ASEAN heart journal : Official journal of the ASEAN Federation of Cardiology最新文献

The goal of anticoagulation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the primary and secondary prevention of thrombotic and significant bleeding events that increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Unfractionated heparin is the most commonly-used anticoagulant, but low-molecular weight heparin, and more recently bivalirudin are becoming increasingly popular in cardiac catheterization laboratories¹. The ACC/AHA/SCAI PCI guidelines² recommend a 70-100 IU/kg bolus of heparin to achieve an activated clotting time (ACT) of 250-300 seconds for Hemotec and 300-350 seconds for Hemochron systems, when glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors are not used. When glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors are used, a bolus of 50-70 IU/kg of unfractionated heparin is recommended to achieve an ACT of 200-250 seconds.

Thrombosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, not only in aging industrialized countries, but also many emerging economies¹.

Objectives: To study sex differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes among multi-ethnic Southeast Asian patients with hospitalized heart failure (HHF).

Background: HHF is an important public health problem affecting man and women globally. Reports from Western populations suggest striking sex differences in risk factors and outcomes in HHF. However, this has not been studied in a multi-ethnic Asian population.

Methods: Using the population-based resources of the Singapore Cardiac Data Bank, we studied 5,703 consecutive cases of HHF admitted across hospitals in the Southeast Asian nation of Singapore from 1st January, 2008 through 31st December, 2009.

Results: Women accounted for 46% of total admissions and were characterized by older age (73 vs. 67 years; p<0.001), higher prevalence of hypertension (78.6 vs. 72.1%; p<0.001) or atrial fibrillation (22.2 vs. 18.1%; p<0.001), and lower prevalence of coronary artery disease (33.8 vs. 41.0%; p<0.001) or prior myocardial infarction (14.9 vs. 19.8%; p<0.001). Women were more likely than men to have HHF with preserved ejection fraction (42.5% versus 20.8%, p < 0.001). Women were less likely than men to receive evidencebased therapies at discharge, both in the overall group and in the sub-group with reduced ejection fraction. Women had longer lengths of stay (5.6 vs. 5.1 days; p<0.001) but similar in-hospital mortality and one-year rehospitalization rates compared to men. Independent predictors of mortality or rehospitalization in both men and women included prior myocardial infarction and reduced ejection fraction. Among women alone, additional independent predictors were renal impairment, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes. Prescription of beta-blockers and ACE-inhibitors at discharge was associated with better outcomes.

Conclusion: Among multi-ethnic Asian patients with HHF, there are important sex differences in clinical characteristics and prognostic factors. These data may inform sex-specific strategies to improve outcomes of HHF in Southeast Asians.

Coronary perforation is a potentially fatal complication during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Reports have shown that it occurs in 0.2 to 0.6% of all patients undergoing the procedures. [1-3] Though the frequency of coronary perforation is low, it is a serious and potentially life-threatening situation that warrants prompt recognition and management. Here we illustrate a case of coronary perforation, and review the incidence, causes, clinical sequelae and management of coronary perforation in the current contemporary practice.