Diseases Commons^™

Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury (Bcvi): Universal Cta Neck Screening At Level 2 Trauma Center, Tamine Gogel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury (BCVI) refers to injuries to the vessels supplying blood to the brain, primarily carotid and vertebral arteries, and can result from trauma, resulting in stroke by vessel dissection, thrombus formation, embolization, and hemorrhage. Timely identification is crucial for effective intervention and improved outcomes. This doctoral project proposes the implementation of universal screening using Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) of the neck during initial workup for blunt force trauma at a Level II ACS-verified trauma center. The primary objective is to mitigate potential delays in diagnosing and treating BCVI, thereby reducing the likelihood of complications. Patients ≥ 15 years …

A Case Of Incidental Left Ventricular Aneurysm, Sacide S. Ozgur, Yezin Shamoon, Rachel Abboud, Atul Prakash, Fayez Shamoon

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Post MI left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) may be incidental, yet it presents potential risks such as heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolism. Monitoring and vigilant follow-up are essential to promptly identify LVA in patients with risk factors.

Physicians' Perspective On Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation And Chronic Kidney Disease In Pakistan, Rubaiqa Khan, Malik Faisal Iftikhar, Naveed Hussain, Waleed Abbasi, Jahanzeb Malik, Waheed Akhtar, Amin Mehmoodi, Muhammad Awais

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

This study, conducted in Pakistan, examines the perspectives of 1200 physicians across diverse specialties regarding Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO) procedures for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using a random sampling approach, physicians participated in a survey that assessed their familiarity with LAAO, views on its effectiveness and safety, experience levels, and encountered challenges. The results unveil a spectrum of knowledge levels among physicians, reinforcing the need for tailored medical education and training programs. The majority of patients were between 30 and 49 years old (59.8%). A notable proportion, 33.3%, had limited or no knowledge of …

Patient-Centered Preimplant Education Session And Bi-Weekly Text Message Adherence Reminders In Patients With A Newly Implanted Cardiomems® Device: A Quality Improvement Study, Elizabeth M. Miller, Alicia Abboud, Audrey Cooper

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Rationale

Heart failure is a deadly disease, affecting over 6.2 million individuals and costing the United States an estimated 30.7 billion dollars (Virani et al., 2020). By 2023, heart failure costs in the United States are estimated to grow to 70 billion dollars with 75-80% of these costs attributed to inpatient hospitalizations (Heidereich et al., 2022). The CardioMEMs® is a small device placed in the patient’s pulmonary artery via a minimally invasive procedure by an interventional cardiologist. The use of remote patient data from the CardioMEMs® device has been shown to reduce hospital re-admissions, facilitate tailored medication management, detect increased …

Clinical Outcomes For Impella Procedure In Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, And Centenarians: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Tony Elias, Sonika Vatsa, Kyrillos Girgis, Michael Valderrama, Rafail Beshai

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The Impella, a vital ventricular assist device, has seen extensive use in managing severe heart failure and cardiogenic shock. However, the impact of this procedure on older individuals remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we scrutinized the National Inpatient Sample Database from 2019 to 2020 to elucidate in-hospital outcomes among older patients who underwent the Impella procedure. Among the 8233 patients who underwent Impella insertion, 1389 (16.8%) were in the older population, aged 80 years or older. This subgroup exhibited a higher prevalence of comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease compared to younger patients. Alarmingly, …

Cut The Pressure: Blood Pressure Screening In A Community Based Setting, Harold Kareem Knight Jr., Katharine Milani

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This study addresses the pressing issue of cardiovascular health disparities in African American males through community-based interventions, specifically blood pressure screenings and surveys conducted in a local barbershop setting. Despite a preference among participants for clinical settings, an overwhelming 97.7% expressed high comfort levels in the community-based environment, highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive approaches in healthcare delivery. With 92.5% indicating willingness to return for future screenings, the study underscores the efficacy of non-traditional settings in fostering healthcare engagement. Findings suggest the potential for broader impact through scalable, community-centric initiatives, offering promising avenues for improving health outcomes in underserved populations.

Potential Mechanisms For New Onset Atrial Fibrillation In Covid-19 Patients, Raghav Gupta, Yara Assadi, Shaniece Nicole Lawrence, Erika Jeanie Pitsker, Michael Scott Bickford Jr., Victoria Amber Saniko

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: This study shows the prevalence of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in COVID-19 patients and highlights the most prevalent explanatory pathologic theories for the correlation.

Methods: The authors carried out a literature review over PubMed using the keywords “atrial fibrillation” and “long-term COVID.” 48 articles were reviewed. Articles relating to new onset of atrial fibrillation in COVID-19 patients were included while articles posted before 2020, not related to COVID and atrial fibrillation were excluded.

Results: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation in COVID patients is often reported to be around 17%, however 44% of patients within Intensive Care units (ICU) have atrial …

Clinical Outcomes For Va-Ecmo Patients Associated With Hyperlipidemia: An Analysis Of The National Inpatient Sample, Dakota B. Pastore, Tony Elias, Rafail Beshai, Kyrillos Girgis, Maziyar Daneshvar, Keith Anacker

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is considered the most advanced temporary life support which provides complete hemodynamic support in addition to gas exchange. There is limited data available on the impact of hyperlipidemia (HLD) on VA-ECMO patients. We sought to examine the national inpatient sample (NIS) database to describe in-hospital outcomes among these patients.

Methods: The NIS was searched for hospitalizations of adult VA-ECMO patients with and without a concomitant diagnosis of HLD for the years 2019 and 2020. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality.

Results: This study included 3,885 VA-ECMO patients, of which 1,082 (27.8%) patients had HLD. …

Outcomes Of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (Tevar) Procedure In Octogenarians, Nonagenarians And Centenarians: A Population-Based Study, Dakota B. Pastore, Tony Elias, Rafail Beshai, Kyrillos Girgis, Maziyar Daneshvar, Keith Anacker

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: Limited data exists for patients undergoing a thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) procedure who are older than or equal to 80 years old (YO). This study sought to examine the national inpatient sample (NIS) database to describe in-hospital outcomes among these older patients.

Methods: The NIS was searched for hospitalizations of adults who underwent a TEVAR procedure in 2019 and 2020. The study compared those aged 80 YO and over to those younger than 80 YO. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges (TOTHCG).

Results: This study included …

Sex Differences In Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (Tevar) Procedure: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Dakota B. Pastore, Tony Elias, Rafail Beshai, Kyrillos Girgis, Maziyar Daneshvar, Keith Anacker

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: There is limited data about sex differences in patients undergoing a thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) procedure. This study sought to examine the national inpatient sample (NIS) database to describe in-hospital outcomes by gender.

Methods: The NIS was searched for hospitalizations of adult patients who underwent TEVAR in 2019 and 2020. For this cohort, female patients were identified, and pregnant patients were excluded. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges (TOTHCG).

Results: This study included 696 patients who underwent TEVAR. 255 (36.6%) females were identified, of which, 7 …

Effects Of Exercise On The Cardiovascular Health Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Down Syndrome, Samarth Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: It is known that the incidence of Down Syndrome has increased over time and that this condition is associated with congenital heart defects, lower cardiorespiratory capacity, and increased rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It has been shown that individuals who have congenital heart defects but not Down Syndrome have increased cardiorespiratory function after engaging in exercise. Unfortunately, the role of exercise in improving cardiovascular health outcomes among individuals with DS is not yet fully understood.

Results: Exercise has been found to improve several health outcomes among individuals with Down Syndrome. For example, moderate to vigorous treadmill exercises …

Effect Of Food Selectivity On Dyslipidemia In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ankith Rao

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This survey-based study sought to determine whether there is a correlation between food selectivity and blood lipid levels in autistic patients.

Case Report: Overdrive Pacing In Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia, Alyssa A. Baldini, Kishan Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

We report a case of a 67-year-old male who presented to the emergency department (ED) for palpitations and complaint of his automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) firing at home who had multiple episodes of persistent ventricular tachycardia (VT) during his course of stay in the ED. Patients with pacemakers and AICDs can present an additional layer of complexity when treating these conditions. Temporary overdrive pacing (TOP) should be considered as a treatment to correct refractory ventricular tachycardia in patients with implanted pacemakers and AICDs presenting to the ED.

Brash Syndrome: A Deadly Pentad Of Symptoms, Peter Killian, Adam Kandil

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Here we present the case of a male in his 70’s who presented with diarrhea and a syncopal episode and was ultimately diagnosed with BRASH syndrome. The acronym BRASH is a novel way to describe the constellation of symptoms that result in unfortunate synergistic affects that can result in profound bradycardia. In the setting of hyperkalemia and concurrent use of atrioventricular nodal blockers, there is potential for a worsening bradycardia and inevitable cardiovascular collapse if not identified.

Case Report: Wellens Syndrome In 28-Year-Old With Pleuritic Chest Pain, Tucker A. Ledo

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

We report a case of a 28-year-old male with months of diffuse, pleuritic, intermittent, non-exertional chest pain. He had an elevated troponin and ECG showing Wellens’ syndrome and was found to have 80% LAD coronary artery occlusion and 100% apical occlusion. Identification and proper management of Wellens’ syndrome relies on being familiar with its ECG patterns. Other information such as age, cardiac risk factors, chest pain with exertion and at rest, and elevated troponin, are all helpful supplemental information, but as demonstrated in the following case report, presentations may vary or even cause as distractors to the diagnosis.

Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhage In A 29-Year-Old Male: A Case Report, Md Fateha, Caroline Nguyen, Michael A. Morris

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage is rare, especially in a young patient population. Signs and symptoms of intracranial hemorrhage include facial droop, vision loss, motor deficits with extraocular movements, deficits with tongue movement, weakness in the arms or legs, sensation loss, and mental status change. This is a case report of a 29-year-old male with no past medical history who presented for a spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. This patient's only neurologic deficit was the loss of visual field on the left inferior quadrant of his field of vision. The patient obtained a CT head non-contrast which showed 21 mm acute right occipital hemorrhage …

National Inpatient Sample Analysis: Examining Clinical Outcomes In Cardiac Ablation Patients With Hyperlipidemia, Tony Elias, Mena Elmalh, Kyrillos Girgis, Taha Syed, Rafail Beshai

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background Cardiac ablation, utilizing radiofrequency or cryoablation, is a therapeutic approach for correcting abnormal heart rhythms by disrupting specific electrical pathways within the heart. Despite the growing utilization of cardiac ablation, limited research exists on the impact of hyperlipidemia, a prevalent cardiovascular risk factor, on outcomes in patients undergoing this procedure. Previous studies underscore the importance of understanding how comorbid conditions, such as hyperlipidemia, influence the efficacy and safety of cardiac ablation.1,2 Consequently, this study aimed to leverage the national inpatient sample database to investigate in-hospital outcomes among cardiac ablation patients with hyperlipidemia.

Methods Data from the National Inpatient Sample …

Use Of Point-Of-Care Ultrasound In The Diagnosis Of Postpartum Cardiomyopathy, Muhammad Noman, Frank A. Wheeler, James A. Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Postpartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), also known as peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare form of heart failure (HF) that occurs in the late stages of pregnancy or in the early postpartum period. For it to be classified as PPCM, it must occur in the absence of another identifiable cause for HF and have left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction with an LV ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 45%. Here we present the case of a 46-year-old female G3P2 presented 5 days postpartum cesarean section delivery in acute respiratory distress where point of care ultrasound was used for assessment of the lungs to visualize …

Wellen’S Syndrome: An Infamous Example Of Occlusive Myocardial Infarction (Omi), J. Maxell Piraneo, Joseph Pagano, James A. Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Wellen’s syndrome is a condition with characteristic ECG changes that can be highly specific for acute myocardial infarction involving the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Acute myocardial infarctions are one of the leading causes of death in the developed world. Its estimated annual prevalence is nearly 3 million worldwide, with more than 1 million in the United States [1]. The importance of timely diagnosis cannot be understated. Here we describe a case of myocardial infarction secondary to LAD occlusion which presented with the atypical ECG pattern known as Wellen’s syndrome.

Applications Of Deep Learning With Detecting Intracranial Aneurysms On Ct Angiograms: A Literature Review, Christian Fang, Emily Wang

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

INTRODUCTION

Deep learning is a method of artificial intelligence involving progressively layered neural networks to extrapolate patterns from data to provide predictions. Moreover, given the arduous nature required for examining CT scans for intracranial aneurysms, discovering ways to expedite this process is beneficial. The use of deep learning to evaluate CT angiograms for intracranial aneurysms has been sparsely studied. This literature review aims to determine the accuracy and reliability of deep learning to analyze CT angiograms in patients suspected to have intracranial aneurysms.

METHODS

A qualitative review of literature using PubMed, SCOPUS, and EMBASE was conducted. Inclusion criteria comprised articles …

Unveiling The Potential: The Role Of Ai-Enhanced Ecg In Cardiovascular Disease Detection, Alisha Vincent

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a widely utilized, non-invasive, cost-effective cardiac test. Its integration with Artificial Intelligence (AI) has empowered it to become a potent screening tool and a predictor for various cardiovascular diseases, especially in asymptomatic individuals. Objective: This review investigates the utility of AI-powered ECG in early detection of cardiac conditions, focusing on conditions such as low ejection fraction (LEF), atrial fibrillation (AF), aortic valve stenosis (AVS), and cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Methods: A literature review spanning 2018 to 2024 was conducted, analyzing 10 articles - 3 on AF, 3 on AVS, 3 on LEF, and …

Is There An Association Between Living In A Rural Area And The Incidence Of Postoperative Complications Or Hospital Readmissions Following Left Ventricular Assist Device (Lvad) Implantation, Compared To Urban Lvad Recipients?, Samrat Gollapudi, Abhiram Gollapudi, Srinidhi Banala, Sheraj Singh, Bhaumik Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are utilized as a therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure. While LVAD implantation can significantly improve survival rates and quality of life, the procedure is not without risks, and postoperative complications are common. This review aims to investigate whether there is an association between living in a rural area and the incidence of postoperative complications or hospital readmissions following LVAD implantation, compared to urban LVAD recipients.

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, examining studies that compared postoperative outcomes between rural and urban LVAD recipients. Data were extracted on adverse …

Effects Of Obesity On Patients Undergoing Cardiomems Procedure: Retrospective Cohort Study, Tony Elias, Mena Elmalh, Priya Brahmbhatt, Kyrillos Girgis, Taha Syed, Michael Valderrama, Rafail Beshai

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

★ Remote hemodynamic monitoring (CardioMEMs) is becoming increasingly important for management of chronic heart failure patients.

★ There is limited data looking specifically for obese patients who undergo CardioMEMs implantation.

★ We sought to examine the national inpatient sample database to describe in-hospital outcomes for this demographic

Sex Differences In Outcomes Among Patients With High-Output Heart Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Tony Elias, Mena Elmalh, Priya Brahmbhatt, Kyrillos Girgis, Taha Syed, Michael Valderrama, Rafail Beshai

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

❖ There is limited data specifically looking for sex differences in patients with high output heart failure (HOHF).

❖ We sought to examine the national inpatient sample database to describe in-hospital outcomes among female patients.

Brief Review: Regional Anesthesia For Vaso-Occlusive Pain Crises, Oluwatomi Alade

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Vaso-occlusive pain crisis occurs with obstruction of blood vessels from sickled red blood cells. This results in ischemic injury causing in pain. Acute vasoocclusive pain crisis is one of the most common reasons for patients with sickle cell disease to present to the hospital for medical attention. Acute treatment involves IV opioid therapy, non-opioid therapy, and IV hydration. There is a known lack of trust between a patient in acute pain and a provider in the emergency department (ED) and hospital secondary to stereotypes regarding pain seeking behavior. Here we discuss a case of vasoocclusive pain crisis refractory to opioid …

Atypical Case Of Recurrent Saddle Pulmonary Embolism With Associated Chronic Hypoxia, Karl Schlicht

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

A saddle pulmonary Embolism (PE) represents a blood clot within the pulmonary artery vasculature that lodges itself between both the left and right pulmonary artery. They can be described as being massive or sub-massive. Massive PE’s cause large clot burden that puts the patient risk for sudden hemodynamic collapse, while sub-massive saddle PE’s typically do not cause hemodynamic collapse nor significant cardiac effects, such as right heart dysfunction. As clinicians, we need to be vigilant about whether a patient is placed into that criteria of sub-massive or massive and act quickly to start management that could be lifesaving.

Clinical Outcomes For Cardiac Ablation In Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, And Centenarians: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Tony Elias, Mena Elmalh, Kyrillos Girgis, Michael Valderrama, Rafail Beshai

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Cardiac ablation is a therapeutic intervention aimed at correcting abnormal heart rhythms by disrupting electrical pathways in the heart, using techniques such as radiofrequency or cryoablation. Despite its effectiveness, there is a scarcity of data regarding the outcomes of cardiac ablation specifically among elderly patients. Previous studies have highlighted the complexities and challenges associated with managing cardiac arrhythmias in the elderly population, emphasizing the need for further investigation into treatment outcomes in this demographic.1,2 Therefore, this study aimed to investigate in-hospital outcomes among elderly patients who underwent cardiac ablation using data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database.

Methods …

Community Health Worker: High Risk Stabilization Study, Benjamin Infosino, Richard Jermyn, Jaimy Jabon

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: Hypertension is a common health concern among Americans of all age groups. Unregulated hypertension can lead to complications such as atherosclerosis that contributes to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The identification of individuals with hypertensive blood pressures allows for the targeted distribution of health management advice and resources.

Methods: Blood Pressure measurements are obtained by Community Health Workers at public events through free health screenings

Results: Assessing the efficacy of CHW’s efforts to direct high-risk individuals to proper resources for control of their blood pressure relies on the presence of follow up BP measurements that can …

The Effects Of Circadian Misalignment On Astrocyte Morphology In The Nucleus Tractus Solitarius, Kush C. Patel, Mina Shenouda, Diana Martinez

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Circadian misalignment, as experienced by shift workers, was found to increase the number of astrocytes in the nucleus tractus solitarius (nTS) - a brain region crucial for autonomic control of blood pressure. Sprague Dawley rats subjected to a 6-hour light-dark phase delay every 2 days to simulate shift work exhibited a significant increase in astrocyte cell bodies compared to control rats, both at 9am and 9pm timepoints. The increase in astrocytes may lead to greater glutamate uptake, reducing extracellular glutamate levels in the nTS. Decreased glutamatergic neurotransmission in this region has been linked to the development of hypertension. These findings …

“Lupus, Marijuana, And Takotsubo: A Perfect Storm”: An Unusual Presentation Of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, Matthew Orap, Parth Patel, Haitham Dib

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a type of myocardial injury that is marked with left ventricular contraction dysfunction. Various regions of the left ventricular wall may exhibit hypokinetic or hypercontractile activity. There is no exact mechanism elucidated for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, but it is often associated with a triggering stressful event that leads to a catecholamine surge. We describe a 38-year-old female who presented with typical Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, likely in the setting of worsening systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exacerbations and excessive cannabis use. The patient described her pain as a tight burning sensation that started on her right side and traveled to the …