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Biomedical subjects

J C Marek

Publications and source records attributed to J C Marek.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Effectiveness of the electronic medical record in cholesterol management in patients with coronary artery disease (Virtual Lipid Clinic).

This study demonstrates that the Virtual Lipid Clinic, an electronic medical record with computer-assisted cholesterol management, is associated with improved lipid management in patients with coronary artery disease. In comparison to traditional documentation methods with "pen and paper" charts, outpatient visits utilizing the electronic medical record were associated with a twofold increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) documentation, a threefold increase in achieving LDL goal, and a 30% increase in the use of lipid-lowering drugs.

Aged↗

Directional atherectomy of aorto-ostial stenoses.

Balloon angioplasty of aorto-ostial right coronary artery (RCA) and aorto-ostial saphenous vein graft (SVG) stenoses has been reported to be associated with a suboptimal acute success rate, a higher incidence of restenosis and an increased risk of emergent coronary artery bypass surgery. In this report, we describe the use of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) as a treatment alternative in a series of twenty three patients who were documented to have a > 60% stenosis within 3 mm of the origin of the RCA (15 patients) or SVG (8 patients) as measured by on-line quantitative angiography. DCA was successfully performed in 14 of 15 RCA ostial lesions and in all eight SVG lesions. This yielded an acute success rate of 93% and 100% with a mean reduction in percent stenosis from 87% to 9% and from 85% to 8% respectively. Only one patient, presenting with an ostial RCA lesion, was unable to be revascularized using DCA. All successfully treated patients underwent exercise treadmill testing or repeat cardiac catheterization in follow-up. Clinical evidence of restenosis defined as recurrent chest pain or ischemic evidence on exercise treadmill and > 50% angiographic restenosis was demonstrated in three of twenty two patients (14%). Of the nine successfully treated patients who underwent repeat cardiac catheterization, three (33%) had restenosed for an angiographic rate of 25% for RCA and 50% for SVG lesions. In conclusion, DCA of aorto-ostial stenoses is technically feasible and can be performed with good initial results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Bail-out directional atherectomy for abrupt coronary artery occlusion following conventional angioplasty.

Abrupt coronary occlusion following conventional balloon angioplasty (PTCA) remains a serious complication afflicting up to 10% of patients. Although repeat PTCA for prolonged durations can restore blood flow in approximately 50% of patients, if this technique fails, the patient is generally referred for emergent coronary bypass surgery. In this report, we describe the use of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) as a bail-out technique on 16 patients (17 lesions) undergoing angioplasty who demonstrated a flow limiting dissection and clinical evidence of ongoing ischemia following the procedure which could not be reversed with repeat dilatation (mean 3.5 inflations) at prolonged balloon inflations (mean 6.9 min). Ten of these patients presented to the hospital with a diagnosis of unstable angina and the remaining patients were admitted with acute myocardial infarction. The majority of the incidences of abrupt occlusion (83%) occurred while the patient was still in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Successful rescue atherectomy was achieved in 15 of the target arteries (88%). In two patients, this technique failed to stabilize the artery and emergent coronary bypass surgery was performed. A complication related to the bail-out procedure developed in three of the successfully treated patients during the same hospitalization. Two patients experienced recurrent abrupt occlusion which was successfully treated with a repeat bail-out atherectomy procedure and one patient developed a non Q wave myocardial infarction. All patients were followed clinically for a mean interval of 9.93 months. Ten patients (71%) remained free of symptoms and cardiovascular events for this period. Stress electrocardiography was performed on eleven (79%) of the successfully treated patients and in no case was ischemia demonstrated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angina, Unstable↗

Recanalization of chronically occluded aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass grafts by extended infusion of urokinase: initial results and short-term clinical follow-up.

Chronic occlusion of saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass grafts is a common problem. Although percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of a saphenous vein with a stenotic lesion is feasible, angioplasty alone of a totally occluded vein graft yields uniformly poor results. Patients with such occlusion are often subjected to repeat aortocoronary bypass surgery. Experience with a new technique that allows angioplasty to be performed in a totally occluded saphenous vein bypass graft is reported. This technique utilizes infusion of prolonged low dose urokinase directly into the proximal portion of the occluded graft. Forty-six consecutive patients with 47 totally occluded grafts were studied. Patients had undergone end to side saphenous vein bypass grafting 1 to 13 (mean 7) years previously. All patients presented with new or worsening angina pectoris with ST-T changes or non-Q wave acute myocardial infarction and all had a totally occluded saphenous vein bypass graft. The new technique entailed the positioning of an angiographic catheter into the stub of the occluded graft and the advancement of an infusion wire into the graft. Patients were returned to the coronary care unit, where urokinase was delivered at a dose of 100,000 to 250,000 U/h. The total dose of urokinase ranged from 0.7 to 9.8 million U over 7.5 to 77 h (mean 31). After therapy, recanalization was seen in 37 (79%) of the 47 grafts. In 20 successfully treated patients, angiography was performed 1 to 24 (mean 11) months after treatment; 13 (65%) of these grafts were patent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

The effect of predilatation on coronary angioplasty-induced vessel wall injury.

Fifty-four patients presenting with stenotic lesions in a major coronary artery visually estimated by diagnostic angiography to be greater than 90% but less than 100% were randomized to one of two angioplasty regimens, predilatation (group 1) or no predilatation (group 2). In group 1, the artery was initially dilated with a 2 mm balloon followed by a balloon that was considered by the operator to be the definitive size to fully dilate the target vessel. In group 2, the artery was dilated with a balloon deemed the definitive size to complete the angioplasty procedure. There were no statistical differences between groups with respect to age, sex, history of unstable angina, or prior acute myocardial infarction. There were also no significant differences in the angiographic characteristics of the coronary lesions including artery location, lesion length, concentric or eccentric morphology, tubular versus discrete stenosis, calcium in lesions, or lesions on a bend. Following angioplasty, luminal filling defects were present in 5% of the predilated group and in 9% of the nonpredilated group (p = NS). The incidence of luminal border haziness at the dilatation site did not differ between groups, seven (35%) in group 1 versus eight (24%) in group 2. Angiographic evidence of a linear dissection at the angioplasty site was also similar between groups, one (5%) in group 1 versus five (15%) in group 2. Occlusive complications were witnessed in 10% of the predilated group and 12% of the nonpredilated group (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Cardiac emergencies.

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Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗