INTRODUCTION: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have informed guideline recommendations for the management of stable coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the real-world impact of contemporary guidelines and trials on practising physicians in the Asia-Pacific region remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices among cardiovascular physicians in the region regarding stable CAD management. METHOD: An anonymised cross-sectional electronic survey was administered to cardiovascular practitioners from the Asia Pacific, assessing 3 domains: 1) baseline knowledge on recent trials and society guideline, 2) attitudes towards stable CAD, and 3) case scenarios reflecting management preferences. Correlations among knowledge, attitudes and practice scores were assessed between physicians from developed and developing countries using Pearson correlation. RESULTS: Overall, 713 respondents from 21 countries completed the survey. The mean knowledge score was 2.90±1.18 (out of 4), with 37.3% of respondents answering all questions correctly, while 74.6% noted that guidelines have significant impact on their practice. Despite guidelines recommending optimal medical therapy, majority chose revascularisation (range 53.4- 90.6%) as the preferred strategy for the case scenarios. Practitioners from developed regions had higher knowledge scores and lower attitude scores compared to developing regions, while practice scores were similar in both groups. Weakly positive correlations were noted between knowledge, attitude and practice scores. CONCLUSION Variations exist in knowledge and attitudes towards guideline recommendations and correspondingly actual clinical practice in the Asia Pacific, with most practitioners choosing an upfront invasive strategy for the treatment of stable CAD. These differences reflect real-world disparities in guideline interpretation and clinical adoption.
Humans ; Coronary Artery Disease/therapy* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data* ; Asia ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Male ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Female ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Middle Aged ; Developing Countries

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of ultrasonography to image the epiglottis and to determine a thickness range based on healthy Korean adults. METHODS: Anterior neck images were obtained in 100 healthy Koreans (52 males and 48 females) using ultrasonography. Sonographically, the epiglottis appeared as a curvilinear, hypoechoic structure with an echogenic preepiglottic space. 20 of 100 subjects, each patient underwent two ultrasound measurements by the same examiner to assess for intra-examiner reliability, followed by two additional measurements performed by a second examiner to assess for inter-examiner reliability. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficient revealed excellent reliability (intra-examiner 0.901, inter-examiner 0.887). The average Korean epiglottis thickness was measured to be 2.31+/-0.22 mm (range: 1.88 mm to 2.84 mm), with greater thickness noted in men (2.41+/-0.21 mm) when compared to women (2.21+/-0.18 mm) (p <0.001). There was significant correlation between epiglottis thickness and body surface area (r=0.533), weight (0.517), height (0.437) and body mass index (0.372). Average examination time was recoded to be 17.84+/-13.09 seconds. CONCLUSION: Bedside ultrasonography is rapid, safe, easy to perform and can accurately evaluate the epiglottis as seen in our study. Because of excellent reliability, it is possible to establish diagnostic criteria.
Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Surface Area ; Epiglottis* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Perioperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and en copic sphincterotomy (EST) offer the ability to remove common bile duct (CBD) stones and it ean make laparoscopic cholecystectcqny possible instead of open cholecystectomy. Although ERCP accurately detects CBD stones, the associated financial costs and potential morbidity argue against its indiscriminate use. Thus, we undertook the current retrospective study to analyze our own experience in the identification of preoperative indicators of CBD stones in patients managed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Between October 1994 and October 1996, 503 laparoscopic cholecystectomy were performed at Samsung Medical Center. We analyzed the value of serum biochemical tests and findings of ultrasonography in patients ted by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients underwent perigperative ERCP; 113 patients underwent preoperative ERCP with 2/113 (1.8%) failing to cannulate the ampulla; 21 patients (18.0%) had choledocholithiasis; and all patients with CBD stones were cleared by EST without major complications. The indication of ERCP for prediction of CBD stones were categorized as 4 groups; abnormal liver function tests (LFT) and duct dilatation in ultrasonography 61.9% (13/22), only abnormal liver function tests 13.6% (6/44), only duct dilatation in ultrasonography 5,9% (1/17), and normal liver function tests with normal findings in ultrasonopaphy 2.9% (1/35) in this study. In patients with CBD stones, there was no significant difference to predict CBD stones in total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferase. Gallstone pancreatitis patients who had hyperamylasemia and abnornal LFT that were resolved or resolving before ERCP revealed no CBD stones (0/10, 0%). CONCLUSIONS: ERCP before laparoscopic cholecystectomy is needed in selected patients who have abnormal liver function and/or CBD dilatation on ultrasonography. Gallstone pancreatitis that is resalving or resolved clinically may not require preoperative ERCP. ERCP with EST and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and effective method for the management of symptomatic eholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Biliary Tract* ; Bilirubin ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Choledocholithiasis ; Common Bile Duct ; Dilatation ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Hyperamylasemia ; Liver ; Liver Function Tests ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography