[Practical implementation and usefulness of guidelines for the management of syncope: a professional practice study].

Aims: To assess the practical implementation of international guidelines and their impact on syncope management in a 500-bed general hospital.

Patients And Methods: Three groups of 63 consecutive patients admitted for syncope to the emergency care unit (ECU) were studied: group 1, before the guidelines delivered to the practitioners, group 2 immediately after the diffusion of guidelines and group 3, one year later. The study evaluates the mean duration of stay (MDS) and the relevance of the diagnostic strategy.

Admission NT-proBNP levels, renal insufficiency and age as predictors of mortality in elderly patients hospitalized for acute dyspnea.

Background: Assay of baseline B-type peptide (BNP and NT-proBNP) is useful for heart failure (HF) prognostication. In contrast, the prognostic value of NT-proBNP assay performed on admission of elderly subjects for acute dyspnea is uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine the vital prognostic value of NT-proBNP assay and other relevant variables available on admission in elderly patients hospitalized for acute dyspnea.

[Medical treatment in peripheral arterial disease: a professional practice study in 262 patients].

Purpose: Antiplatelet agents (APA), statins and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) are effective to reduce the risk of cardio-vascular events in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Few data are available on the actual prescription of these drugs in outpatients and on the effect of hospital care on the level of prescription.

Methods: Retrospective study of patients hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of PAD over a one-year period.

Atrial fibrillation and its determinants after radiofrequency ablation of chronic common atrial flutter.

Aim: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a major clinical issue and its occurrence is the main problem after catheter ablation of atrial flutter. The long-term occurrence of AFib after common atrial flutter ablation is still matter of debate as it may influence the therapeutic approach. So, the aim of our study was to analyze the determinants and the time course of AFib after radiofrequency catheter ablation of chronic common atrial flutter.

Use of N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide assay for etiologic diagnosis of acute dyspnea in elderly patients.

Background: B-type peptide assay (brain natriuretic peptide [BNP] and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) is useful for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF), but few data are available on the use of these markers in elderly subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate NT-proBNP assay for the diagnosis of acute left HF in patients older than 70 years hospitalized for acute dyspnea.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 256 elderly patients with acute dyspnea.