The Utility of Peripheral Intravascular Lithotripsy in Calcific Coronary Artery Disease: A Case Series.

Background: Coronary intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is an emerging therapy for the modification of coronary artery calcification (CAC). Data on its use in several clinical and lesion subsets are limited due to their exclusion from preapproval trials.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who were excluded from preapproval trials of coronary IVL and underwent CAC modification with the off-label use of a peripheral IVL system.

Association of chronic kidney disease with abnormal cardiac mechanics and adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with worse outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Whether this association is due the effect of CKD on intrinsic abnormalities in cardiac function is unknown. We hypothesized that CKD is independently associated with worse cardiac mechanics in HFpEF.

Educating future physicians to track health care quality: feasibility and perceived impact of a health care quality report card for medical students.

Purpose: Quality improvement (QI) requires measurement, but medical schools rarely provide opportunities for students to measure their patient outcomes. The authors tested the feasibility and perceived impact of a quality metric report card as part of an Education-Centered Medical Home longitudinal curriculum.

Method: Student teams were embedded into faculty practices and assigned a panel of patients to follow longitudinally.