Biomedical subjects

Karen S Rheuban

Publications and source records attributed to Karen S Rheuban.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The role of telemedicine in fostering health-care innovations to address problems of access, specialty shortages and changing patient care needs.

The integration of advanced technologies into health-care services promises to aid society in its transition to a coordinated, systems approach which is focused on disease prevention, enhanced wellness, chronic disease management, decision support, quality and patient safety. By incorporating such technologies, clinicians will be able to manage the growing volumes of medical information, research and decision support analytical tools. The deployment of advanced technologies will minimize the barriers of distance and geography to enhance access and facilitate the delivery of integrated health care. This will support and enhance the goals of the US federal Healthy People 2010 initiative.

Delivery of Health Care, Integrated↗

PubMed2005

Pericarditis.

Pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium) may be caused by infectious agents, autoimmune disorders, metabolic conditions, or malignancy, or it may be a complication of drug therapy, trauma, cardiac surgery, or smallpox vaccination. Diagnosis, based on clinical findings, electrocardiographic changes, chest radiograph, and ultrasound, may be confirmed as appropriate by pericardiocentesis. Although contemporary imaging technologies, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, are useful, echocardiography remains the simplest and most expeditious noninvasive tool to assess inflammatory and infectious diseases of the pericardium. Although contemporary management of pericardial disease remains relatively unchanged, reports of innovative approaches to the management of pericardial effusion include the installation of intrapericardial thrombolytic agents to facilitate drainage of purulent effusions or balloon pericardiotomy for recurrent effusions. Both offer potential alternatives to the surgical pericardial window.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

The University of Virginia Telemedicine Program: traversing barriers beyond geography.

Access to specialty healthcare remains inadequate for many of our rural citizens, a situation attributable to a host of factors ranging from geographic to economic barriers, worsened by the limited numbers of specialists who practice in rural communities. We wish to report our progress in the development of a robust 55-site telehealth network in the Commonwealth of Virginia, designed specifically to enhance access to specialty care not locally available in rural regions of the state. We will review the process by which we developed partnerships with otherwise unaffiliated healthcare facilities, the equipment and telecommunications services used, and the statutory, regulatory, and cultural impediments to the fullest deployment of telehealth facilitated healthcare and education. Through this network, early and timely intervention has saved lives, avoided unnecessary transfer and travel, and initiated previously unavailable screening and education programs in many rural communities.

Female↗

PubMed2003

Transverse arch hypoplasia may predispose patients to aneurysm formation after patch repair of aortic coarctation.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic aneurysm after patch repair of aortic coarctation is a potentially lethal complication. We hypothesized that transverse arch hypoplasia in association with patch repair of aortic coarctation predisposes aneurysm formation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients undergoing isolated aortic coarctation repair at the University of Virginia Health Systems between 1970 and 1995. Of 244 repairs, 38 patients underwent patch repair. These 38 patients were divided into two groups. The aneurysm group (n = 15) had aortic aneurysms develop at the repair site, which required aneurysmectomy. The nonaneurysm group (n = 23) did not have any aneurysms develop. Univariate analysis and Fisher's exact text were used to identify factors that independently predict aneurysm formation. RESULTS: Univariate analysis demonstrated aortic arch hypoplasia associated with patch repair independently predicts future aneurysm formation (p < 0.01). Patients who had an aneurysm develop also had a similar incidence of bicuspid aortic valves, mild restenosis, and late hypertension compared with patients in the nonaneurysm group. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysm formation after patch repair of aortic coarctation develops into a subgroup of patients. Aortic arch hypoplasia associated with coarctation independently predicts future aneurysm formation.

Aorta, Thoracic↗