Aortic valve chordae tendineae: A rare cause of aortic stenosis.

We describe a rare case of severe low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis due to a calcified aortic valve chordae tendineae. The chordae was captured on cardiac computed tomography (CT) using advanced 3-dimensional image reconstruction to reveal the fibrous strand tethering the non-coronary cusp to the left ventricular outflow tract, rendering it functionally immobile. This is one of the first reported cases of severe aortic stenosis from an aortic valve chordae tendineae which highlights the utility of advanced image processing techniques in cardiac CT.

Association of Ischemic Evaluation and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Admitted With New-Onset Heart Failure.

Background The significant morbidity associated with systolic heart failure makes it imperative to identify patients with a reversible cause. We thus sought to evaluate the proportion of patients who received an ischemic evaluation after a hospitalization for new-onset systolic heart failure. Methods and Results Patients admitted with a new diagnosis of heart failure and a reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (≤40%) were identified in the VA Healthcare System from January 2006 to August 2017.

Comparison of rotational and orbital atherectomy for the treatment of calcific coronary lesions: Insights from the VA clinical assessment reporting and tracking (CART) program.

Background: Previous studies suggested that pre-treatment of coronary artery calcification (CAC) with rotational atherectomy (RA) prior to stent deployment improved procedural success but was not associated with a concomitant improvement in clinical outcomes. Orbital atherectomy (OA) has demonstrated similar benefits, though there are few data comparing the safety and efficacy of the two modalities.

Methods: Patients who underwent PCI of a native coronary lesion with RA or OA from 2014 to 2018 within the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System were identified.

Preadmission Oral Corticosteroids Are Associated With Reduced Risk of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Critically Ill Adults With Sepsis.

Objectives: To determine the association between preadmission oral corticosteroid receipt and the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome in critically ill patients with sepsis.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: Medical, surgical, trauma, and cardiovascular ICUs of an academic medical center.