Pulmonary embolism diagnostic strategies in patients with COPD exacerbation: Post-hoc analysis of the PEP trial.

Background: The prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) is approximately 11-17 % in patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD). The optimal diagnostic strategy for PE in these patients remains undetermined.

Aims: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of standard (revised Geneva and Wells PE scores combined with fixed D-dimer cut-off) and computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA)-sparing diagnostic strategies (ADJUST-PE, YEARS, PEGeD, 4PEPS) in patients with AE-COPD.

Clinical implications of guiding catheter extubation during fractional flow reserve measurements.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is defined by the maximal coronary flow ratio with and without stenosis.

Aims: We hypothesized that guiding catheter intubation in coronary ostia during FFR measurements may underestimate FFR value by limiting the increase of coronary flow during maximal hyperaemia.

Methods: Between June 2013 and January 2014, we prospectively included all patients with i.

Pressure wire versus microcatheter for FFR measurement: a head-to-head comparison.

Aims: Recently developed microcatheters can be used instead of a pressure wire for fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement. We sought to assess the haemodynamic and clinical impact of using a larger profile device to measure FFR.

Methods And Results: Our prospective registry included 77 consecutive patients who underwent invasive FFR measurement of intermediate coronary stenoses between June 2015 and July 2016.

Transesophageal echocardiography and therapeutic management of patients sustaining blunt aortic injuries.

Background: No objective criteria have been described to help selecting patients with major blunt aortic injury (BAI) for postponed surgical repair. The efficacy of conservative management of minor BAI needs further evaluation.

Methods: We studied 31 patients (Injury Severity Score, 48 +/- 15) who sustained a BAI diagnosed using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Extrapericardial cardiac tamponade caused by traumatic retrosternal hematoma.

Cardiac tamponade is an uncommon complication of blunt chest trauma, resulting typically from hemorrhage into the pericardial space. We report a case of hemodynamic compromise secondary to an extrapericardial compression caused by the acute formation of a retrosternal hematoma associated with a sternal fracture. The patient was involved in a violent deceleration accident.