Heart : official journal of the British Cardiac Society
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To assess initial experience of cardiac catheterisation in children by the transhepatic approach where conventional venous access is impossible. ⋯ The percutaneous transhepatic technique can provide a safe alternative approach for cardiac catheterisation in children with multiple venous occlusion. The procedure can be performed very simply using the Seldinger technique and equipment normally used for conventional venous cannulation for cardiac catheterisation.
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Comparative Study
Long term follow up of prosthetic valve endocarditis: what characteristics identify patients who were treated successfully with antibiotics alone?
To identify predictors for the safe use of antibiotic treatment without reoperation in patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis. ⋯ Haemodynamically stable patients with non-staphylococcal prosthetic valve endocarditis who are carefully supervised can be treated with antibiotics alone without an increased rate of reinfection, reoperation, or death.
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To test the effect of a physician staffed advanced cardiac life support (ALS) system on patient outcome following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ A two tier BLS and physician staffed ALS system is associated with good long term outcome of patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac aetiology in a midsized urban/suburban area. Further studies, however, are required to assess whether having a physician in the ALS unit is an independent determinant for improved long term outcome.