Diagnosis of early coagulation abnormalities in trauma patients by rotation thrombelastography.

Background: Reagent-supported thromboelastometry with the rotation thrombelastography (e.g. ROTEM) is a whole blood assay that evaluates the visco-elastic properties during blood clot formation and clot lysis.

150 microgram intracoronary adenosine bolus for accurate fractional flow reserve assessment of angiographically intermediate coronary stenosis.

Aims: Fractional flow reserve measurement is based upon achieving maximum hyperemia. A 40 microg intracoronary (IC) adenosine bolus sometimes seems insufficient, and we therefore sought to assess the possible role of 100-150 microg boli in routine.

Methods And Results: 108 intermediate (49+/-16%) stenoses were consecutively studied with 6F catheters.

Is ECG-guidance a helpful method to correctly position a central venous catheter during prehospital emergency care?

Background: Insertion of a central venous catheter (CVC) in an emergency situation is challenging and may be potentially associated with more complications. Because CVC positioning by ECG-guidance may help to decrease the frequency of a malpositioned catheter, we decided to prospectively evaluate the usefulness of positioning a CVC by ECG-guidance during prehospital emergency care.

Methods: Prospective observational study during which all patients requiring CVC placement during prehospital care were included.

Influence of perinatal care regionalisation on the referral patterns of intermediate- and high-risk pregnancies.

Objective(s): To use the delivery site according to the birth weight as a marker of changes in the referral practices after regionalisation of perinatal care.

Study Design: Analysis of the distribution of low birth weight infants according to the level of care in Rhone-Alpes from 1998 to 2000 and analysis of the birth rate heterogeneity according to the delivery site characteristics.

Results: The distribution of infants View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Experimental assessment of new stent technologies: validation of a comparative paired rabbit iliac artery study model.

Preventing coronary in-stent restenosis is a major challenge for physicians and industry. To assess new stent technologies, a comparative paired iliac artery model in rabbits is proposed. One tubular stent was implanted in each external iliac artery in 12 rabbits (i.

Biomechanical interaction between cap thickness, lipid core composition and blood pressure in vulnerable coronary plaque: impact on stability or instability.

Background: A 'thin' fibrous cap atheroma is the typical morphological characteristic of vulnerable plaque. Yet the very pathological studies that have provided these descriptions have also shown the actual prediction of plaque rupture to be rather less exact. Other relevant characteristics must be involved in the mechanisms of plaque rupture--blood pressure loading (P) and the material properties of the soft atheromatous core--as predictors of the distribution of the peak circumferential stress (PCS) locations.

Artifacts in intravascular ultrasound imaging during coronary artery stent implantation.

Intravascular ultrasound imaging is able to provide direct images of the stent meshwork. However, a paradoxical question remains unanswered: Why is it not possible to correct or prevent implantation defects by ultrasound-guided implantation? We postulate that these discrepancies are due to image artifacts. We performed an in vitro experiment allowing detection, physical characterization, and computerized simulations of the various aspects of these artifacts.