Republished: From coronary care unit to acute cardiac care unit: the evolving role of specialist cardiac care
A case in point is the management of atrial fibrillation. Because it is predominantly a disease of the elderly, and there are such large numbers of admissions with AF, most patients in acute hospitals are cared for by general physicians and may not be admitted to an ACCU, or indeed to any cardiology...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Postgraduate medical journal 2012-08, Vol.88 (1042), p.431-432 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | A case in point is the management of atrial fibrillation. Because it is predominantly a disease of the elderly, and there are such large numbers of admissions with AF, most patients in acute hospitals are cared for by general physicians and may not be admitted to an ACCU, or indeed to any cardiology ward, even if there is haemodynamic compromise. Patients admitted under cardiology had more disease modifying treatment prescribed and were more likely to have heart failure specialist nursing follow-up. 10 An accompanying editorial concluded that an ongoing lottery of care was unacceptable and that all patients admitted to hospital with heart failure should be treated with the same urgency associated with acute ischaemic events. 11 Patients with complex adult congenital heart disease are a growing group who are prone to cardiac events, particularly arrhythmias, throughout their lives and who may present acutely to non-specialist hospitals. 12 The acute cardiac unit has a key role to play in the rapid and appropriate management of the unstable patient with congenital heart disease and all units need to be able to provide correct emergency treatment. |
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ISSN: | 0032-5473 1469-0756 |
DOI: | 10.1136/postgradmedj-2011-301459rep |