Tam K. Dao

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Pilot Study

Exposure to combat experiences is associated with increased risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy have garnered a significant amount of empirical support for PTSD treatment; however, they are not universally effective with some patients continuing to struggle with residual PTSD symptoms. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the autonomic nervous system functioning and reflects an individual’s ability to adaptively cope with stress. A pilot study was undertaken to determine if veterans with PTSD (as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale and the PTSD Checklist) would show significantly different HRV prior to an intervention at baseline compared to controls; specifically, to determine whether the HRV among veterans with PTSD is more depressed than that among veterans without PTSD. The study also aimed at assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of providing HRV biofeedback as a treatment for PTSD. The findings suggest that implementing an HRV biofeedback as a treatment for PTSD is effective, feasible, and acceptable for veterans. Veterans with combat-related PTSD displayed significantly depressed HRV as compared to subjects without PTSD. When the veterans with PTSD were randomly assigned to receive either HRV biofeedback plus treatment as usual (TAU) or just TAU, the results indicated that HRV biofeedback significantly increased the HRV while reducing symptoms of PTSD. However, the TAU had no significant effect on either HRV or symptom reduction. A larger randomized control trial to validate these findings appears warranted.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Versus Open Thoracotomy Lobectomy in a Cohort of 13,619 Patients

BACKGROUND Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is becoming increasingly popular for lung resection in some centers. However, the issue of whether VATS or open thoracotomy is better remains controversial. We compared outcomes of open and VATS lobectomy in a national database. METHODS Using the 2004 and 2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, we identified 13,619 discharge records of patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy by means of thoracotomy (n = 12,860) or VATS (n = 759). Students t and chi(2) tests were used to compare the two groups. Multivariable analysis was used to identify independent predictors of outcome measures. RESULTS The two groups of patients had similar demographics and preoperative comorbidities. They also had similar in-hospital mortality rates (3.1% versus 3.4%; p = 0.67); lengths of stay (9.3 +/- 0.1 versus 9.2 +/- 0.4 days; p = 0.84); hospitalization costs (

On-Pump Versus Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in a Cohort of 63,000 Patients

23,862 +/-

Associations among Pain, PTSD, mTBI, and Heart Rate Variability in Veterans of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom: A Pilot Study

206 versus

Endovascular versus open repair of ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysms: A nationwide risk-adjusted study of 923 patients

25,125 +/-

Clinical depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and comorbid depression and posttraumatic stress disorder as risk factors for in-hospital mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery

1,093; p = 0.16); and rates of wound infection (0.8% versus 1.3%; p = 0.15), pulmonary complications (32.2% versus 31.2%; p = 0.55), and cardiovascular complications (3.4% versus 3.9%; p = 0.43). However, multivariable analysis showed that the VATS group had a significantly higher incidence of intraoperative complications than the thoracotomy group (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 2.4; p = 0.04). A higher percentage of patients with annual income greater than

Randomized controlled trial of brief cognitive behavioral intervention for depression and anxiety symptoms preoperatively in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

59,000 underwent VATS lobectomy than patients with income less than

Autonomic cardiovascular dysregulation as a potential mechanism underlying depression and coronary artery bypass grafting surgery outcomes

59,000 (35.7% versus 25.4%; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Patients who underwent VATS lobectomy were 1.6 times more likely to have intraoperative complications than patients who underwent open lobectomy. However, short-term mortality, lengths of stay, and hospitalization costs were similar between the two groups of patients. There seems to be a socioeconomic disparity between VATS and open thoracotomy patients.

The Impact of Peripheral Vascular Disease on Long-Term Survival After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

BACKGROUND The best approach to surgical myocardial revascularization remains controversial. We compared outcomes of conventional on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) by using a nonvoluntary national database. METHODS In the 2004 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, we identified 63,047 discharge records of patients who underwent CABG (n = 48,658) or OPCAB (n = 14,389). We analyzed seven preoperative variables, including the Deyo comorbidity index and five outcome measures. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of outcomes. RESULTS CABG and OPCAB patients had similar demographics and comorbidities. They also had similar rates of in-hospital mortality (3.0% vs 3.2%; p = 0.14) and postoperative stroke (1.8% vs 1.7%; p = 0.53). However, OPCAB patients had longer hospital stays (10.2 +/- 9.4 vs 9.9 +/- 8.5 days; p < 0.0001) and higher hospital costs (

Impact of surgeon demographics and technique on outcomes after esophageal resections: a nationwide study.

38,793 +/-