Cardiovascular 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 …

Retrospective Evaluation Of Dosing Body Weight For Unfractionated Heparin In Obese Patients, Jingyang Fan, Billee John, Emily Tesdal

SIUE Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Purpose: Using adjusted body weight (AdjBW) for heparin dosing in obese patients is a common but not validated clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether using AdjBW in obese patients would lead to quick achievement of therapeutic activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and low bleeding risk with heparin therapy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients that received heparin before and after implementation of a revised heparin protocol that utilized AdjBW for obese patients. The primary outcome was percentage of first aPTT values within the therapeutic range. Secondary outcomes included time to first therapeutic …