Intervention Rates (intervention + rate)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Transcoronary Ablation of Septal Hypertrophy Does Not Alter ICD Intervention Rates in High Risk Patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2005
THORSTEN LAWRENZ
Introduction: Transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy (TASH) is safe and effectively reduces the intraventricular gradient in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). To analyze the potential of anti- and proarrhythmic effects of TASH, we studied the discharge rates of implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) in patients with HOCM who are at a high risk for sudden cardiac death. Methods: ICD and TASH were performed in 15 patients. Indications for ICD-implantation were secondary prevention in nine patients after resuscitation from cardiac arrest with documented ventricular fibrillation (n = 7) or sustained ventricular tachycardia (n = 2) and primary prevention in 6 patients with a family history of sudden deaths, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and/or syncope. All the patients had severe symptoms due to HOCM (NYHA functional class = 2.9). Results: During a mean follow-up time of 41 ± 22.7 months following the TASH procedure, 4 patients had episodes of appropriate discharges (8% per year). The discharge rate in the secondary prevention group was 10% per year and 5% in the group with primary prophylactic implants. Three patients died during follow-up (one each of pulmonary embolism, stroke, and sudden death). Conclusion: In conclusion, on the basis of ICD-discharge rates in HOCM-patients at high risk for sudden death, there is no evidence for an unfavorable arrhythmogenic effect of TASH. The efficacy of ICD treatment for the prevention of sudden cardiac death in HOCM could be confirmed, however, mortality is high in this cohort of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients. [source]


Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 as a predictor of severe osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joints

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 8 2009
Georg Schett
Objective Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and physical disability in middle-aged and older individuals. We undertook this study to determine predictors of the development of severe OA, apart from age and overweight. Methods Joint replacement surgery due to severe hip or knee OA was recorded over a 15-year period in the prospective Bruneck cohort study. Demographic characteristics and lifestyle and biochemical variables, including the level of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), were assessed at the 1990 baseline visit and tested as predictors of joint replacement surgery. Results Between 1990 and 2005, hip or knee joint replacement due to OA was performed in 60 subjects. VCAM-1 level emerged as a highly significant predictor of the risk of joint replacement surgery. Intervention rates were 1.9, 4.2, and 10.1 per 1,000 person-years in the first, second, and third tertiles, of the VCAM-1 level, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the adjusted relative risk of joint replacement surgery in the highest versus the lowest tertile group of VCAM-1 level was 3.9 (95% confidence interval 1.7,8.7) (P < 0.001). Findings were robust in various sensitivity analyses and were consistent in subgroups. Addition of the VCAM-1 level to a risk model already including age, sex, and body mass index resulted in significant gains in model discrimination (C statistic) and calibration and in more accurate risk classification of individual participants. Conclusion The level of soluble VCAM-1 emerged as a strong and independent predictor of the risk of hip and knee joint replacement due to severe OA. If our findings can be reproduced in other epidemiologic cohorts, they will assist in routine risk classification and will contribute to a better understanding of the etiology of OA. [source]


Uterine artery occlusion and myomectomy for treatment of pregnant women with uterine leiomyomas who are undergoing cesarean section

JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2010
Jui-Yu Lin
Abstract Aim:, To evaluate the efficacy of uterine artery occlusion and myomectomy (UAO+M) for pregnant women with uterine leiomyomas who are undergoing cesarean section (CS). Methods:, Seventy-two women with uterine leiomyomas undergoing CS for obstetrical reasons were enrolled into this case,control study. Thirty-six patients underwent UAO+M during CS (UAO+M group), and 36 received CS alone (Control group). The UAO+M procedure was performed immediately after closure of the uterine incision wound. The outcome was measured by comparing surgical techniques, and future surgical intervention (myomectomy, uterine vessel occlusion or hysterectomy) for symptomatic leiomyoma. Results:, The average follow-up time was 63 months. General characteristics of the patients were similar in both groups. There were no statistical differences in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative recovery, complications, or wound pain between the two groups. The operative time was significantly longer in the UAO+M group compared with that in the Control group, but the further surgical intervention rate was significantly lower in the UAO+M group than in the Control group (2.8% vs 41.7%, P < 0.001). Seven patients (19%) in the UAO+M group and five (14%) in the Control group had a repeat CS during the follow-up period. Conclusion:, UAO+M could be considered for treating pregnant women with uterine leiomyomas who are undergoing CS, compared with observation, as this procedure can minimize the necessity for future surgery, with increased operative time for the UAO+M procedure, but without increased surgical morbidity. [source]


Outpatient Management of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax in the Emergency Department of a Community Hospital Using a Small-bore Catheter and a Heimlich Valve

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009
Behzad Hassani
Abstract Objectives:, The objective was to assess the effectiveness of a small-bore catheter (8F) connected to a one-way Heimlich valve in the emergency department (ED)-based outpatient management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). Methods:, The authors conducted a structured chart audit in a retrospective case series of patients with PSP who were treated with a small-bore (8F) catheter and a Heimlich valve who were seen in the ED of a community hospital between April 2000 and March 2005. To be eligible, patients had to be available for a telephone interview. Main outcomes were success of treatment (sustained, complete lung reexpansion), admission, and surgical intervention rates. Secondary outcomes included number of chest x-rays (CXRs), number of visits to the ED, treatment duration, complications, and recurrence rates. Results:, The authors identified 62 discrete episodes of PSP in 50 patients, with a mean (±standard deviation [SD]) age of 25.5 ± 10.5 years (range = 14,53 years). In 50 of 62 episodes (81%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 70.8% to 90.5%), patients were discharged directly from the ED. Patients were admitted to the hospital at some point for treatment in 27/62 episodes (43.5%, 95% CI = 31.2% to 55.9%). Surgery was performed for acute treatment failure in 17 episodes. Ultimately, 19 patients, who accounted for 21 of 62 episodes (33.9%, 95% CI = 22.1% to 45.6%), had surgery at some point in the study. Mean (±SD) time to admission for those patients initially discharged from the ED was 2.9 (±2.01) days (95% CI = 1.9 to 3.8 days). There were no serious complications from treatment; the minor complication rate (misplacement or dislodging of the chest tube) was 22.6% (95% CI = 12.2% to 33.0%). No association was found between the size of pneumothorax and treatment failure. Conclusions:, This study suggests that the initial management of PSP with a small-bore catheter and Heimlich valve can easily be performed by emergency physicians in the community hospital setting and appears safe. A larger study systematically comparing this approach with alternative therapies is needed. [source]


Original Article: Benefits of introducing universal umbilical cord blood gas and lactate analysis into an obstetric unit

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Christopher R.H. WHITE
Background:, Current evidence suggests that umbilical arterial pH analysis provides the most sensitive reflection of birth asphyxia. However, there's debate whether umbilical cord blood gas analysis (UC-BGA) should be conducted on some or all deliveries. Aim:, The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of introducing universal UC-BGA at delivery on perinatal outcome. Methods:, An observational study of all deliveries ,20 weeks' gestation at a tertiary obstetric unit between January 2003 and December 2006. Paired UC-BGA was performed on 97% of deliveries (n = 19,646). Univariate and adjusted analysis assessed inter-year UC-BGA differences and the likelihood of metabolic acidosis and nursery admission. Results:, There was a progressive improvement in umbilical artery pH, pO2, pCO2, base excess and lactate values in univariate and adjusted analyses (P < 0.001). There was a significant reduction in the newborns with an arterial pH <7.10 (OR = 0.71; 95%CI 0.53,0.95) and lactate >6.1 mmol/L (OR = 0.37; 95%CI 0.30,0.46). Utilising population specific 5th and 95th percentiles, there was a reduction in newborns with arterial pH less than 5th percentile (pH 7.12; OR = 0.75; 95%CI 0.59,0.96) and lactate levels greater than 95th percentile (6.7 mmol/L; OR = 0.37; 95%CI 0.29,0.49). There was a reduction in term (OR = 0.65; 95%CI 0.54,0.78), and overall (OR = 0.75; 95%CI 0.64,0.87) nursery admissions. These improved perinatal outcomes were independent of intervention rates. Conclusions:, These data suggest that introduction of universal UC-BGA may result in improved perinatal outcomes, which were observed to be independent of obstetric intervention. We suggest that these improvements might be attributed to provision of biochemical data relating to fetal acid-base status at delivery influencing intrapartum care in subsequent cases. [source]


Outcomes Associated with Planned Home and Planned Hospital Births in Low-Risk Women Attended by Midwives in Ontario, Canada, 2003,2006: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BIRTH, Issue 3 2009
Eileen K. Hutton PhD
ABSTRACT: Background: Midwives in Ontario, Canada, provide care in the home and hospital and are required to submit data for all births to the Ontario Ministry of Health database. The purpose of this study was to compare maternal and perinatal/neonatal mortality and morbidity and intrapartum intervention rates for women attended by Ontario midwives who planned a home birth compared with similar low-risk women who planned a hospital birth between 2003 and 2006.Methods: The database provided outcomes for all women planning a home birth at the onset of labor (n = 6,692) and for a cohort, stratified by parity, of similar low-risk women planning a hospital birth.Results: The rate of perinatal and neonatal mortality was very low (1/1,000) for both groups, and no difference was shown between groups in perinatal and neonatal mortality or serious morbidity (2.4% vs 2.8%; relative risk [RR], 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.84 [0.68,1.03]). No maternal deaths were reported. All measures of serious maternal morbidity were lower in the planned home birth group as were rates for all interventions including cesarean section (5.2% vs 8.1%; RR [95% CI]: 0.64 [0.56, 0.73]). Nulliparas were less likely to deliver at home, and had higher rates of ambulance transport from home to hospital than multiparas planning home birth and had rates of intervention and outcomes similar to, or lower than, nulliparas planning hospital births.Conclusions: Midwives who were integrated into the health care system with good access to emergency services, consultation, and transfer of care provided care resulting in favorable outcomes for women planning both home or hospital births. [source]