Catheter-induced thrombosis of the superior vena cava.

There has been an increase in the use of central venous catheters (CVCs) in clinical practice. One of the most dangerous complications associated with their use is symptomatic or asymptomatic thrombosis (T), sometimes associated with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, resulting from impaired venous drainage. The right heart clots can induce an increased risk of mortality due the potential pulmonary embolism (PE).

Is pretreatment with ibutilide useful for atrial fibrillation cardioversion when combined with biphasic shock?

Objective: Cardioversion of atrial fibrillation by means of a monophasic transthoracic shock is facilitated by pretreatment with ibutilide. The aim of this study was to randomly and prospectively compare the energy requirements of transthoracic biphasic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation with and without ibutilide pretreatment.

Methods: Fifty patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups: immediate cardioversion with biphasic shock (group 1) or ibutilide pretreatment followed by cardioversion with biphasic shock (group 2).

[Pulmonary hypertension in patients with left ventricular dysfunction studied with contrast-enhanced Doppler echocardiography: relations with diastolic parameters and prognostic implications].

In patients with left ventricular dysfunction, the prognostic value of both pulmonary hypertension and mitral flow patterns has been recognized. However, the effect of the association of different degrees of pulmonary hypertension on prognosis and the corresponding left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is not clear. Accordingly, we considered the impact on survival of a categorization based on the relationship between pulmonary artery pressure and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, as assessed by mitral and pulmonary venous flow analyses.