Comparison of 3 Diagnostic Strategies of PE: Planar V/Q Scan, CTPA, and V/Q SPECT.
Pulmonary EmbolismPulmonary embolism (PE) remains a diagnostic challenge. False negative testing exposes patient to the risk of potentially fatal recurrence. False positive testing exposes patients to potentially fatal unduly side effects of anticoagulants. Current diagnostic strategies rely on the sequential use of pretest clinical probability, Ddimer test, and chest imaging. Two chest imaging modalities have been validated for PE diagnostic exclusion: Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) and planar V/Q scan. Main limitations of planar V/Q are the high proportion of non-conclusive results, therefore requiring additional testing and more complex diagnostic algorithms. Main limitations of CTPA are its higher radiation dose and contraindications (renal failure). In a randomized trial that compared strategies based on CTPA and on planar V/Q scan, a 30% increase in the rate of PE diagnoses was found in the arm using CTPA, raising the hypothesis of over-diagnosing and over-treating PE when using CTPA. V/Q Single Photon Emission CT (SPECT) is a new method of scintigraphic acquisition that has been reported to improve the diagnostic performances of the test, which could reduce the number of non-conclusive tests and allow simplified diagnostic algorithms. The investigators hypothesize that a strategy based on V/Q SPECT could be an alternative to the two usual approaches responding rightly to the two mains issues and combining the advantages of CTPA (simplified diagnostic approach) and planar V/Q (no overdiagnosis, lower radiation exposure, no contraindication). Although a recent survey showed that up to 70% of nuclear medicine centers perform SPECT rather than planar imaging for diagnosing PE, a diagnostic management outcome study, in which diagnostic decision would be made on the basis of a standardized algorithm based on the V/Q SPECT is lacking. Such a study needs to be conducted to ensure that the safety of diagnostic exclusion using a V/Q SPECT based strategy is non-inferior to that of previously validated strategies, and to verify that the use of V/Q SPECT does not lead to over-diagnosis.
Clinical and Laboratory Predictors Associated With Stroke or Systemic Embolism in Low Risk Atrial...
Atrial FibrillationThe purposes of this study are to assess the prevalence of patients with a low risk of stroke or systemic embolism based on a CHA2DS2-VASc score among patients who have an AF-related thromboembolism and to identify the clinical and laboratory risk factors associated with thromboembolism in AF patients with a CHA2DS2-VA score of 0 or 1.
Electrical Cardioversion of Recent Onset Atrial Fibrillation - Silent Thromboembolic Events, Reverse...
Intracranial EmbolismThe purpose of this study is to study the effects of transthoracic electrical cardioversion for restoration of sinus rhythm in patients who present with recent onset atrial fibrillation, with regard to new silent cerebral thrombo-embolic lesions and cognitive function, as well as electrical and functional/structural reverse remodelling, and its effects on inflammatory changes / specific cardiac biomarkers, vasoactive peptides, coagulation activity, and active fibrinolysis.
Thrombus Localization and Accompaying Disorders and Risk Factors
Pulmonary EmbolismABSTRACT Pulmonary embolism shows a wide spectrum ranging from clinically asymptomatic thrombus to massive thrombus, leading to cardiogenic shock. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between thrombus localization and risk factors, accompanying disorders, D-dimer and the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in patients with pulmonary embolism.
PERCEPIC: PERC Rule Combined With Implicit Low Clinical Probability
Pulmonary EmbolismDyspnea1 morePERC rule was created to rule out pulmonary embolism (PE) without further exams, with residual PE risk <2%. Its safety is currently confirmed in low PE prevalence populations as north-American. In European high PE prevalence population, it has been showed that PERC rule used alone or associated with low clinical probability assessed by revised Geneva score (RGS) was not safe. In retrospective study, we suggest that the combination of PERC rule with implicit clinical probability (gestalt) could allow the use of the PERC rule. PERCEPIC, an observational prospective multicenter study performed in France and Belgium, will test this hypothesis. Therefore, 3000 patients will be included in 12 centers. Primary outcome will be the rate of thromboembolic events or death related or possibly related to PE in patients with low implicit clinical probability and negative PERC rule (8 criteria absents). Upper limit of confidence interval of this rate must be equal or lower than 3% to consider PERC rule as safe in this combination.
A Complex Contraception Registry
DiabetesCardiovascular Disease10 moreThe investigators will conduct a prospective observational cohort study to investigate factors that influence contraceptive method utilization among women with medical conditions. The investigators will also investigate how women with medical conditions access to contraception and family planning fellowship trained specialist. After the baseline questionnaire, there be a 3 month and 6 month follow up questionnaire to investigate continuation and satisfaction with the contraceptive method. This study is unique because it will allow us to explore doing collaborative family planning research at the multiple UC medical campuses.
Oral Anticoagulation and Self-management
Atrial FibrillationEmbolismAn intervention program targeting patients and caregivers based on education about their condition and training in the use of portable coagulomenter to self monitor and training on the treatment adjustment to self manage, can be effective to enable patients in OACs to self manage as well as to identify determinant factors associated with the success and failure of the program.
LAA Excision With AF Ablation Versus Oral Anticoagulants for Secondary Prevention of Stroke
Atrial FibrillationStroke1 moreThis cohort study aims to evaluate thoracoscopic left atrial appendage excision plus atrial fibrillation ablation versus oral anticoagulants for the prevention of stroke and non-central nervous systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism.
Echo Detection of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Air Embolus
Air Embolism as A Complication of Medical CareEndoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an endoscopy technique to visualize and evaluate the pancreatic and biliary systems. It has been reported that rare instances of air embolus have been found associated with the performance of an ERCP and many of these events are fatal. It is our proposal to use transthoracic echocardiography to continuously evaluate for the presence of intra-cardiac air secondary to ERCP venous air embolism and attempt to quantify the incidence of this complication and any potential patient factors that might increase the risk of this complication.
Registry of Hospitalized Patients Treated With Fondaparinux
Deep Vein ThrombosisPulmonary EmbolismRegistry of Hospitalized patients at Brigham and Women's Hospital treated with Fondaparinux