Infantile Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

We present an infant with generalized palpable purpura, arthritis and fever, whose findings were atypical for classic childhood Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). By describing the clinical symptoms and prognostic differences seen in infants versus school age children, we encourage physicians to be aware of infantile HSP in their differential diagnosis when they encounter a non-toxic infant with generalized purpura.

Graft flow increases with release of stabilizing device in off-pump coronary surgery.

Transit-time Doppler can be used for intraoperative assessment of graft patency, by measuring conduit flow, or from the calculation of a derivation of the spectral waveform. The optimal timing of measurement is when graft flows are maximal. Fifteen patients underwent multivessel coronary bypass surgery without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Assessment of left ventricular function during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Left ventricular function is commonly impaired following cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest. Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCABG) offers promise of better myocardial protection, although the effect of multiple regional ischemic events on global myocardial function is unknown. Twenty-eight patients undergoing multivessel OPCABG were assessed with transesophageal echocardiography and pulmonary artery catheterization prior to and following revascularization.

The effect of pericardial restraint, atrial pacing, and increased heart rate on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Unlabelled: Baseline measurements of systolic and diastolic function performed after the induction of anesthesia may be compared with subsequent measurements acquired under different physical conditions such as open pericardium and different heart rate or rhythm. We acquired data from 21 patients undergoing coronary artery surgery. Combined echocardiographic and pulmonary artery catheter measurements were performed before and after pericardial opening, atrial pacing at the native rate, and atrial pacing 30 bpm faster.