Further information: Normal and Abnormal Anatomy (see p205), Pathophysiology, Clinical Recognition, and Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease (see p233), Echocardiography in the Adult with Congenital Heart Disease (see p279), Congenital Heart Disease in the Adult: Interventional Therapy (see p311),  Surgical Treatment (see p341)   from Cardiovascular Medicine, 3rd Edn*

ESC …

Further information: The Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (see p2119) from Cardiovascular Medicine, 3rd Edn*

The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a widely used and trusted therapy for the prevention of sudden death from ventricular arrhythmia (VA). The design of the ICD requires the use of transvenous leads. Complication of lead insertion that result in difficulty obtaining venous access, as well as lead failure, led the investigators [1] to conduct two short-term trials to evaluate a subcutaneous ICD system that eliminated the need for placement of sensing and therapy electrodes within or …

Further information: Hypertension (see p1833) and Endocrine Disorders and the Heart (see p2295) from Cardiovascular Medicine, 3rd Edn*

The 70th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) was held June 25–29, 2010 in Orlando, Florida.  Papers of major significance related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease were presented, and three of the issues that were addressed will be discussed here: blood pressure control in hypertensive diabetics with heart disease, the significant increase in risk of vascular disease in diabetics, and an ongoing controversy over the use of thiazolidinediones, specifically rosiglitazone, for glycemic …

Further information: Congenital Heart Disease in the Adult: Interventional Therapy (see p311) from Cardiovascular Medicine, 3rd Edn*

One of the most controversial issues in cardiology in recent years has been to define the indications for closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The newest indication for closure of the PFO has been to control migraine headaches. Not uncommon, PFOs have been found to occur in 10–25% of the population in the USA, and as much as 6% of the male population and 15–18% of the female population suffer from migraine headaches. Observational studies have suggested a pathophysiologic relationship in the prevalence of migraine headaches in …

Further information: Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery and Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization: Impact on Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (see p1073) from Cardiovascular Medicine, 3rd Edn*

Results of the Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management, and Avoidance (CHARISMA) trial were published in 2006 in The New England Journal of Medicine [1] and the trial was the longest and largest study ever conducted to evaluate the risks of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention with either …

Further information: Atherosclerosis: Pathogenesis, Morphology, and Risk Factors (see p1593) and Hematologic Disease and Heart Disease (see p2409) from Cardiovascular Medicine, 3rd Edn*

The Study of the Effectiveness of Additional Reductions in Cholesterol and Homocysteine (SEARCH) trial was conducted to evaluate whether lowering blood levels of homocysteine with folic acid plus vitamin B12 had a protective effect in preventing cardiovascular disease and stroke [1]. Although earlier observational studies […

Further information: Coronary Artery Disease: Pathologic Anatomy and Pathogenesis (see p593), Arterial Compliance (see p1811), Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter (see p1955), and Sudden Cardiac Death (see p2039) from Cardiovascular Medicine, 3rd Edn*

In 1985 and 1986 respectively, two articles were published in Circulation […

Further information: Medical Treatment of Unstable Angina, Acute Non–ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, and Coronary Artery Spasm (see p937), Pathophysiology and Clinical Impact of Diastolic Heart Failure (see p1201) and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (see p1233) from Cardiovascular Medicine, 3rd Edn*

This article [1] contains observations from the Metabolic Efficiency with Ranolazine for Less Ischemia in Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary-Thrombolysis in …

Further information: Exercise Testing (see p729),
Coronary Angiography (see p745),
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Coronary Artery Disease (see p811)
and Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Utilizing Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Techniques (see p841) from Cardiovascular Medicine, 3rd Edn*

At University Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, investigators conducted an observational study […