Cardiovascular Medicine

1 pages, 300 KB

Open AccessCommunication

SCOT—Representing Switzerland’s Future Cardiologists

by Simon F. Stämpfli, Fabienne Schwitz, Florian Rey, Franziska Schober, Vanessa Weberndörfer, Flurina Arquint and Alexander Breitenstein

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 99; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00410 - 16 Mar 2016

Viewed by 11

Abstract

During the 2010 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress [...] Full article

2 pages, 167 KB

Open AccessInteresting Images

A Rare Electrocardiographic Presentation of Acute Ischemic Heart Disease

by Andreas Y. Andreou

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 97; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00400 - 16 Mar 2016

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 11

Abstract

A 56-year-old male smoker with dyslipidaemia was admitted because of a 20-minute history of substernal chest pain and ST-segment elevation (STE) in the anterolateral leads (fig. 1a) [...] Full article

2 pages, 115 KB

Open AccessCase Report

Flexible Pusher Cable for Percutaneous Closure of an Atrial Septal Defect

by Sabine Pallivathukal, Jean-Pierre Pfammatter and Bernhard Meier

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 95; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00398 - 16 Mar 2016

Viewed by 7

Abstract

The case report describes a new flexible pusher cable (HyperionFlex-Pusher) intended for safer percutaneous atrial septal defect device closure. Full article

5 pages, 1172 KB

Open AccessCase Report

Symptomatic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in a Young Woman

by André dos Santos Rocha, Zahurul Alam Bhuyian, Florence Fellman, Jürg Schlaepfer, Michèle Bovy and Alain Delabays

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 90; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00395 - 16 Mar 2016

Viewed by 11

Abstract

A 32-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with fainting, headaches, nausea and fatigue, associated with episodes of syncope. She reported a medical history of fainting, dizziness and vertigo of unknown origin since her childhood. During the last 2 weeks, she had recurrent [...] Read more.

A 32-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with fainting, headaches, nausea and fatigue, associated with episodes of syncope. She reported a medical history of fainting, dizziness and vertigo of unknown origin since her childhood. During the last 2 weeks, she had recurrent episodes of chest pain, accompanied by palpitations and dyspnoea. On admission, she complained of intense oppressive chest pain. Her ECG is shown in figure 1. Full article

7 pages, 444 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Leadless Cardiac Stimulation: Ready to Take Centre Stage?

by Nicolas B. Dayal and Haran Burri

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 83; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00397 - 16 Mar 2016

Viewed by 15

Abstract

Over the past few years, the field of cardiac stimulation has witnessed the accelerated development of leadless cardiac pacing, a technology first conceived almost 50 years ago. Currently, two fully intracardiac devices allow single-chamber right-ventricular stimulation: the Nanostim™ and Micra™ leadles pacemakers. Both [...] Read more.

Over the past few years, the field of cardiac stimulation has witnessed the accelerated development of leadless cardiac pacing, a technology first conceived almost 50 years ago. Currently, two fully intracardiac devices allow single-chamber right-ventricular stimulation: the Nanostim™ and Micra™ leadles pacemakers. Both are still undergoing long-term study, but only the latter device is commercially available in Switzerland. The field of cardiac resynchronisation therapy is also exploring leadless technology, with the development of the Wireless-CRT system, although its state of development is less advanced. These technologies, though still in relatively early stages, represent initial steps in a revolution in cardiac stimulation. Full article

6 pages, 292 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Preliminary Study on the Introduction of Peer-Assisted Learning in Auscultation Courses

by Philippe Kaufmann, Ernst Jünger, Patric Biaggi, Jan Breckwoldt, Eline Feldbrugge, Lars C. Huber and Christophe A. Wyss

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 77; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00394 - 16 Mar 2016

Viewed by 17

Abstract

Questions under study/principles: Peer-assisted learning (PAL), the instruction of less experienced students by advanced “peer” students, increasingly gains popularity. In addition, for acquisition of skills the use of mannequins as a substitute for real patients is common practice. This study aimed to [...] Read more.

Questions under study/principles: Peer-assisted learning (PAL), the instruction of less experienced students by advanced “peer” students, increasingly gains popularity. In addition, for acquisition of skills the use of mannequins as a substitute for real patients is common practice. This study aimed to test the acceptance and value of PAL in heart and lung auscultation on mannequins from the student’s point of view. Methods: Six students were selected as peer-students and instructed by both medical specialists and university teaching experts. Cardiology Patient Simulator “K” and Lung Sound Auscultation Trainer were used as mannequins. Quantitative and qualitative aspects of PAL were evaluated by a questionnaire at the end of each course using Likert-like scales (from 1, worst, to 4, best). Result: Ninety-six third- and fourth-year medical students participated in the PAL courses at the University of Zurich in the autumn term 2014. Best ratings were given for peer-students’ behaviour (none below 4), whereas the lowest grades were given for mannequin quality. Mean overall rating of the courses and peer-student teaching skills were rated to be very high. Conclusions: Peer-assisted teaching in auscultation of the heart and lungs was feasible and well accepted by participating students. In this study, there was no statistical difference between cardiology and pulmonology for the performance, content or perceived learning success of peer-assisted auscultation training. The mannequins used appeared acceptable for auscultation training. Full article

5 pages, 251 KB

Open AccessReview

EKG-Interpretation bei Sportlern–Die «Seattle-Kriterien»

by Michael J. Schindler and Christian Schmied

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 72; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00387 - 16 Mar 2016

Viewed by 12

Abstract

Current guidelines for ECG interpretation in athletes—the “Seattle Criteria” According to most surveys, sudden cardiac death is the most common sports-related cause of death amongst young athletes, whether during training or competitions, both for professional athletes and for those engaging in recreational sports. [...] Read more.

Current guidelines for ECG interpretation in athletes—the “Seattle Criteria” According to most surveys, sudden cardiac death is the most common sports-related cause of death amongst young athletes, whether during training or competitions, both for professional athletes and for those engaging in recreational sports. Reliable screening is crucial in order to prevent such tragic deaths. ECGs still make up a vital diagnostic tool to this end. Critics of this method have long condemned the high number of false-positive results, which have led to numerous unnecessary, unsettling and costly investigations, particularly for athletes exhibiting physiological changes on account of the athletic heart syndrome. Through steady refinement of the ECG criteria for athletes, however, the investigation’s specificity has improved considerably in recent years. The “Seattle Criteria” or the latest “refined criteria” currently lay out the most accurate guidelines for ECG diagnostics amongst athletes. Besides consistently high sensitivity, the implementation of these guidelines has also allowed the specificity of the examination to be increased to over 90%. This makes arguments against the integration of ECGs into the basic screening examinations of young athletes difficult to understand, and hopefully the latest “Seattle Criteria”, scheduled for publication in 2016, will serve as a basis for internationally accepted preventive examinations in young athletes. Full article

5 pages, 467 KB

Open AccessReview

The Impact of Fractional Flow Reserve and iFr on Current PCI Strategies

by Stephane Fournier and Olivier Muller

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 67; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00390 - 16 Mar 2016

Viewed by 10

Abstract

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement has become the gold standard for assessing myocardial ischaemia and has been recommended in both American and European guidelines as an aid to deciding whether or not to perform myocardial revascularisation. Indeed, large clinical trials have demonstrated that [...] Read more.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement has become the gold standard for assessing myocardial ischaemia and has been recommended in both American and European guidelines as an aid to deciding whether or not to perform myocardial revascularisation. Indeed, large clinical trials have demonstrated that an evaluation of stenoses guided by FFR reduced death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and repeat revascularisation (MACE) when compared with an evaluation guided by angiography only and that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with optimal medical treatment was superior to optimal medical treatment alone to reduce MACE in the presence of a pathological FFR. To measure an FFR, the use of a pharmacological vasodilator (usually adenosine) is necessary. To avoid adenosine administration, the instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) recently emerged with the identification of a “wave-free period” of resistances similar in both magnitude and variability to those observed during FFR measurement. Nevertheless, iFR overall accuracy is only 80.4% and therefore iFR should not currently be recommended as an alternative to FFR. Full article

64 KB

Open AccessCommunication

Swiss Amgen Cardiology Research Award 2016

by

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 101; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00407 - 16 Mar 2016

Viewed by 11

Abstract

Rules for entry: [...] Full article

1 pages, 65 KB

Open AccessCommunication

Otto Hess Trainee Award 2016 of the Swiss Society of Cardiology

by

Cardiovasc. Med. 2016, 19(3), 100; https://doi.org/10.4414/cvm.2016.00408 (registering DOI) - 16 Mar 2016

Viewed by 12

Abstract

The Swiss Society of Cardiology (SSC) has created the Otto Hess Trainee Award to recognise and support trainees in cardiology who have made a significant contribution to research in the field of cardiology at an early stage of their career [...] Full article

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Cardiovasc. Med., Volume 19, Issue 3 (03 2016) – 10 articles

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI