Quality Improvement Intervention for Reduction of Redundant Testing.

Laboratory data are critical to analyzing and improving clinical quality. In the setting of residual use of creatine kinase M and B isoenzyme testing for myocardial infarction, we assessed disease outcomes of discordant creatine kinase M and B isoenzyme +/troponin I (-) test pairs in order to address anticipated clinician concerns about potential loss of case-finding sensitivity following proposed discontinuation of routine creatine kinase and creatine kinase M and B isoenzyme testing. Time-sequenced interventions were introduced.

Unusual distribution of noncompaction of left ventricular myocardium.

This case report highlights a rare case of isolated septal noncompaction of the left ventricle, a congenital condition, in a previously asymptomatic adult patient who presented with syncope. Management of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) includes treatment for heart failure, arrhythmias, and thromboembolic events; but no criteria exist for primary prophylaxis in patients that might be at high risk. To our knowledge this is the first report of isolated septal noncompaction in a previously asymptomatic adult patient.

Exercise reveals impairments in left ventricular systolic function in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is the manifestation of a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with a threefold increase in the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, which is suggested to be mediated, in part, by resting left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. However, to what extent resting LV systolic function is impaired in MetS is controversial, and there are no data indicating whether LV systolic function is impaired during exercise. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to examine comprehensively the LV and arterial responses to exercise in individuals with MetS without diabetes and/or overt cardiovascular disease in comparison to a healthy control population.

Two-dimensional echocardiographic findings of pulmonary valve cyst secondary to pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Real time two-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a mobile echolucent mass attached to the pulmonary valve in a 25-year-old adult, 20 years following balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. The mass was surgically excised and pathology showed it to be a cyst.