Practice Patterns of Operators Participating in the Real-World Experience of Catheter Ablation for Treatment of Symptomatic Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (REAL-AF) Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Real-World Experience of Catheter Ablation for Treatment of Symptomatic Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (REAL-AF) is a multicenter prospective registry of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. We sought to describe the baseline workflows of REAL-AF operators. METHODS: REAL-AF enrolls high volume minimum fluoroscopy radiofrequency ablators. A 150 item questionnaire was administered to participating operators. Responses were analyzed using standard methods. RESULTS: Forty-two respondents had a mean 178.2 ± 89.2 yearly AF ablations, with 42.4 ± 11.9% being paroxysmal (PAF). Most operators performed ablation with uninterrupted or minimally interrupted anticoagulation (66.7% and 28.6%). Left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus was most commonly ruled out with transesophageal echocardiography (33.3% and 42.9% for PAF and persistent AF). Consistent with registry design, radiofrequency energy (92.1% ± 18.8% of cases) and zero fluoroscopy ablation (73.8% goal 0 fluoroscopy) were common. The majority of operators relied on index-guided ablation (90.5%); Mean Visitag surpoint targets were higher anteriorly vs posteriorly (508.3 ± 49.8 vs 392.3 ± 37.0, p < 0.01), but power was similar. There was considerable heterogeneity related to gaps in current knowledge, such as lesion delivery targets and sites of extra-pulmonary vein ablation (most common was the posterior wall followed by the roof). Peri-procedural risk factor management of obesity, hypertension, and sleep apnea was common. There was a mean of 3.0 ± 1.2 follow-up visits at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: REAL-AF operators were high volume low fluoroscopy "real world" operators with good follow-up and adherence to known best-practices. There was disagreement related to knowledge gaps in guidelines.

Primary cesarean delivery among uncomplicated term nulliparous parturients: the influence of group practice within a community hospital.

In a community hospital, the rate of cesarean delivery varied significantly for uncomplicated nulliparous patients managed by four practice groups, although the rate of shoulder dystocia did not. Among four practice groups in a single center, our objective was to discern the rate of cesarean delivery (CD) among uncomplicated, term nulliparous parturients, and the likelihood of shoulder dystocia and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The inclusion criteria for this retrospective study were uncomplicated nullipara > or = 37 weeks. Multivariable models were used for analysis. Over 2 years, 1217 women met the inclusion criteria. The overall rate of primary CD was 21%, with rates of 15%, 24%, 17%, and 32% for the four groups. After controlling for confounding variables, the rate of primary CD was significantly higher for group 2 (odd ratio [OR] 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17, 2.42) and 4 (OR 1.83; 95% CI, 1.25, 2.68) versus groups 1 and 3 combined. Shoulder dystocia and admission to NICU did not vary between groups. Among uncomplicated term nulliparous patients, the rate of primary CD varied significantly by practice groups, without an effect on rate of shoulder dystocia or NICU admission.

Diagnosis of postpartum infections: clinical criteria are better than laboratory parameter.

BACKGROUND: Physiologic increases in the leukocyte count and segmental neutrophil percentage during pregnancy alter the ability of these indices to predict infection. METHODS: Women with cesarean deliveries were assessed by leukocyte counts and segmented neutrophil percentage as well as clinical signs to detect postoperative infection. RESULTS: In 157 consecutive patients undergoing cesarean deliveries there was a significant physiologic increase between the preoperative and postoperative leukocyte count (12.4 +/- 3.9/uL vs. 14.8 +/- 3.4/uL, P < 0.001). The leukocyte count after delivery did not discriminate whether or not the patient would develop a postpartum infection or have significant hyperpyrexia. CONCLUSION: Due to physiologic changes associated with pregnancy, the leukocyte count and segmented neutrophil percentage do not predict infection. Therefore clinical findings are most important in diagnosing postpartum infections.