Cardiophile MD

Lustgarten DL et al evaluated the efficacy of direct His bundle pacing vis-a-vis biventricular pacing (Heart Rhythm 7:15-12). All the ten subjects of the study were candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Direct His bundle pacing (DHBP) was temporarily implemented just prior to biventricular (BiV) pacing in those who were being taken up for cardiac [...]

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM 361:2518-2528) used a novel gene chip containing 48742 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2100 genes to test for associations in about 6500 persons [controls and those with coronary artery disease (CAD)]. It was found that three chormosomal regions (6q26–27, 9p21, and 1p13) were [...]

The INvestigation of STEnt Grafts in Aortic Dissection (INSTEAD) Trial, (Circulation. 2009;120:2519-2528) a randomized comparison of strategies for Type B aortic dissection found that thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) failed to improve 2-year survival and adverse event rates in spite of favorable aortic remodeling. An accompanying editorial in Circulation, while commenting that this trial [...]

Ischemic preconditioning is now well known, but post conditioning is a relatively new concept. In ischemic preconditioning, repeated episodes of ischemia preceding a coronary occlusion conditions the myocardium so that the infarct size is lesser. In ischemic post conditioning repeated episodes of occlusion re-occlusion during reperfusion following a coronary occlusion reduces the ultimate infarct size [...]

A new pocket-sized echocardiograph is available to aid bedside diagnosis. The device is ACUSON P10™ ultrasound system which weighs only 725 grams. It provides fundamental and harmonic 2D images and has a USB port for information sharing. The specifications are available at the Siemens website. A recent study from Japan (Shota Fukuda, et al, [...]