High Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter in Stroke Patients Who Have the Clinical Risk Factors for Stroke.

The incidence of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF) is well known and depends on the presence of risk factors. The incidence of AF in patients who have a stroke and its relationship to risk factors is not as clear, however, because many stroke patients may have occult intermittent AF that is not present at the time of stroke and is not diagnosed. To better assess the incidence of AF, we studied the clinical records and all the 12 lead ECGs in a 14 year medical center data base of 985 patients admitted with ischemic stroke over a 3 year period and correlated the incidence of AF with the presence of the stroke risk factors.

Echocardiographic and clinical risk factors for atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients with ischemic stroke.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cause of ischemic stroke. Because anticoagulation can prevent many of these strokes, identifying patients with occult intermittent AF is important. Hypertension is a common precursor of stroke and AF.

A nurse practitioner intervention model to maximize efficient use of telemetry resources.

Background: Telemetry monitoring is widely used in hospitals; the importance of being able to monitor and examine dysrhythmias has been universally accepted. Yet it is often used for patients who do not actually require this technology. A model to improve the efficiency of telemetry use entailed the use of an advanced practice nurse (APN; identical to a nurse practitioner) to provide concurrent review and intervention of floating telemetry, which is available for patients independently of the floor location and who do not need an intensive care unit bed.

Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization: Review of a Noninvasive Technique for Assessing Myocardial Viability.

The determination of myocardial perfusion and myocardial viability has prognostic and therapeutic implications, particularly in the current era of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and thrombolytic therapy. Several modes of investigation, including positron emission tomography, thallium-201 scintigraphy, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging are used to differentiate viable from nonviable myocardium. Though these noninvasive tests are useful diagnostic modalities, they are expensive, time consuming, and too cumbersome to be used in the acute setting.