Circ Cardiovasc Qual
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Circ Cardiovasc Qual · Sep 2016
Multicenter StudyRegional Learning Collaboratives Produce Rapid and Sustainable Improvements in Stroke Thrombolysis Times.
Reduction in door-to-needle (DTN) times in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with tissue-type plasminogen activator is associated with improved outcomes. We hypothesized that a learning collaborative would rapidly reduce DTN times at Chicago's primary stroke centers. ⋯ Using a learning collaborative model at Chicago's 15 primary stroke centers, we observed major reductions in DTN times within 1 quarter of implementation. Regional collaboration and best practices sharing should be a model for rapid and sustainable system-wide quality improvement.
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Circ Cardiovasc Qual · Sep 2016
Variation in Hospital Risk-Adjusted Mortality Rates Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States: A Report From the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry.
The use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to treat aortic stenosis in the United States is growing, yet little is known about the variation in procedural outcomes in community practice. We developed a TAVR in-hospital mortality risk model and used it to quantify variation in mortality rates across United States (US) TAVR centers. ⋯ Risk modeling of TAVR in-hospital mortality revealed variation in risk-adjusted mortality rates during the US early commercial experience. Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry analyses using this model will support research, feedback reporting, and the identification of factors associated with quality.
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Circ Cardiovasc Qual · Jul 2016
Feasibility of a Team Approach to Complex Congenital Heart Defect Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up: Early Experience of a Combined Cardiology/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Follow-Up Program.
Infants with complex congenital heart disease are at high risk for poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, implementation of dedicated congenital heart disease follow-up programs presents important infrastructure, personnel, and resource challenges. We present the development, implementation, and retrospective review of 1- and 2-year outcomes of a Complex Congenital Heart Defect Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up program. ⋯ Neuroimaging abnormalities were identified in 21.7% of the cohort with 12.8% having visibly severe insults. As a result, 23 (26.7%) received first-time referrals for early intervention services, 16 (13.8%) received referrals for new services in addition to their existing ones. We concluded that utilization of existing resources in collaboration with established programs can ensure targeted neurodevelopmental follow-up for all children with complex congenital heart disease.
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Circ Cardiovasc Qual · May 2016
Review Meta AnalysisSafety and Use of Anticoagulation After Aortic Valve Replacement With Bioprostheses: A Meta-Analysis.
The American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend 3 months of anticoagulation after replacement of the aortic valve with a bioprosthesis. However, there remains great variability in the current clinical practice and conflicting results from clinical studies. To assist clinical decision making, we pooled the existing evidence to assess whether anticoagulation in the setting of a new bioprosthesis was associated with improved outcomes or greater risk of bleeding. ⋯ Contrary to the current guidelines, a meta-analysis of previous studies suggests that anticoagulation in the setting of an aortic bioprosthesis significantly increases bleeding risk without a favorable effect on thromboembolic events. Larger, randomized controlled studies should be performed to further guide this clinical practice.
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Circ Cardiovasc Qual · May 2016
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyRevascularization Trends in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease Presenting With Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Insights From the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry-Get with the Guidelines (NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG).
Current guidelines recommend surgical revascularization (coronary artery bypass graft [CABG]) over percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with diabetes mellitus and multivessel coronary artery disease. Few data are available describing revascularization patterns among these patients in the setting of non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. ⋯ Among patients with diabetes mellitus and multivessel coronary artery disease presenting with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, only one third undergo CABG during the index admission. Furthermore, the use of PCI, but not CABG, increased modestly over the past 6 years.