Richard J. Merschen, EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS

Octogenarians and Issues in Cath Lab Care

09/02/2014

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

The elderly represent the fastest-growing group of patients referred for cardiac surgery and are also becoming an increasingly large segment of the patients in the cath lab.

The elderly represent the...

09/02/2014

Cath Lab Digest

SVG to Circumflex Stenting with Significant Distal and Proximal Disease: A Complex Case Utilizing a Covered Stent

01/07/2014

Sheldon Goldberg , MD, FACC, FSCAI;

Robert S. Fenning , MD;

Rebecca Wascho , RCIS;

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

Due to the location and severity of the disease in the SVG to the circumflex artery, the procedure was stopped, and a multi-disciplinary strategy was coordinated to revascularize the patient.

Due to the location and severity...

01/07/2014

Cath Lab Digest

An Overview of Diabetes and Its Impact on Cath Lab Care

09/03/2013

Gang Qiu , MS;

Annaliza Santos , RN;

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

Briona Maden , BS;

Diabetes is a major co-morbidity of cardiovascular disease and is closely linked to other co-morbidities like hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

Diabetes is a major co-morbidity...

09/03/2013

Cath Lab Digest

Percutaneous Repair of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Left Renal Artery Involvement Using the Snorkel Graft Technique: A Case Study

05/03/2013

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

Daniel J. McCormick , DO, FACC;

Scott Midwall , MD;

After consultation with the interventional cardiologist, it was determined that the patient would undergo a percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with a snorkel graft to preserve the left renal artery.

After consultation with the...

05/03/2013

Cath Lab Digest

Cath Lab Management

Continuous Quality Improvement in the Cardiac Cath Lab

04/14/2010

Margaret A. Coburn , RT(R)(CI), RCIS;

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) is frequently discussed and emphasized in healthcare organizations. But what is “quality improvement”? How is it defined, implemented, and practiced in the cardiac cath lab? Ultimately, the purpose of...

Continuous quality improvement...

04/14/2010

Cath Lab Digest

An Overview of Hypertension and Strategies to Optimize Patient Outcomes in the CCL

10/04/2012

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

One of the most important medical issues confronting Americans is hypertension. Often referred to by medical practitioners as a silent killer, there are over 68 million Americans who suffer from some form of hypertension.1 It is also the most...

One of the most important...

10/04/2012

Cath Lab Digest

Path to Publication

What is a Case Study, and How Should It Be Formatted When Writing for Publication?

06/02/2022

Abdulrahman Abu Aqil , MS, PhD;

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

Case study reports are valuable teaching resources for practitioners and students, and are written to discuss such topics as new technologies, procedures and imaging techniques, novel uses of technology and equipment, and unusual clinical...

Case study reports are valuable...

06/02/2022

Cath Lab Digest

An Overview of Chronic Kidney Disease and Useful Strategies for Clinical Management

03/02/2012

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

Amanda Robbins , RCIS, RT;

IntroductionThe kidneys, located in the retroperitoneal space in the abdomen, are vital for patient health. They process several hundred liters of fluid a day and remove around two liters of waste products from the bloodstream. The volume of...

IntroductionThe kidneys, located...

03/02/2012

Cath Lab Digest

Case Files by Dr. George

Management of Submassive Pulmonary Embolism With Aspiration Thrombectomy

06/02/2022

Jon C. George , MD, MBA;

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

This article describes a case in which a large-bore aspiration thrombectomy system was used to successfully treat a submassive saddle pulmonary embolism (PE) in a symptomatic patient with recent SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Details of the clinical...

This article describes a case in...

06/02/2022

Cath Lab Digest

Clinical Update

Aortic Valve Stenosis — An Overview and Knowledge Assessment

11/05/2017

Abdulrahman Abu Aqil , MS, PhD;

Manal Alnasser ;

Michelle McGovern ;

Katrina Ortman ;

Richard J. Merschen , EdS, MS, RT(R)(CV), RCIS;

The cardiac cath lab generally evaluates aortic stenosis (AS) in subsets where the echocardiography is inconclusive, or on cases of low gradient/low output AS. While echocardiography is considered the diagnostic tool of choice for AS, the...

The cardiac cath lab generally...

11/05/2017

Cath Lab Digest