Trending Articles
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J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev · May 2012
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPerceptions of cardiac specialists and rehabilitation programs regarding patient access to cardiac rehabilitation and referral strategies.
Access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) remains at approximately 30%, despite a national target of 70%. This study evaluated cardiac specialist and CR program perceptions of CR access and referral strategies. ⋯ Some of the least frequently used referral strategies were perceived as, and are also empirically demonstrated to be, most effective. Broader implementation of these strategies, while better-resourcing CR programs, may improve the continuum of care for cardiac patients.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Effectiveness and Safety of Intrathecal Ziconotide: Final Results of the Patient Registry of Intrathecal Ziconotide Management (PRIZM).
The Patient Registry of Intrathecal Ziconotide Management evaluated the long-term effectiveness and safety of intrathecal ziconotide. ⋯ Final study analyses showed that intrathecal ziconotide provided clinically meaningful pain relief in 17.4% and 38.5% of patients at week 12 and month 18, respectively. At these same time points, patient-rated improvement was reported in at least two-thirds of patients. The safety profile was consistent with that listed in the ziconotide prescribing information.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
First prospective, multi-centre clinical experience with a novel left ventricular quadripolar lead.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is sometimes complicated by elevated pacing thresholds and phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS), both of which may require that the coronary sinus lead be repositioned. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a novel quadripolar electrode lead and cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) device that enables electrical repositioning, potentially obviating a lead reposition procedure. ⋯ The new quadripolar electrode LV lead provides more programming options to address common problems faced when managing CRT patients. Electrical measurements from new vectors are comparable with conventional configurations. Furthermore, 11% of patients in the study suffered PNS on all conventional bipolar vectors.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of low-intensity warfarin therapy with conventional-intensity warfarin therapy for long-term prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism.
Warfarin is very effective in preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism but is also associated with a substantial risk of bleeding. After three months of conventional warfarin therapy, a lower dose of anticoagulant medication may result in less bleeding and still prevent recurrent venous thromboembolism. ⋯ Conventional-intensity warfarin therapy is more effective than low-intensity warfarin therapy for the long-term prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism. The low-intensity warfarin regimen does not reduce the risk of clinically important bleeding.
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Multicenter Study
Capsule endoscopy in acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: a prospective cohort study.
Capsule endoscopy may play a role in the evaluation of patients presenting with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the emergency department. ⋯ In an emergency department setting, capsule endoscopy appears feasible and safe in people presenting with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Capsule endoscopy identifies gross blood in the upper gastrointestinal tract, including the duodenum, significantly more often than nasogastric tube aspiration and identifies inflammatory lesions, as well as EGD. Capsule endoscopy may facilitate patient triage and earlier endoscopy, but should not be considered a substitute for EGD.