Angiology
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Complications related to intraaortic balloon counterpulsation pumping (IABP) remain a problem despite the development of small caliber balloon catheter shafts and introducer sheaths. The authors report their experience in counterpulsation-related complications of 201 consecutive patients who underwent 212 percutaneous counterpulsation balloon insertions from June 1989 to June 1996 by use of balloons with 8-9.5 French shafts. Of these, 82% were men and 36 (18%) were women, with a mean age of 61 +/-12 years. ⋯ The only predictor of limb ischemia among baseline clinical and procedure-related variables was an age greater than 60 years. Compared with previous recent studies, the rate of complications observed in this study performed with small balloon catheters was acceptably low. Limb ischemia was the most frequent complication, often occurred early, and required further intervention in half the cases.
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The standard treatments for venous diseases of the lower limb include compression bandaging and stockings as well as surgical removal of varicose veins. There are a number of conditions in which these conventional treatments are ineffective, particularly in the management of leg ulceration. Drug treatments for healing venous leg ulcers have yet to be developed to the stage of good clinical efficacy, but these may assist in the management of patients. ⋯ Work in animal models of ischemia-reperfusion show that MPFF (micronized purified flavonoid fraction) modulates leukocyte adhesion and prevents endothelial damage. Similar biochemical effects have been observed in patients with venous disease and may explain the efficacy of this drug in the management of edema and other symptoms of venous disease. There is clinical evidence that MPFF modifies venous leg ulcer healing.
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Case Reports
Myocardial contusion culminating in a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle--a case report.
Blunt chest trauma continues to be one of the most common injuries at all ages. Trauma in general is the leading cause of death in the young to middle-aged segment of our population. Blunt chest injury is said to occur in more than one third of all motor vehicle accidents. ⋯ Autopsy studies indicate that cardiac trauma was directly associated with death in approximately 10% of cases suffering blunt chest injury. Aneurysm formation as a sequela of blunt cardiac trauma is a rare entity and pseudoaneurysm formation is considerably more rare. A case of myocardial contusion resulting in myocardial necrosis, rupture of the ventricle, and pseudoaneurysm formation with subsequent rupture and sudden death is presented.
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Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma is a primary cardiac neoplasm that typically affects the cardiac valves, mainly the aortic and mitral valves, and very rarely the endocardium of cardiac chambers. Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma is rarely diagnosed during life, as the majority are incidental findings at autopsy, but with the advent of echocardiography, it is being increasingly recognized. Although the tumor is usually small and histologically benign, it may have a malignant propensity for life-threatening complications, such as a cerebrovascular accident, myocardial ischemia or infarction, or sudden death. ⋯ Follow-up transthoracic echocardiogram revealed no residual or recurrence of tumor. The patient was in excellent health at 2-year follow-up. The case is described and the clinical characteristics of cardiac papillary fibroelastoma are reviewed.
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Low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (LDDSE) is one of the methods most used to assess myocardial viability. Glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) has been shown to increase contraction of the ischemic zone. The aim of this study was to compare LDDSE and echocardiography during GIK infusion for detection of myocardial viability in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial dysfunction. ⋯ The agreement between LDDSE and GIK echocardiography for detection of myocardial viability was 95%. This study shows that GIK echocardiography is similar to LDDSE for detection of myocardial viability. With the support of further clinical studies GIK echocardiography can be used to detect myocardial viability in patients with chronic CAD.