Three-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of a serpiginous ventricular septal defect.

Ventricular septal defects are one of the most common congenital heart defects that either exist alone or coexist with other complex congenital heart diseases. With 3-dimensional echocardiography, exact 3-dimensional shape, size, location, and course of any ventricular septal defects can be evaluated very thoroughly. We are reporting a comprehensive assessment of a complex ventricular septal defect using 3-dimensional echocardiography and longitudinal strain analysis.

Percutaneous intervention for posterior fossa ischemia. A single center experience and review of the literature.

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the results of endovascular treatment of symptomatic vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBI) unresponsive to medical therapy.

Methods: Cardiac patients regularly followed in our cardiology clinic with symptoms suggestive of posterior fossa ischemia diagnosed by the attending cardiologist, had diagnostic or suspicious findings of vertebral artery stenosis on ultrasound evaluation, with reversed vertebral flow on Doppler examination. These patients were referred for selective vertebral and subclavian artery angiography.

Percutaneous vertebral artery intervention: a necessary tool in every interventional cardiologist armamentarium.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of endovascular treatment of symptomatic vertebrobasilar insufficiency unresponsive to medical therapy.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients who were regularly followed up in our cardiology clinic with symptoms suggestive of posterior fossa ischemia and with diagnostic or suspicious findings on ultrasound evaluation were evaluated with selective vertebral and subclavian artery angiography. All patients (17 men, 11 women; mean age, 64 years; range, 54-87) had critical lesions (>70% stenosis) in the vertebral or subclavian arteries or both.

Complex regional pain syndrome (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) in a patient with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia and chronic hepatitis C.

Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC) is a common extra-hepatic manifestation of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type I (CRPS) or Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) has never been reported in association with HCV. This is the first case report of RSD in a patient with HCV related cirrhosis and EMC.

The no-flow phenomenon during diagnostic coronary angiography.

Objectives: Slow flow of dye in epicardial coronary arteries is not an infrequent finding in patients during routine coronary angiography. The extreme form of this phenomenon, namely, no flow or Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 0-1, is very uncommon with life-threatening consequences. We consider the present report as the first one, to our knowledge, that describes this angiographic entity and how prompt recognition and adequate management prevent certain death in this population.