
Low-Dose Dobutamine Tc-99m-Mibi Gated SPECT to Predict Left Ventricular Remodelling in Patients...
Ischemic Heart DiseaseMyocardial InfarctionLeft myocardial infarction (MI), has a negative impact of long term morbidity and mortality. Even in patients treated successfully by angioplasty in the acute phase of infarct, the remodelling is observed in approximately 30% of cases. It is important to predict the occurrence of this phenomenon in the early phase after MI for the selection of patients who could eventually benefit from new therapeutic approach as for example cell replacement therapy. It has been advocated that stem cells coronary injections should be performed between the 5th and 10th day after an acute event. We hypothesise that a low dose dobutamine gated Tc-99m-mibi SPECT performed on 5th-6th day after reperfused acute MI can predict left ventricular remodelling and serve as a method to screen patients who could benefit from cell replacement therapy.

Outcomes Following Myocardial Revascularization: On and Off Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Ischemic Heart DiseaseIschemic heart disease is one of the most frequent diagnoses in the VA system. Moreover, 5,819 coronary artery bypass graft (CABG-only) procedures were performed in the VA in Fiscal Year (FY) 1999. Throughout VA and non-VA cardiac surgery programs nationwide, myocardial revascularization is now being performed using two surgical techniques. One technique is performed with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) usually with cardioplegic arrest ("on-pump") and the other without CPB on a beating heart ("off-pump"). The overall purpose of this proposed randomized, controlled, clinical trial is to rigorously evaluate the impact of using an on-pump versus off-pump surgical technique for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG-only) procedures (performed with a traditional median sternotomy incision) upon patient clinical outcomes and resource utilization.

Safety and Effectiveness of the Orsiro Sirolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System in Subjects With...
Coronary Artery DiseaseAtherosclerosis5 moreThe objective of this post-approval study is to confirm that the clinical performance of the Orsiro stent in a real-world setting is similar to the clinical performance observed for Orsiro in the BIOFLOW-V Investigational Device Exemption pivotal trial, as a condition of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval (P170030).

Periodization of Exercise Training in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease.
Coronary Heart DiseaseHealthy ControlThe research project includes two components that assess exercise physiology parameters, cerebrovascular reserve, cognitive functions and cardiac function in coronary heart disease patients at rest, during an acute exercise, and after two different periodized training programs.

Rheumatic Heart Disease Research and Screening in Nepal: A Feasibility Study
Rheumatic Heart DiseaseRheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) remains a significant public health problem in lower and middle-income countries, accounting for over 300,000 deaths world-wide. RHD is a sequela of Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS). Benzathine Penicillin Prophylaxis (BPP), through tri-weekly intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin G, remains the mainstay of intervention to delay and prevent the sequelae among ARF and RHD patients by preventing repeat GAS infections. Two major obstacles exist to the optimal utilization of this effort. First, despite proven benefits, BPP adherence remains low. Unfortunately, there is very little knowledge on the factors associated with BPP adherence. Even in countries like Nepal, which has a nation-wide free BPP program serving about 6000 patients, there is absence of a robust system to prospectively track and study these patients. Second, largely because RHD is initially asymptomatic, only a fraction of those who would benefit are enrolled in BPP programs. There is a dearth of information and evidence on potentially high-yield approaches like the screening of first-degree relatives (FDRs) of RHD patients to identify asymptomatic, early-stage RHD patients who may benefit from BPP. The investigators will combine the resources and expertise at the University of Washington with those from existing partners at two leading Nepali hospitals (Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center and Dhulikhel Hospital) to first create an easy to use, scalable, comprehensive electronic RHD registry and enroll BPP patients from these sites. In Aim 1, the investigators will examine whether patient socio-demographic, clinical, and health services-related characteristics are associated with BPP adherence. Investigators will use the BPP registry to collect important covariate information and adherence outcomes to address this aim. In Aim 2, investigators will determine the feasibility of screening FDRs of known RHD patients. Investigators will invite FDRs of known RHD patients (enrolled in the BPP registry) for echocardiographic screening for RHD. Investigators will assess the prevalence of RHD in these FDRs. This proposal harnesses one of the largest RHD patient pools in the world for establishing a robust RHD-related quality improvement and research platform that serves as a solid foundation for conducting larger epidemiologic, interventional, and implementation studies on RHD risk, prevention, and treatment.

Prognostic Impact of Cardiac Diastolic Function and Coronary Microvascular Function
Ischemic Heart DiseaseMicrovascular Coronary Artery Disease2 moreThe DIAST-CMD registry (Prognostic Impact of Cardiac Diastolic Function and Coronary Microvascular Function) is prospective registry which enrolled patients who underwent echocardiography, cnically-indicated invasive coronary angiography and comprehensive physiologic assessments including fractional flow reserve (FFR), CFR, and IMR measurements for at least 1 vessel from Samsung Medical Center. Patients with hemodynamic instability, severe LV dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction<40%), a culprit vessel of acute coronary syndrome, severe valvular stenosis or regurgitation were excluded.

Family Centred Early Intervention of Infants With Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital Heart Disease in ChildrenIn this study the investigators aim to test the feasibility for therapists and acceptability to parents of an early motor intervention for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) after open heart surgery. This intervention will be compared to the standard care of treatment that is recommended for infants with congenital heart disease at the University Children Hospital Zurich.

Skeletonised Versus Pedicled Internal Thoracic Artery
Heart DiseasesIt is to date unknown whether Thunderbeat has a place in harvesting the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and whether skeletonisation is superior to pedicle harvested LIMA. Though, some studies have shown improved flow-rates in the skeletonised graft while others shows compromised blood flow to the thoracic wall after pedicle harvested LIMA. The purpose of this study is to improve the quality of life for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operations. The aim of this study is to compare three groups of LIMA harvesting techniques: Pedicled, surgical skeletonised and skeletonised with Thunderbeat to determine the best way to harvest LIMA during CABG operations. The study design is an experimental randomized controlled trial in a single centre. Study population: Adult patients enlisted for elective stand-alone CABG surgery at the Department of Cardiothoracic surgery, Odense University Hospital. Study Unit: Test-days within subject and subject The study will address two main hypotheses in CABG patients: That both the surgical skeletonised and Thunderbeat skeletonised harvesting techniques of LIMA are superior to pedicled harvesting in regards to flowrates and pulsatility index (PI). Skeletonized harvesting of LIMA graft compared to pedicled harvesting improves patient quality of life three days, 30 days, and six months postoperatively.

Culprit-first in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Coronary Artery DiseaseIschemic Heart Disease3 moreThe aim of this study is to assess the impact of culprit-first versus culprit-last percutaneous coronary intervention on the door to balloon time and clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

AF-FLOW Registry: This Study is to Evaluate Ablamap Software in Patients Undergoing Ablation for...
Atrial FibrillationPersistent6 moreThis post-market global registry will evaluate the ability of the Ablamap® Software to identify atrial fibrillation sources and guide ablation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation.