Tag Archives: District General Hospital

Introduction In the modern era, patient safety has become one of the most important issues facing doctors and institutions. Cardiology is a craft speciality. Procedures must be learnt by trainees, but there is a risk, in so doing, of harming patients. The purpose of this study was to ask whether it is possible, albeit within a single institution, to provide training in coronary angiography at a district general hospital (DGH) without causing harm, by comparing the complication rate of trainees with consultants in a large case series. Methods Between August 2010 and December 2013, procedural complications resulting from cardiac catheterisation

Introduction Prompt primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the preferred treatment for patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).1 Clinical outcomes are better with higher procedural volume2 and the intuitive deduction is that PPCIs should be performed by high-volume, usually large, tertiary hospitals. Provision of 24-hour PPCIs by collaboration of other hospitals such as district general hospitals (DGHs) has not been studied in detail. Sandwell General Hospital is an acute DGH that provides PPCI service without on-site cardiac surgical facilities to a catchment population of 250,000. The servic

Introduction Temporary transvenous pacing (TTVP) has been used to treat life-threatening bradycardic, and tachycardic emergencies for 50 years. We present a retrospective analysis of TTVP in an outer London hospital between July 2003 and March 2009. Results The results from 51 patients, undergoing a total of 58 procedures were identified. The mean age was 77 years. Almost two-thirds (62%) of all procedures were performed within working hours. The majority (74%) were performed within four hours of an identified indication. Of the patients delayed up to four hours, half were maintained on external pacing. Table 1. Acute complications of tempora

Background Heart disease is the leading cause of death in pregnant women and, despite advances in cardiology, maternal deaths from cardiac disease have increased over the past 20 years.1 Cardiac conditions such as pulmonary hypertension, severe valve disease, cyanotic and complex congenital heart disease carry a high mortality2 and need specialist care.3 It has been recommended that pregnant women with cardiac disease should be managed in tertiary centres,4 and many cardiologists caring for pregnant women have a background in congenital heart disease, necessary for the management of complex congenital heart disease. Previously reported series

No content available

No content available

No content available