Chylopericardium and Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Caused by Central Venous Occlusion From Indwelling Hemodialysis Catheters.

Chylopericardium is a rare condition. Causes include superior vena cava syndrome resulting from indwelling catheters. We present a case of this condition in a 42-year-old man with end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis through a right subclavian vein catheter.

Three, dynamic variants of ST segment elevations in a patient with osteosarcoma and cardiac metastasis.

In the right clinical setting, ST segment elevation (STE) on electrocardiogram (ECG) is most concerning for acute injury due to transmural myocardial ischemia. This frequently points to significant epicardial coronary artery disease, mandating emergent cardiac intervention. In rare cases, cardiac metastases may cause transient STE.

Comprehensive Review of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a growing global phenomenon, and its damaging effects in terms of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are becoming more apparent. NAFLD is estimated to affect around one quarter of the world population and is often comorbid with other metabolic disorders including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and metabolic syndrome. In this review, we examine the current evidence describing the many ways that NAFLD itself increases CVD risk.

IVC measurement for the noninvasive evaluation of central venous pressure.

Central venous pressure (CVP) is one of only a handful of variables that can be used to assess a patient's volume status to attempt to optimize stroke volume. The gold standard method for assessing CVP is though pulmonary artery catheterization, which is invasive and risks severe complications such as pneumothorax and cardiac conduction abnormalities. Current noninvasive methods for estimating CVP such as jugular venous pressure assessment are imperfect with wide inter-examiner variability.

Coronary Revascularization Versus Optimal Medical Therapy in Renal Transplant Candidates With Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease and is a common cause of mortality in end-stage renal disease. Thus, patients with end-stage renal disease are routinely screened for CAD before renal transplantation. The usefulness of revascularization before transplantation remains unclear.

Hypophosphatemia causing ST elevation in a critically ill noncardiac surgery postoperative patient.

The patient is a 73-year-old female with peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus, who underwent mesenteric artery bypass surgery. She suffered from a pneumonia after surgery, causing acute hypoxic respiratory failure and septic shock. Due to shock, she developed acute renal failure.

Development and Validation of a Prediction Model for Stroke, Cardiac, and Mortality Risk After Non-Cardiac Surgery.

Background Commonly used cardiovascular risk calculators do not provide risk estimation of stroke, a major postoperative complication with high morbidity and mortality. We developed and validated an accurate cardiovascular risk prediction tool for stroke, major cardiac complications (myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest), and mortality after non-cardiac surgery. Methods and Results This retrospective cohort study included 1 165 750 surgical patients over a 4-year period (2007-2010) from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database.

Rapid, Fatal Acute Right Ventricular Failure After Locoregional Cytokine Therapy for Uveal Melanoma Liver Metastases.

Locoregional cytokine treatment, or immunoembolization, is an experimental targeted therapy for uveal melanoma metastatic to the liver. Unlike systemic cytokine treatments that have been associated with substantial toxicity, this method of drug delivery appears to be better tolerated. Because this newer therapy is being prescribed more widely, oncologists, interventional radiologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, critical care specialists, and other providers should become familiar with potential adverse reactions.

One Patient, Three Variants, Four Episodes of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

• TCM is an increasingly recognized clinical entity. • Variants include apical, midventricular, basal, and focal. • The authors present a unique case in which one patient developed three variants.

Very High-Dose Furosemide Continuous Infusions: A Case Series.

Background: There is paucity of data evaluating the efficacy and safety of very high-dose furosemide continuous infusions (≥40 mg/h) for volume removal. This infusion is a novel strategy of loop diuretic administration that may add valuable data to current literature.

Methods And Results: This was a retrospective chart review.

Surgical Pulmonary Embolectomy Outcomes for Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with significant mortality. Surgical embolectomy is a viable treatment option; however, it remains controversial as a result of variable outcomes. This review investigates patient outcomes after surgical embolectomy for acute PE.

Clinical significance of 12 lead ECG changes in patients undergoing pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade.

Introduction: The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the initial tests done in patients suspected of having a cardiac Tamponade. Historically the emphasis has been on low QRS voltage and electrical alternans, which lacks specificity and sensitivity respectively. Majority of these studies included patients with pericardial effusions without tamponade.

Outcomes of extracorporeal life support for the treatment of acute massive pulmonary embolism: A systematic review.

Background: Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) can cause hemodynamic instability leading to high mortality. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has been increasingly used as a bridge to definitive therapy. This systematic review investigates the outcomes of ECLS for the treatment of massive PE.

Exercise during pregnancy in normal-weight women and risk of preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Preterm birth is the major cause of perinatal mortality in the United States. In the past, pregnant women have been recommended to not exercise because of presumed risks of preterm birth. Physical activity has been theoretically related to preterm birth because it increases the release of catecholamines, especially norepinephrine, which might stimulate myometrial activity.

Clinical Significance of Spontaneous Echo Contrast on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Background: Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is known to be a predisposition to thromboembolism and cerebrovascular accident. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors and the consequences of SEC in patients who were placed on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) because of cardiogenic shock.

Methods: Between January 2011 and December 2014, 98 patients underwent the insertion of VA-ECMO because of cardiogenic shock in our institution.

Right Ventricular Enlargement within Months of Arteriovenous Fistula Creation in 2 Hemodialysis Patients.

Surgically created arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) for hemodialysis can contribute to hemodynamic changes. We describe the cases of 2 male patients in whom new right ventricular enlargement developed after an AVF was created for hemodialysis. Patient 1 sustained high-output heart failure solely attributable to the AVF.

Prompt Recognition of Left Ventricular Free-Wall Rupture Aided by the Use of Contrast Echocardiography.

In the modern period of reperfusion, left ventricular free-wall rupture occurs in less than 1% of myocardial infarctions. Typically, acute left ventricular free-wall rupture leads to sudden death from immediate cardiac tamponade. We present the case of a 59-year-old woman who sustained a posterior-wall myocardial infarction and subsequent cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity.

The Effect of Aspirin on Bleeding and Transfusion in Contemporary Cardiac Surgery.

Objective: Despite evidence that preoperative aspirin improves outcomes in cardiac surgery, recommendations for aspirin use are inconsistent due to aspirin's anti-platelet effect and concern for bleeding. The purpose of this study was to investigate preoperative aspirin use and its effect on bleeding and transfusion in cardiac surgery.

Methods: This retrospective study involved consecutive patients (n=1571) who underwent CABG, valve, or combined CABG and valve surgery at a single center between March 2007 and July 2012.

Feasibility of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in the super-obese using a multi-head semiconductor camera with attenuation correction.

Background: Obesity is not only associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, but also decreases the accuracy of many diagnostic modalities pertinent to this disease. Advances in myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) have mitigated somewhat the effects of obesity, although the feasibility of MPI in the super-obese (defined as a BMI > 50) is currently untested. We undertook this study to assess the practicality of MPI in the super-obese using a multi-headed solid-state gamma camera with attenuation correction.

Patient characteristics and predictors of mortality associated with pericardial decompression syndrome: a comprehensive analysis of published cases.

Background: Pericardial decompression syndrome (PDS) is a rare and potentially fatal complication of pericardial drainage, either by needle pericardiocentesis or surgical pericardiostomy. It manifests with paradoxical hemodynamic deterioration and/or pulmonary edema, commonly associated with ventricular dysfunction. We sought to elucidate factors associated with mortality in PDS.

Vorapaxar in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery: subgroup analysis from the TRACER trial (Thrombin Receptor Antagonist for Clinical Event Reduction in Acute Coronary Syndrome).

Objectives: This study evaluated effects of protease-activated receptor-1 antagonist vorapaxar (Merck, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey) versus placebo among the TRACER (Thrombin Receptor Antagonist for Clinical Event Reduction in Acute Coronary Syndrome) study patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Background: Platelet activation may play a key role in graft occlusion, and antiplatelet therapies may reduce ischemic events, but perioperative bleeding risk remains a major concern. Although the TRACER study did not meet the primary quintuple composite outcome in the overall population with increased bleeding, an efficacy signal with vorapaxar was noted on major ischemic outcomes, and preliminary data suggest an acceptable surgical bleeding profile.

Poor positive predictive value of McConnell's sign on transthoracic echocardiography for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition. Making a definitive diagnosis with radiologic studies may delay therapy or be unsafe for the patient. Echocardiography is readily available and can suggest PE by demonstrating right ventricular (RV) dysfunction.

Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel: what is the risk in noncardiac surgery? A narrative review.

Clopidogrel is one of the most commonly prescribed medications and is currently recommended along with aspirin as treatment to be used for 1 year in all patients without contraindications following an acute coronary syndrome. Patients who are committed to clopidogrel therapy due to recent coronary artery stent implantation may require noncardiac surgery during this recommended period of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Due to differing rates of endothelialization, patients who undergo bare-metal stent implantation generally require ≥ 1 month of uninterrupted DAPT, and those who undergo drug-eluting stent implantation require ≥ 12 months.

Saphenous vein graft disease: review of pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment.

Saphenous vein graft (SVG) disease after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) occurs in three phases: thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia, and atherosclerosis. Within the first month, thrombosis plays a major role. From month 1 to month 12, intimal hyperplasia occurs.