Spontaneous splenic rupture due to rivaroxaban.

In conjunction with , will feature occasional drug-related cases that are likely to be of interest to readers. These will include cases that involve recently marketed drugs for which there is limited knowledge of adverse effects and cases that highlight unusual reactions to drugs that have been marketed for several years.

Spontaneous splenic rupture due to rivaroxaban.

In the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disease, novel oral anticoagulants have emerged as alternatives to warfarin. A major challenge continues to be the reversal of their anticoagulant effect in the case of life-threatening haemorrhagic complications. We report a case of spontaneous splenic rupture treated by splenic artery embolisation in a 77-year-old woman who was anticoagulated with rivaroxaban.

Detection of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease Using Peak Systolic Global Longitudinal Strain Derived by Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is well validated and has important applications in contemporary clinical practice. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the accuracy of resting peak GLS in the diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed through July 2015 using four databases.

Patent foramen ovale influences the presentation of decompression illness in SCUBA divers.

Background: Few have examined the influence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) on the phenotype of decompression illness (DCI) in affected divers.

Methodology: A retrospective review of our database was performed for 75 SCUBA divers over a 10-year period.

Results: Overall 4,945 bubble studies were performed at our institution during the study period.

Recurrent ischaemic mitral regurgitation post mitral annuloplasty due to suture dehiscence evaluated using real time three dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography.

Ischaemic mitral regurgitation after myocardial infarction results from geometric changes in left ventricular shape and displacement of papillary muscles with resultant tethering and incomplete leaflet coaptation of mitral leaflets. Post mitral valve repair, both valve apparatus related factors such as persistent leaflet tethering and progressive left ventricular adverse remodelling and procedure related factors such as ring dehiscence are important causes of recurrent mitral regurgitation after initial undersized mitral ring annuloplasty. Three-dimensional echocardiography is a novel clinical tool that has the potential to provide additional anatomical and functional information regarding the mechanism of recurrent mitral regurgitation post mitral valve repair that is complementary to standard two dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography thus helping guide the most appropriate subsequent therapeutic intervention.

Real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography for the evaluation of rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Objectives: The aims of this study were: 1) to assess the feasibility and reliability of performing mitral valve area (MVA) measurements in patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis (RhMS) using real-time 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) planimetry (MVA(3D)); 2) to compare MVA(3D) with conventional techniques: 2-dimensional (2D) planimetry (MVA(2D)), pressure half-time (MVA(PHT)), and continuity equation (MVA(CON)); and 3) to evaluate the degree of mitral commissural fusion.

Background: 3DTEE is a novel technique that provides excellent image quality of the mitral valve. Real-time 3DTEE is a relatively recent enhancement of this technique.