Progress in cardiovascular nursing最新文献

A recent survey commissioned by The American Association of Heart Failure Nurses, The Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, and The Society for Chest Pain Centers found that respondents had a striking lack of awareness and knowledge about heart failure. This article reviews the confusion and misperceptions surrounding heart failure, discusses implications of the survey findings, and offers suggestions for patients at risk for heart failure as well as professionals who work with these patients-including clinicians, researchers, and those in larger groups such as institutions and government bodies.

Reported here is the case of a 60-year-old male diabetic patient with mediastinitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus following an open heart surgery that was successfully treated. A review of literature revealed that A. fumigatus as a cause of mediastinitis has been rarely described. Aspergillus infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinitis after cardiac surgery, especially in a clinical setting of unexplained sepsis or nonhealing wound infection despite apparently adequate treatment.

Empirical evidence suggests that family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has beneficial effects. Although many American professional organizations have endorsed the idea of family presence, there is less formal support in Europe. In addition, the attitude of nurses from Anglo-Saxon countries, such as United Kingdom and Ireland, is more positive toward family presence than the attitude of nurses of mainland Europe. In order to support existing guidelines and to stimulate health care organizations to develop a formal policy with respect to family witnessed CPR, 3 important European nursing organizations have recently developed a joint position statement.

African Americans are at greater risk for hypertension than are other ethnic groups. This study examined relationships among hypertension, stress, and depression among 120 urban African American parents and grandparents. This study is a secondary analysis of a larger nurse-managed randomized clinical trial testing the effectiveness of a telemonitoring intervention. Baseline data used in analyses, with the exception of medication compliance, were collected at 3 months' follow-up. Health indicators, perceived stress, and social support were examined to determine their relationship with depressive symptoms. A total of 48% of the variance in depressive symptomology was explained by perceived stress and support. Health indicators including average systolic blood pressure explained 21% of the variance in depressive symptomology The regression analysis using average diastolic blood pressure explained 26% of the variance in depressive symptomology Based on study results, African Americans should be assessed for perceived stress and social support to alleviate depressive symptomology.

The prevalence of heart failure has increased by 500% over the past 30 years, creating a significant burden on the health care system. Traditional means of detecting worsening heart failure, such as subjective assessment, symptoms, and physical examination, lack sensitivity and specificity. Many nurses who manage heart failure patients have become interested in the role implantable cardiac devices play in monitoring patients' clinical status. In addition to providing therapies, some devices track and report diagnostic information that allows clinicians to more closely and effectively monitor patients, with the possibility of helping to prevent hospitalizations and improve patient outcomes. Optimal use of device diagnostics requires clinics to establish systems for recognizing patients who are eligible for device monitoring. This paper highlights various methods clinics have used to identify patients with implantable cardiac devices so that their device data can be used in conjunction with clinical evaluations to help guide patient care.