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To investigate whether intentional cooling, achieved temperature and hypothermia duration were associated with in-hospital death in patients treated with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for refractory cardiac arrest.This is a retrospective analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry. Patients 18-79 years of age who received ECPR between 2010 and 2019 were included. We compared outcomes for intentional cooling versus no intentional cooling. Then, among those who completed intentional cooling, we compared the outcomes between i) achieved temperature ≤ 34 °C, 34-36 °C, and 36 °C, and ii) duration ≤ 36 °C for 12 h, 12-48 h, and ≥ 48 h. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality within 90 days. Cox proportional hazard models were generated with adjustment for covariates.Among 4,214 ECPR patients, 1,511 patients were included in the final analysis. After multivariable adjustment, there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between patients with intentional cooling and no intentional cooling (hazard ratio [HR], 1.06 [95% CI 0.93-1.21]; p = 0.394). In the 609 patients who completed intentional cooling, temperature at 34-36 °C had a significantly lower adjusted HR for in-hospital mortality compared with 36 °C (HR, 0.73 [0.55-0.96]; p = 0.025). Moreover, temperature ≤ 36 °C for 12-48 h had a significantly lower adjusted HR for in-hospital mortality compared with ≤ 36 °C for 12 h (HR, 0.69 [0.53-0.90]; p = 0.005).Intentional cooling was not associated with lower in-hospital mortality in ECPR patients. However, among patients with intentional cooling, achieving temperature of 34-36 °C for 12-48 h was associated with lower in-hospital mortality.

Aims The globalization of clinical trials has highlighted geographic variations in patient characteristics, event rates, and treatment effects. We investigated these further in PARADIGM-HF, the largest and most globally representative trial in heart failure (HF) to date. Methods and results We looked at five regions: North America (NA) 622 (8%), Western Europe (WE) 1680 (20%), Central/Eastern Europe/Russia (CEER) 2762 (33%), Latin America (LA) 1413 (17%), and Asia-Pacific (AP) 1487 (18%). Notable differences included: WE patients (mean age 68 years) and NA (65 years) were older than AP (58 years) and LA (63 years) and had more coronary disease; NA and CEER patients had the worst signs, symptoms, and functional status. North American patients were the most likely to have a defibrillating-device (53 vs. 2% AP) and least likely prescribed a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (36 vs. 61% LA). Other evidence-based therapies were used most frequently in NA and WE. Rates of the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular (CV) death or HF hospitalization (per 100 patient-years) varied among regions: NA 13.5 (95% CI 11.7–15.6), WE 9.6 (8.6–10.6), CEER 12.3 (11.4–13.2), LA 11.2 (10.0–12.5), and AP 12.5 (11.3–13.8). After adjustment for prognostic variables, relative to NA, the risk of CV death was higher in LA and AP and the risk of HF hospitalization lower in WE. The benefit of sacubitril/valsartan was consistent across regions. Conclusion There were many regional differences in PARADIGM-HF, including in age, symptoms, comorbidity, background therapy, and event-rates, although these did not modify the benefit of sacubitril/valsartan. Clinical trial registration URL . Unique identifier: [NCT01035255][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT01035255&atom=%2Fehj%2Fearly%2F2016%2F06%2F27%2Feurheartj.ehw226.atom

Background : Traditionally, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been described as either STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) or non-STEMI myocardial infarction. This classification is historically related to the use of thrombolytic therapy, which is effective in STEMI. The current era of widespread use of coronary angiography (CAG), usually followed by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) puts this classification system into question. Objectives : To compare the outcomes of patients with STEMI and ST-depression myocardial infarction (STDMI) who were treated with emergency PCI. Methods : This multicentre registry enrolled a total of 6 602 consecutive patients with AMI. Patients were divided into the following subgroups: STEMI (n = 3446), STDMI (n = 907), left bundle branch block (LBBB) AMI (n = 241), right bundle branch block (RBBB) AMI (n = 338) and other electrocardiographic (ECG) AMI (n = 1670). Baseline and angiographic characteristics were studied, and revascularisation therapies and in-hospital mortality were analysed. Results : Acute heart failure was present in 29.5% of the STDMI vs 27.4% of the STEMI patients (p < 0.001). STDMI patients had more extensive coronary atherosclerosis than patients with STEMI (three-vessel disease: 53.1 vs 30%, p < 0.001). The left main coronary artery was an infract-related artery (IRA) in 6.0% of STDMI vs 1.1% of STEMI patients (p < 0.001). TIMI flow 0-1 was found in 35.0% of STDMI vs 66.0% of STEMI patients (p < 0.001). Primary PCI was performed in 88.1% of STEMI (with a success rate of 90.8%) vs 61.8% of STDMI patients (with a success rate of 94.5%) (p = 0.012 for PCI success rates). In-hospital mortality was not significantly different (STDMI 6.3 vs STEMI 5.4%, p = 0.330). Conclusion : These data suggest that similar strategies (emergency CAG with PCI whenever feasible) should be applied to both these types of AMI.

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) bears a significant burden on health and survival. Rapid and accurate risk stratification and management are of paramount importance to ensure the highest quality of care. This present article summarizes currently available and emerging management strategies for the disease. The authors not only review current evidence regarding early therapy of acute PE, including supportive care, anticoagulation, thrombolysis, surgical and catheter-based treatment, but also the possible role of mechanical circulatory support in PE. The authors also discuss complications related to PE and its management.

Pulmonary embolism is an important clinical entity with considerable mortality despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. In the present article, the authors offer a comprehensive review focused mainly on epidemiology, risk factors, risk stratification, pathophysiological considerations and clinical presentation. Diagnosis based on assessment of clinical likelihood, electrocardiography, chest x-ray, D-dimer levels, markers of myocardial injury and overload, and blood gases is discussed in detail. Special attention is devoted to the clinical use of computed tomography, pulmonary angiography and echocardiography in the setting of pulmonary embolism.