Clinical management and outcome of major bleeding in patients on treatment with vitamin K antagonists.

Background: The optimal management of major bleeding associated with vitamin K antagonists remains unclear.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the determinants of outcome of vitamin K antagonists-associated major bleeding and the outcome of bleeding in relation with the therapeutic management.

Methods: Patients hospitalized for major bleeding while on vitamin K antagonists were included in a prospective, cohort study.

[Computerized digital thermometry in Raynaud's disease. Personal experience].

Background: Computerized digital thermometry has been used for instrumental diagnosis of Raynaud's disease, that is characterized by diminution of the cutaneous temperature of the fingers and the late delayed recovery. Thermometry permits to measure basal temperature of the ten fingers, during cooling to 10 degrees C ("cold test") and the response, measuring temperature minute by minute up to 25 degrees.

Methods: In order to assess vasospastic ischemic disease a total of 66 subjects have been examined: 19 were asymptomatic for acrolocalised pathologies (control subjects) and 47 were symptomatic.

[The medical angiology outpatient clinic today. The authors' personal experience and operational proposals].

Over the past two decades the demographic characteristics of our population have changed resulting in a major increase in older age groups and a consequent real increase in the prevalence of vascular diseases' of an atherosclerotic type. This had led to an almost exponential increase in the number of requests for instrumental tests, such as Doppler. The aim of this study, the outcome of a review of the patients attending our outpatient clinic over the past twelve months, was to evaluate the current role of a clinic specialising in medical angiology compared to the changing requests for assistance and to elaborate operating proposals for clinics at various levels, aiming to attain the efficacy and efficiency of outpatient activity in accordance with the objective limitations of health spending and current legislation.

[The evaluation of rehabilitative therapy in peripheral arteriopathy. Our experience].

Motor rehabilitation alone is considered and effective treatment for patients affected by claudicatio intermittens although underlying diseases may often influence but not exclude its efficacy. According to the literature no agreement exists about rehabilitative methods. The authors, in order to contribute to a standardization of rehabilitative methods, report their experience characterized by good results.

Quality of life in a group of patients with intermittent claudication.

In view of the increasing importance of chronic diseases in recent years, not only quantity but also quality of life has been taken into consideration. The aim of this study was to verify the quality of life in patients with peripheral obstructive arteriopathies of second degree according to the Leriche-Fontaine classification. Therefore, the authors administrated three different questionnaires to patients selected among those who came to the Angiology Ambulatory Care of the Medical Clinic of the University of Trieste.