Chest
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A 33-year-old man, never smoker, presented with acute-onset dyspnea secondary to bilateral pulmonary emboli. Echocardiography at the time revealed a right atrial myxoma, for which he underwent resection, followed by anticipated lifelong therapeutic anticoagulation therapy.
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It remains uncertain whether patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and a single additional stroke risk factor (CHA2DS2-VASc score = 1 in males, 2 in females) should be treated with oral anticoagulation (OAC). We investigated the risk of ischemic stroke, systemic embolism and death in a community-based cohort of unselected AF patients with a 0-1 stroke risk factors, based on the CHA2DS2-VASc score. ⋯ Among AF patients with one single additional stroke risk factor (CHA2DS2-VASc score = 1 in males, 2 in females), OAC use was associated with an improved prognosis for stroke/systemic thromboembolism/death.
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Case Reports
Three-dimensional Modeled T-tube Design and Insertion in a Patient With Tracheal Dehiscence.
A 68-year-old man with recurrent medullary thyroid cancer underwent cervical tracheal resection and reconstruction. His course was complicated by tracheal anastomotic dehiscence, right carotid blowout, and ultimately cervical tracheoplasty with AlloDerm. Given the complex vascular interventions and upper-airway anatomy, a custom-designed Montgomery T-tube was designed for him. ⋯ The patient was discharged to home with the ability to phonate. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of three-dimensional modeling of an upper-airway defect with subsequent T-tube design using engineering software. The success of this case demonstrates a possible avenue for personalized airway prosthesis design and manufacturing in the future.