Gastrointestinal bleeding associated to aortic valve stenosis (Heyde's syndrome): a case series and literature review.

Background: The association among aortic valve stenosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and anaemia due to arteriovenous malformations, known as Heyde's syndrome (HS), is poorly understood and controversial. Recently, acquired Type 2A von Willebrand syndrome (vWS 2A) was shown to be the most likely aetiological mechanism of anaemia.

Case Summary: We report two cases of HS in whom the percutaneous replacement of the aortic valve was resolutive for iron deficiency anaemia.

Chest CT opportunistic biomarkers for phenotyping high-risk COVID-19 patients: a retrospective multicentre study.

Objective: To assess the value of opportunistic biomarkers derived from chest CT performed at hospital admission of COVID-19 patients for the phenotypization of high-risk patients.

Methods: In this multicentre retrospective study, 1845 consecutive COVID-19 patients with chest CT performed within 72 h from hospital admission were analysed. Clinical and outcome data were collected by each center 30 and 80 days after hospital admission.

AI-SCoRE (artificial intelligence-SARS CoV2 risk evaluation): a fast, objective and fully automated platform to predict the outcome in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose: To develop and validate an effective and user-friendly AI platform based on a few unbiased clinical variables integrated with advanced CT automatic analysis for COVID-19 patients' risk stratification.

Material And Methods: In total, 1575 consecutive COVID-19 adults admitted to 16 hospitals during wave 1 (February 16-April 29, 2020), submitted to chest CT within 72 h from admission, were retrospectively enrolled. In total, 107 variables were initially collected; 64 extracted from CT.

Impact of clinical and subclinical coronary artery disease as assessed by coronary artery calcium in COVID-19.

Background And Aims: The potential impact of coronary atherosclerosis, as detected by coronary artery calcium, on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients remains unsettled. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of clinical and subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD), as assessed by coronary artery calcium score (CAC), in a large, unselected population of hospitalized COVID-19 patients undergoing non-gated chest computed tomography (CT) for clinical practice.

Methods: SARS-CoV 2 positive patients from the multicenter (16 Italian hospitals), retrospective observational SCORE COVID-19 (calcium score for COVID-19 Risk Evaluation) registry were stratified in three groups: (a) "clinical CAD" (prior revascularization history), (b) "subclinical CAD" (CAC >0), (c) "No CAD" (CAC = 0).

Coronary and total thoracic calcium scores predict mortality and provides pathophysiologic insights in COVID-19 patients.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide determining dramatic impacts on healthcare systems. Early identification of high-risk parameters is required in order to provide the best therapeutic approach. Coronary, thoracic aorta and aortic valve calcium can be measured from a non-gated chest computer tomography (CT) and are validated predictors of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

Outcomes of idiopathic chronic large pericardial effusion.

Objective: Aim of this paper is to evaluate the outcomes of 'idiopathic' chronic large pericardial effusions without initial evidence of pericarditis.

Methods: All consecutive cases of idiopathic chronic large pericardial effusions evaluated from 2000 to 2015 in three Italian tertiary referral centres for pericardial diseases were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. The term 'idiopathic' was applied to cases that performed a complete diagnostic evaluation to exclude a specific aetiology.

Evolution of the pericardiocentesis technique.

: Pericardiocentesis is a valuable technique for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, although it may be associated with potentially serious complications. Through the years, many different imaging approaches have been described to reduce the complication rate of the procedure. This systematic review provides a focused overview of the different techniques developed in recent years to reduce the procedural complications and to increase the related success rate.

Safety, Efficacy, and Complications of Pericardiocentesis by Real-Time Echo-Monitored Procedure.

Pericardiocentesis is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of pericardial effusive disease. To date, a number of methods have been developed to reduce complications and increase the success rate of the procedure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis under continuous echocardiographic monitoring in the management of pericardial effusion.

The role of early contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography in the aetiological diagnosis of patients presenting with cardiac tamponade or large pericardial effusion.

Aims: The role of chest computed tomography (CT) is not well defined for either diagnosis or management of pericardial disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the added value of early chest CT in the diagnostic workup for patients presenting with cardiac tamponade or large pericardial effusion of unknown aetiology as the first manifestation of disease.

Methods And Results: We performed CT scan on 55 patients with pericardial effusion as defined above, undergoing echo-guided pericardiocentesis.

Hemodynamic comparison between Trifecta and freestyle aortic valve during exercise in patients with small aortic root.

Background: Patients with a small aortic annulus, that is ≤ 23 mm, constitute a challenge for the surgeon, because they are at high risk of patient-prosthesis mismatch. Stentless valves provide better hemodynamic performance at rest and during exercise than stented valves, and are advocated in this group of patients. A new-generation stented valve, the Trifecta (St.

A case of atrial tachycardia treated with ivabradine as bridge to ablation.

Ivabradine is indicated in cardiac failure and ischemia to reduce sinus rate by inhibition of the pacemaker I(f) current in sinoatrial node. We report a case of an 18-year-old woman with left atrial tachyarrhythmia resistant to several antiarrhythmic drugs and to electric cardioversion who responded only to ivabradine, which significantly reduced heart rate without abolishing the arrhythmia itself. An ectopic focus in the ostium of left pulmonary veins was found and the patient was successfully ablated.