Tako tsubo cardiomyopathy (transient left ventricular apical ballooning): case report of a myocardial perfusion echocardiogram study.

We are reporting a case of Tako tsubo cardiomyopathy (transient left ventricular apical ballooning) in the Western population identified by a perfusion echocardiogram that demonstrated perfusion defect at baseline in the apical and adjacent walls that was incongruous to the wall-motion abnormality. The perfusion defect improved within 72 hours on a repeated study indicating that microvasculature disruption is a key feature of this enigmatic cardiomyopathy.

Potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of aortic dissection.

Study Objectives: The primary objective of our study was to identify clinical issues contributing to delay in the diagnosis of nontraumatic aortic dissection.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: A 425-bed community based, university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Negative fluid balance predicts survival in patients with septic shock: a retrospective pilot study.

Objective: We hypothesized that patients with septic shock who achieve negative fluid balance (< or =-500 mL) on any day in the first 3 days of management are more likely to survive than those who do not.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Patients: Thirty-six patients admitted with the diagnosis of septic shock.

Noninvasive ventilation: experience at a community teaching hospital.

Objective: To describe our hospital's experience with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (bilevel positive airway pressure; BiPAP) for patients with respiratory failure (RF).

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Setting: A 300-bed community teaching hospital.