This article reviews the role of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography in the assessment of coronary risk, and its usefulness in the emergency department in facilitating appropriate disposition decisions. Also discussed is coronary artery calcification incidentally found on CT scans when done for indications such as evaluation of pulmonary embolism or lung cancer. The evidence base and clinical applications for both techniques are described, together with cost-effectiveness and radiation exposure considerations. Ozlem Soran Medically refractory angina pectoris (RAP) is defined by presence of severe angina with objective evidence of ischemia and failure to relieve

symptoms with coronary revascularization. Medication and invasive revascularization are the most common approaches for buy CT99021 treating coronary artery disease (CAD). Although symptoms are eliminated or alleviated by these invasive approaches, the disease and its causes are present after treatment. New treatment approaches are needed to prevent the disease from progressing and symptoms from recurring. External enhanced counterpulsation therapy provides a treatment modality in the management of CAD and can complement invasive revascularization procedures. Data support that it should be considered as a first-line treatment of RAP. Doron Aronson and Elazer R. Edelman Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major NLG919 ic50 risk factor for cardiovascular

disease. Near-normal glycemic control does not reduce cardiovascular events. For many patients with 1- or 2-vessel coronary artery disease, there is little benefit from any revascularization procedure over optimal medical therapy. For multivessel coronary disease, randomized trials demonstrated the superiority of coronary artery bypass grafting over multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with treated DM. However, selection of the optimal myocardial revascularization strategy requires a multidisciplinary team approach (‘heart team’). This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of various medical

therapies and revascularization strategies in patients with DM. A. Pieter Kappetein, Nicolas M. van Mieghem, and Stuart J. Head Coronary artery bypass grafting (CAGB) is superior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in reducing mortality in certain patients Liothyronine Sodium and improving the composite end points of angina, recurrent myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization procedures. However, CABG is associated with a higher perioperative stroke risk. For patients with less complex disease or left main coronary disease, PCI is an acceptable alternative to CABG. Lesion complexity is an essential consideration for stenting, whereas patient comorbidity is an essential consideration for CABG. All patients with complex multivessel coronary artery disease should be reviewed by a heart team including a cardiac surgeon and interventional cardiologist. Shilpa Agrawal, Puja K.