Cardiology

Teams and flow: Learning to lead, follow, or get out of the way

May 17, 2012

A cardiothoracic surgery physician assistant describes what it's like to work in sync with the team: flow.
 

Long QT syndrome and Wegener granulomatosis

March 27, 2012

This month's review covers the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of two potentially fatal disorders.
 

The question I wish people would ask about cardiothoracic surgery

March 15, 2012

When PAs or PA students are thinking about getting into cardiothoracic surgery, there is one important and telling question that rarely gets asked.
 

Heart failure: 
An update on current care

November 09, 2011

Three goals of HF management are to delay onset of end-stage disease, avoid acute decompensated heart failure, and reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death.
 

Tachycardia and an enlarged cardiac silhouette in an adolescent male

, P. Nelson Le, MD, FAAP October 24, 2011

An 18-year-old with a complicated history presents with a worsening upper respiratory tract infection. A chest radiograph identified a severe heart condition as the cause.
 

Ventricular tachycardias

, James F. Ginter, MPAS, PA-C September 14, 2011

Whether patients have symptoms depends on how well the tachycardia is perfusing vital organs.
 

No questions

September 05, 2011

Today is cardiology day. I woke early this morning, having spent most of the night awake. Even though I am a medical provider, I do not like taking my son to see a cardiologist. I worry about poor test results, more surgeries, and complex medication regimens. I worry about my son: is his heart okay?
 

Atrial tachycardia

, August 12, 2011

In a patient with a rapid heart rate, measuring the width of the QRS complex can provide an important diagnostic clue.
 

Bystander CPR:
A shift from the ABCs to the CABs

From CSAC, the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council of the AAPA July 20, 2011

Greater emphasis should be placed on having bystanders or health care providers deliver effective, quality chest compressions, as studies have indicated that this improves survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
 

Preexcitation syndromes

, July 12, 2011

Accessory pathways in the heart that allow electrical impulses to go around the atrioventricular node can result in atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias.
 

Interpreting the ECG of a patient with a pacemaker

, June 14, 2011

Pacemakers leave their signatures on an ECG. Here's how to recognize them.
 

How do I treat my high cholesterol?

May 31, 2011

The treatment options for lowering LDL cholesterol are discussed. A patient handout with frequently asked questions is included.
 

Atrial flutter

, May 13, 2011

In atrial flutter, the contracting atria generate electrical impulses so rapidly that the atrioventricular node cannot repolarize fast enough to handle them.
 

A Day in the Life: Robert G. Baeten II, MCMS, PA-C

April 12, 2011

A PA who practices in cardiac critical care recounts his responsibilities during a particularly busy night shift at Piedmont Hospital.
 

Third-degree atrioventricular block

, James F. Ginter, MPAS, PA-C March 18, 2011

The authors review the symptoms, etiology, and treatment of third-degree atrioventricular block in this segment.
 

Cyanosis and difficulty with 
breathing in a newborn

, Urvi R. Shah, MD; Gary Seth Barrett; Sandeep K. Puri February 22, 2011

A newborn cries after delivery but then develops deep cyanosis, increased respiratory effort, and a falling heart rate.
 

Second-degree atrioventricular block

, February 18, 2011

This installment provides an overview of the symptoms, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of second-degree atrioventricular block.
 

What's new in atrial fibrillation: Is dronedarone more effective than amiodarone?

, February 17, 2011

The authors compare the risks and benefits of two drugs used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation.
 

Is prasugrel more effective than clopidogrel at preventing future cardiac events?

February 11, 2011

Although the risks and benefits of using prasugrel should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, prasugrel can be considered for selected patients because of its increased rates of effectiveness over clopidogrel.
 

A misleading resting ECG in a patient with left bundle branch block

, M.J. Gallahan, PhD, PA-C? January 24, 2011

A female patient who experienced pain when she exerted herself had normal ECG findings. 
Although rare, exercise may cause LBBB.
 

First-degree atrioventricular blocks

, James F. Ginter, MPAS, PA-C January 21, 2011

This installment discusses the symptoms, etiology, and diagnosis of first-degree atrioventricular block.
 

Previously healthy man is afflicted with dyspnea, weight gain, and orthopea

December 28, 2010

A man who had frequent contact with animals reported the recent development of respiratory symptoms and signs of heart failure.
 

Abnormalities caused by left bundle branch block

, December 17, 2010

This installment discusses the conditions and complications caused by left bundle branch block.
 

Heartache: When the diagnosis is just a click away

December 15, 2010

After a trying week, a young patient with puzzling heart pain reminds this clinician to breathe easy—and let his own chest discomfort subside.
 

Right bundle branch block

, November 11, 2010

A common disorder of the cardiac conduction system is a bundle branch block. Blocks can occur in the right bundle, the left bundle, or in a branch of the left bundle (fascicular block), or they may occur in combination.
 

Can folic acid lower heart attack risk?

November 03, 2010

This information can help PAs explain the importance of folic acid in the diet and the merits of reports that folic acid supplements can prevent a heart attack.
 

Diagnosing right ventricular hypertrophy

, October 14, 2010

This installment discusses how to correctly diagnose and treat right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH).
 

Abnormal protein deposition causes symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue

September 13, 2010

Light chain amyloid deposition can occur in any organ but the brain, disrupting the tissue architecture and interfering with organ function.
 

Diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy

, James F. Ginter, MPAS, PA-C September 09, 2010

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the abnormal enlargement of the left ventricle in response to increased peripheral vascular resistance, most commonly resulting from long-standing hypertension.
 

Left flank pain following cardiac catheterization

R. Steve Andrews, RRT; Andres C. Marte-Grau, MD; Rathnakar Sherigar, MD; Jennifer Pitts Hanopole; Urvi R. Shah, MD August 24, 2010

This patient's condition highlights the importance of paying close attention to history and not ruling out a rare complication of a procedure.
 

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