Progress in cardiovascular nursing
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Prog Cardiovasc Nurs · Jan 2007
Review Case ReportsUpdate on the interaction of rifampin and warfarin.
A 79-year-old man with a history of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism received anticoagulation therapy with warfarin 5 mg daily for 8 months. He was diagnosed with osteomyelitis and underwent partial metatarsal resection of his right foot. After surgery, antibiotics were initiated, including ertapenem sodium 1 g intravenously every 24 hours, vancomycin 1400 mg intravenously every 24 hours, and rifampin 300 mg by mouth twice daily. ⋯ A 5- to 6-fold increase in warfarin dose was prescribed to reach therapeutic international normalized ratios (INRs), but even these increases were insufficient to maintain his INR in the therapeutic range. After rifampin was discontinued, warfarin doses were gradually reduced over the next 2 months. When concurrent warfarin-rifampin therapy is necessary, vigilant monitoring is imperative and significant increases in warfarin doses are likely.
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Prog Cardiovasc Nurs · Jan 2007
ReviewCardiac rehabilitation: a comprehensive program for the management of heart failure.
Heart failure is one of the major health problems found in the United States today. Medical and interventional therapies play an important role in the treatment of this chronic condition, but they create a huge economic burden on the health care system. Nonpharmacologic interventions need further exploration. ⋯ The most favorable outcomes were observed in supervised settings. Cardiac rehabilitation provides an ideal environment for safe exercise and management of the health care needs of patients with heart failure. The multidisciplinary staff is adept at providing a paced approach to activity based on individualized exercise prescriptions, education, and management of this population's many comorbidities.