Early detection of anthracycline- and trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity: value and optimal timing of serum biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters.

Aims: To evaluate echocardiographic and biomarker changes during chemotherapy, assess their ability to early detect and predict cardiotoxicity and to define the best time for their evaluation.

Methods And Results: Seventy-two women with breast cancer (52 ± 9.8 years) treated with anthracyclines (26 also with trastuzumab), were evaluated for 14 months (6 echocardiograms/12 laboratory tests).

Additional value of hybrid PET/MR imaging versus MR or PET performed separately to assess cardiovascular disease.

Introduction And Objectives: Hybrid positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is an emerging technology in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease; however, there have been no reports of its use in the national clinical setting. Our objective was to evaluate the additional value of integrated PET/MR systems compared with MR and PET performed separately in this setting.

Methods: We prospectively included 49 patients, 30 to assess myocardial viability (coronary group) and 19 to assess inflammatory, infectious, and tumoral diseases (noncoronary heart disease group).

Transradial Secondary Approach During Transfemoral TAVI: Usefulness of Placing a Wire Before Femoral Puncture for Management and Treatment of Vascular Complications.

Vascular complications during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are relatively common, and some of them related to the transfemoral secondary access. The use of the transradial access (TRA) as an alternative vascular approach for transfemoral TAVI could reduce these complications, however, the treatment of potential vascular peripheral issues from this access has been scarcely described. The advance of a wire from the TRA to the primary transfemoral access at the beginning of the procedure could help the management of eventual vascular complications.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Patients with Severe Calcification.

Our aim was to analyze its diagnostic and prognostic value in patients with high coronary calcium score (CCS). A total of 113 patients with CCS > 400 were included. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was defined as stenosis ≥ 50%.

Percutaneous Closure of Mitral Paravalvular Leaks Generating Refractory Heart Failure in the Immediate Postoperative Period.

We present two patients with refractory heart failure due to mitral paravalvular leak (PVL) in whom percutaneous PVL closure was performed in the immediate postoperative period.

Percutaneous Closure of a Poorly Tolerated Ventricular Septal Defect After Triple Valvular Prosthesis Surgery.

We describe the case of an 81-year-old woman with three biological prostheses at the aortic valve, mitral valve, and tricuspid valve with recurrent hospitalizations due to heart failure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first percutaneous closure of ventricular septal defect in the presence of three valvular prostheses.

Left Bundle Branch Block after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation with Edwards Sapien 3 Valve: Influence of the Valve Depth Implantation.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the relation between the valve depth implantation and the new-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) in patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using Edwards Sapien 3 (S3) prosthesis.

Background: LBBB is the most common conduction disturbance after TAVI. The S3 has been associated with a higher incidence of LBBB.

Electrocardiographic changes and conduction disturbances after transfemoral aortic valve implantation with Edwards Sapien 3 prosthesis.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe electrocardiographic changes and conduction abnormalities in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: 76 patients who underwent TAVI using Edwards Sapien 3 prosthesis were included, comparing electrocardiographic registries at admission, post-procedure and before discharge.

Results: Patients after TAVI presented a longer PR interval, a wider QRS, and a longer corrected QT, with a left deviation of QRS axis and T waves; reversible changes that tended to correct in the following days after TAVI.

Percutaneous closure of a giant coronary artery fistula after surgical pericardiectomy. Review of the literature.

Coronary artery fistulae (CAF) are uncommon heart defects defined as a communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or vascular structure. They are frequently asymptomatic; nevertheless, they can produce angina, dyspnea or cardiac failure. CAF are believed to be congenital; however, isolated cases of CAF have been described as rare complications of cardiac surgery.

'Jamaican Stone': A potentially lethal remedy for delaying ejaculation.

Poisoning by ingestion of 'Jamaican Stone', a kind of cardioactive steroid, is extremely rare. However, mortality is very high. For this reason, when it occurs, an early and accurate diagnosis represents a critical challenge for clinicians.