Cardiovascular Medicine

4 pages, 104 KB

Open AccessCommunication

Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology in Switzerland

by Stephane Cook, Giovanni Pedrazzini, Didier Locca, Aris Moschovitis, Jean-Jacques Goy, Willibald Maier and Christoph Kaiser

Cardiovasc. Med. 2013, 16(3), 97; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2013.00148 - 13 Mar 2013

Viewed by 19

Abstract

Invasive and interventional cardiology has become a specific subspecialty of cardiology. It requires dedicated training after the training in general cardiology. In Switzerland, ten teaching centres have been selected. This article describes recommendations for specific training in invasive and interventional cardiology. The Working Group on Interventional Cardiology and Acute Coronary Syndrome, the Swiss Society of Cardiology and the FMH (Swiss Medical Association) endorse these recommendations. Full article

2 pages, 156 KB

Open AccessInteresting Images

Acrylcement Pulmonary Embolism

by Dominik Zumsteina, Fritz Widmer and Martin Blay

Cardiovasc. Med. 2013, 16(3), 95; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2013.00118 - 13 Mar 2013

Viewed by 14

Abstract

A 70-year-old woman with multiple osteoporotic fractures was treated by kyphoplasty for the fractured vertebrae D11–12, L1, L3–4 in one session without complications and by vertebroplasty for D8–10 and L2 after another four days [...] Full article

8 pages, 839 KB

Open AccessReview

Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support—From Established Treatment to Current Trends in Management of End-Stage Heart Failure

by Markus J. Wilhelm, Stephan Jacobs, Frank Enseleit, Georg Noll, Frank Ruschitzka and Volkmar Falk

Cardiovasc. Med. 2013, 16(3), 87; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2013.00112 - 13 Mar 2013

Viewed by 16

Abstract

In patients with end-stage heart failure refractory to medical and cardiac resynchronisation therapy, heart transplantation is recognised as the treatment of choice. As compared to medical therapy, heart transplantation is considered to be associated with a survival benefit, to enhance functional capacity and improve quality of life, provided that patients are properly selected in accordance with guidelines. However, a powerful trial to compare heart transplantation with conventional management is still lacking and is unlikely to be performed. Individually tailored anti-rejection regimens, based on the currently used immunosuppressive agents, have produced an excellent survival rate following heart transplantation. Unlike the increase in survival in the early phase after transplantation, the attrition rate over the long term has remained similar in recent decades, largely because of associated complications such as chronic allograft vasculopathy and malignancy, the incidence of which could not be markedly reduced. Since the number of heart transplantations is limited due to the shortage of donor organs, and since, in parallel, the number of patients with end-stage heart failure is constantly increasing, mechanical circulatory support is gaining in importance. The pulsatile devices originally used were associated with a high frequency of adverse events such as bleeding and thromboembolic events, noisiness and patient discomfort, which prevented widespread application. The introduction of continuous- flow pumps which are silent and comfortable, and cause fewer side effects, has revolutionised mechanical circulatory support. Since survival on such devices has significantly improved as compared to the previous era, implant rates have dramatically increased, particularly as an alternative to transplantation. In carefully selected patients the outcome of destination therapy approaches survival rates close to those after heart transplantation. Full article

5 pages, 194 KB

Open AccessReview

Surgical Management of Functional Mitral Regurgitation in Heart Failure Patients

by Christoph T. Starck, Felix Schönrath, Jacques Scherman, Etem Caliskan and Volkmar Falk

Cardiovasc. Med. 2013, 16(3), 82; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2013.00151 - 13 Mar 2013

Viewed by 18

Abstract

Relevant secondary mitral regurgitation occurs in 35–50% of patients with chronic heart failure and is associated with increased mortality. Surgical management of patients with mitral valve regurgitation and heart failure remains controversial. There are several questions which are not sufficiently clarified because of a lack of prospective randomised controlled trials: (1.) The indication for concomitant mitral valve surgery in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation; (2.) the management of functional mitral valve regurgitation; (3.) the appropriate surgical strategy: repair or chordal-sparing replacement. Full article

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Cardiovasc. Med., Volume 16, Issue 3 (03 2013) – 4 articles

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI