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BMC Cardiovascular Disorders May 2024Despite their continued use, the effectiveness and safety of vasopressors in post-cardiac arrest patients remain controversial. This study examined the efficacy of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE
Despite their continued use, the effectiveness and safety of vasopressors in post-cardiac arrest patients remain controversial. This study examined the efficacy of various vasopressors in cardiac arrest patients in terms of clinical, morbidity, and mortality outcomes.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was performed using online databases (MeSH terms: MEDLINE (Ovid), CENTRAL (Cochrane Library), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar) from 1997 to 2023 for relevant English language studies. The primary outcomes of interest for this study included short-term survival leading to death, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to hospital discharge, neurological outcomes, survival to hospital admission, myocardial infarction, and incidence of arrhythmias.
RESULTS
In this meta-analysis, 26 studies, including 16 RCTs and ten non-RCTs, were evaluated. The focus was on the efficacy of epinephrine, vasopressin, methylprednisolone, dopamine, and their combinations in medical emergencies. Epinephrine treatment was associated with better odds of survival to hospital discharge (OR = 1.52, 95%CI [1.20, 1.94]; p < 0.001) and achieving ROSC (OR = 3.60, 95% CI [3.45, 3.76], P < 0.00001)) over placebo but not in other outcomes of interest such as short-term survival/ death at 28-30 days, survival to hospital admission, or neurological function. In addition, our analysis indicates non-superiority of vasopressin or epinephrine vasopressin-plus-epinephrine therapy over epinephrine monotherapy except for survival to hospital admission where the combinatorial therapy was associated with better outcome (0.76, 95%CI [0.64, 0.92]; p = 0.004). Similarly, we noted the non-superiority of vasopressin-plus-methylprednisolone versus placebo. Finally, while higher odds of survival to hospital discharge (OR = 3.35, 95%CI [1.81, 6.2]; p < 0.001) and ROSC (OR = 2.87, 95%CI [1.97, 4.19]; p < 0.001) favoring placebo over VSE therapy were observed, the risk of lethal arrhythmia was not statistically significant. There was insufficient literature to assess the effects of dopamine versus other treatment modalities meta-analytically.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis indicated that only epinephrine yielded superior outcomes among vasopressors than placebo, albeit limited to survival to hospital discharge and ROSC. Additionally, we demonstrate the non-superiority of vasopressin over epinephrine, although vasopressin could not be compared to placebo due to the paucity of data. The addition of vasopressin to epinephrine treatment only improved survival to hospital admission.
Topics: Humans; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Treatment Outcome; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Risk Factors; Return of Spontaneous Circulation; Male; Middle Aged; Female; Aged; Time Factors; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Epinephrine; Recovery of Function; Risk Assessment; Vasopressins; Patient Discharge; Adult
PubMed: 38816786
DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03962-4 -
Journal of Human Hypertension Feb 2024Blood pressure (BP) management reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in regulating... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Blood pressure (BP) management reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in regulating and maintaining blood volume and pressure. This analysis aimed to investigate the effect of exercise training on plasma renin, angiotensin-II and aldosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine, urinary sodium and potassium, BP and heart rate (HR). We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library of Controlled Trials until 30 November 2022. The search strategy included RAAS key words in combination with exercise training terms and medical subject headings. Manual searching of reference lists from systematic reviews and eligible studies completed the search. A random effects meta-analysis model was used. Eighteen trials with a total of 803 participants were included. After exercise training, plasma angiotensin-II (SMD -0.71; 95% CI -1.24, -0.19; p = 0.008; n = 9 trials), aldosterone (SMD -0.37; 95% CI -0.65, -0.09; p = 0.009; n = 8 trials) and norepinephrine (SMD -0.82; 95% CI -1.18, -0.46; p < 0.001; n = 8 trials) were reduced. However, plasma renin activity, epinephrine, and 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion remained unchanged with exercise training. Systolic BP was reduced (MD -6.2 mmHg; 95% CI -9.9, -2.6; p = 0.001) as was diastolic BP (MD -4.5 mmHg; 95% CI -6.9, -2.1; p < 0.001) but not HR (MD -3.0 bpm; 95% CI -6.0, 0.4; p = 0.053). Exercise training may reduce some aspects of RAAS and sympathetic nervous system activity, and this explains some of the anti-hypertensive response.
Topics: Humans; Renin-Angiotensin System; Renin; Aldosterone; Blood Pressure; Norepinephrine; Epinephrine; Angiotensin II; Potassium; Sodium; Exercise
PubMed: 38017087
DOI: 10.1038/s41371-023-00872-4 -
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2023Recent advances in telemedicine have led to increased use of digital ophthalmoscopes (DO) in clinical settings. This review aims to assess commercially available DOs,... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Recent advances in telemedicine have led to increased use of digital ophthalmoscopes (DO) in clinical settings. This review aims to assess commercially available DOs, including smartphone (SP), desktop, and handheld ophthalmoscopes, and evaluate their applications.
METHODS
A literature review was performed by searching PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Web of Science (webofknowledge.com), and Science Direct (sciencedirect.com). All English-language papers that resulted from the search terms "digital ophthalmoscope", "screening tool", "glaucoma screening", "diabetic retinopathy screening", "cataract screening", and "papilledema screening" were reviewed. Studies that contained randomized clinical trials with human participants between January 2010 and December 2020 were included. The Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) tool was used to assess the methodological quality of each included paper.
RESULTS
Of the 1307 studies identified, 35 met inclusion and exclusion criteria. The ROBIS tool determined that 29/35 studies (82.8%) had a low risk of bias, 3/35 (8.5%) had a moderate risk of bias, and 3/35 (8.5%) had a high risk of bias.
CONCLUSION
The continued adoption of DOs remains uncertain because of concerns about the image quality for non-mydriatic eyes and the confidence in data captured from the device. Likewise, there is a lack of guidelines for the use of DOs, which makes it difficult for providers to determine the best device for their practice and to ensure appropriate use. Even so, DOs continue to gain acceptance as technology and practice integration improve, especially in underserved areas with limited access to ophthalmologists.
PubMed: 37822326
DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S423845 -
BJS Open Sep 2023Conflicting evidence exists regarding the optimal waiting time for stable analgesic and vasoconstrictive effects after local infiltration of lidocaine with epinephrine....
BACKGROUND
Conflicting evidence exists regarding the optimal waiting time for stable analgesic and vasoconstrictive effects after local infiltration of lidocaine with epinephrine. An objective review is needed to dispel surgical dogma.
METHODS
This systematic review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022362414) included RCTs and prospective cohort studies. Primary outcomes were (1) onset of analgesia and (2) onset of stable hypoperfusion, assessed directly, or measured indirectly using perfusion imaging. Other data extracted include waiting strategies, means of outcome assessment, anaesthetic concentrations, volume/endpoint of infiltration, and injection sites. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Articles describing waiting strategies were critically appraised by the Joanna Briggs Institute tools.
RESULTS
Twenty-four articles were analysed, comprising 1013 participants. Ten investigated analgesia onset. Their pooled mean was 2.1 min (range 0.4-9.0 min). This varied with anatomic site and targeted nerve diameter. Fourteen articles investigated onset of stable hypoperfusion. Four observed bleeding intraoperatively, finding the minimum time to hypoperfusion at 7.0 min in the eyelid skin and 25.0 min in the upper limb. The ten remaining studies used perfusion imaging, reporting a wide range of results (0.0-30.0 min) due to differences in anatomic sites and depth, resolution and artefacts. Studies using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging correlated with clinical observations. Thirteen articles discussed waiting strategies, seven relating to large-volume tumescent local infiltration anaesthesia. Different waiting strategies exist for emergency, arthroscopic and cosmetic surgeries, according to the degree of hypoperfusion required. In tumescent liposuction, waiting 10.0-60.0 min is the norm.
CONCLUSION
Current literature suggests that around 2 min are required for most patients to achieve complete analgesia in all sites and with all anaesthesia concentrations. Waiting around 7 min in eyelids and at least 25 min in other regions results in optimal hypoperfusion. The strategies discussed inform decisions of when and how long to wait.
Topics: Humans; Anesthesia, Local; Prospective Studies; Pain Management; Epinephrine; Lidocaine
PubMed: 37768699
DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrad089 -
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2023Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness. Early DR screening is essential, but the infrastructure can be less affordable in low resource countries. This... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness. Early DR screening is essential, but the infrastructure can be less affordable in low resource countries. This study aims to review the accuracy of low-cost smartphone-based fundus cameras for DR screening in adult patients with diabetes.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature search to find studies that reported the sensitivity and specificity of low-cost smartphone-based devices for fundus photography in adult patients with diabetes. We searched three databases (MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus) and one register (Cochrane CENTRAL). We presented the accuracy values by grouping the diagnosis into three: any DR, referrable DR, and diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Risk of bias and applicability of the studies were assessed using QUADAS-2.
RESULTS
Five out of 294 retrieved records were included with a total of six smartphone-based devices reviewed. All of the reference diagnostic methods used in the included studies were either indirect ophthalmoscopy or slit-lamp examinations and all smartphone-based devices' imaging protocols used mydriatic drops. The reported sensitivity and specificity for any DR were 52-92.2% and 73.3-99%; for referral DR were 21-91.4% and 64.9-100%; and for DMO were 29.4-81% and 95-100%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Sensitivity available low-cost smartphone-based devices for DR screening were acceptable and their specificity particularly for detecting referrable DR and DMO were considerably good. These findings support their potential utilization for DR screening in a low resources setting.
PubMed: 37614846
DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S416422 -
Arthroscopy : the Journal of... Feb 2024To further clarify the role of tranexamic acid (TXA) in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR), especially visual field clarity and operation time. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Significantly Improved Visualization and Shortened the Operation Time in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Level I and II Studies.
PURPOSE
To further clarify the role of tranexamic acid (TXA) in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR), especially visual field clarity and operation time.
METHODS
We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases to find prospective randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) examining the use of TXA in ARCR. All included RCTs were evaluated for methodological quality using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. We used Review Manager 5.3 for meta-analysis and calculated the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the related outcome indicators. The GRADE system was used to evaluate the strength of the clinical evidence provided by the included studies.
RESULTS
Six RCTs (3 Level I, 3 Level II) from four countries or regions were included in this study: 2 studies used intra-articular (IA) TXA, and 4 studies used intravenous TXA. A total of 451 patients underwent ARCR, including 227 patients in the TXA group and 224 patients in the non-TXA group. In 2 RCTs evaluating good visualization, intravenous TXA achieved a better surgical field of view in ARCR compared to the control group (P =.036; P = .045). Meta-analysis showed that compared with non-TXA, intravenous TXA shortened the operation time (WMD = -12.87 min, 95% CI: -18.81 to -6.93). These two RCTs did not reveal a statistically significant difference in the impact of intravenous TXA and non-TXA on mean arterial pressure (MAP) (P = .306; P = .549). Compared with epinephrine (EPN), IA TXA had no significant effects on improving the visual field clarity under arthroscopy, shortening the operation time or reducing the total amount of irrigation fluid (P > .05). Compared with saline irrigation, IA TXA improved the surgical field of vision and shortened the operation time (P < .001). No adverse events were reported for either intravenous TXA or IA TXA.
CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous TXA can shorten the operation time of ARCR, and the conclusions of existing RCTs suggest that intravenous TXA can improve visual field clarity during ARCR, thus supporting the application of intravenous TXA in ARCR. Compared with EPN, IA TXA was not better at improving the visual field clarity under arthroscopy and shortening the operation time, but it was better than saline irrigation.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level II, systematic review and meta-analysis of Level I and II studies.
Topics: Humans; Tranexamic Acid; Antifibrinolytic Agents; Arthroscopy; Rotator Cuff; Arthroplasty; Epinephrine; Blood Loss, Surgical
PubMed: 37423470
DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2023.06.055 -
BMJ Open Apr 2023To demonstrate the therapeutic effect of vasopressin as an alternative treatment for cardiac arrest. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the therapeutic effect of vasopressin as an alternative treatment for cardiac arrest.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for randomised controlled trials. The intervention included administration of vasopressin alone or vasopressin combined with epinephrine or vasopressin, steroids and epinephrine (VSE) versus epinephrine combined with placebo as control group. The primary outcome was the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The secondary outcomes included mid-term survival and mid-term good neurological outcome. We conducted subgroup analyses of the primary outcome based on different settings, different study drug strategies and different types of initial rhythm.
RESULTS
Twelve studies (n=6718) were included, of which eight trials (n=5638) reported the data on patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and four trials (n=1080) on patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). There were no significant differences between intravenous vasopressin and placebo in the outcomes of ROSC (relative risk (RR): 1.11; 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.26), mid-term survival (RR: 1.23; 95% CI: 0.90 to 1.66) and mid-term good neurological outcome (RR: 1.20; 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.87). However, in the subgroup analysis, intravenous vasopressin as part of VSE can significantly improve the rate of ROSC (RR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.47) but not the rate of mid-term survival (RR: 2.15; 95% CI: 0.75 to 6.16) and mid-term good neurological outcome (RR: 1.80; 95% CI: 0.81 to 4.01) for patients with IHCA.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study failed to demonstrate increased benefit from vasopressin with or without epinephrine compared with the standard of care. However, vasopressin as a part of VSE is associated with the improvement of ROSC in patients with IHCA, and the benefit on mid-term survival or mid-term good neurological outcome is uncertain. Larger trials should be conducted in the future to address the effect of vasopressin only, vasopressin plus epinephrine or VSE on cardiac arrest.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42021293347.
Topics: Humans; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Epinephrine; Vasopressins; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
PubMed: 37068900
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065061 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of interventions to control myopia progression. In this systematic review, the primary outcomes were mean differences... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of interventions to control myopia progression. In this systematic review, the primary outcomes were mean differences (MD) between treatment and control groups in myopia progression (D) and axial length (AL) elongation (mm).
RESULTS
The following interventions were found to be effective ( < 0.001): highly aspherical lenslets (HAL, 0.80 D, 95% CI, 0.77-0.83; -0.35 mm, 95% CI -0.36 to -0.34), MiSight contact lenses (0.66 D, 95% CI, 0.63-0.69; -0.28 mm, 95% CI -0.29 to -0.27), low dose atropine 0.05% (0.54 D, 95% CI, 0.38-0.70; -0.21 mm, 95% CI-0.28 to -0.14), Biofinity +2.50 D (0.45 D, 95% CI, 0.29, 0.61; -0.24 mm, 95% CI -0.33 to -0.15), defocus incorporated multiple segments [DIMS] (0.44 D, 95% CI, 0.42-0.46; -0.34 mm, 95% CI -0.35 to -0.33) and ortho-k lenses (-0.24 mm, 95% CI -0.33 to -01.5).
CONCLUSION
Low-dose atropine 0.01% was not effective in reducing AL progression in two studies. Treatment efficacy with low-dose atropine of 0.05% showed good efficacy. Spectacles (HAL and DIMS) and contact lenses (MiSight and Biofinity) may confer a comparable treatment benefit compared to atropine, to slow myopia progression.
Topics: Humans; Myopia; Atropine; Treatment Outcome; Contact Lenses; Eyeglasses
PubMed: 37033047
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1125000 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Mar 2023Traumatic hyphema is the entry of blood into the anterior chamber, the space between the cornea and iris, following significant injury to the eye. Hyphema may be... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Traumatic hyphema is the entry of blood into the anterior chamber, the space between the cornea and iris, following significant injury to the eye. Hyphema may be associated with significant complications that uncommonly cause permanent vision loss. Complications include elevated intraocular pressure, corneal blood staining, anterior and posterior synechiae, and optic nerve atrophy. People with sickle cell trait or disease may be particularly susceptible to increases in intraocular pressure and optic atrophy. Rebleeding is associated with an increase in the rate and severity of complications.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effectiveness of various medical interventions in the management of traumatic hyphema.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register) (2022, Issue 3); MEDLINE Ovid; Embase.com; PubMed (1948 to March 2022); the ISRCTN registry; ClinicalTrials.gov; and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). The last date of the search was 22 March 2022.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Two review authors independently assessed the titles and abstracts of all reports identified by the electronic and manual searches. We included randomized and quasi-randomized trials that compared various medical (non-surgical) interventions versus other medical interventions or control groups for the treatment of traumatic hyphema following closed-globe trauma. We applied no restrictions on age, gender, severity of the closed-globe trauma, or level of visual acuity at time of enrollment.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane and assessed the certainty of evidence using GRADE.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 23 randomized and seven quasi-randomized studies with a total of 2969 participants. Interventions included antifibrinolytic agents (systemic and topical aminocaproic acid, tranexamic acid, and aminomethylbenzoic acid), corticosteroids (systemic and topical), cycloplegics, miotics, aspirin, conjugated estrogens, traditional Chinese medicine, monocular versus bilateral patching, elevation of the head, and bed rest. We found no evidence of an effect on visual acuity for any intervention, whether measured within two weeks (short term) or for longer periods. In a meta-analysis of two trials, we found no evidence of an effect of aminocaproic acid on long-term visual acuity (RR 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82 to 1.29) or final visual acuity measured up to three years after the hyphema (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.18). Oral tranexamic acid appeared to provide little to no benefit on visual acuity in four trials (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.25). The remaining trials evaluated the effects of various interventions on short-term visual acuity; none of these interventions was measured in more than one trial. No intervention showed a statistically significant effect (RRs ranged from 0.75 to 1.10). Similarly, visual acuity measured for longer periods in four trials evaluating different interventions was also not statistically significant (RRs ranged from 0.82 to 1.02). The evidence supporting these findings was of low or very low certainty. Systemic aminocaproic acid reduced the rate of recurrent hemorrhage (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.60), as assessed in six trials with 330 participants. A sensitivity analysis omitting two studies not using an intention-to-treat analysis reduced the strength of the evidence (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.17 to 1.08). We obtained similar results for topical aminocaproic acid (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.20 to 1.10) in two trials with 131 participants. We assessed the certainty of the evidence as low. Systemic tranexamic acid had a significant effect in reducing the rate of secondary hemorrhage (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.53) in seven trials with 754 participants, as did aminomethylbenzoic acid (RR 0.10, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.41), as reported in one study. Evidence to support an associated reduction in risk of complications from secondary hemorrhage (i.e. corneal blood staining, peripheral anterior synechiae, elevated intraocular pressure, and development of optic atrophy) by antifibrinolytics was limited by the small number of these events. Use of aminocaproic acid was associated with increased nausea, vomiting, and other adverse events compared with placebo. We found no evidence of an effect on the number of adverse events with the use of systemic versus topical aminocaproic acid or with standard versus lower drug dose. The number of days for the primary hyphema to resolve appeared to be longer with the use of systemic aminocaproic acid compared with no use, but this outcome was not altered by any other intervention. The available evidence on usage of systemic or topical corticosteroids, cycloplegics, or aspirin in traumatic hyphema was limited due to the small numbers of participants and events in the trials. We found no evidence of an effect between a single versus binocular patch on the risk of secondary hemorrhage or time to rebleed. We also found no evidence of an effect on the risk of secondary hemorrhage between ambulation and complete bed rest.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
We found no evidence of an effect on visual acuity of any of the interventions evaluated in this review. Although the evidence was limited, people with traumatic hyphema who receive aminocaproic acid or tranexamic acid are less likely to experience secondary hemorrhage. However, hyphema took longer to clear in people treated with systemic aminocaproic acid. There is no good evidence to support the use of antifibrinolytic agents in the management of traumatic hyphema, other than possibly to reduce the rate of secondary hemorrhage. The potentially long-term deleterious effects of secondary hemorrhage are unknown. Similarly, there is no evidence to support the use of corticosteroids, cycloplegics, or non-drug interventions (such as patching, bed rest, or head elevation) in the management of traumatic hyphema. As these multiple interventions are rarely used in isolation, further research to assess the additive effect of these interventions might be of value.
Topics: Humans; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Aminocaproic Acid; Antifibrinolytic Agents; Aspirin; Glaucoma; Hyphema; Mydriatics; Tranexamic Acid
PubMed: 36912744
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005431.pub5 -
Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular... 2023Currently, no pharmacological or device-based intervention has been fully proven to reverse the no-reflow phenomenon.
BACKGROUND
Currently, no pharmacological or device-based intervention has been fully proven to reverse the no-reflow phenomenon.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the efficacy and safety of intracoronary (IC) epinephrine in the management of no-reflow phenomenon following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), either as first-line treatment or after the failure of conventional agents.
DESIGN
Systematic review.
DATA SOURCES AND METHODS
PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched up to 28 May 2022, with additional manual search on the Google Scholar and review of the reference lists of the relevant studies to identify all published studies. Cohort studies, case series, and interventional studies written in English which evaluated the efficacy and safety of IC epinephrine in patients with no-flow phenomenon were included in our review.
RESULTS
Six of the 646 articles identified in the initial search met our inclusion criteria. IC epinephrine was used either as a first-line treatment [two randomized clinical trials (RCTs)] or after the failure of conventional agents (two cohort studies and two case series) for restoring the coronary flow, mainly after primary PCI. As first-line therapy, IC epinephrine successfully restored coronary flow in over 90% of patients in both RCTs, which significantly outperformed IC adenosine (78%) but lagged behind combination of verapamil and tirofiban (100%) in this regard. In the refractory no-flow phenomenon, successful reperfusion [thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade = 3] was achieved in three out of four patients after the administration of IC epinephrine based on the results from both case series. Their findings were confirmed by a recent cohort study that further compared IC epinephrine with IC adenosine and found significant differences between them in terms of efficacy [% TIMI flow grade 3: (69.1% 52.7%, respectively; value = 0.04)] and 1-year major adverse cardiac event (MACE) outcomes (11.3% 26.7%, respectively; value ⩽ 0.01). Overall, malignant ventricular arrhythmias were reported in none of the patients treated with IC epinephrine.
CONCLUSION
Results from available evidence suggest that IC epinephrine might be an effective and safe agent in managing the no-reflow phenomenon.
Topics: Humans; Adenosine; Epinephrine; Heart; No-Reflow Phenomenon; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
PubMed: 36852839
DOI: 10.1177/17539447231154654