The AAO Journal, 2002/03, 12(1):33-38, type of study: ,ret,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://www.academyofosteopathy.org/aaoj)

Keywords:

angioplasty [2]
clinical reasoning [85]
coronary artery disease [4]
inpatient outcome [1]
length of stay [32]
OMT [3924]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3945]
pilot study [215]
retrospective study [339]
thoracic spine [98]

Abstract:

Osteopathic manipulative medicine has long been recognized as an effective treatment for spinal pain and as a means of promoting health. To date, there is little evidence to suggest that this distinctly osteopathic modality should be utilized in the hospital setting. If it could be demonstrated that certain structural abnormalities could be used as reliable indicators of coronary artery disease and that manipulative treatment reduced mortality, morbidity or length of stay, then perhaps it would become the standard of care within the profession. The question remains, does it lessen human suffering or reduce the cost of medical care? This paper is based upon data collected in a retrospective review of inpatient charts. The study revolves around four hundred and eighty four patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal balloon coronary angioplasty, with or without stent placement. One hundred thirty-four of these patients received a structural examination and osteopathic manipulative care on a total of one hundred and thirty-eight admissions, the others did not; and outcomes were compared between the two groups. The structural patterns were documented for statistical significance. Due to the size of the sample, patients were not segregated as to severity. Some underwent the procedure on an elective basis while others required the procedure as an emergent, lifesaving measure. It is my hope that this pilot study will demonstrate the need to design a prospective study to evaluate fully the effect of manipulative medicine in the acute care hospital setting and the value of the structural examination as a diagnostic tool.