RESUMO
A subset of high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) patients requires advanced therapy beyond anticoagulation. Significant variation in delivery of care has led institutions to standardize their approach by developing Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT). We sought to assess the impact of PERT implementation on house staff and faculty education. After implementation of PERT, we employed a targeted educational intervention aimed to improve PERT awareness, familiarity with treatment options, role of echocardiogram and Doppler ultrasound, and knowledge of acute PE risk stratification tools. We conducted an anonymous survey among the house staff and faculty before and after intervention to assess the impact of PERT implementation on educational objectives among clinicians. Initial and follow up samples included 115 and 109 responses. The samples were well represented across the subspecialties and all levels of training, as well as junior and senior faculty. Following the educational campaign, awareness of the program increased (72.2-92.6%, p < 0.01). Proportion of clinicians with reported comfort level of managing PE increased (82.4-90.8%, p = 0.07). Proportion of clinicians with self-reported comfort with explaining all available treatment modalities to patients increased (49.1-67.9%, p = 0.005). Proportions of responders who correctly identified the role of echocardiography in risk stratification of patients with known PE increased (73.9-84.4%, p = 0.07). Accurate clinical risk stratification of acute PE increased (60.2-73.8%, p = 0.03). The implementation of a targeted educational program at a tertiary care center increased awareness of PERT among house staff and faculty and improved physician's accuracy of clinical risk stratification and comfort level with management of acute PE.
Assuntos
Educação Médica Continuada , Docentes de Medicina , Internato e Residência , Equipe de Assistência ao Paciente , Embolia Pulmonar/terapia , Feminino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Anticoagulation remains the mainstay pharmacotherapy for acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but multiple treatment options exist. The Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) is a multidisciplinary group that evaluates patients, formulates evidence-based treatment plans, and mobilizes resources. The objective of this study was to characterize the anticoagulation prescribing patterns made by PERT and to determine the clinical impact of anticoagulant selection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of patients evaluated by PERT from 2016 to 2018. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to determine predictors of length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: A total of 209 patients were evaluated by PERT and received anticoagulation on discharge. Of those, 47% received a non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC), 29% received warfarin, and 23% received low-molecular-weight heparin. Patient preferences and comorbidities were the most common reasons for NOAC omission. Patients who received NOACs had a shorter median LOS than warfarin (6.1 [4.6-7.6] days vs 10.9 [8.4-13.4] days; P < .05). Selection of NOAC upon discharge was the only factor independently associated with reduced LOS (ß coefficient: -0.6; 95% CI: -1.01 to -0.18; P < .01). CONCLUSION: The most common recommendation made by PERT was to initiate a NOAC upon discharge, resulting in shorter hospital LOS compared to patients who received warfarin.
Assuntos
Anticoagulantes , Embolia Pulmonar , Administração Oral , Anticoagulantes/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Embolia Pulmonar/tratamento farmacológico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Varfarina/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Coronary artery bypass grafting improves survival in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, however, these patients are at high risk for morbidity and mortality. The role of viability testing to guide revascularization in these patients is unclear. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has not been studied adequately in this population despite being considered a reference standard for infarct imaging. We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients (n = 154) with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction [ejection fraction (EF) < 35%] on CMR who underwent CMR viability assessment prior to consideration for revascularization. Using the AHA16-segment model, percent total myocardial viability was determined depending on the degree of transmural scar thickness. Patients with or without revascularization had similar clinical characteristics and were prescribed similar medical therapy. Overall, 43% of patients (n = 66) experienced an adverse event during the median 3 years follow up. For the composite outcome (death, myocardial infarction, heart failure hospitalization, stroke, ventricular tachycardia) patients receiving revascularization were less likely to experience an adverse event compared to those without revascularization (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33-0.86, p = 0.01). Patients with > 50% viability on CMR had a 47% reduction in composite events when undergoing revascularization opposed to medical therapy alone (HR 0.53, p = 0.02) whereas patients with a viability < 50% were 2.7 times more likely to experience an adverse event (p = 0.01). CMR viability assessment may be an important tool in the shared decision-making process when considering revascularization options in patients with severe ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Assuntos
Cardiomiopatias/diagnóstico por imagem , Imagem Cinética por Ressonância Magnética , Isquemia Miocárdica/diagnóstico por imagem , Miocárdio/patologia , Volume Sistólico , Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda/diagnóstico por imagem , Função Ventricular Esquerda , Idoso , Cardiomiopatias/patologia , Cardiomiopatias/fisiopatologia , Tomada de Decisão Clínica , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Isquemia Miocárdica/patologia , Isquemia Miocárdica/fisiopatologia , Isquemia Miocárdica/terapia , Revascularização Miocárdica , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Estudos Retrospectivos , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Sístole , Sobrevivência de Tecidos , Resultado do Tratamento , Estados Unidos , Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda/patologia , Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
Intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) has variable outcomes. Current risk stratification models lack the positive predictive value to identify patients at highest risk of PE-related mortality. We identified intermediate-risk PE patients who underwent catheter-based interventions and right heart catheterization (RHC) and identified those with low cardiac index (CI < 2.2 L/min/m2). We utilized regression models to identify echocardiographic predictors of low CI and Kaplan Meier curve to evaluate PE-related mortality when stratified by the echocardiographic predictor. Of 174 intermediate-risk PE patients, 41 underwent RHC. Within this cohort, 46.3% had low CI. Univariable linear regression identified right ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (RVOT VTI), right/left ventricular ratio, S prime, inferior vena cava diameter, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure as potential predictors of low CI. Multivariable linear regression identified RVOT VTI as significant predictor of low CI (ß coefficient 0.124, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01-0.24, P = .034). Right ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral <9.5 cm was associated with increased PE-related mortality, P = .002. A substantial proportion of intermediate-risk PE patients referred for catheter-based interventions had low CI despite normotension. Right ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral was a significant predictor of low CI. Low RVOT VTI was associated with increased PE-related mortality.