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Objectives Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor shown to be an effective alternative to warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). We evaluated the use of dabigatran in patients with bioprosthetic mitral and/or aortic valve replacement and AF. Methods We selected 34 and randomized 27 patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive dabigatran or warfarin. The primary endpoint was the presence of a new intracardiac thrombus at 90 days, by transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). Secondary endpoints included the development of dense spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and incidence of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), myocardium infarction, valve thrombosis and peripheral embolic events. Results The trial was terminated prematurely because of low enrollment. There were 27 patients in total: 15 patients placed in the dabigatran group and 12 in the warfarin group. After 90 days, one patient (8.3 %) in the warfarin group and none in the dabigatran group had developed a new intracardiac thrombus. In the dabigatran group, two patients (13.3 %) developed dense SEC versus one patient (8.3 %) in the warfarin group. In the warfarin group, one patient (8.3 %) presented ischemic stroke, and none did in the dabigatran group. We observed no cases of hemorrhagic stroke, valve thrombosis, embolic events or myocardial infarction in either group throughout the study. However, one patient (6.7 %) in the dabigatran group had a fully recovered transient ischemic attack and one patient in the warfarin group died of heart failure. Conclusions The use of dabigatran appears to be similar to warfarin in preventing the formation of intracardiac thrombus. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01868243.

Background— Regionalized integrated networks for ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care have been proposed as a step forward in overcoming real-world obstacles, but data are lacking on its performance in developing countries. We describe an integrated regional STEMI network in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Methods and Results— The network was created in 2009. It was coordinated by the prehospital emergency medical service and encompassed the public emergency system (prehospital mobile units, community-based emergency units, general hospitals, and cardiology reference centers). The 12-lead ECGs are interpreted via telemedicine. This network operates as follows: The Telemedicine Center sends each ECG suggestive of STEMI to a Regional STEMI Alert Team, which, together with emergency medical services, offers support for thrombolysis or immediate transfer for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. In 14 months, there were 433 suspected victims, of which in 287 (76.5%) the STEMI could be confirmed (age, 62.1±12.5 years; 63.4% men). Most of them were self-transported. The median pain-to-admission time was 180 minutes (interquartile range, 90–473 minutes), and the median admission-to-ECG time was 159.5 minutes (interquartile range, 83.5–340 minutes). The median interval time between the ECG and the telemedicine report was 31 minutes (interquartile range, 21–44 minutes). For those who sought medical attention and had an ECG performed within 12 hours after symptoms onset (n=119), the reperfusion rate was 75.6% (34.4% by thrombolysis and 65.6% by primary percutaneous coronary intervention). Conclusions— Regional STEMI networks may be feasible in developing countries. Preliminary results showed this network to be effective, achieving primary reperfusion rtes comparable with those reported internationally despite the obstacles faced.