Identifying errors and inconsistencies in real time while using facilitated echocardiographic reporting.

BACKGROUND: Facilitated reporting using a discrete set of finding codes (FCs) is a common method of generating echocardiographic reports. METHODS: The investigators developed a tool that allows echocardiographic reports to be evaluated in real time for errors, omissions, and inconsistencies on the basis of a defined group of "rules" applied to the FCs present in the report. At the time of report finalization, conflicts were displayed for the interpreting physicians, and their responses to each rule conflict were logged. RESULTS: Over the course of 1 year, 7,986 transthoracic echocardiographic reports were analyzed prospectively during study interpretation. Overall, 30 ± 4.7 FCs were used to generate finalized reports. An average of 2.4 ± 2.0 conflicts were detected per finalized study. Eighty-three percent of studies had at least one conflict identified. There was no significant correlation between physician experience and conflict rates, but time of day (earlier) and rate at which studies were being finalized (faster) were both correlated with increased conflict rate. Overall, physicians ignored identified conflicts 52% of the time and altered their readings to eliminate the conflicts 48% of the time. Overall, at least one change was made in 54% of all finalized studies. There was a small but significant trend for physicians to produce more conflicts over time as the tool was used. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that facilitated reporting of echocardiographic studies, using a discrete set of FCs, allows the generation of rules that can be used to identify discrepancies in echocardiographic reports before finalization. Conflicts are common in clinical practice, and the identification of these conflicts in real time allowed readers to review their interpretations and frequently resulted in alterations to echocardiographic reports.

Diagnosis and treatment of familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, associated with elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), which can lead to premature cardiovascular disease. Early diagnosis of FH is important to prevent morbidity and mortality. Familial hypercholesterolaemia is usually diagnosed using clinical characteristics, such as family history, and cholesterol levels; however, genetic testing may provide a definite diagnosis of FH by detecting a pathological mutation. Current guidelines highlight the importance of reducing LDL-C levels in patients with FH. Statins are the current standard treatment for the majority of these patients, and have been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular heart disease in patients with FH. Nevertheless, many FH patients do not achieve their target LDL-C levels; as such, new treatment options are required to decrease LDL-C levels beyond those currently achieved. There are currently several new classes of pharmacotherapy under investigation to control LDL-C levels. These include agents which modify LDL-C production, such as inhibitors of apolipoprotein B, or those which affect LDL-C catabolism, such as inhibition of pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9, a protein which is responsible for the degradation of the LDL receptor. Therapies which raise high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are also being evaluated. In this article, we consider the diagnosis of FH and the goals of therapy and review the current and potential future treatment options for patients with FH.

Quality improvement in the door-to-balloon times for ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients presenting without chest pain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess a quality improvement initiative aimed at minimizing door-to-balloon (DTB) times for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients presenting without chest pain. BACKGROUND: Timely percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the cornerstone of STEMI care. The absence of chest pain delays PCI. Improvements in DTB times may need to focus on atypical presentation patients. METHODS: We compared DTB times on all STEMI patients admitted through the emergency department who underwent PCI before (Phase I; October 2004-June 2007) and after (Phase II; July 2007-October 2009) the quality improvement effort, which mandated rapid electrocardiogram (ECG) triage for an expanded list of presenting symptoms. RESULTS: In Phase I (69 patient, 60 with chest pain), patients with chest pain had a shorter mean time to first ECG (ECG Interval) by 32.0 min (P < 0.01) and nonsignificantly faster mean DTB time by 42.0 min (P = 0.07) compared to patients who presented without chest pain. In Phase II (62 patients, 56 with chest pain) compared to Phase I, mean ECG interval decreased by 44 min (P = 0.02) and mean DTB time by 99 min (P = 0.01) in patients without chest pain, eliminating the differences in ECG intervals between typical and atypical presentations (12 min vs. 11 min, P = 0.91). Multivariable analysis controlling for on/off hours and patient characteristics confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS: A simple modification of emergency room ECG triage protocol, which expands indications for rapid ECG performance, was successful in improving rapid reperfusion for patients with STEMI presenting without chest pain.

Autoimmune hepatitis associated with the use of black cohosh: a case study.

Herbal remedies generate more than 1.8 billion dollars in annual sales in the United States. Herbal products have been associated with a wide spectrum of hepatic toxicities. With the recent Women's Health Initiative Study demonstrating increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular events associated with hormone therapy, many women may resort to herbal remedies for persistent menopause symptoms. We report a case of autoimmune hepatitis likely triggered by the use of black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), an agent marketed to treat menopause symptoms. Given this case report, we recommend close monitoring of women using this herbal preparation.