Publications by authors named "Eric Rudofker"
Exercise testing is frequently incorporated into management of patients with cardiovascular and/or pulmonary disease. A lifelong commitment to exercise promotes cardiac remodeling, leading to changes in structure and function of the atria and ventricles, commonly referred to as the "athletic heart." Stress testing is also incorporated into the management of athletes for a variety of reasons, such as identifying the cause of exertional symptoms, determining level of fitness and training zones, or assessing for acquired cardiomyopathies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCharacteristics and Treatment of Exercise Intolerance in Patients With Long COVID.
J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- Long COVID affects 25-30% of people who have had SARS-CoV-2, leading to symptoms like extreme fatigue, difficulty in performing daily activities, and rapid heart rate.
- There is a need for specific treatment strategies to help manage these symptoms, particularly through tailored exercise programs that accommodate the unique challenges faced by Long COVID patients.
- This review emphasizes that structured exercise can counteract the effects of deconditioning, which often results from prolonged inactivity, and may help reduce the symptom burden in those suffering from Long COVID.
Mechanisms causing the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (long COVID) remain elusive, but the clinical phenotype is consistent with cardiac deconditioning. We report a case series of patients with long COVID whose symptoms improved/resolved with exercise and present exercise training as a novel therapeutic strategy for management of long COVID syndrome. ().
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty has been increasingly used for the treatment of lower limb peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, bail-out stenting may be necessary in cases of suboptimal angioplasty. This study investigated the outcomes of femoropopliteal disease treated with DCB with/without bail-out stenting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Balloon angioplasty for the treatment of femoropopliteal lesions is often complicated by postangioplasty dissections. While dissections are known to affect patency and reintervention after balloon angioplasty, the association between dissections and major adverse limb event (MALE) after drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty remains uncertain. Thus, the postangioplasty dissection and bailout stenting patterns were investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The study analyzes two Medicare payment programs for treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using different classification methods: the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (using ) codes) and the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (using diagnosis-related groups, or DRGs).
- - Among 2,176 patients, only 19.3% were common to both cohorts, with DRG patients being older, more often female, and having higher rates of heart and kidney diseases; they also experienced higher mortality and readmission rates compared to the AMI cohort.
- - The findings indicate that the choice of classification method significantly impacts patient demographics and outcomes, highlighting the need for careful consideration in quality assessment initiatives.
Purpose Of Review: This review summarizes the risks of lower extremity amputation associated with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and discusses current therapies that can prevent amputation in CLI.
Recent Findings: CLI remains an under-recognized condition associated with high rates of major amputation and disparities in care. Optimal medical therapy can reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events, but revascularization combined with close wound care remains the cornerstone of amputation prevention.