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Dabigatran and rivaroxaban at standard or reduced doses have been compared to warfarin in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), but not to each other. This was a new user study of standard dose and reduced dose dabigatran or rivaroxaban for NVAF in the French healthcare database, matched on gender, age, date of first dispensing, and high-dimensional propensity score, followed 2 years. Hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence intervals (CI)) of stroke or systemic embolism (SSE), major bleeding (MB), or death were computed. In matched standard-dose patients (8,290 per arm), mean age 67 years, HRs for dabigatran vs. rivaroxaban were SSE 0.92 (95% CI = 0.67-1.26), MB 0.59 (95% CI = 0.39-0.90), and death 0.84 (95% CI = 0.65-1.11). In reduced-dose patients (7,639 per arm), mean age 80 years, HRs for dabigatran vs. rivaroxaban were SSE 0.73 (95% CI = 0.59-0.94), MB 0.74 (95% CI = 0.57-0.96), and death 0.95 (95% CI = 0.83-1.09). In conclusion, at either dose, dabigatran had similar or better effectiveness than rivaroxaban but lower bleeding risk. Death rates were not different., (© 2018 The Authors Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics © 2018 American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

Background: While a multicentre trial has demonstrated that the SonR™ contractibility sensor is as effective as echocardiography-guided optimization at improving response to cardiac resynchronization therapy, an association between SonR™ values and clinical endpoints has not been established., Aims: The primary objective was to assess the predictive value of SonR™ signal evolution regarding cardiovascular events in patients implanted with a cardiac resynchronization therapy device. The secondary objective was to evaluate whether SonR™ signal evolution was associated with cardiovascular death., Methods: All patients with a SonR™ system implanted between 2012 and 2016 were included in this retrospective study. SonR™ signal evolution was calculated over the first 6 months after implantation: ([month 6 value-month 1 value]/month 1 value)*100. The primary endpoint (cardiovascular events) was a composite of cardiovascular death, hospitalization for acute heart failure or ventricular arrhythmia., Results: Seventy-four patients (median age 67 years; 81% men) were followed up over a median 20 (13; 29) months. Cumulative incidence function showed that SonR™ signal evolution was predictive of cardiovascular events (threshold<10.70%; P=0.023) and predictive of cardiovascular death (P=0.0018). After multivariable analysis, SonR™ signal evolution was independently associated with the onset of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio: 4.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.31-12.43; P=0.015), even after adjustment for left bundle branch block and chronic kidney disease., Conclusions: In this first study publishing data on SonR™ signals in a real-life setting, SonR™ signal evolution over the first 6 months after cardiac resynchronization implantation was an independent predictor of cardiovascular events at follow-up. This variable could be useful to identify patients at higher risk of further adverse events after cardiac resynchronization implantation., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

A 30-year-old woman, with no medical history, is operated on for breast implants. In recovery room, an episode of torsade de pointes occurs, progressing to ventricular fibrillation. The ECG after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and conversion to a normal sinus rhythm shows a corrected QT interval prolongation, whereas it is normalized after 48hours. We hypothesize that a ventricular fibrillation occurred after a torsade de pointes, due to drug-induced long QT syndrome during general anesthesia, with probably drug interaction., (Copyright © 2014 Société française d’anesthésie et de réanimation (Sfar). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study is to show that differences of mortality, in acute myocardial infarction, observed between hospitals are not necessarily linked to a bad application of guidelines but can be linked to differences in the risk profile of the populations., Methods: Two populations admitted for ST and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in the same region in 2006 were compared: the population of Chalon-sur-Saône's hospital with a standard population from the observatoire des Infarctus de Côte d'Or (RICO). The risk profile of the two populations has been realised with the risk scores GRACE, EMMACE and the Simple Risk Index (SRI)., Results: The three scores are applicable for our populations according to the "C statistic". Moreover, there is a significant difference of in-hospital mortality between Chalon-sur-Saône and RICO. But, the population of Chalon-sur-Saône presents a higher risk. Finally, in-hospital rate mortality expected by the three scores is not different from the actual mortality., Conclusion: GRACE, EMMACE and SRI are valid scores for the comparison of risk profile of populations in acute myocardial infarction. Comparisons between hospitals are only possible after risk adjustment of the populations.

We report the case of a 41-year-old woman, non-smoker, without cardiovascular risk, hospitalised for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. The coronarography showed no significant coronary stenosis and a methylergometrine test performed was positive. After the discovery of a moderate chronic hypereosinophilia, a review of the literature about eosinophile and coronary pathology was realised in order to make a link between hypereosinophilia and coronary spasm.

The authors report a case of exteriorisation and migration of a fragment of a J-shaped atrial Accufix Telectronix (Stimarec Class IV) responsible for a bronchial penetration without clinical repercussion. A systematic control chest X-ray detected this complication. The position of the metallic fragment was determined by chest CT scan and bronchial fibroscopy between the inferior right lobar bronches and artery confirming bronchial perforation. Rigid bronchoscopy with direct visualisation enabled extraction of the foreign body without complications.