Article The TAXUS Liberté Post Approval study included patients treated with TAXUS paclitaxel DES receiving prasugrel for 12 to 30 months. Primary end point was a combination of death, infarction or stroke that resulted in 3.7% after 30 months vs. 8.8% after 12 months of prasugrel administration (p<0.001). Death and stroke rates were similar between…
ISAR-SAFE: 6 vs. 12 month clopidogrel administration after DES implantation
The aim of this randomized double blind control trial was to validate the safety and efficacy of 6 months vs. 12 months clopidogrel treatment in patients receiving DES. Primary end point was a combination of death, infarction, in-stent thrombosis, stroke and major bleeding. Secondary end point was the individual analysis of each one of the…
DAPT TRIAL: double antiaggregation remains controversial
Article This multicenter randomized control study with placebo was designed to determine the risks and benefits of double antiaggregation for longer than 12 months post DES stenting. 9961 patients were randomized to continue on placebo or thienopyridine after 12 months. Thienopyridine reduces the incidence of in-stent thrombosis (0.4% vs 1.4%; p<0,001) and cardiovascular events (4.3%…
ITALIC PLUS: 6 months of double antiaggregation for no less than 24 months
Article This multicenter study included patients receiving the second generation stent XIENCE V (Abbott Vascular) randomized to 6 and 24 months of double antiaggregation therapy after confirming non-resistance to aspirin. Primary end point was a combination of death, infarction, emergency revascularization of target vessel, stroke and major bleeding. The study saw early termination due to…
Coronary flow reserve is associated to adverse events regardless angiographic severity.
This study included 329 consecutive patients derived to coronary angiography based on myocardial perfusion tests or PET scan (positron emission tomography). The extension and severity of heart disease was assessed by angiography, and coronary flow reserve (CFR) was measured non-invasively by PET. After adjusting risk factors, ejection fraction, revascularization, etc, both the severity of angiographic…
Improved survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with the use of automated external defibrillators
This study included patients presenting out of hospital cardiac arrest between 2006 and 2012 in The Netherlands to assess the impact of automated external defibrillators (AED). Survival rate and neurologic outcomes improved significantly with the use of AEDs (n=6133, 16.2% vs 19.7%; p=0.021) and even more in patients with shockable initial rhythm (n=2823, 29.1% vs…
PARAMEDIC: mechanical vs. manual chest compressions for out of hospital cardiac arrest
Mechanical compression devices could solve manual resuscitation shortcomings and help maintain its quality. This study compared the mechanical chest compression device LUCAS-2 with manual compressions in out of hospital non traumatic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The study randomized 4471 patients (1652 to LUCAS-2 and 2819 to the control group) primary end point was 30 day survival and…
Association between hospital performance and after in-hospital cardiac arrest care
There is significant variation in survival rates after in-hospital cardiac arrest care. It is not clear whether better care is associated to better outcomes. Hospital performance was assessed using six recommendations standardized for American hospitals participating in the program “Get with the Guidelines-Resuscitation”. The analysis included 149551 patients presenting in-hospital cardiac arrest in 447 centers…