Missed Connections: Identification of Atrial Septal Defect by MRI.

In this case report, we describe a 55-year-old female patient with worsening exertional dyspnea who is referred to the cardiology department, due to the appearance of worsening pulmonary vascular disease on computed tomography (CT) of the chest. Previous transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) identified right ventricle enlargement, but no other structural abnormalities. She completed cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, which identified a large secundum atrial septal defect (ASD).

The Feasibility and Safety of Same-Day Discharge for All Comers after Elective Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

Background: The safety of same day discharge (SDD) after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) has been demonstrated in several studies. However, SDD was only allowed in patients meeting strict criteria. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of SDD following elective-PCI in all comers.

Aorto-cardiac fistula etiology, presentation, and management: A systematic review.

Background: Aorto-cardiac fistulae are a rare but increasingly reported entity, and data are scarce.

Method: The authors performed a systematic review of ACFs to characterize the underlying etiology, clinical presentation, and compare outcomes of treatment strategies.

Results: 3,733 publications were identified in the search.

Third-degree atrioventricular block followed by syncope, labile hypertension, and orthostatic hypotension in a patient with nasopharyngeal cancer: baroreflex failure.

Baroreflex failure is a rare cause of syncope and labile blood pressures. Here, we present a case of baroreflex failure in a patient with history of nasopharyngeal cancer, status-post neck radiation. A 76-year-old male presented from an outside facility for possible pacemaker placement as he was found to have symptomatic third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block.

Effect of Race on the Incidence of Aortic Stenosis and Outcomes of Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States.

Objective: To assess the effect of race on the incidence of aortic stenosis (AS) and utilization and outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Patients And Methods: Patients older than 60 years hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of AS and those who underwent AVR between 2003 and 2014 were included. Adjusted and unadjusted incidence of AS-related hospitalizations, utilization rates of AVR, in-hospital morbidity and mortality, and resource utilization was compared between whites and African Americans (AAs).

Early-onset Lyme carditis with concurrent disseminated erythema migrans.

Background: Lyme disease is an infection that is estimated to affect over 300,000 people in the United States annually. Typically, it presents with erythema migrans (EM), an annular rash at the site of tick attachment, within 3 to 30 days of inoculation. Untreated patients may progress to early disseminated disease.

Comparative Outcomes of Surgical and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis in Nonagenarians.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) emerged as a promising alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in extreme-aged patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Data on the outcomes of TAVR or SAVR in nonagenarians are limited. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients aged 90 years or older who underwent TAVR or SAVR from 2004 to 2013.