Impact of short term oral steroid use for intravenous contrast media hypersensitivity prophylaxis in diabetic patients undergoing nonemergent coronary angiography or interventions.

Objectives: Oral steroids are routinely administered in the United States for prophylaxis of iodinated contrast media hypersensitivity (ICMH). We studied the impact of short-term steroid use in diabetic patients with ICMH undergoing nonemergent coronary angiography.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed records of diabetic patients with and without ICMH who underwent nonemergent coronary angiography at our center.

A Rare Case of Sudden Death in a Patient with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Cardiac Rupture.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), also known as broken heart syndrome or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is a rare condition with an estimated incidence of 0.02% of all hospitalizations in United States and 2% of all acute coronary syndrome presentations. TCM predominately presents as a transient wall motion abnormality of the left ventricular apex due to emotional or physical stress.

Acute cardiac tamponade secondary to ruptured pericardial cyst: Case report and literature review.

Pericardial cysts are a rare disorder with an incidence of about 1 in 100,000, the majority of which are benign and incidentally identified. Pericardial cyst causing cardiac tamponade is an extremely rare phenomenon. The exact incidence of cardiac tamponade secondary to pericardial cyst is unknown.

Venous hemostasis postcatheter ablation of atrial fibrillation while under therapeutic levels of oral and intravenous anticoagulation.

Purpose: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) requires utilizing multiple venous femoral sheaths in conjunction with aggressive periprocedural anticoagulation, which can lead to increased risk of vascular access complications. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the "figure-of-eight" ("F-8") suture technique for femoral venous hemostasis while on therapeutic doses of intravenous anticoagulation at the time of sheath removal.

Methods: In this case-control analysis, 376 consecutive patients underwent AF ablation while on uninterrupted oral anticoagulation and received intraprocedural heparin.

Achalasia in a Patient with Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome Type II.

Achalasia is a rare disease characterized by aperistalsis of the esophageal body and failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax. The etiology of this disease remains unknown. Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type II is a well-identified disease characterized by the occurrence of autoimmune Addison's disease in combination with autoimmune thyroid disease and/or type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Long-term follow-up in AV junction ablation via the SVC in patients undergoing concurrent device implantation: a single center experience.

Background: Ablation of the atrioventricular junction (AVJ) combined with pacemaker implantation (the "ablate and pace" approach) has been an effective treatment strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) when rate control is the goal of therapy and when rapid ventricular rates during AF is refractory to pharmacologic therapy.

Objective: This report describes the feasibility and safety of catheter ablation of AVJ via a superior vena cava (SVC) approach performed during concurrent pacemaker or defibrillator implantation.

Methods: A total of 170 consecutive patients with drug-refractory AF underwent combined AVJ ablation and pacemaker or defibrillator implantation using the axillary or subclavian venous approach.