been increasingly recognized. Periodontitis induced low-grade chronic systemic inflammation has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between periodontitis and CAE.Thirty-two patients with isolated CAE, and 28 age, sex and smoking status-matched subjects with normal coronary arteries (NCA) underwent full dental examinations. Periodontal disease was evaluated using the following clinical parameters; number of remaining teeth, plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and pocket depth (PD).Cases and controls did not differ according to their baseline characteristics and prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with isolated CAE had higher periodontal indices when compared to subjects with NCA (PD: 3.6 ± 1.26 mm versus 2.3 ± 0.79 mm; GI: 2.29 ± 0.86 versus 1.43 ± 1.19; BOP (%): 52.18 ± 20.1 versus 27.8 ± 10.9, P < 0.001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, in multivariate analysis higher values for PD were found to be significant predictors for the likelihood of having coronary ectasia.The results of the present study demonstrate for the first time that there is an association between periodontitis and isolated CAE.

Comparison of Ticagrelor and Clopidogrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome at High Bleeding or Ischemic Risk.

Current guidelines recommend individualizing the choice and duration of P2Y12 inhibitor therapy based on the trade-off between bleeding and ischemic risk. However, whether a potent P2Y12 inhibitor (ticagrelor) or a less potent one (clopidogrel) is more appropriate in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the setting of high bleeding or ischemic risk is not clear. The study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of clopidogrel and ticagrelor in patients with ACS at high bleeding or ischemic risk. A total of 5,713 patients with ACS were included in this retrospective study. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was adjusted by applying the inverse probability weighted approach to reduce treatment selection bias. The primary clinical outcome was all-cause death. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital death, ACS, target vessel revascularization, stent thrombosis, stroke, or clinically significant or major bleeding. The median follow-up duration was 53.6 months. After multivariable Cox model using an inverse probability weighted approach, all-cause death in the overall population and subgroups of patients at high bleeding risk, and/or at high ischemic risk were not significantly different between clopidogrel and ticagrelor. Rates for secondary outcomes were also similar between the groups. In conclusion, ticagrelor and clopidogrel are associated with comparable clinical outcomes in patients with ACS irrespective of bleeding and ischemic risk.

Rescue thrombolysis in the treatment of cardiac shock and acute stroke.

The patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction are primarily managed with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or thrombolysis. It is well accepted that rescue PCI should be implemented in case of unsuccessful thrombolysis. However, the reverse, rescue thrombolysis, that is, administering of thrombolytic therapy in a patient in whom primary PCI fails, is not well defined. There are no available data about rescue thrombolysis so far. We represent a 43-year-old male patient with Buerger disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) who was admitted to our emergency department for cardiac shock related to inferior and right ventricular ST-elevation myocardial infarction. He was found to have occlusion of both right coronary artery and left anterior descending artery and managed with rescue thrombolysis. It was subsequently recognized that he had concurrent stroke caused by posterior cerebral artery (PCA) occlusion and improved with thrombolysis. It is reported for the first time that rescue thrombolysis has been put into practice and yielded great result after unsuccessful primary PCI.

Predictive value of PRECISE-DAPT score for long-term all-cause mortality in atrial fibrillation patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may co-exist in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). In patients with NSTEMI, AF should therefore be regarded as an important risk factor irrespective of its presentation. To predict outcomes in AF patients presenting with NSTEMI, early risk stratification can help to identify the patients with a possible poor long-term prognosis. The development of the PRECISE-DAPT score aimed to predict the risk of bleeding in patients who underwent stent implantation and received dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), providing a valuable tool for assessing bleeding risk in this specific patient population. Aim: To assess the performance of the PRECISE-DAPT score in predicting long-term prognosis in AF patients with NSTEMI. Material and methods: Five hundred and twenty-six consecutive AF patients presenting with NSTEMI were included in the present study. The PRECISE-DAPT score was calculated in each case and evaluated for the association of increased mortality in the study population, who survived in-hospital but died in the long term. Results: All-cause mortality deaths occurred in 278 (52.6%) patients. Higher PRECISE-DAPT score, shorter duration of P2Y12 inhibitor therapy, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and a history of diabetes mellitus (DM) were all associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in the multivariable logistic regression model. Conclusions: High PRECISE-DAPT score was associated with higher long-term all-cause mortality in AF patients presenting with NSTEMI.

Severe tricuspid regurgitation and atrioventicular block caused by blunt thoracic trauma in an elderly woman.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic cardiac injury after blunt chest trauma is relatively rare, and valvular injury is even more rare. The valves most commonly affected are tricuspid. Automobile accidents are mostly responsible for this type of injury. OBJECTIVES: Unlike with the mitral valve, post-traumatic tricuspid heart valve insufficiency is usually well tolerated. Indeed, severe tricuspid regurgitation can resolve spontaneously. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old woman with no previous cardiac or medical history was brought to our Emergency Department after an automobile accident. She had chest pain and shortness of breath upon admission. Transthoracic echocardiographic examination revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation with rupture of the chordae tendineae and prolapse of the valve cusps into the right atrium during systole. An electrocardiogram was consistent with second-degree Mobitz II atrioventricular block on admission, which subsequently progressed to complete atrioventricular block on day 3. During follow-up with close hemodynamic monitoring, her symptoms disappeared and repeat echocardiography revealed a regression in the severity of tricuspid regurgitation. Operative repair of the tricuspid valve was deemed unnecessary and the patient was discharged with medical therapy on the eighth day after admission. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to be aware of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation after non-penetrating chest trauma. Close follow-up may suffice in some patients with stable hemodynamic conditions, and regression of tricuspid regurgitation can be expected during follow-up.

Successful treatment of patent ductus arteriosus accompanying right-sided aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery: a case report.

Background: The coexistence of a right-sided aortic arch (RAA), an aberrant left subclavian artery (ALSA), and a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a rarely seen vascular ring anomaly. There is currently no general guideline consensus on the management and follow-up of this congenital defect, posing a challenge to the clinicians. At this point, the heart team plays a critical role in the management of the disease. Case summary: In the present case, a 25-year-old male patient was presented to the outpatient clinic with dyspnoea and fatigue. A transthoracic echocardiography revealed PDA with a left-to-right shunt. To evaluate the anatomy thoroughly, a thoracic computed tomographic angiography was performed and showed PDA accompanying ALSA and RAA. The patient was evaluated by the Heart Team, and a percutaneous closure of PDA was recommended due to signs of left ventricular volume overload. The closure was successfully performed with Amplatzer vascular plug II. At follow-up, the patient was free of symptoms. Discussion: Clinicians should be aware of the potential concomitant lesions during the diagnostic work-up. In selected patients, percutaneous closure of PDA may be the first-line therapy in experienced centres.