on October 18, 2010 |
Permalink
Topics: Cardiovascular, Service Lines, Technology Assessment, Methodologies, Performance Improvement, Technology Assessment, Planning, Strategy
The FDA granted the long-anticipated investigational device exemption (IDE) for Medtronic's CoreValve transcatheter aortic valve trial to begin. The trial will randomize 800 high risk patients to aortic valve surgery or transcatheter implant. An additional 400 patients considered inoperable will be randomized to medical management or transcatheter implant. The study will take place at 40 sites across the nation.
Continue reading:
CoreValve Trial Receives FDA Green Light
on October 14, 2010 |
Permalink
Topics: Cardiovascular, Service Lines, Quality, Performance Improvement
As reported in the Daily Briefing, minimizing blood transfusions may benefit some cardiac surgery patients and transfusion rates among U.S. hospitals continue to vary widely, according to a pair of studies published Wednesday in JAMA.
For the first study, Brazilian researchers and colleagues randomized 502 cardiac surgery patients into two groups: one that received blood transfusions when blood hemoglobin levels fell to 30%, and another that received blood transfusions when hemoglobin levels dropped to 24%. Thirty days post surgery, just 47% of patients in the second group received transfusions, compared to 78% in the first group, according to the study. Moreover, the researchers found that patients in both groups had similar outcomes.
Continue reading:
JAMA: Fewer Transfusions Better For Some Cardiac Patients
on October 13, 2010 |
Permalink
Topics: Cardiovascular, Service Lines, Medication Administration, Quality, Performance Improvement
As reported in the Daily Briefing, contrary to physicians' typical recommendations, taking blood pressure medication at night may help hypertension patients better control their condition, according to a study recently published in Chronobiology International.
For the study, Spanish researchers randomized 2,156 hypertension patients into two treatment groups. Patients in one group took their medication at bedtime, while patients in the other group took their medication in the morning. After five years of follow-up, the researchers found that 62% of patients in the night group had controlled blood pressure across a 24-hour monitoring period, compared to 53% of patients in the morning group. The findings also showed that night group patients experienced one-third the cardiovascular events—such as angina, myocardial infarction or stroke—of morning group patients.
Continue reading:
Nighttime Drug Regimens Benefit Hypertension Patients, Study Finds
