Cardiovascular diseases

The current industry-involved system may present a conflict of interest

Bradley Wilsmore · James Leitch

The physical health of patients with schizophrenia requires serious national attention

Leonard Kritharides · Vincent Chow · Tim JR Lambert

Despite the profound impact of cardiovascular disease in Indigenous Australians, much remains to be achieved

Alex Brown · Leonard Kritharides

Making urgent decisions is complex: a campaign recognising this has succeeded in raising public awareness

Peter L Thompson · Trevor Shilton

A well designed campaign can increase the use of emergency medical services

Ziad Nehme · Peter A Cameron · Muhammad Akram · Harry Patsamanis · Janet E Bray · Ian T Meredith · Karen Smith

N/A

Garry LR Jennings

Superstition and statistics: are some days better than others for heart attacks?

Majd B Protty · Mustafa Jaafar · Sahar Hannoodee · Phillip Freeman

Long term outcomes primarily depend on left ventricular function

Hugh D Wolfenden · Greg Cranney

Current performance standards are high and promising new technologies are finding it difficult to compete

Ahmad Farshid · Simon O'Connor

New pharmacological treatment options have improved the prognosis for those with this rare disease

David L Prior · Heath Adams · Trevor J Williams

The ongoing quest for optimal efficacy without compromising long term patient safety

Daniel Chen · Nigel Jepson

We need to fill evidence gaps and make clinical advances to reduce these diseases of disadvantage

Philippa J May · Asha C Bowen · Jonathan R Carapetis

Inspection of the jugular veins provides a simple means of determining whether pressures in the right side of the heart are normal or elevated

Andrew Elder · Balakrishnan (Kichu) R Nair

The lower rate of coronary angiography is the key disparity in the care of Aboriginal patients with acute coronary syndromes

Rosanna Tavella · Katharine McBride · Wendy Keech · Janet Kelly · Amanda Rischbieth · Christopher Zeitz · John F Beltrame · Philip A Tideman · Alex Brown

Significant advances have been made, but optimising models of care remains a major challenge

Damon A Bell · Gerald F Watts

The distinction is essential to determine aetiology and treatment

Elizabeth Whiting · Madeline E McCready

An absolute cardiovascular risk approach will better target patients who need pharmacotherapy

Mark R Nelson

An integrated approach incorporating both physical and mental health is critical to “congenital heart health”

Nadine A Kasparian · David S Winlaw · Gary F Sholler

Health technology in the hands of cardiac patients — helpful, hindrance, or hesitate to say?

Robyn Gallagher · Lis Neubeck

A 22-year-old woman presented with a 3-day history of fever, retrosternal chest pain and exertional dyspnoea. Her heart rate was 130 bpm with a blood pressure level of 109/68 mmHg. Physical examination suggested tamponade: distended jugular veins, pulsus paradoxus and muffled heart tones. The chest radiography was notable for the characteristic water-bottle sign (Figure, A).1 Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography demonstrated a massive pericardial effusion (Figure, B) associated with venous engorgement of the superior and inferior vena cava (SVC, IVC), prevascular space (arrows), and bilateral axillary veins (arrowheads). An emergency thoracoscopic pericardial window was performed and 620 mL of bloody fluid was drained. The presence of anti-nuclear, anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-Smith antibodies and hypocomplementaemia supported the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.2 The patient recovered after 1 week of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy. At an 8-month follow-up, there have been no recurrences. Figure A B

Tsung-Han Ho · Yi-Tin Tsai

Systems, procedures and policies are needed to further reduce the toll of cardiovascular disease

Andrew I MacIsaac