The study I just reviewed (SYNTAX 3 Analysis) had a couple of words that I would like to talk to you about. The first one is “noninferiority“. In the age of “refudiate“, it should be no surprise that new words arrive every now and then, but “noninferiority”? In SYNTAX it refers to an attempt to prove that in this study, …
SYNTAX 3 Analysis
At the September meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Meeting three year follow-up data of the SYNTAX trial [9] were presented. I have commented repeatedly on both SYNTAX and reactions it provoked in the professional literature and the lay press [4], [5], [6],[7],[8]. In this analysis, the SYNTAX score was used to separate patients into three groups. This …
My Blood Pressure is 140/90, what do I do?
QUESTION: Dear Doctor, My mothers blood pressure is 140/90. She is 56 years old. Whether the Blood Pressure 140/90 is normal one ? What are the precautions to be taken to reduce the blood pressure ? Please give me the answer ASAP. Thanks Prasad, INDIA
SYNTAX three year results
The latest SYNTAX results extend CABG’s superiority over PCI. SYNTAX was an 1800-patient trial, randomizing patients with left main coronary disease and/or three-vessel disease to either CABG or PCI using the Taxus DES. This follow-up analysis further clarifies the limited role of PCI in the treatment of triple vessel CAD and/or LMain Stenosis, while the differences have become more obvious. Key …
Low blood pressure while standing: Orthostatic Hypotension
QUESTION: Hi I’m 18, been in bed for the last two months with mono. When I stand I have a drop in blood pressure of about 20/10, I feel my head rush, my face gets hot, I don’t get dizzy, but after standing for awhile it goes low again, will this fix itself once my body adjust to being normal …
Carotid Stents and Stroke
Carotid Stents may raise patient risk for another stroke Confirming an earlier report in February, 2010, The International Carotid Stenting Study (ICSS) study showed a continued higher event rate of stroke, death, or peri-procedural MI with stenting vs. surgery for symptomatic carotid stenosis. (ICSS, which compared carotid artery stenting with carotid endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, showed …
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome
Question: Hello, I went to the hospital to the emergency with chest pains. I’m 25, they took tests and returned to tell me I have wolf parkinsons white syndrome. I was wondering how bad this is. I made an appointment with a cardiologist for next week but I can’t stop thinking about it, it worries me.
Blood pressure problems after PCI
Question: My husband, age 40, has a past history of double bypass and 13 stents (terrible family history). He had another stent placed this past week at the proximal end of his RCA. This is a ‘HUGE’ artery according to his physicians. He was recently placed on the new drug Effient instead of his usual Plavix. He was discharged home …
Is Adequate Testing Being Done (an elderly woman on lots of medications)?
The question: My 90 year old Mother has recently had problems with blood thinning, blood pressure dropping, and periodic heart fluttering. The doctors ruled out any heart abnormalities and “shocked” her heart somehow back into normal pattern. She was switched to Coumadin. She’s on several meds. including Lisinopril/Norvasc(blood pressure), Neurontin(legs/feet), Symbalta(Depression), Synthroid(Thyroid), Lasix(Kidneys), & Omeprazole(Dyspepsia). I’m thinking of maybe getting …