Is low-intensity anticoagulant therapy possible with an open pivot valve?: analysis of its development.

In 1976, the authors became the codevelopers of the first successful bileaflet heart valve which has become the standard in valvular surgery. However, there still remains a significant rate of thromboembolism and thrombosis which can be attributed to the inherent design of cavities in the pivot area. These cavities contribute to stagnant areas that lead to thrombus formation.

Localized transscleral staphylococcal abscess simulating a neoplasm.

A 47-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer developed a focal epibulbar mass in the right eye. The initial diagnosis was nodular episcleritis, but the lesion failed to respond to local and systemic corticosteroids. The rule out an epibulbar metastatic carcinoma an excisional biopsy was performed, which demonstrate a localized staphylococcal abscess that had locally eroded the sclera and exposed the underlying uveal tract.

Latex versus iodinated contrast media anaphylaxis in the cardiac cath lab.

A 65-year-old man had bypass surgery 10 years previously with pulmonary artery catheter monitoring. Shortness of breath and mitral regurgitation necessitated repeat left and right heart catheterization using a pulmonary artery catheter. Before any iodinated contrast media exposure, the pulmonary artery catheter was inserted and within 2 min the patient developed anaphylaxis associated ventricular fibrillation.

Comparison of the unwanted optical images produced by 6 mm and 7 mm intraocular lenses.

Unwanted optical images are noticed by a surprisingly large number of patients following cataract extraction with implantation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs). These images are caused by the positioning holes, lens edge, or laser ridge. We studied 550 eyes in which one of seven different IOLs was inserted.