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Aims We investigated the relationship between clinically assessed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and survival in a large, heterogeneous clinical cohort. Methods and results Physician-reported LVEF on 403 977 echocardiograms from 203 135 patients were linked to all-cause mortality using electronic health records (1998–2018) from US regional healthcare system. Cox proportional hazards regression was used for analyses while adjusting for many patient characteristics including age, sex, and relevant comorbidities. A dataset including 45 531 echocardiograms and 35 976 patients from New Zealand was used to provide independent validation of analyses. During follow-up of the US cohort, 46 258 (23%) patients who had undergone 108 578 (27%) echocardiograms died. Overall, adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for mortality showed a u-shaped relationship for LVEF with a nadir of risk at an LVEF of 60–65%, a HR of 1.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.64–1.77] when ≥70% and a HR of 1.73 (95% CI 1.66–1.80) at LVEF of 35–40%. Similar relationships with a nadir at 60–65% were observed in the validation dataset as well as for each age group and both sexes. The results were similar after further adjustments for conditions associated with an elevated LVEF, including mitral regurgitation, increased wall thickness, and anaemia and when restricted to patients reported to have heart failure at the time of the echocardiogram. Conclusion Deviation of LVEF from 60% to 65% is associated with poorer survival regardless of age, sex, or other relevant comorbidities such as heart failure. These results may herald the recognition of a new phenotype characterized by supra-normal LVEF. Open in new tab Download slide Open in new tab Download slide [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an answer to the question of how anticoagulation with bivalirudin compares with heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor in patients suffering from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction having primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Cardiac tamponade due to purulent pericarditis with a characteristic greenish fluid is rare in this antibiotic era. It is highly fatal despite early diagnosis and advanced treatment. Gram-positive cocci are the leading cause of purulent pericarditis, which usually results from a direct or hematogenous spread of organisms to the pericardium from the primary foci of infection. We describe an index case of rapidly developing pericardial tamponade caused by oropharyngeal polymicrobial infection in the absence of a primary source of infection in a 62-year-old man, who was successfully managed with emergency large-volume pericardiocentesis followed by pericardiectomy.

Background: The frequency of ad hoc percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) varies among institutions and regions of the country. It is unclear what factors limit use of the ad hoc strategy., Objective: To define factors which limit the use of the ad hoc strategy., Methods: All patients who underwent PCI at our center in 2004 were reviewed. Patients who had emergent PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (n = 188), those who had undergone diagnostic coronary angiography at a referring facility (n = 54), and those who had a repeat PCI after a previous ad hoc PCI (n = 19) were excluded. PCIs performed the same day as diagnostic angiography were considered "ad hoc"; all others were designated "staged". Demographic and procedural factors through hospital discharge were prospectively recorded. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify correlates of ad hoc PCI, PCI success, and PCI complications., Results: Of the 580 PCI procedures eligible for analysis, 557 (96%) were ad hoc and 23 (4%) were staged. Patients undergoing staged PCI had more lesions treated, a higher rate of no-reflow and periprocedural myocardial infarction, and higher contrast volumes and fluoroscopic times. Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with history of heart failure, renal insufficiency and a recent myocardial infarction were more likely to undergo a staged PCI. Patients undergoing a staged PCI and those who had previous bypass surgery were more likely to have an unsuccessful PCI procedure., Conclusion: Most PCI procedures can be performed safely and effectively on the same day as diagnostic coronary angiography.