Professional Skill Builder: Mastering Cardiac Auscultation in Under 4 Hours.

Introduction: Cardiac auscultation is an important clinical skill used by health care professionals during bedside patient evaluation and management. To support development of this skill in health sciences students, we created a self-paced, interactive program. This program helps develop foundational skills and knowledge so learners can confidently perform basic cardiac auscultation at the bedside.

Proximal thoracic aortic diameters: transesophageal-echocardiography- versus computed-tomography-derived measurements.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare proximal aortic measurements from electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography (CT) to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and to evaluate differences in cusp-cusp and cusp-commissure CT measurements of sinus of Valsalva (SOV).

Methods: This retrospective study (n=25) compared aortic diameters from CT using manual double-oblique multiplanar reformats (MPRs) and semiautomatic centerline method to TEE.

Results: CT MPR and centerline measurements were higher than TEE for sinotubular junction and ascending aorta.

New universal strain software accurately assesses cardiac systolic and diastolic function using speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: We have developed new universal strain software (USS) that can be used to perform speckle tracking of any Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) image, regardless of the ultrasound system used to obtain it.

Methods: Fifty patients prospectively underwent echocardiography immediately prior to cardiac catheterization. Biplane peak global longitudinal strain (GLS), peak systolic longitudinal strain rate (SSR), peak early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (DSR), and peak early diastolic circumferential strain rate (DCSR) were determined using conventional strain software (CSS) that uses raw data, and using the new USS applied to DICOM images.

Sildenafil preserves exercise capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and right-sided ventricular dysfunction.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with pulmonary vasculopathy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether sildenafil improves 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in subjects with IPF and right ventricular dysfunction.

Methods: The IPFnet, a network of IPF research centers in the United States, conducted a randomized trial examining the effect of sildenafil on 6MWD in patients with advanced IPF, defined by carbon monoxide diffusing capacity < 35% predicted.

Echocardiographic findings in ischemic stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with cardiac abnormalities. Whether any cardiac dysfunction is present in ischemic stroke patients with OSA is not known. The purpose of this study was to compare echocardiographic findings in ischemic stroke patients with and without OSA.

Predicting death in patients with acute type a aortic dissection.

Background: Given the high mortality rates in patients with type A aortic dissection, predictive tools to identify patients at increased risk of death are needed to assist clinicians for optimal treatment.

Methods And Results: Accordingly, we evaluated 547 patients with this diagnosis enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) between January 1996 and December 1999. Univariate testing followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of death.