Like in most disciplines in Medicine, the value of predicting the  occurrence of a disease or event is an important realm in the field of  Cardiology that repeatedly invites numerous clinical investigations. This has given rise to numerous scoring schemes, probability indices  and prediction tools that enable the clinician to expect a complication or  outcome with reasonable scientific certainty. 

The usefulness of OptiVol, an algorithm to detect heart failure (HF)  using continuous intrathoracic impedance monitoring, is established in high-power device  patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, the utility of OptiVol in  conventional bradyarrhythmia pacing patients with preserved LVEF is not established. 

The aim of this study was to describe the use of speckle-tracking echocardiography derived mitral annular displacement (STE-MAD) in the assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). 

Radial artery spasm (RAS) is one of the most common complications during transradial coronary procedures and can increase access-site-related adverse events. There is no standard tool to determine patients at high risk of RAS who would benefit from intensive spasm preventive measures. This study aims to validate a RAS risk score in patients undergoing elective transradial coronary procedures.

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is defined  as cases of acute myocardial infarction (MI) without angiographic evidence of obstructive coronary  artery disease (CAD). The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of MINOCA is poorly  understood and it is also unclear whether these patients have the same clinical outcomes as those  with coronary obstruction. Currently, there are no published reports on the prevalence of MINOCA  in the Philippines. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MINOCA in patients admitted at  the Makati Medical Center from 2007 to 2017 and to elucidate its most common causes. 

End-stage heart failure (HF) has a one-year mortality rate of >50% and the only definitive management is heart transplant. However, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as destination therapy has demonstrated a significant mortality benefit compared to optimal medical therapy in patients who are deemed ineligible for heart transplant. We present the case of a 70-year old Filipino, male, known to have severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and had repeated admissions due to decompensated HF.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been shown to be an  effective growing strategy for severe, symptomatic aortic valve stenosis (AS) in patients who  are either not ideal candidates or who are at intermediate or high surgical risk for surgical aortic  valve replacement. Hybrid TAVI and off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB) have been  previously reported in high-risk patients with severe AS and coronary artery disease (CAD). TAVI  data for severe aortic valve regurgitation (AR) is limited and currently considered an off-label  application. Reports on hybrid TAVI for severe AR and OPCAB in patients with severe co-morbid  CAD are limited. 

The optimum medical therapy in the first three months after surgical  bioprosthetic valve implantation (BVI) remains controversial. Current guidelines of the American  College of Cardiology recommend either anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) (level IIa)  or antiplatelet (AP) using aspirin (level IIa) after surgery, which is based on non-randomized studies.  Hence, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing the efficacy  and safety of VKA vs AP therapy early after surgical BVI.