In this manuscript, the authors describe their findings of an extensive literature review of 12 mostly observational, retrospective studies evaluating the use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients after CABG. They conclude that there is no clear consensus regarding the use DAPT in patients undergoing CABG.
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Pharmacology
May 10, 2015
April 12, 2015
In this manuscript the authors describe their findings in a meta-analysis of 12 randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials involving 2,980 patients undergoing isolated CABG. They found that statin therapy, particularly atorvastatin, initiated before CABG, was associated with a 58% reduction in the risk of postoperative AF.
February 24, 2015
This study evaluated potential safety concerns of using NSAIDS in combination with antithrombotic agents 30 days or more after MI. The population studied was comprised of nearly 62,000 Danish patients. Use of NSAIDs at any time doubled the risk of a bleeding episode and increased the risk of a major cardiovascular event by 40%. The NSAIDs risks we
January 14, 2015
This RCT compared daily 200mg or 300mg of FXI-ASO (an antisense oligonucleotide that reduces levels of factor XI) to daily 40mg of enoxaparin in pts undergoing knee replacement surgery. The end point was thromboembolism. FXI-ASO significantly reduced factor XI levels in a dose-response manner. FXI-ASO 200 mg was equivalent to enoxaparin in frequen
January 10, 2015
The FDA recently approved the fourth new oral anticoagulant, Savaysa for use in non-valvular afib, DVT, and PE. It is another factor Xa inhibitor. Use in non-valvular afib requires renal function assessment prior to prescribing, as the drug is renally excreted. Paradoxically, efficacy may be reduced in patients with better-than-normal renal functi
December 18, 2014
This randomized trial in New Zealand assigned smokers who wished to quit to either nicotrine replacement therapy or cytisine therapy.
August 25, 2014
This interesting overview points out the negative effects of adrenaline on outcomes in a number of observational and randomized studies of patients experiencing cardiac arrest. The author recommends using Vasopressin after the first dose of adrenaline during resuscitation from cardiac arrest.
July 3, 2014
Good news for lovers of dark chocolate. In this randomized study of 20 pts with peripheral arterial disease, walking distance and maximal walking time were evaluated 2 hr after ingestion of either dark chocolate or milk chocolate in a cross-over design. Dark chocolate ingestion was associated with an 11% increase in distance and a 15% increase in t
June 22, 2014
In two double blind trials involving nearly 1400 pts being treated with opiods for non-cancer pain and experiencing constipation, oral naloxegol was compared to placebo with the primary outcome being spontaneous bowel activity. Naloxegol was superior to placebo overall and in the subgroup of patients who had failed to respond to laxatives. Pain sco
June 1, 2014
This study assessed whether the application of a poly based hydrogel containing amioderone applied to the epicardium at the time of surgery reduced the incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation. The study randomised 100 patients undergoing cardiac surgery to either receive the amioderone spray at the time of surgery or no intervention.