A vascular disease educational program in the preclinical years of medical school increases student interest in vascular disease.

Background: New training paradigms in vascular surgery necessitate medical student interest in vascular disease. We examined the effects of incorporation of a vascular disease educational program during the second year of the medical school curriculum on student acquisition of knowledge and interest in the treatment of vascular disease.

Methods: We developed and administered a new educational program on vascular disease and delivered the program to all second-year medical students.

Changes in left ventricular structure and function following renal artery revascularization.

Background: Renovascular disease is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, both of which are associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular events. However, the effects of renal artery revascularization on cardiac morphology and function are poorly understood and largely based upon retrospective studies. In order to characterize changes in ventricular function and morphology following renal artery revascularization, we identified a cohort of patients with baseline preoperative echocardiograms and studied them with repeat echocardiography at 6-12 months postrevascularization.

Cocaine use is associated with an increased risk of stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The treatment of cocaine-related acute coronary syndromes presents unique challenges. Although percutaneous coronary intervention in cocaine abusers appears to be safe in the short term, longer-term outcomes have not been reported. We postulated that cocaine use would be associated with increased risk for stent thrombosis.

Prognostic significance of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia during dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is a well-recognized side effect during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). This study sought to evaluate the prognostic implications of NSVT during DSE on 1,266 consecutive dobutamine stress echocardiograms performed over 1 year. NSVT, defined as > or =3 consecutive ventricular premature beats, occurred in 65 of 1,266 patients (5.

Does the combination of aprotinin and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor cause renal failure after cardiac surgery?

Background: Aprotinin use in cardiac surgery has been associated with mild elevations in serum creatinine but generally has not been associated with an increase in the risk of acute renal failure. In the presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, however, aprotinin may contribute to significant reductions in glomerular perfusion pressure. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the combination of ACE inhibitors and aprotinin cause renal failure after cardiac surgery.