Implementation of an Atrial Fibrillation Decision Aid Care Pathway in the Emergency Department Reduces Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalizations.

Background: A straightforward decision aid to guide disposition of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in the emergency department (ED) was developed for use by ED providers. The implementation of this decision aid in the ED has not been studied.

Methods: A pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster approach for analysis of retrospectively collected electronic health record data was used in which 5 hospitals were selected to commence the intervention at periodic intervals following an initial 1-year baseline assessment with 5 additional hospitals included in the comparison group (all in North Carolina).

Accuracy of Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Patients With Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in a Tertiary Referral Centre.

Background: Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a rare inherited connective tissue disease secondary to mutations within the COL3A1 gene. The diagnosis of vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is challenging, and patient selection for genetic testing relies on diagnostic criteria, which have never been evaluated.

Methods: All patients seen at a dedicated tertiary referral center for a suspicion of vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome between January 2001 and March 2016 were retrospectively included in a diagnostic accuracy study.