Cardiology Commons^™

Left Ventricular Assist Device As Destination Therapy, Maya Guglin, Leslie W. Miller

The VAD Journal

Mechanical circulatory support is the most rapidly evolving strategy in heart failure management. The growing number of patients who need better results than medical therapy can offer, the limited pool of donors for cardiac transplantation, and several technological breakthroughs have all made the option of implanting a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as destination therapy more important.

In this review, we outline the indications and decision making process of considering a patient for a destination therapy LVAD, as well as outcomes, complications, and issues related to management of patients on currently approved devices. The future direction of the field will …

The Bubbling Aorta, Hesham R. Omar, Maya Guglin

The VAD Journal

We are presenting the image of the bubbles in the descending aorta in a patient on VA ECMO.

Dear Colleagues, Readers And Authors, Maya Guglin

The VAD Journal

No abstract provided.

Diagnosis Of Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Fausto Pizzino, Giampiero Vizzari, Charles A. Bomzer, Rubina Qamar, Scipione Carerj, Concetta Zito, Bijoy K. Khandheria

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Cardiotoxicity is a rising issue connected to use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of neoplastic diseases. Early diagnosis during follow-up is of paramount importance, and careful surveillance is recommended. Evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction by echocardiography and nuclear medicine techniques is widely used in clinical practice; however, their sensitivity in detecting early cardiac damage is low. New instruments like speckle-tracking imaging, cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac circulating biomarkers are available to clinicians to best evaluate the onset and progression of cardiotoxic effects, improving the therapeutic management and final outcome for the patient.

Clinical Outcomes Of Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Stenting In Nonsurgical Patients: A Single-Center Experience, John-Paul Pham, Abdelazim Hashim, Naoyo Mori, Mohamed Taha, Mohamed Djelmami-Hani, Joaquin Solis, Suhail Allaqaband, Tanvir Bajwa, Anjan Gupta

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Coronary artery bypass graft is the standard treatment for unprotected left main disease; however, some patients are poor surgical candidates due to comorbidities. We assessed the safety and clinical outcome of elective, unprotected left main coronary artery stenting in nonsurgical patients.

Methods: Between October 2004 and June 2006, 50 consecutive patients underwent elective, unprotected left main coronary artery stenting at our institution. Patients were followed for a median of 16 and 96 months and clinical outcomes monitored.

Results: Median logistic euroSCORE was 28.6 (interquartile range: 14.6-43.4). Median baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 50%. Procedural success rate was …

Cardiovascular Toxicity Of Common Chemotherapy Drugs Used To Treat Breast Cancer: An Overview, Charles A. Bomzer

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Treatment of breast cancer often exposes patients to many different drugs. Some of these drugs have toxic effects involving the cardiovascular system. This review provides an overview of the drugs most commonly used to treat breast cancer and their potential adverse impact on the cardiovascular system.

Recurrent Acute Myocardial Infarction In Patients With Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Fengyi Shen, Tonga Nfor, Tanvir Bajwa

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), also known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, is an acquired immune-mediated disease of adults and children characterized by a transient or persistent decrease of platelets and, depending upon the degree of thrombocytopenia, an increased risk of bleeding. The use of standard treatments for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), such as antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants, pose serious problems in patients with ITP due to the potential higher risk of bleeding complications. There are no current guidelines available for management of ITP patients with AMI. In this brief review of the limited available literature, we discuss the proposed pathophysiological link …