Cardiologia (Rome, Italy)
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Cardiologia (Rome, Italy) · Dec 1992
Comparison of ST segment changes on standard and Holter electrocardiogram during exercise testing.
In order to compare the ST segment changes recorded simultaneously on Holter (Del Mar Avionics 445B recorder and DCG VII Scanner) and standard electrocardiogram, 22 patients with chest discomfort and normal resting ECG were evaluated during exercise testing. The conventional ECG was recorded using chest lead V5 and a modified lead II. The Holter recording was done using the bipolar chest lead CM5 and the same modified lead II. ⋯ Thus the amplitude of ST depression was higher in lead CM5 by a mean of 0.7 mm compared to the lead V5. ST segment depression was present only in 6 cases in the modified lead II. ST segment depressions were reproduced faithfully in 3 patients and within the variation of 0.5 mm in other 3 cases by the Holter system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Cardiologia (Rome, Italy) · Aug 1992
Case ReportsIntegrated ultrasound evaluation of dissecting aneurysm of the aorta by the combined use of transesophageal echocardiography and intravascular ultrasound.
In order to obtain complete ultrasound imaging of the entire aorta, transesophageal echocardiography and intravascular ultrasound were performed on 3 patients with acute (2 cases) or chronic (1 case) aortic dissection. In each case the integrated use of transesophageal echocardiography and intravascular ultrasound provided an accurate evaluation of the dissection and of its anatomic extension.
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Cardiologia (Rome, Italy) · Jul 1992
Comparative Study[The effect of a territorial health emergency service on the delay in the hospitalization of patients with an acute myocardial infarct].
In July 1987 a prehospital emergency medical service (EMS) was activated in Verona (Italy) and a broad educational campaign was introduced. Prehospital care is delivered by emergency physicians and/or qualified nursing staff, who travel by ambulance or helicopter and have radio contact with the hospital alarm centre. During a 1-year period before the activation of the EMS, 476 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) of Verona, with a median delay time of 4 hours. ⋯ The time from EMS call to hospital arrival was 25 min and the time which elapsed in the Emergency Department before reaching the CCU was 15 min. In these patients, decision time and Emergency Department time were significantly shorter (p < 0.01) than in patients who did not use the EMS. We conclude that the EMS is effective in reducing delay time in patients with AMI.
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Cardiologia (Rome, Italy) · Jul 1992
Review Case Reports[A case of oxalosis with heart and lung involvement].
We report the case of a 37-year-old woman with oxalosis, and cardiopulmonary involvement. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography disclosed intracardiac calcifications compatible with deposition of calcium oxalate, and severe chronic pulmonary hypertension. Endomyocardial biopsy showed interstitial deposition of calcium oxalate. The absence of severe cardiac disease strengthened a deposition of calcium oxalate even in the arteries of the lungs, with secondary chronic pulmonary hypertension.
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Recent clinical trials demonstrate that thrombolytic therapy reduces morbidity and mortality of pulmonary embolism compared with heparin anticoagulation. Anticoagulant therapy fail to lyse thrombus that embolizes from the deep leg veins and from the pelvic veins. ⋯ The benefit of thrombolytic therapy is easier to appreciate among patients with massive pulmonary embolism. Further trials are necessary to assess the efficacy and the safety of the different dosages of thrombolytic therapy in pulmonary embolism.