A community hospital-based congestive heart failure program: impact on length of stay, admission and readmission rates, and cost.

OBJECTIVE: To do an analysis of patients with a primary diagnosis of congestive heart failure at discharge before (n = 407) and after (n = 347) the implementation of a comprehensive inpatient and outpatient congestive heart failure program consistent with the guidelines of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of the impact of the congestive heart failure program on length of stay, admission and readmission rates, and costs to both patient and provider. The program, which used a multidisciplinary team approach, included an intensive education program focusing on diet, compliance, and symptom recognition, as well as the use of outpatient infusions. It also incorporated aggressive pharmacologic treatment for patients with advanced congestive heart failure. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed significant decreases in length of stay, admission and readmission rates, and costs to the patient and provider (P < or = .05). The mean cost per admission decreased 17% ($1118), and a substantial 77% ($718,468) net reduction in nonreimbursed (lost) hospital revenue was noted. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary, comprehensive congestive heart failure program can improve patient care in a community-hospital setting while significantly reducing costs to both the patient and the institution.

Recanalization of Chronically Occluded Aortocoronary Saphenous Vein Bypass Grafts With Long-Term, Low Dose Direct Infusion of Urokinase (ROBUST): a serial trial.

OBJECTIVES: This multicenter study sought to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of prolonged, low dose, direct urokinase infusion in recanalization of chronically occluded saphenous vein bypass grafts in a large sample of patients, as well as to determine the 6-month patency rates for this procedure. BACKGROUND: Patients with chronically occluded aortocoronary vein grafts and uncontrolled angina pectoris have limited options for therapy. Previous work has shown that chronically occluded vein grafts can be recanalized by thrombolysis. METHODS: A coaxial infusion of urokinase (100,000 U/h) was given directly into occluded vein grafts in 107 patients. Balloon angioplasty was performed after lysis was achieved. Patients were discharged with warfarin and aspirin therapy. Six-month clinical follow-up data were obtained, and repeat angiography was encouraged. RESULTS: Initial patency was achieved in 74 patients (69%). Mean duration of infusion was 25.4 h, and mean urokinase dosage was 3.70 million U. Acute adverse events included acute myocardial infarction in 5 patients (5%), enzyme level elevation in 18 (17%), emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery in 4 (4%), stroke in 3 (3%) and death in 7 (6.5%). Recanalization was unsuccessful in all seven patients who died. Six-month follow-up angiograms were obtained for 40 patients (54%), 16 of whom maintained a patent graft (40%). Angina was present in 13 patients with successful (22%) and 12 with unsuccessful (71%) recanalization at 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Chronically occluded aortocoronary vein grafts can be recanalized in approximately 70% of appropriately selected patients. Complications are similar to those observed with repeat operations. Clinical follow-up shows an improvement in angina. This procedure is intended for patients with only one occluded vein graft. Strict adherence to the protocol will improve patency and reduce complications.

Medical management of chronic heart failure: direct-acting vasodilators and diuretic agents.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by left ventricular dysfunction secondary to the loss of functional cardiac contractile cells following some type of myocardial damage. In response to this cell loss, several hemodynamic and neurohormonal compensatory mechanisms are activated, which can become deleterious over time. Direct-acting vasodilators, however, can produce favorable hemodynamic effects in this setting by reducing ventricular wall stress. Furthermore, diuretics can promote the excretion of sodium and water, thereby relieving hypervolemia and circulatory congestion. This article examines the role of these two classes of agents in the pharmacologic management of CHF.

Directional atherectomy of aorto-ostial stenoses.

Balloon angioplasty of aorto-ostial right coronary artery (RCA) and aorto-ostial saphenous vein graft (SVG) stenoses has been reported to be associated with a suboptimal acute success rate, a higher incidence of restenosis and an increased risk of emergent coronary artery bypass surgery. In this report, we describe the use of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) as a treatment alternative in a series of twenty three patients who were documented to have a > 60% stenosis within 3 mm of the origin of the RCA (15 patients) or SVG (8 patients) as measured by on-line quantitative angiography. DCA was successfully performed in 14 of 15 RCA ostial lesions and in all eight SVG lesions. This yielded an acute success rate of 93% and 100% with a mean reduction in percent stenosis from 87% to 9% and from 85% to 8% respectively. Only one patient, presenting with an ostial RCA lesion, was unable to be revascularized using DCA. All successfully treated patients underwent exercise treadmill testing or repeat cardiac catheterization in follow-up. Clinical evidence of restenosis defined as recurrent chest pain or ischemic evidence on exercise treadmill and > 50% angiographic restenosis was demonstrated in three of twenty two patients (14%). Of the nine successfully treated patients who underwent repeat cardiac catheterization, three (33%) had restenosed for an angiographic rate of 25% for RCA and 50% for SVG lesions. In conclusion, DCA of aorto-ostial stenoses is technically feasible and can be performed with good initial results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bail-out directional atherectomy for abrupt coronary artery occlusion following conventional angioplasty.

Abrupt coronary occlusion following conventional balloon angioplasty (PTCA) remains a serious complication afflicting up to 10% of patients. Although repeat PTCA for prolonged durations can restore blood flow in approximately 50% of patients, if this technique fails, the patient is generally referred for emergent coronary bypass surgery. In this report, we describe the use of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) as a bail-out technique on 16 patients (17 lesions) undergoing angioplasty who demonstrated a flow limiting dissection and clinical evidence of ongoing ischemia following the procedure which could not be reversed with repeat dilatation (mean 3.5 inflations) at prolonged balloon inflations (mean 6.9 min). Ten of these patients presented to the hospital with a diagnosis of unstable angina and the remaining patients were admitted with acute myocardial infarction. The majority of the incidences of abrupt occlusion (83%) occurred while the patient was still in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Successful rescue atherectomy was achieved in 15 of the target arteries (88%). In two patients, this technique failed to stabilize the artery and emergent coronary bypass surgery was performed. A complication related to the bail-out procedure developed in three of the successfully treated patients during the same hospitalization. Two patients experienced recurrent abrupt occlusion which was successfully treated with a repeat bail-out atherectomy procedure and one patient developed a non Q wave myocardial infarction. All patients were followed clinically for a mean interval of 9.93 months. Ten patients (71%) remained free of symptoms and cardiovascular events for this period. Stress electrocardiography was performed on eleven (79%) of the successfully treated patients and in no case was ischemia demonstrated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Permanent pacemaker implantation in the cardiac catheterization laboratory versus the operating room: an analysis of hospital charges and complications.

Permanent pacemakers may be implanted in operating rooms, special procedure laboratories, or cardiac catheterization laboratories. Previous investigators have shown no difference in efficacy or complications in the operating room versus the cardiac catheterization laboratory. We retrospectively analyzed the hospital bills of 30 patients undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation at our institution. Group I was 15 consecutive patients implanted in the operating room and group II was 15 consecutive patients implanted in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, all by the same operators. Hospital charges that were specific to the site of implantation were analyzed. Physician charges for implantation, anesthesiologist, and radiologist charges were not analyzed. There were no in-hospital complications in either group. The mean charges for group I were $1,856.00 and group II were $1,075.00 (P < 0.001). We conclude that implantation of permanent pacemakers in the cardiac catheterization laboratory is associated with significantly lower hospital charges compared to implantation in the operating room and has an equally low complication rate.

A technique utilizing a steerable hydrophilic guidewire for permanent pacemaker implantation.

We report the use of a steerable hydrophilic guidewire for permanent pacemaker implantation. This wire, previously used for peripheral vascular and cardiac angiography, is able to be steered and passed in many situations when a standard guidewire cannot be used. We report three cases where the standard J-tipped guidewire could not be passed by either the cephalic or subclavian route and the hydrophilic guidewire allowed for successful atraumatic placement of a sheath and pacemaker lead.

The safety and efficacy of chronic ventricular pacing at 1.6 volts using a steroid eluting lead.

Steroid eluting leads may allow for lower chronic pacing thresholds and therefore lower pacing outputs. Twenty-two patients (15 presenting with syncope) were implanted with VVI or VVIR pacemakers and transvenous steroid eluting leads and followed for a mean of 20.6 months while being paced at 1.6 V and 0.6 msec. Mean acute voltage pacing thresholds were 0.40 V at 0.5 msec and chronic pulse width thresholds were 0.21 msec at 0.8 V. Pacemaker function was documented with one to three 24-hour Holter monitors, attached during the 2-6 week postimplant period, bimonthly transtelephonic monitoring, and monthly pacemaker clinic visits. No patient developed recurrent symptoms and consistent capture was verified in all patients on every 24-hour Holter recording and transtelephonic monitor. Chronic ventricular pacing at an output of 1.6 V at 0.6 msec is safe and effective when using a steroid eluting lead and potentially has implications for pacemaker longevity.

The effect of predilatation on coronary angioplasty-induced vessel wall injury.

Fifty-four patients presenting with stenotic lesions in a major coronary artery visually estimated by diagnostic angiography to be greater than 90% but less than 100% were randomized to one of two angioplasty regimens, predilatation (group 1) or no predilatation (group 2). In group 1, the artery was initially dilated with a 2 mm balloon followed by a balloon that was considered by the operator to be the definitive size to fully dilate the target vessel. In group 2, the artery was dilated with a balloon deemed the definitive size to complete the angioplasty procedure. There were no statistical differences between groups with respect to age, sex, history of unstable angina, or prior acute myocardial infarction. There were also no significant differences in the angiographic characteristics of the coronary lesions including artery location, lesion length, concentric or eccentric morphology, tubular versus discrete stenosis, calcium in lesions, or lesions on a bend. Following angioplasty, luminal filling defects were present in 5% of the predilated group and in 9% of the nonpredilated group (p = NS). The incidence of luminal border haziness at the dilatation site did not differ between groups, seven (35%) in group 1 versus eight (24%) in group 2. Angiographic evidence of a linear dissection at the angioplasty site was also similar between groups, one (5%) in group 1 versus five (15%) in group 2. Occlusive complications were witnessed in 10% of the predilated group and 12% of the nonpredilated group (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Recanalization of chronically occluded aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass grafts by extended infusion of urokinase: initial results and short-term clinical follow-up.

Chronic occlusion of saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass grafts is a common problem. Although percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of a saphenous vein with a stenotic lesion is feasible, angioplasty alone of a totally occluded vein graft yields uniformly poor results. Patients with such occlusion are often subjected to repeat aortocoronary bypass surgery. Experience with a new technique that allows angioplasty to be performed in a totally occluded saphenous vein bypass graft is reported. This technique utilizes infusion of prolonged low dose urokinase directly into the proximal portion of the occluded graft. Forty-six consecutive patients with 47 totally occluded grafts were studied. Patients had undergone end to side saphenous vein bypass grafting 1 to 13 (mean 7) years previously. All patients presented with new or worsening angina pectoris with ST-T changes or non-Q wave acute myocardial infarction and all had a totally occluded saphenous vein bypass graft. The new technique entailed the positioning of an angiographic catheter into the stub of the occluded graft and the advancement of an infusion wire into the graft. Patients were returned to the coronary care unit, where urokinase was delivered at a dose of 100,000 to 250,000 U/h. The total dose of urokinase ranged from 0.7 to 9.8 million U over 7.5 to 77 h (mean 31). After therapy, recanalization was seen in 37 (79%) of the 47 grafts. In 20 successfully treated patients, angiography was performed 1 to 24 (mean 11) months after treatment; 13 (65%) of these grafts were patent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Noncardiogenic mechanisms of right heart dysfunction.

Alterations in right ventricular (RV) performance are critical to the cardiac dysfunction witnessed in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock (SS), and as a consequence of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) administration during mechanical ventilation. The authors review evidence for right heart dysfunction in these circumstances. In ARDS, an increase in RV afterload with the onset of pulmonary artery hypertension is the predominant factor promoting RV dysfunction. In SS, most investigators agree that a primary decrease in myocardial contractility is the major factor limiting RV performance. The application of PEEP during mechanical ventilation can potentiate alterations in RV preload, afterload, and/or contractility, all of which promote RV dysfunction and compromise left ventricular filling. As RV dysfunction may seriously affect global myocardial performance in all of these settings, the clinician must identify that RV function is impaired, discern the contributing mechanism, and select an appropriate therapeutic regimen targeted at addressing this predominant mechanism. Assessment and management strategies are described.

Perspectives on the interpretation of continuous mixed venous oxygen saturation.

Continuous measurement of mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) is a beneficial method for evaluating overall dynamic tissue oxygen balance in critically ill patients. Several important factors, however, may influence the accurate analysis of SvO2 data trends. In this review we highlight these factors and support cautious interpretation of SvO2 in conjunction with other available patient data and with strict attention to the clinical value and limitations of the parameter.

Pulmonary artery wedge pressure--when it's valid, when it's not.

In this article, several technical and physiologic factors that might interfere with the accurate interpretation of the pulmonary artery wedge pressure as an indicator of LV preload and extravascular lung water have been reviewed. The purpose of this article is not to belittle the use of the wedge pressure value but, instead, to stress the importance of precise measurement and careful interpretation of this parameter. Every effort must be made by the critical care nurse at the bedside to minimize erroneous data and to optimize the validity of the wedge pressure value in order to prompt appropriate clinical decisions.

Mechanisms of myocardial ischemia.

Myocardial ischemia occurs as a result of an imbalance between tissue oxygen supply and demand. The clinical correlates of the syndrome include classic unstable and Prinzmetal variant angina. Although controversial, it has been postulated that the pathogenesis of unstable angina involves a combination of (1) fixed atherosclerotic coronary artery stenosis, (2) dynamic coronary artery obstruction mediated by coronary vasospasm, and (3) platelet aggregation promoting intracoronary thrombotic occlusion. The authors review evidence to support the conclusion that the interaction of these processes may be mediated by an imbalance in the levels of two eicosanoids, thromboxane A2 (TxA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2), which are responsible for platelet-vascular wall homeostasis. TxA2 is a powerful endogenous vasoconstrictor and promoter of platelet aggregation, whereas PGI2 has diametrically opposed, protective actions. Management and preventive strategies for unstable angina have, therefore, concentrated on the pharmacologic and dietary prohibition of TxA2 activity by agents targeted at inhibiting its synthesis and antagonizing its actions. These agents are discussed and differentiated.