Atrial Fibrillation Termination as a Procedural Endpoint During Ablation in Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Elayi CS, Di Biase L, Barrett C, et al.
Heart Rhythm 2010;7:1216-1223.
Study Question: Is termination of long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) by ablation predictive of a successful outcome after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA)?
The Relation Between Hospital Procedure Volume and Complications of Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation From the Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Registry
Freeman JV, Wang Y, Curtis JP, et al.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2010;56:1133-1139.
Study Question: Is there a lower risk of complications from implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) at high-volume centers than at low-volume centers?
Spectrum and Outcome of Reoperations After the Ross Procedure
Stulak JM, Burkhart HM, Sundt TM 3rd, et al.
Circulation 2010;122:1153-1158.
Study Question: What is the frequency and spectrum of pathology and complexity of reoperations following the Ross procedure?
Transcatheter Device Closure of Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defects: Mid-Term Outcomes
Yang J, Yang L, Wan Y, et al.
Eur Heart J 2010;31:2238-2245.
Study Question: What are the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of transcatheter device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (pmVSD)
J-Curve Revisited: An Analysis of Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Events in the Treating to New Targets (TNT) Trial
Bangalore S, Messerli FH, Wun CC, et al., on behalf of the Treating to New Targets Steering Committee and Investigators.
Eur Heart J 2010;Sep 16:[Epub ahead of print].
Study Question: In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), a J-curve relationship has been reported between blood pressure (BP) and future cardiovascular events. What is the relationship between BP and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CAD participating in a non-BP clinical trial?
Intensive Blood-Pressure Control in Hypertensive Chronic Kidney Disease
Appel LJ, Wright JT Jr, Greene T, et al.
N Engl J Med 2010;363:918-929.
Study Question: What is the effect of intensive blood pressure control on the progression of chronic kidney disease among black patients?
Genetic Counselling and Testing in Cardiomyopathies: A Position Statement of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group and Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases
Charron P, Arad M, Arbustini E, et al.
Eur Heart J 2010;Sep 7:[Epub ahead of print].
Perspective: This position statement, from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Disease, provides a summary of research on the genetics behind heritable cardiomyopathies and recommendations for screening and family counseling. The following are 10 points to remember.
Patients’ and Cardiologists’ Perceptions of the Benefits of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Stable Coronary Disease
Rothberg MB, Sivalingam SK, Ashraf J, et al.
Ann Intern Med 2010;153:307-313.
Study Question: Do cardiologists and patients have similar beliefs about the benefit of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)?
Application of Appropriateness Criteria to Stress Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Sestamibi Studies: A Comparison of the 2009 Revised Appropriateness Criteria to the 2005 Original Criteria
Carryer DJ, Hodge DO, Miller TD, Askew JW, Gibbons RJ.
Am Heart J 2010;160:244-249.
Study Question: The purpose of this study was to compare the 2005 to 2009 appropriate use criteria (AUC) in 281 patients who underwent single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in May 2005. What is the impact of the new revised criteria on appropriateness of this study?
A Randomized Trial of a Telephone-Care Management Strategy
Wennberg DE, Marr A, Lang L, O’Malley S, Bennett G.
N Engl J Med 2010;363:1245-55.
Study Question: Can patient telephone care-management improve medical costs and resource utilization?
Acceptance, Panic, and Partial Recovery: The Pattern of Usage of Drug-Eluting Stents After Introduction in the U.S. (A Report From the American College of Cardiology/National Cardiovascular Data Registry)
Krone RJ, Rao SV, Dai D, et al., on behalf of the ACC/NCDR Investigators.
J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2010;3:902-910.
Study Question: What are the trends in the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) in the United States?
Comparison of Zotarolimus-Eluting Stents With Sirolimus-Eluting and Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents for Coronary Revascularization: The ZEST (Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent with Sirolimus-Eluting and PacliTaxel-Eluting Stent for Coronary Lesions) Randomized Trial
Park DW, Kim YH, Yun SC, et al.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2010;56:1187-1195.
Study Question: What is the relative safety and efficacy of the zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) compared with the sirolimus- (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in routine clinical practice?