Boerhaave's syndrome--an elusive diagnosis.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M S Zua.
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Coronary artery disease with subsequent myocardial ischemia is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and data are scarce on the prevalence of the disease in blacks. Regional wall motion abnormality correlates either directly or indirectly with myocardial ischemia. This study examines the two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography of patients > or = 45 years for men and > or = 55 years at Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee. A total of 601 2-D echocardiographic studies were performed on patients who presented with symptoms and signs of cardiovascular disease. Of these, 377 (62.7%) met the age criteria and formed the study group; 92 were excluded for various reasons, leaving 285 (75%) in the analysis group. A total of 80 (28.1%) patients had regional wall motion abnormality while 205 (71.9%) did not. On analysis of the 80 patients with regional wall motion abnormality, the segment of the heart commonly affected was the septal area, although more than one segment of the myocardium was affected in all of the patients. A total of 36 (45%) patients had normal left ventricular size. In relation to race, blacks had a higher prevalence of regional wall motion abnormality compared with whites (29.2% versus 26.2%, respectively), but the difference was not statistically significant. These prevalence rates indicate the importance of looking for this abnormality during echocardiographic evaluation of a patient. The presence of regional wall motion abnormality on 2-D echocardiography in the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors necessitates further investigation and management to minimize later complications of coronary artery disease.
This study analyzed the charts of 743 black patients who visited the emergency rom of a Nashville Hospital with symptoms of chest pain, palpitation, or fatigue. One hundred sixty-five met the criteria for the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Epidemiologic factors of symptomatic MVP in blacks (ie, symptoms reported based on age and sex) were examined to determine whether there are significant differences in the prevalence of symptomatic MVP with relation to black males and females. Similarities were found in the patterns of the ages of both males and females and the symptoms that were reported. No significant differences were found between black males and females, which does not support previous findings.