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 170,190 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In conjunction with the VA reorganization to promote greater efficiency of health care provision, ambulatory surgery (AS) programs have been created. These programs institute outpatient preoperative assessment and operative management. This study examines the impact of these process changes on resources utilized by patients requiring repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). The medical records of 15 consecutively treated patients undergoing elective, infrarenal AAA repair before (1992-1993) and after (1995-1996) AS implementation were reviewed. Resource utilization was assessed by evaluating preoperative tests performed (inpatient or outpatient), ICU days, and inpatient length of stay (LOS). Postoperative morbidity and mortality were noted. Patient age, AAA size, and prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac disease, COPD, and tobacco use were similar between the two groups. Abdominal ultrasound, CT scanning, and angiography were significantly more frequently performed on an outpatient basis after implementation of the AS program. The median preoperative LOS was reduced in the AS group (1 vs 6 days, P = 0.001, Student t test), resulting in a lower inpatient LOS (11 vs 16, P < 0.01, Student t test). All patients survived and the incidence of complications was similar between the groups. Hospital resource utilization was significantly decreased, largely by shifting preoperative assessment to the outpatient setting. This study illustrates that benefits of an ambulatory surgery program can be extended beyond facilitating outpatient operations and should result in decreased length of hospitalization for other major surgical procedures, such as abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
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PMID:Process improvements reduce utilization of resources for aortic aneurysm repair. 953 68

Two-hundred and fourteen patients with congestive heart failure were identified over a six-month period in the general practice of 29 GPs covering an adult population of 29,959 subjects residing in the region of Calabria, in southern Italy, with an overall prevalence of 7 per 1000. Males represented 52% of the cases and females 48%, with a median age of 75 years. On average, the condition was first diagnosed 41 months before the present examination. Patients generally had a high body mass index (28 kg/m2). Patients were classified as follows in the NYHA classification: 9.4% in class I, 45.3% in class II, 39.2% in class III, 6.1% in class IV. Hypertension, either alone or associated with ischemic heart disease (totally about 75% of cases), was the most common etiology, while COPD was the most commonly associated chronic condition. Clinical symptoms and signs were used to classify patients in a simplified version of the Boston score which was reported in 48% of cases as definite, 12% as possible, 6% as improbable and 34% as absent. A specific treatment was already ongoing in 97% of patients. The most commonly administered drugs were diuretics (83%), ACE-inhibitors (77%), and digitalis (67%). This three-drug combination (alone or with other drugs) covered 46% of patients. A comparison of four predefined typologies of treatment against the Boston score suggested that at least part of the outcome in classifying patients using this procedure was due to pathomorphosis of the syndrome induced by early pharmacological treatment.
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PMID:[The prevalence and clinical characteristics of heart failure in a population sample of Calabria]. 988 92

We have investigated the relationship of clinical variables to successful cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm using an oral loading dose of propafenone. Fifty consecutive patients with recent onset (< 72 hours) atrial fibrillation of various aetiologies were included in the study cohort. All patients were given the study medication while in the emergency department and then monitored for 8 hours. All patients converting to sinus rhythm (39 out of 50, 78%) were discharged and re-evaluated at 24 hours and 30 days. We investigated the effect of clinical factors such as age, sex, presence of hypertension (HT), chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), diabetes mellitus (DM), mitral stenosis (MS), congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery disease (CAD) and the duration of atrial fibrillation on conversion to sinus rhythm. Of these factors, univariate and multivariate analysis showed that only the duration of atrial fibrillation was a significant predictor of conversion (p = 0.002). Our results suggest that most patients with new-onset AF can be converted successfully to sinus rhythm with a low incidence of adverse reactions using oral propafenone in the emergency department.
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PMID:Predictors of success in the conversion of new-onset atrial fibrillation using oral propafenone. 991 47

Molsidomine, coronary drug which acts similar to organic nitrates, belongs to the drug class of sydnones . SIN-1A metabolite of Molsidomine has pharmacologically active group of NO, which by increasing levels of cGMP, decreases levels of intracellular calcium ions in smooth muscle cells. This effect leads to relaxation of smooth muscle vasculature, inhibits platelets aggregation and has indirect antiproliferative effect. In clinical observations no effect of tolerance to the drug was observed. Experimental data show additional mechanism of action of the drug: SIN-1C metabolites protects the reoxygenated cardiomyocyte from post-reperfusion damage. Indications for use of Molsidomine are: ischaemic heart disease, chronic heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Effects of Molsidomine use in acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina were compared in clinical trials to effects of nitroglycerin use. Both drugs were found equally potent, but authors underline the fact of better Molsidomine tolerability comparing NTG, but longer serum half-time of Molsidomin effects that control of the treatment is worse. In clinical trials it was suggested that intravenous use of Molsidomine metabolite SIN-1 during PTCA procedures is more effective than use of isosorbide dinitrate in the same procedures. In other clinical trials molsidomin was found to produce beneficial effects in patients with heart failure due to ischaemic cardiomyopathy, dilatative cardiomyopathy, in essential hypertension, pulmonary artery hypertension in COPD patients and in congestive heart failure.
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PMID:[Molsidomine: importance in treatment of circulation disorders]. 1022 68

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are believed to result from several factors, one probably being inflammation that leads to dilatation, plaque deposition, and degeneration of the arterial wall. Most of these aneurysms are asymptomatic, but abdominal or back pain, shock, and a pulsatile abdominal mass indicate rupture. Initial aneurysm size exceeding 5 cm (2 in.) in diameter and the presence of hypertension and COPD are important predictors of rupture. The overall operative mortality rate with elective repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm has been reported to range from 0.9% to 5% at university medical centers, and it is only slightly higher at community hospitals. However, with a ruptured aneurysm and emergency repair, the mortality rate rises to about 75%. Several long-term studies using life-table methods have found that 5-year survival rates after aneurysm repair range from 49% to 84%. This rate is significantly better than the 5-year survival rate of patients who did not have an abdominal aortic aneurysm repaired. However, it is not as good as that of the normal age-matched population, probably because many patients with an aneurysm have concomitant coronary artery disease.
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PMID:Weighing risks in abdominal aortic aneurysm. Best repaired in an elective, not an emergency, procedure. 1045 40

A population-based series of patients with cancer is likely to comprise more patients with serious co-morbidity than clinical trials because of restrictive eligibility criteria for the latter. Since co-morbidity may influence decision-making, we studied the age-specific prevalence of co-morbidity and its relationship to applied treatment. Data on all 194 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and on 904 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) diagnosed between 1993 and 1996 were derived from the Eindhoven Cancer Registry. In the age-group below 60 years, 87% of patients with HD and 80% with NHL did not have a co-morbid condition. The prevalence of serious co-morbidity was 56% for patients with Hodgkin's disease who were 60 years and over and 43% and 61% for non Hodgkin patients who were 60-69 years and 70 years and over, respectively. The most common co-morbid conditions were cardiovascular disease (18%), hypertension (13%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; 13%), and diabetes mellitus (10%) for elderly Hodgkin's patients. For non-Hodgkin's patients of 60-69 years and 70 years and over, cardiovascular disease (15 and 22%, respectively), hypertension (14 and 14%, respectively), COPD (6 and 10% respectively), and diabetes mellitus (8 and 10%, respectively) were the most prevalent co-morbid conditions. The presence of co-morbidity was not related to stage or grade of disease at diagnosis. In the presence of co-morbidity, 50% less chemotherapy was administered to elderly patients with Hodgkin's disease and 10-15% less to elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The presence of co-morbidity was associated with a decreased overall survival within the first 4 months after diagnosis in both Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for all age-groups. In conclusion, serious co-morbidity was found for more than half of all lymphoma patients who were 60 years and older. Elderly patients with serious co-morbidity received chemotherapy less often, which is likely to affect survival adversely, as was indicated by a decreased survival within the first 4 months after diagnosis.
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PMID:Prevalence of co-morbidity and its relationship to treatment among unselected patients with Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1993-1996. 1046 43

Respiratory sleep disorders are a risk factor, sometimes independent, for acute cardiovascular diseases which are the most frequent cause of death among populations of industrialized countries. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are generally involved, while the pathogenetic role of acute exacerbation of COPD seems less evident. The most important acute cardiovascular events related to sleep respiratory disorders are angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias (in some instances as paroxysmal attacks), systemic hypertension with hypertensive crisis, ischemic stroke. A respiratory sleep disorder should be suspected in all obese, cigarette smokers, alcoholics, hypertensives, who present symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, where snoring may be a marker, and in patients with COPD. The diagnosis is readily established by performing polysomnography and, when needed, by 24-hour Holter monitoring and blood pressure ambulatory recording. Therapy aims at correcting risk factors with particular attention to weight reduction in obese patients. Furthermore, upper airway anatomic abnormalities should be eliminated. In obstructive sleep apnea, nasal continuous positive airway pressure during sleep is to be used, when necessary, while tracheostomy must be performed only in more severe cases.
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PMID:Acute cardiovascular diseases and respiratory sleep disorders. 1052 45

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of serious concomitant conditions at diagnosis among unselected patients with cancer, increasingly older in industrialized countries. About 34,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients were recorded in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry between 1993 and 1996; subsequently data on serious co-morbidity, classified according to the Charlson scheme (J Chron Dis 1987; 40: 373-383), were collected from the clinical records by registry personnel. Co-morbid conditions were present in 12% of adult patients below 45 years of age, 28% of those 45-59 years, 53% of those 60-74 years, and 63% of patients over 75 years of age, the prevalence being highest for patients with lung (58%), kidney (54%), stomach (53%), bladder (53%), and prostate cancer (51%). Males exhibited a 10% higher prevalence than females with similar tumors. Among patients over 60 years the most frequent conditions were heart and vascular diseases (ranging across the various tumors from 10% to 30%), hypertension (11-25%), another cancer (10-20%), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) (3-25%), and diabetes mellitus (5-25%). Inclusion of frequent co-morbid conditions in prognostic research as well as the development of specific guidelines for patient care seems warranted.
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PMID:Serious co-morbidity among unselected cancer patients newly diagnosed in the southeastern part of The Netherlands in 1993-1996. 1058 Jul 75

The aim of the study was to compare demographic characteristics, anamnestic findings, cerebrovascular risk factors, and clinical and neuroimaging data of cardioembolic stroke patients with and without atrial fibrillation and of atherothrombotic stroke patients with and without atrial fibrillation. Predictors of early diagnosis of cardioembolic vs. atherothrombotic stroke infarction in atrial fibrillation patients were also determined. Data of cardioembolic stroke patients with (n=266) and without (n=81) atrial fibrillation and of atherothrombotic stroke patients with (n=75) and without (n=377) were obtained from 2000 consecutive patients included in the prospective Sagrat Cor-Alianza Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry. Risk factors, clinical characteristics and neuroimaging features in these subgroups were compared. The independent predictive value of each variable on early diagnosis of stroke subtype was assessed with a logistic regression analysis. In-hospital mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation was significantly higher than in non-atrial fibrillation patients both in cardioembolic (32.6% vs. 14.8%, P<0. 005) and atherothrombotic stroke (29.3% vs. 18.8%, P<0.04). Valvular heart disease (odds ratio (OR) 4.6; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.19-17.68) and sudden onset (OR 1.8; 95% CI 0.97-3.63) were predictors of cardioembolic stroke, and subacute onset (OR 8; 95% CI 1.29-49.42), COPD (OR 5.2; 95% CI 1.91-14.21), hypertension (OR 3. 63; 95% CI 1.92-6.85), hypercholesterolemia (OR 2.67; 95% CI 1.13-6. 28), transient ischaemic attack (OR 2.49; 95% CI 1.05-5.90), ischaemic heart disease (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.15-4.60) and diabetes (OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.14-4.47) of atherothrombotic stroke. In conclusion, some clinical features at stroke onset may help clinicians to differentiate cerebral infarction subtypes in patients with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is associated with a higher in-hospital mortality both in cardioembolic and atherothrombotic stroke patients.
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PMID:Atrial fibrillation and stroke: clinical presentation of cardioembolic versus atherothrombotic infarction. 1118 70

NOD is a common event in patients with symptomatic COPD who are not hypoxemic while awake. Up to 45% of these patients may have significant oxyhemoglobin desaturation during sleep, and most have evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Although intuitively it would seem that supplemental oxygen during sleep should be of medical benefit in COPD patients with NOD, studies to data have not substantiated this idea. Medicare requirements for prescribing nocturnal oxygen are relatively liberal and there is the possibility of misuse, which would cause a substantial increase in the cost of home health care. A well designed multicenter study is needed to provide appropriate indications and guidelines for therapy in these patients.
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PMID:Hypoxemia during sleep in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: significance, detection, and effects of therapy. 1077 90


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