Complications of warfarin therapy monitored by the International Normalized Ratio versus the prothrombin time ratio.

The objective of our study was to determine the rates of bleeding complications and thromboembolic events in patients receiving oral anticoagulant therapy monitored with the prothrombin time (PT) ratio versus therapy monitored with the International Normalized Ratio (INR) using a retrospective time-series study design. Over 650 patients enrolled in a large anticoagulation clinic were studied during two time periods corresponding to the use of the PT ratio versus the INR to guide anticoagulant therapy, with over 400 patient-years of follow-up for each time period. The rate of bleeding complications using the PT ratio to guide therapy was 6.

Interobserver variability in the interpretation of pulmonary artery catheter pressure tracings.

Study Objective: We evaluated the ability of three independent reviewers (R1, R2, R3) using waveform analysis to accurately identify confirmed valid PCWP tracings, and their ability to consistently report the PCWP numerical value.

Design: Sixty PA and PCWP tracings were prospectively obtained and blindly reviewed by three independent critical care physicians.

Setting: The medical ICU of Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center.

Effects of serotonin-receptor blockade on angioplasty-induced vasospasm in an atherosclerotic rabbit model.

Vasospasm occurs both in patients and animal models after angioplasty and may be associated with early closure of the dilated vessel. To investigate the mechanism of angioplasty-induced vasospasm, the effect of serotonin-receptor blockade with two serotonin2 (S2) antagonists, LY53857 and sergolexole, was examined in rabbits with focal femoral artery atherosclerosis. In preliminary studies, local infusion of 1-100 micrograms serotonin caused significant femoral artery vasoconstriction (p less than 0.

Predictors of success in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of chronic total occlusions.

Earlier studies have indicated that percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of chronic total occlusions has a low success rate. To determine success rate and assess clinical and angiographic variables associated with success and complications, 57 total occlusions in 56 patients undergoing PTCA were analyzed. The clinical duration of occlusion was 51 +/- 86 days.

Influence of inflation pressure and balloon size on the development of intimal hyperplasia after balloon angioplasty. A study in the atherosclerotic rabbit.

To evaluate the effect of balloon size and inflation pressure on acute and subsequent outcome following balloon angioplasty (BA), 70 New Zealand White rabbits with bilateral femoral atherosclerosis were assigned to four groups: group 1, oversized balloon, low inflation pressure (n = 35 vessels; balloon size, 3.0 mm/inflation pressure, 5 atm); group 2, oversized balloon, high inflation pressure (n = 36; 3.0 mm/10 atm); group 3, appropriate size, low inflation pressure (n = 17; 2.