Aims: We aimed to investigate the rapid induction of therapeutic hypothermia using the ZOLL Proteus Intravascular Temperature Management System in patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without cardiac arrest. Methods and results:A total of 50 patients were randomised; 22 patients (88%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 69-97%) in the hypothermia group and 23 patients (92%; 95% CI: 74-99) in the control group completed cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at four to six days and 30-day follow-up. Intravascular temperature at coronary guidewire crossing after 20.5 minutes of endovascular cooling decreased to 33.6°C (range 31.9-35.5°C). There was a 17-minute (95% CI: 4.6-29.8 min) cooling-related delay to reperfusion. In "per protocol" analysis, median infarct size/left ventricular mass was 16.7% in the hypothermia group versus 23.8% in the control group (absolute reduction 7.1%, relative reduction 30%; p=0.31) and median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 42% in the hypothermia group and 40% in the control group (absolute reduction 2.4%, relative reduction 6%; p=0.36). Except for self-terminating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (32% versus 8%; p=0.074), there was no excess of adverse events in the hypothermia group.Conclusions: We rapidly and safely cooled patients with anterior STEMI to 33.6°C at the time of coronary guidewire crossing. This is ≥1.1°C lower than in previous cooling studies. Except for self-terminating atrial fibrillation, there was no excess of adverse events and no clinically important cooling-related delay to reperfusion. A statistically non-significant numerical 7.1% absolute and 30% relative reduction in infarct size warrants a pivotal trial powered for efficacy. ClinicalTrials.

Our study determined risk factors and predictors for hospital readmission after cardiac surgery. This may help to reduce readmission rates.

Background: Despite primary PCI (PPCI), STEMI can still result in large infarct size (IS).New technology with rapid intravascular cooling showed positive signal for reduction in IS in anterior STEMI.Aims: We investigated the effectiveness and safety of rapid systemic intravascular hypothermia as an adjunct to primary PCI (PPCI) in conscious patients with anterior STelevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without cardiac arrest.Methods: Hypothermia was induced using ZOLL ® Proteus™ Intravascular Cooling System.After randomization of 111 patients, 58 to hypothermia and 53 to control groups, the study was prematurely discontinued by the sponsor due to inconsistent patient logistics between the groups resulting in significantly longer total ischemic delay in hypothermia group (232 vs 188 minutes; p <0.001).Results: There were no differences in angiographic features and PPCI result between the groups. Intravascular temperature at wire crossing was 33.3+0.9°C. Infarct size/left ventricular mass (IS/LV) by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at day 4-6 was 21.3% in hypothermia group and 20.0% in control group (p=0.540). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 30 days were non significantly increased in hypothermia group (8.6% vs 1.9%; p=0.117) while cardiogenic shock (10.3% vs 0%; p=0.028) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (43.1% vs 3.8%; p<0.001) were significantly more frequent in hypothermia group. 5 Conclusion: Intravascular ZOLL TM Proteus Cooling System reduced temperature to 33.3 o Cbefore PPCI in patients with anterior STEMI. Due to inconsistent patient logistics between the groups, this hypothermia protocol resulted in longer ischemic delay, did not reduce IS/LV mass and was associated with increased adverse events.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with COVID-19 is triggered by various mechanisms and can significantly affect the patient’s further treatment and prognosis. The study aimed to investigate the characteristics, major complications, and predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients with ACS. All consecutive patients hospitalized from 5 July 2020 to 5 May 2021 for ACS with confirmed SARS-Co-2 were prospectively enrolled and tracked for mortality until 5 June 2021. Data from the electronic records for age and diagnosis, matched non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 ACS group, were extracted and compared. Overall, 83 COVID-19 ACS patients, when compared to 166 non-COVID ACS patients, had significantly more prevalent comorbidities, unfavorable clinical characteristics on admission (acute heart failure 21.7% vs. 6.6%, p < 0.01) and higher rates of major complications, 33.7% vs. 16.8%, p < 0.01, and intrahospital 30-day mortality, 6.7% vs. 26.5%, p < 0.01. The strongest predictors of mortality were aortic regurgitation, HR 9.98, 95% CI 1.88; 52.98, p < 0.01, serum creatinine levels, HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01; 1.04, p < 0.01, and respiratory failure therapy, HR 13.05, 95% CI 3.62; 47.01, p < 0.01. Concomitant ACS and COVID-19 is linked to underlying comorbidities, adverse presenting features, and poor outcomes. Urgent strategies are needed to improve the outcomes of these patients.