Bernardo Reyes

Use of hinge craniotomy for cerebral decompression. Technical note.

Decompressive craniectomy to relieve cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension due to traumatic brain injury is a generally accepted practice; however, the procedure remains controversial because of its uncertain effects on outcome, specific complications such as the syndrome of the sinking skin flap, and the need for subsequent cranioplasty. The authors developed a novel craniotomy technique using titanium bone plates in a hinged fashion, which maintains cerebral protection while reducing postoperative complications and eliminating subsequent cranioplasty procedures. The authors conducted a retrospective review of data obtained in all consecutive patients who had undergone posttraumatic cerebral decompression craniotomy using the hinge technique at a Level I trauma facility between 1990 and 2004. Twenty-five patients, most of whom were male (88%) and Caucasian (88%) with a mean age of 38.2 +/- 16.1 years, underwent the hinge craniotomy. The in-hospital mortality rate was 48%, and good cerebral decompression was achieved. None of the patients required surgery for flap replacement. Long-term follow-up data showed that one patient required subsequent cranioplasty due to infection and one patient presented with cranial deformities. None of the patients presented with bone resorption or sinking flap syndrome. The hinge technique effectively prevents procedure-related morbidity and the need for subsequent surgical bone replacement otherwise introduced by traditional decompressive craniectomy. A randomized controlled trial is required to substantiate these findings.

Effects of vagus nerve stimulation in a patient with temporal lobe epilepsy and Asperger syndrome: Case report and review of the literature

Seizures are a common comorbidity of autism and occur in as many as 30% of patients. This case report describes a 23-year-old man diagnosed with both Asperger syndrome and bitemporal epilepsy. The patient had behavioral regression that correlated with worsening of his intractable seizures. He subsequently underwent implantation of a vagus nerve stimulation therapy device for his refractory epilepsy. Both his seizures and his behavior were monitored for 6 months. We describe the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation therapy in reducing seizure severity as well as improving the behavioral components of his Asperger syndrome. We also review the current literature regarding epilepsy in autistic spectrum disorders.

Compliance With Joint National Committee 7 Guidelines in Hypertension Management in a Teaching Institution

Aim . To assess compliance with Joint National Committee 7 (JNC 7) guidelines and evaluate target blood pressure (BP) goals among patients with hypertension. Results . Basic laboratory workup was completed on 75% of patients, and 71% received smoking cessation counseling. Overall BP goal achievement was 45.6%; it was 27.6% and 21.1% among diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, respectively. An average of 2.6 antihypertensive medications were prescribed per patient, with beta-blockers being the most frequently used, followed by thiazide diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIS). ACEIS or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) were not prescribed for 16% of diabetics, 26% of chronic renal failure patients, or 41% of those with history of stroke. Among heart failure patients, 24.1% were not on ACEI or ARBs, and 20.7% were not receiving beta-blockers. Conclusions. Certain aspects of JNC 7 are not well incorporated into clinical practice, especially among patients with coexisting diabetes and/or CKD. (Am J Med Qual 2007;22:251-258)

Comprehensive hospital care improvement strategies reduce time to treatment in ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND Delay in treatment of patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) has an adverse effect on patient outcomes. Limited data are available on the effectiveness of hospital care improvement strategies (HCIS) to reduce time to reperfusion by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study evaluated the combined effect of HCIS implementation to reduce door-to-balloon time in patients with STEMI. METHODS Retrospective chart review was done for 95 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent PCI at Charleston Area Medical Center. Patients with non-STEMI and patients transferred from other medical centers were excluded. Door-to-balloon time was defined as time from emergency department arrival to first PCI balloon inflation. A program of 3 HCIS was implemented: 1) a fast-track catheterization laboratory protocol, 2) feedback to cardiologists on their treatment times, and 3) a weekday 24-hour inhouse catheterization laboratory team. Patients were separated into groups before (n = 46), during (n = 18), and after (n = 31) HCIS implementation. RESULTS Mean age was 60.3 +/- 13 years and 74% were male. The majority (64%) arrived by ambulance; 29% had a prehospital electrocardiogram done. Most patients presented during the day (68%) on weekdays (75%). Symptom onset-to-door time was 289 +/- 393 minutes. No significant differences were found between the groups for these variables. Door-to-PCI time in minutes was reduced in the group after versus the group before HCIS implementation (94.3 +/- 37 vs 133.5 +/- 53; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Implementation of HCIS shortened door-to-PCI time for patients with STEMI by 39.2 +/- 10 minutes. Thus, HCIS may be effective in improving patient outcomes.

Subendocardial ischemia without coronary artery disease: is elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure the culprit?

SUMMARY Background: The aim was to investigate the association between elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and subendocardial ischemia. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of 1846 consecutive patients admitted between January and September 2002 who had chest pain, stress testing and coronary angiography. Results: 1592 patients were excluded due to a positive coronary angiogram for coronary artery disease (CAD), 254 patients had an angiogram compatible with non-significant CAD and an ejection fraction >45%; of whom 210 (82.7%) had a positive stress test (study group) and the others 44 (17.3%) had a negative stress test (control group). The mean LVEDP value for the study group (11.8 ± 6.1 mmHg) was significantly higher than the mean LVEDP value for the control group (7.8 ± 4.6mmHg) (p < 0.001). In addition, there were more people with abnormal LVEDP (>12 mmHg) in the study group (n = 103,49.05%) compared with the control group (n = 10, 22.73%) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the results of logistic regression revealed that patients with abnormal LVEDP values were 11 times more likely to have had a positive stress test. Conclusions: There appears to be a positive association between elevated LVEDP and subendocardial ischemia that manifests as a positive stress test in patients without evidence of significant CAD.

Caveat emptor: the need for evidence, regulation, and certification of home telehealth systems for the management of chronic conditions.

The home telehealth market is rapidly expanding. The technology and capabilities currently available have the potential to significantly affect the clinical management of an aging population, particularly, the large number with multiple coexisting disease processes. Potential benefits of home-monitoring systems for patients with heart failure range from decreased rates of mortality and improved quality of life to providing third party payers, including the federal government (ie, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), with significant long-term cost savings. The current regulatory process does not provide adequate oversight and standards for these systems that transmit and process data (telehealth systems) critical for patient management. Home telehealth vendors must address the possibility that increased utilization increases their risk of liability due to patient safety issues. In all, 5 major areas need to be addressed to maximize the benefits and safety of this technology: effectiveness of patient management; evidence-based outcomes; regulation; cost, including cost effectiveness and reimbursement; and certification to ensure reliability. (Am J Med Qual 2008;23:208-214)

The Use of the D-STAT® Dry Bandage for the Control of Vascular Access Site Bleeding: A Multicenter Experience in 376 Patients

Multiple topical hemostats have been approved for control of surface bleeding from vascular access sites. The majority of these devices, however, have few clinical data supporting their use. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of the new commercially available D-Stat Dry hemostatic bandage compared to standard care manual compression. A prospective, randomized, multicenter trial was conducted in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization or peripheral angiography utilizing femoral artery access. Subjects were randomized to either the D-Stat Dry bandage as an adjunct to manual compression or manual compression alone. Primary end points were time-to-hemostasis (TTH) and major complications. Secondary end points included minor complications, patient satisfaction, time-to-ambulation (TTA), and time-to-discharge (TTD). Three hundred seventy-six subjects (189 control, 187 investigational) with similar baseline characteristics participated in the study. The mean age was 61.5 years, with a male predominance of 58%. TTH was significantly lower in the investigational group (7.8 vs. 13.0 min; p = 0.001). No difference in major complication rates was observed between the groups. The mean TTA (investigational, 392 min, vs. control, 415 min; p = 0.023) and patient satisfaction significantly favored the investigational group (p = 0.025). No difference in TTD or the rate of minor complications was observed. This study demonstrates that in the aforementioned population, the D-Stat Dry bandage is safe and effective in reducing both TTH and TTA and results in improved patient satisfaction.

Effect of neurology consults on outcomes for patients suffering transient ischemic attacks after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Stroke patients appear to have lower morbidity and mortality rates and better outcomes when neurologists serve as the primary admitting physician. The effect of neurological consultations on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients who have suffered a postoperative transient ischemic attack (TIA) has not yet been determined. The authors evaluated whether neurology consultations improved outcomes. A retrospective analysis was conducted of CABG patients from a high-volume tertiary care center. Primary end points included 30-day mortality, discharge disposition, length of stay, and 1-year incidence of stroke. Post-CABG TIA patients receiving a neurological consult (N = 127) were compared with propensity-matched controls. Thirty-day mortality was identical (3.1%), with nonsignificant difference in long-term incidence of stroke. There were no differences in home discharges or length of stay. Including a neurologist in the treating team for patients suffering TIAs after CABG appears not to reduce post-operative incidence of morbidity and mortality, reduce length of stay, or improve patient disposition at discharge. (Am J Med Qual 2008;23:457-464)

Similar Success Rates with Bivalirudin and Unfractionated Heparin in Bare-Metal Stent Implantation

BackgroundUnfractionated heparin (UFH) is the traditional agent utilized during percutaneous peripheral interventions (PPIs) despite its well-known limitations. Bivalirudin, a thrombin-specific anticoagulant, overcomes many of the limitations of UFH and has consistently demonstrated comparable efficacy with significantly fewer bleeding complications. The purpose of this study was to compare procedural success in patients undergoing bare-metal stent implantation for atherosclerotic blockage of the renal, iliac, and femoral arteries and receiving either bivalirudin (0.75 mg/kg bolus/1.75 mg/kg/hr infusion) or UFH (50–70 U/kg/hr bolus) as the primary anticoagulant.MethodsThis study was an open-label, nonrandomized retrospective registry with the primary endpoint of procedural success. Secondary endpoints included incidence of: death, myocardial infarction (MI), urgent revascularization, amputation, and major and minor bleeding.ResultsOne hundred and five consecutive patients were enrolled (bivalirudin = 53; heparin = 52). Baseline demographics were comparable between groups. Patients were pretreated with clopidogrel (approx. 71%) and aspirin (approx. 79%). Procedural success was achieved in 97% and 96% of patients in the bivalirudin- and heparin-treated groups, respectively. Event rates were low and similar between groups.ConclusionBivalirudin maintained an equal rate of procedural success in this cohort without sacrificing patient safety. Results of this study add to the growing body of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin as a possible substitute for UFH in anticoagulation during peripheral vascular bare-metal stent implantation.

The investigation of missing paternal information in birth certificates and low birth weight

Objective. To determine if missing paternal information in birth certificates is associated with an increased risk of low birth weight (LBW). Methods. This was a retrospective single cohort analysis including all live births at our institution between April 1999 and May 2002. We created two study groups, one with fathers information complete (FIC) and one with fathers information missing (FIM). We utilised a three-tier approach (univariate analysis, multivariate analysis and propensity matching) to determine if FIM was related to LBW. Results. Univariate analysis showed a significant difference in LBW rates between the FIM and FIC groups (14.6 vs. 9.1%, p < 0.001). However, this difference was not observed in the multivariate (odds ratio = 1, p = 0.858, ns) or propensity matching analysis (13.9 vs. 13.8%, p = 0.954, ns). Conclusion. After controlling for LBW risk factors, FIM was not an independent predictor of LBW.