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Keesler team researches stroke prevention

  • Published
  • By Steve Pivnick
  • 81st Medical Group Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Keesler Medical Center's cardiovascular team is embarking on a research trial aimed at stroke prevention.

Led by Lt. Col. (Dr.) Steve Kindsvater, commander of the 81st Medical Operations Squadron cardiovascular/pulmonary flight, the trial began in July. The team is seeking 320-350 patients over age 50 who will be enrolled for about a year, then monitored for 18 months.

Kindsvater explained, "Approximately 20-30 percent of strokes are caused by an electrical problem in the heart called atrial fibrillation. A trial fibrillation is very common: approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population over age 70 has episodes of this abnormal electrical rhythm. The problem is that atrial fibrillation is very often without any symptoms and can be intermittent, meaning that a stroke may occur before the abnormal rhythm is identified. The Predate AF clinical trial, conceived in the Keesler Cardiology Department, is using new technology available to identify atrial fibrillation in patients at risk for stroke before it has a chance to cause stroke."

He continued, "Participants have a very small monitor (about 1 x 3 x 3/8-inches) inserted under the skin in the chest area (under local anesthesia), then the heart's electrical information is transmitted to us for interpretation."

The information will be shared with the medical community upon completion of the trial and interpretation of the results, then published in a medical journal, Kindsvater said.

Keesler Medical Center's Cardiovascular Team

Physicians
Chief of cardiovascular services Lt. Col. (Dr.) Steve Kindsvater and staff cardiologists Majs. (Drs.) Matthew Hann, William Pomeroy and Javid Nasir

Nurses
Capts. Aimee McLaurin (cardiology nurse manager), Jesse Payne and civilian nurses Aimee Smith, Courtney DeFrances and Stacey Stapp

Technicians
Cath Lab NCO-in-charge Staff Sergeant Trey Garner, Cath Lab lead technician Senior Airman Allison Randall, Cath Lab technicians Senior Airman Jason Boyd and Airman 1st Class Marquez Barr and registered radiologic technologists Adam Hudson and Toni Rosetti