Cardiology department versus intensive care unit admission after successful uncomplicated transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

BACKGROUND: Most patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are admitted directly to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) despite low complication rates. Reducing unnecessary CICU hospitalization reduces healthcare costs. This study aimed to compare the outcomes between patients admitted directly to the cardiology department (CD) and those admitted to CICU based on prespecified protocols. METHODS: Historical cohort study of all patients who underwent TAVR and were admitted directly to the CD according to a prespecified protocol (uncomplicated procedure, hemodynamically stable, without new conduction abnormalities) in 2017-2018, and the same number of patients meeting the same criteria who were admitted to the CICU in 2015-2016 before direct CD admission was initiated. Pacemaker implantation during the procedure was not considered a new conduction abnormality. In-hospital outcomes and 30-day post-discharge outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Overall, 260 patients (130 CICU + 130 CD) were included in the study. There was no in-hospital mortality in either group, and the post-procedure length of stay was shorter for patients admitted to CD (median and IQR: 2, 2-4 vs. 4, 3-5 days, p <0.001). There was no significant difference in 30-day emergency department visits between groups (CICU:13.9% vs. CD:16.2%, p = 0.602), rehospitalization rate (9.3%) was the same in both groups, and one patient from the CICU group died. Similar results were observed in multivariable analysis and after matching. CONCLUSION: Direct admission to the CD after TAVR, according to the proposed criteria, may be considered as a safe and less expensive alternative for stable patients after an uncomplicated TAVR procedure.

ANMCO-SIMEU consensus document: appropriate management of atrial fibrillation in the emergency department.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) accounts for 2% of the total presentations to the emergency department (ED) and represents the most frequent arrhythmic cause for hospitalization. It steadily increases the risk of thromboembolic events and is often associated with several comorbidities that negatively affect patient's quality of life and prognosis. AF has a considerable impact on healthcare resources, making the promotion of an adequate and coordinated management of this arrhythmia necessary in order to avoid clinical complications and to implement the adoption of appropriate technological and pharmacological treatment options. AF management varies across regions and hospitals and there is also heterogeneity in the use of anticoagulation and electric cardioversion, with limited use of direct oral anticoagulants. The ED represents the first access point for early management of patients with AF. The appropriate management of this arrhythmia in the acute setting has a great impact on improving patient's quality of life and outcomes as well as on rationalization of the financial resources related to the clinical course of AF. Therefore, physicians should provide a well-structured clinical and diagnostic pathway for patients with AF who are admitted to the ED. This should be based on a tight and propositional collaboration among several specialists, i.e. the ED physician, cardiologist, internal medicine physician, anesthesiologist. The aim of this ANMCO-SIMEU consensus document is to provide shared recommendations for promoting an integrated, accurate, and up-to-date management of patients with AF admitted to the ED or Cardiology Department, in order to make it homogeneous across the national territory.

Cardiology Department Practices in the First Wave of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic　- A Nationwide Survey in Japan by the Japanese Circulation Society.

Background: From the early phase of the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, cardiologists have paid attention not only to COVID-19-associated cardiovascular sequelae, but also to treatment strategies for rescheduling non-urgent procedures. The chief objective of this study was to explore confirmed COVID-19 cardiology case experiences and departmental policies, and their regional heterogeneity in Japan. Methods and Results: We performed a retrospective analysis of a nationwide survey performed by the Japanese Circulation Society on April 13, 2020. The questionnaire included cardiology department experience with confirmed COVID-19 cases and restriction policies, and was sent to 1,360 certified cardiology training hospitals. Descriptive analysis and spatial autocorrelation analysis of each response were performed to reveal the heterogeneity of departmental policies. The response rate was 56.8% (773 replies). Only 16% of all responding hospitals experienced a COVID-19 cardiology case. High-risk procedures were restricted in more than one-fifth of hospitals, including transesophageal echocardiography (34.9%) and scheduled catheterization (39.5%). The presence of a cardiologist in the COVID-19 team, the number of board-certified cardiologists, any medical resource shortage and a state of emergency were positively correlated with any type of restriction. Conclusions: We found both low clinical case experiences with COVID-19 and restrictions of cardiovascular procedures during the first COVID-19 wave in Japan. Restrictions arising as a result of COVID-19 were affected by hospital- and country-level variables, such as a state of emergency.

Treatment and Prognosis of Myocardial Infarction Outside Cardiology Departments.

AIM: Our aim was to investigate the characteristics, treatment and prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) treated outside a cardiology department (CD), compared with MI patients treated at a CD. METHODS: A cohort of 1310 patients diagnosed with MI at eight Swedish hospitals in 2011 were included in this observational study. Patients were followed regarding all-cause mortality until 2018. RESULTS: A total of 235 patients, exclusively treated outside CDs, were identified. These patients had more non-cardiac comorbidities, were older (mean age 83.7 vs. 73.1 years) and had less often type 1 MIs (33.2% vs. 74.2%), in comparison with the CD patients. Advanced age and an absence of chest pain were the strongest predictors of non-CD care. Only 3.8% of non-CD patients were investigated with coronary angiography and they were also prescribed secondary preventive pharmacological treatments to a lesser degree, with only 32.3% having statin therapy at discharge. The all-cause mortality was higher in non-CD patients, also after adjustment for baseline parameters, both at 30 days (hazard ratio (HR) 2.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-3.22), one year (HR 1.82; 95% CI 1.39-2.36) and five years (HR 1.62; 95% CI 1.32-1.98). CONCLUSIONS: MI treatment outside CDs is associated with an adverse short- and long-term prognosis. An improved use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and secondary preventive pharmacological treatment might improve the long-term prognosis in these patients.

Incidence and risk factors of peripheral venous catheter-related adverse events in cardiology department of a Tunisian university hospital: A prospective observational study.

AIM: The purpose of our study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of Peripheral Venous Catheter-Related Adverse Events (PVCAEs) in a cardiology department of a university hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective observational study from Mars 2017 to May 2017 in the cardiology department of the University Hospital of Farhat Hached in Sousse, Tunisia. During this period, we actively followed-up all inserted PVCs (every 12hours) from insertion up to 48hours after removal. Regression analyses were applied and significance limits were set at P<0.05. RESULTS: Data were analysed for 210 PVCs (794 PVC-days) in 148 patients. The incidence of PVCAEs was 33.33% with density of incidence of 8.81/1000 PVC-days. PVCAEs were mainly pain (50%) and mechanical events (31.42%). Infections accounted for 11.42%. The most frequent mechanical PVCAEs, was haematoma (15.71%). Multivariate analysis revealed as independent factors for the occurrence of PVCAEs: the hydro electrolytic nature of the injected product (OR=13.42, P<10-3), the medicinal nature of the injected product (OR=5.08, P=0.003), bad cutaneous state (OR=8.08, P=0.003), admission during nightshift (OR=3.76; P=0.014) and advanced age (OR=1.04, P=0.042). CONCLUSION: Multicenter studies would be very useful to better analyze risk factors associated with PVCAEs.

Incidence and risk factors of hyperkalaemia after acute kidney injury in cardiology department / 实用医学杂志

Objective To investigate the incidence of hyperkalaemia and analyze the risk factors in pa-tients with acute kidney injury(AKI)in cardiology department.Methods We conducted a retrospective case-con-trol study,using the electronic medical information of the patients in Guangdong General Hospital. Results A to-tal of 37 837 patients were included in this study and 1 571(4.3%)patients with AKI were detected.Hyperkalae-mia occurred in 517 patients(1.4%).The incidence of hyperkalaemia in AKI patients was higher than that in non-AKI patients(10.1% vs. 1.0%,P < 0.001)and the incidences of hyperkalaemia at AKI stage 1~3 were 2.6 %, 13.9% and 20.6 %,respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that AKI stages,chronic kid-ney disease and heart failure were risk factors for hyperkalaemia.AKI and hyperkalaemia were related to increased hospitalization expenses,delayed hospital stay,renal replacement therapy and in-hospital mortality. Based on AKI,the combination of hyperkalemia could significantly increase clinical burden and adverse outcomes. Conclu-sion In cardiology department,the monitoring of serum creatinine and potassium level should be emphasized.

A multinational and multidisciplinary approach to treat CHD in paediatric age in Angola: initial experience of a medical-surgical centre for children with heart disease in Angola.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological patterns of cardiac disease differ between developed countries and African nations. Despite the collaborative efforts of developed countries, several obstacles hinder the implementation of successful programmes for the management of children with heart disease in Africa. Materials and methods This study is a retrospective analysis of a bi-national two-institution partnership programme for the treatment of children with congenital and acquired heart disease. In April, 2011, a continuous medical-surgical programme was inaugurated at Clínica Girassol in Luanda. The main goals were to initiate permanent and local delivery of services while training local teams, allowing autonomous medical and surgical management of children with heart disease. RESULTS: Between April, 2011 and August, 2015, a total of 1766 procedures were performed on 1682 children. Of them, 1539 had CHD and 143 had acquired heart disease; 94 children underwent interventional treatment. A total of 1672 paediatric surgeries were performed on 1588 children: 1087 (65%) were performed with extracorporeal circulation and 585 (35%) were off-pump. The age distribution of the children was 4.5% (n=76) neonatal, 40.4% (n=675) between 30 days and 1 year, and 55.1% (n=921) over 1 year. There were 76 re-operations (4.5%) due to complications. The 30-day mortality rate was 4.2% (71 patients). Education-wise, several Angolan medical and surgical specialists were trained, allowing near-autonomous cardiac care delivery in children with heart disease. CONCLUSION: An innovative cooperation model between a European and an African centre based on permanent delivery of care and education allowed for effective training of local teams and treatment of children with heart disease in their own environment.

Using nonparametric conditional approach to integrate quality into efficiency analysis: empirical evidence from cardiology departments.

Health care providers are under pressure to improve both efficiency and quality. The two objectives are not always mutually consistent, because achieving higher levels of quality may require additional resources. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how the nonparametric conditional approach can be used to integrate quality into the analysis of efficiency and to investigate the mechanisms through which quality enters the production process. Additionally, we explain how the conditional approach relates to other nonparametric methods that allow integrating quality into efficiency analysis and provide guidance on the selection of an appropriate methodology. We use data from 178 departments of interventional cardiology and consider three different measures of quality: patient satisfaction, standardized mortality ratio, and patient radiation exposure. Our results refute the existence of a clear trade-off between efficiency and quality. In fact, the impact of quality on the production process differs according to the utilized quality measure. Patient satisfaction does not affect the attainable frontier but does have an inverted U-shaped effect on the distribution of inefficiencies; mortality ratio negatively impacts the attainable frontier when the observed mortality more than doubles the predicted mortality; and patient radiation exposure is not associated with the production process.

A tongue's tale - a case report of traditional Chinese medicine integration in the cardiology department.

The purpose of this case study is to provide a unique perspective on the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in an acute care hospital setting. This case report tells the story of a patient who was hospitalized in the cardiac intensive care unit and received both western and TCM treatments. The patient's medical narrative is illustrated using pictures of her tongue that were taken along the course of her hospitalization. Analysis of the medical file, and each picture provide in-depth understanding of her medical condition from both western and TCM perspectives respectively.

Indicadores de calidad en la atención de pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio / Quality indicators in the care of patients with acute myocardial infarction

Objetivo: Describir el cumplimiento de los indicadores de calidad en la atención del infarto agudo de miocardio en un hospital de cuarto nivel en Bogotá, Colombia. Métodos: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo, descriptivo, en el que se incluyeron todos los pacientes con diagnóstico de infarto agudo de miocardio, de acuerdo con la Tercera Definición Universal del Infarto, que ingresaron a la Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá desde enero de 2011 hasta abril de 2013. Resultados: El 99% de los pacientes recibió aspirina al ingreso y al 98% se le formuló durante el egreso. El 97% de los pacientes tuvo valoración intrahospitalaria de la fracción de eyección. El 93% fue dado de alta con betabloqueador y el 88% con inhibidores de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina o antagonistas del receptor de angiotensina II. El 98% recibió orden de rehabilitación cardiaca. La mortalidad por cualquier causa fue del 6%. Conclusiones: Existe adherencia adecuada a los indicadores de calidad en la atención del infarto agudo de miocardio, comparable con estándares internacionales, hecho del que hasta el momento no se tiene documentación alguna en Colombia.

Objective: Describe the quality of care in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction in a fourth level hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. Methods; Observational, retrospective, descriptive study. From January 2011 to April 2013, all patients arriving to Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá with acute myocardial infarction according to the Third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction were included. Results: Aspirin at arrival was given to 99% of patients. Aspirin at discharge was given to 98%. Evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction was performed in 97% of patients. Ninety three percent received beta-blocker at discharge, 88% received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. Ninety eight percent were enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program. All-cause mortality was 6%. Conclusions: Quality performance indicators are fulfilled and our results are comparable to those of international standards. Actually there is no record of this information in Colombia.

Enfermera especialista en ultrasonido cardíaco. Propuesta de formación en Colombia / "Nurse specialist in cardiac ultrasound. Proposal for training in Colombia

La sonografía cardíaca en Colombia muestra un comportamiento muy similar al del resto del mundo, en donde el acelerado desarrollo tecnológico en imágenes diagnósticas sumado a la escasez del recurso profesional certificado, han hecho que se incluyan en nuestros equipos de trabajo, personal de la salud, con la debida formación y el entrenamiento requerido para la correcta ejecución de esta ayuda diagnóstica. Se realiza una revisión del tema y se hace una propuesta de formación académica idónea para este campo en Colombia, donde se describen, entre otros aspectos, rol, cualidades y competencias, así como perfil profesional y ocupacional.

The practice of cardiac sonography in our country shows a very similar behavior to the rest of the world, in which accelerated technological development is coupled with a scarcity of certified professionals in the diagnostic imaging field. These professionals must be included in our teams. We need health personnel with appropriate training for the proper implementation of this diagnostic methodology. We performed a comprehensive review of the subject worldwide and made an ideal academic proposal for this field in Colombia, describing among other things, their role, qualities and competencies, professional and occupational profile.

Síndrome de Eisenmenger en una paciente de la tercera edad / Eisenmenger syndrome in an elderly patient

Se describe el caso clínico de una paciente de 62 años de edad con cardiopatía congénita cianótica, quien fue ingresada en el Servicio de Cardiología del Hospital Provincial Docente Clinicoquirúrgico "Saturnino Lora Torres" de Santiago de Cuba por presentar disnea. Al examen físico se constató cianosis, arritmia completa y soplo sistólico en mesocardio, con signos de insuficiencia cardíaca refractaria del lado derecho. Los exámenes complementarios efectuados confirmaron el diagnóstico de síndrome de Eisenmenger atribuible a comunicación interventricular. A pesar de la medicación que recibía evolucionó desfavorablemente hasta que falleció. Es poco frecuente que pacientes con esta complicación sobrevivan hasta la tercera edad.

A case report of a 62 year-old patient with cyanotic congenital heart disease, who was admitted to the Cardiology Department of "Saturnino Lora" Provincial Teaching Clinical Surgical Hospital of Santiago de Cuba to present with shortness of breath was described. On physical examination cyanosis, complete arrhythmia and systolic murmur in mesocardium with signs of refractory heart failure of the right side were found. Complementary tests confirmed the diagnosis of Eisenmenger syndrome attributable to ventricular septal defect. Despite receiving medication she made bad progress and died. It is rare for patients with this complication survive into old age.

Estudio poblacional de factores de riesgo cardiovascular relacionados con el estilo de vida, hallazgos electrocardiográficos y medicación actual de pacientes valorados por el servicio de Cardiología / A population study of cardiovascular risk factors related to lifestyle, electrocardiographic findings and current medication of patients evaluated by the Cardiology service

OBJETIVOS: determinar la prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular relacionados con el estilo de vida, los medicamentos antihipertensivos de la prescripción médica y el diagnóstico electrocardiográfico con base en un estudio poblacional de pacientes valorados por el servicio de cardiología de la Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: se valoraron 753 usuarios del servicio de cardiología de la Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá durante marzo y abril de 2011. Se aplicaron formatos de registro y se procesaron en forma descriptiva. RESULTADOS: se encontró una prevalencia de hipertensión arterial, tabaquismo y sedentarismo de 57,1%, 11,8% y 75%, respectivamente en el total de la población. El grupo de medicamentos antihipertensivos de mayor consumo fueron los antagonistas del receptor de angiotensina II (55%). Se observó que 48,4% de los pacientes sin antecedentes cardiovasculares presentaron normalidad en el electrocardiograma, mientras en el grupo con antecedentes, 72,8% de los electrocardiogramas estaban alterados. CONCLUSIONES: los factores de riesgo relacionados con el estilo de vida y la hipertensión arterial, constituyen un verdadero problema de salud pública; en la actualidad la prevención primaria y el abordaje con medicamentos antihipertensivos, se destacan como herramientas fundamentales en la reducción de la morbi-mortalidad asociada. El análisis del comportamiento epidemiológico del electrocardiograma, constituye un importante reto para la investigación en el área de cardiología clínica y un aporte fundamental al respecto, al tiempo que permitiría determinar las variables que afectan su uso, interpretación y correlación clínica.

OBJECTIVES: to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors related to lifestyle, antihypertensive drugs prescribed and the electrocardiographic diagnosis based on a study population of patients evaluated by the cardiology department of the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogota. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we evaluated 753 patients of the cardiology department at the Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation during March and April 2011. Registration forms were applied and processed in a descriptive way. RESULTS: We found a prevalence of hypertension, smoking and physical inactivity of 57.1%, 11.8% and 75% respectively in the total population. The group of antihypertensive drugs of higher consume were angiotensin receptor antagonists II (55%). We observed that 48.4% of patients without history of cardiovascular disease had a normal electrocardiogram, while in the group with previous cardiovascular desease history, 72.8% of the electrocardiograms were altered. CONCLUSIONS: risk factors related to lifestyle and arterial hypertension constitute a real public health problem; currently the primary prevention and the treatment with antihypertensive medications stand out as key tools in reducing morbidity and mortality associated to cardiovascular disease. The analysis of the epidemiological behavior of the electrocardiogram is a major challenge for research in the cardiology clinic and a fundamental contribution in this respect, and at the same time it would allow to determine the variables affecting its use, interpretation and clinical correlation.

Investigation on the Requirement of Pharmaceutical Care and Work Mode of Clinical Pharmacist / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the requirement of pharmaceutical care among physicians, nurses and patients and to explore work mode of clinical pharmacists. METHODS: The requirement of pharmaceutical care in concrete cases was summarized by combining with experience of author as clinical pharmacist in cardiology department. RESULTS: The advantage of clinical pharmacist and convenient consultation for selection of drugs contribute to complementary with physicians’ work. CONCLUSION: Clinical pharmacist provides various pharmaceutical care according to the requirement of doctors, nurses and patients.