際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo
JOURNAL CLUB
   Sabari krishnan
INTRAAORTIC BALLOON SUPPORT
  FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
   WITH CARDIOGENIC SHOCK


         Holger Thiele, Uwe Zeyer, Franz-Josef Neumann,
       Miroslaw Ferenc, Hans-Georg Olbrich, J旦rg Hausleiter
                              et al



The NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL of MEDICINE        october 4,2012 vol.367 no.14
INTRODUCTION
 IABP is a mechanical device that increases
  myocardial oxygen perfusion while at the same time
  increasing cardiac output

 Increasing cardiac output increases coronary blood
  flow and therefore myocardial oxygen delivery
 Consists of a cylindrical polythene balloon that
  sits in aorta, approximately 2cm from the left
  subclavian artery and counter pulsates

 Actively deflates in systole, increasing forward
  blood flow by reducing after load. It actively
  inflates in diastole, increasing blood flow to the
  coronary arteries

 These actions combine to decrease myocardial
  oxygen demand and increase myocardial
  oxygen supply
NEED OF THIS STUDY
  A meta-analysis that included only cohort studies suggested
    that the use of an IABP is associated with a reduction by 11%
     Inconclusive evidence might be one explanation for the
    in the risk of death.
     current use of IABP in only 25 to 40% of patients with
  In the recent shock, despite the recommendationsonly 45
     cardiogenic (IABP-SHOCK) trial, which involved in the
     guidelines
    patients, no significant difference was observed with
    respect to the (APACHE II) score for severity of illness
Thebetween patientstrial was designed to test the hypothesis that
     IABP-SHOCK II assigned to IABP and those assigned to a
IABP as compared that received available care, although serial
    control group with the best standard medical therapy alone,
results in natriuretic peptide levels were significantly reduced in
    brain a reduction in mortality among patients with acute
myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock for whom
    the balloon-pump group.
early revascularization is planned
METHODS
TYPE OF STUDY
 Randomized, prospective, open-label, multicenter trial,
 Randomization
     Internet-based program, with stratification
according to center.


PERIOD-june16th,2009-march3,2012
ELIGIBLE CRITERIA
 Acute myocardial infarction (with or without ST segment elevation) complicated by
   cardiogenic shock and if early revascularization (by means of PCI or CABG) was
   planned.

CARDIOGENIC SHOCK

 Systolic blood pressure <90 mm hg for more than 30 minutes

 Catecholamine's to maintain a systolic pressure >90 mm hg

 Signs of pulmonary congestion and

 Impaired end- organ perfusion.
   Altered mental status
   Cold, Clammy skin and extremities
   Oliguria with urine output of less than 30 ml per hour
   Serum lactate level higher than 2.0 mmol per liter
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
 Resuscitation for more than 30 minutes

 Had no intrinsic heart action were in a coma with fixed dilatation of
  pupils that was not induced by drugs

 Had a mechanical cause of cardiogenic shock (e. g Ventricular
  septal defect or papillary muscle rupture)

 Had onset of shock more than 12 hours before screening

 Older than 90 years of age

 Shock as a result of a condition other than acute myocardial
  infarction

 Had severe concomitant disease associated with a life expectancy
  of less than 6 months
 Had a massive pulmonary embolism

 Severe peripheral arterial disease precluding insertion
  of an IABP or aortic regurgitation greater than grade II
  in severity
790




      600


301           299
sabari krishnan
OUTCOMES


NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO GROUPS
sabari krishnan
DISCUSSION
 No immediate improvement in blood pressure or
  heart rate between two groups.

 Although positive effect of IABP on multiorgan
  dysfunction at day 2 and 3, as assessed with the use
  of the SAPS II, this effect was not evident at day 4.

 No significant effects on CRP level or serum lactate
  level, which were assessed as measures of
  inflammation and tissue oxygenation.
 Studies showed IABP results in a hemodynamic benefit as a
  result of afterload reduction and diastolic augmentation with
  improvement in coronary perfusion. However, the effects on
  cardiac output are modest and might not be sufficient to
  reduce mortality.

 In a recent, small, randomized trial, there were no significant
  differences in cardiac power output, left ventricular stroke-
  work index, or systemic vascular resistance between
  patients assigned to IABP and those assigned to a control
  group.
 Use of IABP before coronary revascularization may make the
  revascularization procedure safer by improving left ventricular
  unloading.

 However, in the current trial, there was no mortality benefit
  in the subgroup of patients in whom the IABP was inserted
  before the start of revascularization, as compared with those
  in whom it was inserted after revascularization.

 In another recent randomized trial involving patients with large
  anterior infarctions but without cardiogenic shock, insertion of
  a balloon pump before PCI, as compared with control
  treatment did not reduce the infarct size.
LIMITATIONS
 Blinding was not possible because of the nature of the intervention..

 Hemodynamic measurements or assess laboratory inflammatory markers
   other than blood pressure, heart rate, and c-reactive protein levels, not
   done

 The slightly lower mortality in trial  approximately 40%, as compared
   with 42 to 48% in other randomized trials and registries  might suggest
   that trial included a higher percentage of patients with mild or moderately
   severe cardiogenic shock, a factor that could preclude generalization of the
   results to patients with the most severe forms of cardiogenic shock.
 The negative overall result, cannot definitively rule out a type

   II error;


 No information about longer-term outcomes. To minimize bias,

   use of a central randomization system, and the members of

   the clinical events committee were unaware of the group

   assignments.
CONCLUSION
    CONTROLLED TRIAL OF INTRAAORTIC BALLOON PUMP


    S U P P O R T I N PAT I E N T S W I T H C A R D I O G E N I C S H O C K


    C O M P L I C AT I N G M Y O C A R D I A L I N F A R C T I O N F O R W H O M


    E A R LY R E VA S C U L A R I Z AT I O N A S C O M PA R E D W I T H


    C O N V E N T I O N A L T H E R A P Y, D I D N O T R E D U C E 3 0 - D AY


    M O R TA L I T Y.
THANK YOU
Ad

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Journal club 26- 5-2017
Journal club 26- 5-2017Journal club 26- 5-2017
Journal club 26- 5-2017
Amit Verma
Dobutamine stress echo
Dobutamine stress echoDobutamine stress echo
Dobutamine stress echo
Mahmoud El-saharty
Exercise stress testing
Exercise stress testingExercise stress testing
Exercise stress testing
Shibly S B L
Environmental injuries
Environmental injuriesEnvironmental injuries
Environmental injuries
Abdalmohsen Ababtain, MD
Stress Testing
Stress TestingStress Testing
Stress Testing
Amit Verma
Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock - An Update
Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock - An UpdateTraumatic Hemorrhagic Shock - An Update
Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock - An Update
Chew Keng Sheng
Stress echocardiography
Stress echocardiographyStress echocardiography
Stress echocardiography
Sruthi Meenaxshi
How To Recognise and Manage a Pre Shock Setting
How To Recognise and Manage a Pre Shock SettingHow To Recognise and Manage a Pre Shock Setting
How To Recognise and Manage a Pre Shock Setting
Han Naung Tun
Stress test / Treadmill test
Stress test / Treadmill testStress test / Treadmill test
Stress test / Treadmill test
Khairul Nizam
2013 oems protocol_changes_gutman
2013 oems protocol_changes_gutman2013 oems protocol_changes_gutman
2013 oems protocol_changes_gutman
Craigomal
Sicu presentation
Sicu presentationSicu presentation
Sicu presentation
Samuel Gay
Anesthesia.routine preoperative investigations.(dr.amer)
Anesthesia.routine preoperative investigations.(dr.amer)Anesthesia.routine preoperative investigations.(dr.amer)
Anesthesia.routine preoperative investigations.(dr.amer)
student
Exercise ecg
Exercise ecgExercise ecg
Exercise ecg
Suhail Mohamed P T
Exercise electrocardiography - basic consideration
Exercise electrocardiography - basic considerationExercise electrocardiography - basic consideration
Exercise electrocardiography - basic consideration
Ahmed Adel
ECG Exercise Tolerance Test
ECG  Exercise Tolerance  TestECG  Exercise Tolerance  Test
ECG Exercise Tolerance Test
mohdelfaroog
Cardiac stress test
Cardiac stress testCardiac stress test
Cardiac stress test
Porya Hassan Abadi
Tmt Seminary
Tmt SeminaryTmt Seminary
Tmt Seminary
LPS Institute of Cardiology Kanpur UP India
Mild therapeutic resuscitative hypothermia
Mild therapeutic resuscitative hypothermiaMild therapeutic resuscitative hypothermia
Mild therapeutic resuscitative hypothermia
Edward M. Omron MD, MPH, FCCP
Dobutamine stress echocardiography
Dobutamine stress echocardiographyDobutamine stress echocardiography
Dobutamine stress echocardiography
Himanshu Rana
Sepsis and septic shock
Sepsis and septic shockSepsis and septic shock
Sepsis and septic shock
Amiteshwar Singh
Journal club 26- 5-2017
Journal club 26- 5-2017Journal club 26- 5-2017
Journal club 26- 5-2017
Amit Verma
Exercise stress testing
Exercise stress testingExercise stress testing
Exercise stress testing
Shibly S B L
Stress Testing
Stress TestingStress Testing
Stress Testing
Amit Verma
Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock - An Update
Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock - An UpdateTraumatic Hemorrhagic Shock - An Update
Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock - An Update
Chew Keng Sheng
How To Recognise and Manage a Pre Shock Setting
How To Recognise and Manage a Pre Shock SettingHow To Recognise and Manage a Pre Shock Setting
How To Recognise and Manage a Pre Shock Setting
Han Naung Tun
Stress test / Treadmill test
Stress test / Treadmill testStress test / Treadmill test
Stress test / Treadmill test
Khairul Nizam
2013 oems protocol_changes_gutman
2013 oems protocol_changes_gutman2013 oems protocol_changes_gutman
2013 oems protocol_changes_gutman
Craigomal
Sicu presentation
Sicu presentationSicu presentation
Sicu presentation
Samuel Gay
Anesthesia.routine preoperative investigations.(dr.amer)
Anesthesia.routine preoperative investigations.(dr.amer)Anesthesia.routine preoperative investigations.(dr.amer)
Anesthesia.routine preoperative investigations.(dr.amer)
student
Exercise electrocardiography - basic consideration
Exercise electrocardiography - basic considerationExercise electrocardiography - basic consideration
Exercise electrocardiography - basic consideration
Ahmed Adel
ECG Exercise Tolerance Test
ECG  Exercise Tolerance  TestECG  Exercise Tolerance  Test
ECG Exercise Tolerance Test
mohdelfaroog
Dobutamine stress echocardiography
Dobutamine stress echocardiographyDobutamine stress echocardiography
Dobutamine stress echocardiography
Himanshu Rana
Sepsis and septic shock
Sepsis and septic shockSepsis and septic shock
Sepsis and septic shock
Amiteshwar Singh

Similar to sabari krishnan (20)

Cardiogenic shock following acute MI
Cardiogenic shock following acute MICardiogenic shock following acute MI
Cardiogenic shock following acute MI
Dr. Lokesh Khandelwal
Heart Disease & Chest Pain Treatment At NT Cardiovascular Center Georgia
Heart Disease & Chest Pain Treatment At NT Cardiovascular Center GeorgiaHeart Disease & Chest Pain Treatment At NT Cardiovascular Center Georgia
Heart Disease & Chest Pain Treatment At NT Cardiovascular Center Georgia
melvillejackson
HOT CLINICAL TRIALS.pptx
HOT CLINICAL TRIALS.pptxHOT CLINICAL TRIALS.pptx
HOT CLINICAL TRIALS.pptx
ihabmahmoud12
Cardiogenic shock
Cardiogenic shockCardiogenic shock
Cardiogenic shock
Dr. Armaan Singh
Severe Sepsis & Septic Shock
Severe Sepsis & Septic ShockSevere Sepsis & Septic Shock
Severe Sepsis & Septic Shock
Andrew Ferguson
Penchalaya (1)
Penchalaya (1)Penchalaya (1)
Penchalaya (1)
Dr Ronak Raheja
Cardiogenic shock 2019 update by Dr. Vaibhav Yawalkar MD DM Cardiology, Consu...
Cardiogenic shock 2019 update by Dr. Vaibhav Yawalkar MD DM Cardiology, Consu...Cardiogenic shock 2019 update by Dr. Vaibhav Yawalkar MD DM Cardiology, Consu...
Cardiogenic shock 2019 update by Dr. Vaibhav Yawalkar MD DM Cardiology, Consu...
vaibhavyawalkar
Circulatory Shock Managements
Circulatory Shock ManagementsCirculatory Shock Managements
Circulatory Shock Managements
DwiKartikaRukmi
ICU management of the intubated post arrest adult patient.pptx
ICU management of the intubated post arrest adult patient.pptxICU management of the intubated post arrest adult patient.pptx
ICU management of the intubated post arrest adult patient.pptx
Mohamed Ramadan
Mixed results for heart failure therapies, journel club
Mixed results for heart failure therapies, journel clubMixed results for heart failure therapies, journel club
Mixed results for heart failure therapies, journel club
Dr Virbhan Balai
Empagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction.pptx
Empagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction.pptxEmpagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction.pptx
Empagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction.pptx
purraSameer
Neuromuscular Blocker In Ards
Neuromuscular Blocker In ArdsNeuromuscular Blocker In Ards
Neuromuscular Blocker In Ards
Mmorshed217
Management of Sepsis
Management of SepsisManagement of Sepsis
Management of Sepsis
Dr.Mahmoud Abbas
Enhanced external counterpulsation (eecp) role in
Enhanced external counterpulsation (eecp) role inEnhanced external counterpulsation (eecp) role in
Enhanced external counterpulsation (eecp) role in
Monir zaman
Heartbeat 167 October 2015 HBP
Heartbeat 167 October 2015 HBPHeartbeat 167 October 2015 HBP
Heartbeat 167 October 2015 HBP
Mario L Maiese
New developments in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. 2013
New developments in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. 2013New developments in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. 2013
New developments in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. 2013
Javier Pacheco Paternina
myocardial Reperfusion injury
myocardial Reperfusion injurymyocardial Reperfusion injury
myocardial Reperfusion injury
dibufolio
Intraaortic ballon pump for Cardiogenic shock in acute miocardial infarctation
Intraaortic ballon pump for Cardiogenic shock in acute miocardial infarctationIntraaortic ballon pump for Cardiogenic shock in acute miocardial infarctation
Intraaortic ballon pump for Cardiogenic shock in acute miocardial infarctation
ssusera734251
REFRACTORY ANGINA....................pptx
REFRACTORY ANGINA....................pptxREFRACTORY ANGINA....................pptx
REFRACTORY ANGINA....................pptx
Dr Noorul
Tratamiento del choque septico
Tratamiento del choque septicoTratamiento del choque septico
Tratamiento del choque septico
Aivan Lima
Cardiogenic shock following acute MI
Cardiogenic shock following acute MICardiogenic shock following acute MI
Cardiogenic shock following acute MI
Dr. Lokesh Khandelwal
Heart Disease & Chest Pain Treatment At NT Cardiovascular Center Georgia
Heart Disease & Chest Pain Treatment At NT Cardiovascular Center GeorgiaHeart Disease & Chest Pain Treatment At NT Cardiovascular Center Georgia
Heart Disease & Chest Pain Treatment At NT Cardiovascular Center Georgia
melvillejackson
HOT CLINICAL TRIALS.pptx
HOT CLINICAL TRIALS.pptxHOT CLINICAL TRIALS.pptx
HOT CLINICAL TRIALS.pptx
ihabmahmoud12
Severe Sepsis & Septic Shock
Severe Sepsis & Septic ShockSevere Sepsis & Septic Shock
Severe Sepsis & Septic Shock
Andrew Ferguson
Cardiogenic shock 2019 update by Dr. Vaibhav Yawalkar MD DM Cardiology, Consu...
Cardiogenic shock 2019 update by Dr. Vaibhav Yawalkar MD DM Cardiology, Consu...Cardiogenic shock 2019 update by Dr. Vaibhav Yawalkar MD DM Cardiology, Consu...
Cardiogenic shock 2019 update by Dr. Vaibhav Yawalkar MD DM Cardiology, Consu...
vaibhavyawalkar
Circulatory Shock Managements
Circulatory Shock ManagementsCirculatory Shock Managements
Circulatory Shock Managements
DwiKartikaRukmi
ICU management of the intubated post arrest adult patient.pptx
ICU management of the intubated post arrest adult patient.pptxICU management of the intubated post arrest adult patient.pptx
ICU management of the intubated post arrest adult patient.pptx
Mohamed Ramadan
Mixed results for heart failure therapies, journel club
Mixed results for heart failure therapies, journel clubMixed results for heart failure therapies, journel club
Mixed results for heart failure therapies, journel club
Dr Virbhan Balai
Empagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction.pptx
Empagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction.pptxEmpagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction.pptx
Empagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction.pptx
purraSameer
Neuromuscular Blocker In Ards
Neuromuscular Blocker In ArdsNeuromuscular Blocker In Ards
Neuromuscular Blocker In Ards
Mmorshed217
Enhanced external counterpulsation (eecp) role in
Enhanced external counterpulsation (eecp) role inEnhanced external counterpulsation (eecp) role in
Enhanced external counterpulsation (eecp) role in
Monir zaman
Heartbeat 167 October 2015 HBP
Heartbeat 167 October 2015 HBPHeartbeat 167 October 2015 HBP
Heartbeat 167 October 2015 HBP
Mario L Maiese
New developments in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. 2013
New developments in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. 2013New developments in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. 2013
New developments in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. 2013
Javier Pacheco Paternina
myocardial Reperfusion injury
myocardial Reperfusion injurymyocardial Reperfusion injury
myocardial Reperfusion injury
dibufolio
Intraaortic ballon pump for Cardiogenic shock in acute miocardial infarctation
Intraaortic ballon pump for Cardiogenic shock in acute miocardial infarctationIntraaortic ballon pump for Cardiogenic shock in acute miocardial infarctation
Intraaortic ballon pump for Cardiogenic shock in acute miocardial infarctation
ssusera734251
REFRACTORY ANGINA....................pptx
REFRACTORY ANGINA....................pptxREFRACTORY ANGINA....................pptx
REFRACTORY ANGINA....................pptx
Dr Noorul
Tratamiento del choque septico
Tratamiento del choque septicoTratamiento del choque septico
Tratamiento del choque septico
Aivan Lima
Ad

sabari krishnan

  • 1. JOURNAL CLUB Sabari krishnan
  • 2. INTRAAORTIC BALLOON SUPPORT FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION WITH CARDIOGENIC SHOCK Holger Thiele, Uwe Zeyer, Franz-Josef Neumann, Miroslaw Ferenc, Hans-Georg Olbrich, J旦rg Hausleiter et al The NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL of MEDICINE october 4,2012 vol.367 no.14
  • 3. INTRODUCTION IABP is a mechanical device that increases myocardial oxygen perfusion while at the same time increasing cardiac output Increasing cardiac output increases coronary blood flow and therefore myocardial oxygen delivery
  • 4. Consists of a cylindrical polythene balloon that sits in aorta, approximately 2cm from the left subclavian artery and counter pulsates Actively deflates in systole, increasing forward blood flow by reducing after load. It actively inflates in diastole, increasing blood flow to the coronary arteries These actions combine to decrease myocardial oxygen demand and increase myocardial oxygen supply
  • 5. NEED OF THIS STUDY A meta-analysis that included only cohort studies suggested that the use of an IABP is associated with a reduction by 11% Inconclusive evidence might be one explanation for the in the risk of death. current use of IABP in only 25 to 40% of patients with In the recent shock, despite the recommendationsonly 45 cardiogenic (IABP-SHOCK) trial, which involved in the guidelines patients, no significant difference was observed with respect to the (APACHE II) score for severity of illness Thebetween patientstrial was designed to test the hypothesis that IABP-SHOCK II assigned to IABP and those assigned to a IABP as compared that received available care, although serial control group with the best standard medical therapy alone, results in natriuretic peptide levels were significantly reduced in brain a reduction in mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock for whom the balloon-pump group. early revascularization is planned
  • 6. METHODS TYPE OF STUDY Randomized, prospective, open-label, multicenter trial, Randomization Internet-based program, with stratification according to center. PERIOD-june16th,2009-march3,2012
  • 7. ELIGIBLE CRITERIA Acute myocardial infarction (with or without ST segment elevation) complicated by cardiogenic shock and if early revascularization (by means of PCI or CABG) was planned. CARDIOGENIC SHOCK Systolic blood pressure <90 mm hg for more than 30 minutes Catecholamine's to maintain a systolic pressure >90 mm hg Signs of pulmonary congestion and Impaired end- organ perfusion. Altered mental status Cold, Clammy skin and extremities Oliguria with urine output of less than 30 ml per hour Serum lactate level higher than 2.0 mmol per liter
  • 8. EXCLUSION CRITERIA Resuscitation for more than 30 minutes Had no intrinsic heart action were in a coma with fixed dilatation of pupils that was not induced by drugs Had a mechanical cause of cardiogenic shock (e. g Ventricular septal defect or papillary muscle rupture) Had onset of shock more than 12 hours before screening Older than 90 years of age Shock as a result of a condition other than acute myocardial infarction Had severe concomitant disease associated with a life expectancy of less than 6 months
  • 9. Had a massive pulmonary embolism Severe peripheral arterial disease precluding insertion of an IABP or aortic regurgitation greater than grade II in severity
  • 10. 790 600 301 299
  • 14. DISCUSSION No immediate improvement in blood pressure or heart rate between two groups. Although positive effect of IABP on multiorgan dysfunction at day 2 and 3, as assessed with the use of the SAPS II, this effect was not evident at day 4. No significant effects on CRP level or serum lactate level, which were assessed as measures of inflammation and tissue oxygenation.
  • 15. Studies showed IABP results in a hemodynamic benefit as a result of afterload reduction and diastolic augmentation with improvement in coronary perfusion. However, the effects on cardiac output are modest and might not be sufficient to reduce mortality. In a recent, small, randomized trial, there were no significant differences in cardiac power output, left ventricular stroke- work index, or systemic vascular resistance between patients assigned to IABP and those assigned to a control group.
  • 16. Use of IABP before coronary revascularization may make the revascularization procedure safer by improving left ventricular unloading. However, in the current trial, there was no mortality benefit in the subgroup of patients in whom the IABP was inserted before the start of revascularization, as compared with those in whom it was inserted after revascularization. In another recent randomized trial involving patients with large anterior infarctions but without cardiogenic shock, insertion of a balloon pump before PCI, as compared with control treatment did not reduce the infarct size.
  • 17. LIMITATIONS Blinding was not possible because of the nature of the intervention.. Hemodynamic measurements or assess laboratory inflammatory markers other than blood pressure, heart rate, and c-reactive protein levels, not done The slightly lower mortality in trial approximately 40%, as compared with 42 to 48% in other randomized trials and registries might suggest that trial included a higher percentage of patients with mild or moderately severe cardiogenic shock, a factor that could preclude generalization of the results to patients with the most severe forms of cardiogenic shock.
  • 18. The negative overall result, cannot definitively rule out a type II error; No information about longer-term outcomes. To minimize bias, use of a central randomization system, and the members of the clinical events committee were unaware of the group assignments.
  • 19. CONCLUSION CONTROLLED TRIAL OF INTRAAORTIC BALLOON PUMP S U P P O R T I N PAT I E N T S W I T H C A R D I O G E N I C S H O C K C O M P L I C AT I N G M Y O C A R D I A L I N F A R C T I O N F O R W H O M E A R LY R E VA S C U L A R I Z AT I O N A S C O M PA R E D W I T H C O N V E N T I O N A L T H E R A P Y, D I D N O T R E D U C E 3 0 - D AY M O R TA L I T Y.

Editor's Notes

  • #18: To minimize bias, use of a central randomization system, and the members of the clinical events committee were unaware of the group assignments.4) however, the minor absolute difference in mortality, together with the lack of benefit with respect to second- ary end points, makes any clinically meaningful positive effect unlikely.