Decompression Illness in Divers With or Without Patent Foramen Ovale : A Cohort Study.

Background: In previous studies, the prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been reported to be higher in scuba divers who experienced decompression illness (DCI) than in those who did not.

Objective: To assess the association between PFO and DCI in scuba divers.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Recurrent Decompression Illness Even After the Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale in a Diver.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a risk factor for the development of decompression illness (DCI) and a therapeutic target for preventing the recurrence of DCI because nitrogen bubbles generated during diving can be paradoxically embolized through the PFO. Here, we report the case of a diver who experienced recurrent DCI even after a successful PFO closure. ().

Impact of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis on the Prognosis in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Cardioembolic Source.

Background And Aim: In recent days, intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (IAS) has been reportedly related to recurrent stroke and mortality in the total patient population with ischemic stroke. However, its impact on the prognosis of the patients with cardioembolic source is not yet established. This study attempted to investigate whether IAS was associated with poor outcome in stroke patients with cardioembolic source.

Difference in the prognostic significance of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide between cardioembolic and noncardioembolic ischemic strokes.

Background And Aim: Because B-type natriuretic peptide is a powerful predictor of heart failure, its capability to predict a fatal outcome in stroke might be limited to the cardioembolic stroke subtype. In this study, we attempt to ascertain the difference in the prognostic value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) between cardioembolic and noncardioembolic stroke subgroups.

Methods: 410 acute stroke patients were included.

Usefulness of anticoagulant therapy in the prevention of embolic complications in patients with acute infective endocarditis.

Background: The use of anticoagulant therapy (ACT) in patients with acute infective endocarditis (IE) remains a controversial issue. Our study attempts to estimate the impact of ACT on the occurrence of embolic complications and the usefulness of ACT in the prevention of embolism in IE patients.

Methods: The present authors analyzed 150 patients with left-sided IE.

Clinical significance of cerebrovascular complications in patients with acute infective endocarditis: a retrospective analysis of a 12-year single-center experience.

Background: Cerebrovascular complications (CVCs) frequently occur in patients with acute infective endocarditis (IE). The aim of this study is to describe the clinical findings of CVCs and to evaluate the impact of CVCs on long-term mortality in patients with IE.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 144 patients who fulfilled the modified Duke's criteria for definite left-sided IE.

Double accessory left atrial chordae tendineae resulting in mitral regurgitation.

The presence of accessory left atrial chordae tendineae inserting into the mitral valve leaflet is extremely rare. Two long and thin accessory chordae tendineae, one arising from the left atrial dome and the other from the inferior interatrial septum, were incidentally identified during corrective surgery for severe mitral regurgitation from A3 prolapse. Triangular resection of the A3 portion of the anterior mitral valve leaflet including the double accessory chordae tendineae and primary repair followed by posterior ring annuloplasty was successfully performed.

Device closure of a large atrial septal defect in a patient with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension after 1 year use of an oral endothelin receptor antagonist.

The presence of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) is still thought to preclude shunt closure, although there are several reports of good clinical outcomes after vasodilator therapy. We report the case of a young woman with ASD and severe PAH who was able to successfully undergo percutaneous shunt closure following 1 year use of the oral endothelin receptor antagonist, bosentan.

Eleven years of experience with the neurologic complications in Korean patients with acute aortic dissection: a retrospective study.

Background: This study attempts to explore the clinical features, possible mechanisms and prognosis of the neurologic complications in patients with acute aortic dissection (AD).

Methods: Medical records of 278 consecutive patients with AD (165 with type A and 113 with type B dissection) over 11.5 years were retrospectively analyzed for clinical history, CT findings, neurologic complications and outcome.

Right coronary artery to left ventricular fistula associated with infective endocarditis of the mitral valve.

A 27-year-old man with bacterial endocarditis of the mitral valve and embolic episodes was bound to have a large right coronary artery fistula communicating with the left ventricle, immediately inferior to the posterior mitral annulus. The perforation of the posterior leaflet and coronary arteriovenous fistula was identified using two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. The diagnosis was confirmed by coronary angiography, and the patient underwent a successful operation.

The Brachial Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity is Associated with the Presence of Significant Coronary Artery Disease but Not the Extent.

Background And Objectives: Arterial stiffness is well known as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. At our institution, we assessed the association between arterial stiffness, as determined by brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD), as detected by conventional coronary angiography (CAG) in patients who visited the outpatient clinic for angina without any previous history of heart disease. In addition, we evaluated if the level of baPWV could predict the revascularization as a clinical outcome.

A Case of a Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation With Ebstein's Anomaly.

A pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare pulmonary vascular anomaly presenting as dyspnea or recurrent epistaxis. Ebstein's anomaly (EA), a congenital cardiac malformation, is also a rare condition. There have been no reports concerning the co-existence of PAVM with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and EA.

Pulmonary hemorrhage after percutaneous coronary intervention with abciximab therapy.

Abciximab has a key role in the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention; however, an increased risk of bleeding complications is well recognized. We report a case of serious pulmonary hemorrhage after use of abciximab therapy. A definitive indication and treatment guideline should be available to minimize serious bleeding complications.