Clinical cardiology
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Clinical cardiology · Feb 2014
Multicenter Study Observational StudyUtilization patterns of single-photon emission cardiac tomography myocardial perfusion imaging studies in a rural tertiary care setting.
Appropriate use criteria (AUC) for single-photon emission computed tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI) were revised in 2009 to include 15 new clinical scenarios. We assessed multivariable predictors and overall appropriateness of MPI studies performed in a rural tertiary care setting. ⋯ We found that a majority of MPI studies are performed for appropriate indications regardless of ordering provider specialty. Few common scenarios accounted for the majority of the inappropriate or uncertain studies.
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Clinical cardiology · Feb 2014
Comparative StudyTherapeutic hypothermia-induced electrocardiographic changes and relations to in-hospital mortality.
Therapeutic hypothermia improves survival for selected patients who remain comatose after cardiac arrest. Hypothermia triggers changes in electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters; however, the association of these changes to in-hospital mortality remains unclear. ⋯ Therapeutic hypothermia prolonged QTc interval with no association to in-hospital mortality. Presence of RBBB on initial presentation was related to increased mortality.