Document Detail


Practice patterns of cardiologists, general practitioners, and internists for managing supraventricular tachycardias in Greece.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21099433     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: Supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) often lead to emergency room and primary care visits. Not only cardiologists, but also general practitioners (GPs) and internists are involved to an increasing extent in the acute and long-term management of SVT. We aimed to explore the differences between practice patterns of cardiologists and noncardiologists with regard to SVT management in Greece.
METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 250 cardiologists and 250 GPs/internists from various areas across Greece.
RESULTS: A response rate of 61.8% was obtained. Vagal maneuvers were the initial therapeutic approach for SVT termination; however, 22% of noncardiologists would rather start with an antiarrhythmic drug. Adenosine was the most popular drug for SVT termination, but the GPs/internists would use it less often than the cardiologists (67 vs. 86%, P<0.001). The GPs/internists would keep the patient for at least 24 h or more after SVT termination, while 48% of the cardiologists would discharge the patient within the first 3 h. Noncardiologists would more often suggest a 24-h Holter recording than the cardiologists (73 vs. 55%, P<0.005). With regard to the long-term management of SVT, the GPs/internists would prescribe antiarrhythmic drugs earlier than the cardiologists, and seem to be less familiar with the indications for the electrophysiological testing and ablation.
CONCLUSION: Significant differences in practice patterns exist in Greece with regard to SVT management between cardiologists and noncardiologists. The GPs/internists seem to rely more on antiarrhythmic drugs and tend to underestimate the role of ablation therapy for the long-term management of SVT.
Authors:
Vassilios P Vassilikos; Lilian Mantziari; Christos A Goudis; Stelios Paraskevaidis; Georgios Dakos; Georgios Stavropoulos; Georgios Giannoglou; Georgios Efthimiadis; Sotirios Mochlas; Georgios Parcharidis; Georgios Louridas; Ioannis H Styliadis
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine     Volume:  18     ISSN:  1473-5695     ISO Abbreviation:  Eur J Emerg Med     Publication Date:  2011 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-05-04     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9442482     Medline TA:  Eur J Emerg Med     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  153-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
aDepartment of First Cardiology, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki bDepartment of Cardiology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
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