Evaluation of heart failure management in a Military Hospital.

Purpose: Evaluate heart failure management in a Military Hospital in 2005.

Methods: Retrospective audit of 46 case records of patients hospitalised with heart failure within the framework of an accreditation procedure.

Results: The left ventricular ejection fraction was evaluated in 85% of cases during the reference hospital stay.

What is the role of computed tomographic coronary angiography in diabetic patients?

Unlabelled: All diabetes specialists are aware of the frequency and severity of coronary disease in diabetics. Non-invasive diagnostic tests perform well, but they could be better.

Aim: To assess the role of computed tomographic coronary angiography in diabetics.

[Cardiac toxicity of catecholamines. Report of two cases].

Introduction: The role of catecholamines in the cardiac expression of pheochromocytoma is well-known. The physiopathology of the syndrome of Tako-tsubo remains more unclear.

Exegesis: We describe 2 clinical cases of acute coronary syndrome with left ventricular dysfunction and no coronary artery stenosis.

[Alcohol and rhythm disorders].

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality in chronic alcoholics. There is a clear association between excessive alcohol consumption and the risk of sudden cardiac death. The pro-arrhythmogenic effect of ethanol could be responsible for some of these cases of arrhythmia and sudden death in subjects with an alcoholic cardiomyopathy and also in those with an apparently normal heart.

[Importance of transesophageal echocardiography and computed tomography in the differential diagnosis of a case of papillary fibroelastoma revealed by a neurologic accident].

In the light of a new case revealed by a stroke, the authors confirm the importance of transesophagal echocardiography (TEE), and show that multislide computered tomography can be used as a new efficient tool for the diagnosis of cardiac papillary fibroelastoma (CPF). These benign tumours of endocardium are rare and case reports have been published sporadically. Stroke is an usual clinical complication and the most frequent symptom associated with CPF.

[The heart and cocaine].

Cocaine abuse should be considered in everyday cardiological practice for three reasons. The first one is epidemiological as there is an unprecedented increase in cocaine abuse in France and it may result in serious complications, mainly cardiovascular. The second reason concerns modality of consumption: it is usually associated with other toxic substances (including tobacco) and poly-intoxication is a more serious problem and the diagnostic difficulties are greater.