Evaluating the Efficacy of a Pre-Established Lipid-Lowering Algorithm in Managing Hypercholesterolemia in Patients at Very High Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Recent data from European studies (EUROASPIRE V, DA VINCI, SANTORINI) indicate that achieving the LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) target in patients at very high cardiovascular risk is uncommon. Additionally, using a combination therapy involving statins and ezetimibe remains infrequent.

Methods: A single-center assessment of a pre-defined lipid lowering treatment algorithm's effectiveness at achieving the LDL-C target in patients at very high cardiovascular risk one month and one year after hospitalization.

Impact of Pre-Transplant Left Ventricular Diastolic Pressure on Primary Graft Dysfunction after Lung Transplantation: A Narrative Review.

Lung transplantation (LT) constitutes the last therapeutic option for selected patients with end-stage respiratory disease. Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a form of severe lung injury, occurring in the first 72 h following LT and constitutes the most common cause of early death after LT. The presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been reported to favor PGD development, with a negative impact on patients' outcomes while complicating medical management.

Emerging Trends in Left Ventricular Thrombus: A Comprehensive Review of Non-Ischemic and Ischemic Cardiopathies, Including Eosinophilic Myocarditis, Chagas Cardiomyopathy, Amyloidosis, and Innovative Anticoagulant Approaches.

This comprehensive review explores the intricate aspects of left ventricular thrombus (LVT), a potential complication in both ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. It provides a thorough understanding of left ventricular thrombus, revealing its uncommon incidence in the general population (7 cases per 10,000 patients), predominantly linked to ischemic heart diseases (ICMs) at an 80% prevalence rate. Diagnostic tools, notably transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), demonstrate varying sensitivity but remain indispensable in specific clinical contexts related to LVT as non-invasive diagnostic modalities.

Unmasking Pandemic Echoes: An In-Depth Review of Long COVID's Unabated Cardiovascular Consequences beyond 2020.

At the beginning of 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a new pandemic, leading to a worldwide health crisis and overwhelming healthcare systems due to high numbers of hospital admissions, insufficient resources, and a lack of standardized therapeutic protocols. Multiple genetic variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been detected since its first public declaration in 2020, some of them being considered variants of concern (VOCs) corresponding to several pandemic waves. Nevertheless, a growing number of COVID-19 patients are continuously discharged from hospitals, remaining symptomatic even months after their first episode of COVID-19 infection.

An imaging artifact unmasked by contrast-enhanced transesophageal echocardiography.

Performing transesophageal imaging of the left atrial appendage is key before cardioversion for atrial fibrillation. Ultrasound artifacts may induce misinterpretation and decrease in confidence for thrombus exclusion.

Resuscitative TEE after open heart surgery: When POCUS fails to FOCUS.

Echocardiography is key in evaluating the cause of collapse in the post-cardiac surgery patient. Transesophageal echocardiography provides a greater capability for the diagnosis of pericardial effusion in patients who arrest after cardiac surgery.

Barotrauma in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome: retrospective analysis of the COVADIS prospective multicenter observational database.

Background: Despite evidence suggesting a higher risk of barotrauma during COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) compared to ARDS due to other causes, data are limited about possible associations with patient characteristics, ventilation strategy, and survival.

Methods: This prospective observational multicenter study included consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 ARDS requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and managed at any of 12 centers in France and Belgium between March and December 2020. The primary objective was to determine whether barotrauma was associated with ICU mortality (censored on day 90), and the secondary objective was to identify factors associated with barotrauma.

Strain echocardiography in a sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy.

Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy represents a challenging disorder for critical care practitioners in terms of diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. Strain echocardiography may help to identify ventricular dysfunction at precocious stage in critically ill patients. In this manuscript, we describe early impairment in left ventricular systolic function using speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Three-dimensional critical care transesophageal echocardiography: A bedside tool in the diagnosis and management of shock.

Critical care echocardiography has become fundamental in diagnosis, management, and monitoring of patients in shock. Transesophageal echocardiography has gained importance, particularly in critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation. We describe echocardiographic findings concerning a patient admitted with confusion, pulmonary edema, hypotension, and systolic murmur at apex.

Cardiac CT findings in patients with family history of premature CAD: an observational study.

Introduction: A family history of premature CAD may promote enhanced development of coronary atherosclerosis in a sibling population. Baseline CV algorithms may underestimate the risk of coronary incidents in individuals at familial risk. Cardiac CT provides high diagnostic performance for the detection of coronary plaques.

Identifying Clinical Phenotypes in Moderate to Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Related to COVID-19: The COVADIS Study.

Different phenotypes have been identified in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Existence of several phenotypes in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) related acute respiratory distress syndrome is unknown. We sought to identify different phenotypes of patients with moderate to severe ARDS related to COVID-19.

Static compliance of the respiratory system in COVID-19 related ARDS: an international multicenter study.

Background: Controversies exist on the nature of COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in particular on the static compliance of the respiratory system (Crs). We aimed to analyze the association of Crs with outcome in COVID-19-associated ARDS, to ascertain its determinants and to describe its evolution at day-14.

Methods: In this observational multicenter cohort of patients with moderate to severe Covid-19 ARDS, Crs was measured at day-1 and day-14.

Predictors of Mortality and Effect of Drug Therapies in Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

We conducted a multicenter cohort study to determine the effect of drug therapies on survival in mechanically ventilated patients with coronavirus disease 2019. All consecutive adult patients admitted to ICU for coronavirus disease 2019 from March 1, 2020, to April 25, 2020, and under invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours were included. Out of 2,003 patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019, 361 were admitted to ICU, 257 were ventilated for more than 24 hours, and 247 were included in the study.

Characteristics and outcomes of acute respiratory distress syndrome related to COVID-19 in Belgian and French intensive care units according to antiviral strategies: the COVADIS multicentre observational study.

Background: Limited data are available regarding antiviral therapy efficacy in most severe patients under mechanical ventilation for Covid-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Methods: Comparison of antiviral strategies (none, hydroxychloroquine (OHQ), lopinavir/ritonavir (L/R), others (combination or remdesivir) in an observational multicentre cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe Covid-19 ARDS. The primary endpoint was the number of day 28 ventilator-free days (VFD).

Factors Associated With Pulmonary Embolism Among Coronavirus Disease 2019 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Multicenter Study Among 375 Patients.

Risk factors associated with pulmonary embolism in coronavirus disease 2019 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients deserve to be better known. We therefore performed a post hoc analysis from the COronaVirus-Associated DIsease Study (COVADIS) project, a multicenter observational study gathering 21 ICUs from France ( = 12) and Belgium ( = 9). Three-hundred seventy-five consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and positive coronavirus disease 2019 were included in the study.

COVID-19 pandemic: overview of protective-ventilation strategy in ARDS patients.

: In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, the aim of this manuscript is to provide a standard of care of patients with ARDS for non-emergency medicine trained physicians who are not customary with mechanical ventilation.: We conducted a systematic review of the literature to investigate the best practice recommendations regarding the mechanical ventilation of patients with ARDS.: We summarized the principal strategies for lung-protective ventilation of patients with ARDS.

Leptospirosis-induced purpura: An atypical manifestation of Weil's disease.

Purpura is a rare but documented presenting feature of severe leptospirosis. We describe a case of Weil's disease characterized by predominating coagulopathy and hepato-nephritis. We illustrate dynamic changes in cutaneous lesions.

Cardiac computed tomography in asymptomatic siblings of patients with premature coronary disease: illustrations and current knowledge.

A strong family history of early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD) may represent a substantial predictor of enhanced development of subclinical atherosclerosis in a sibling population. In this population, standard cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment could be underrated with the predictive capacity of the Framingham Risk Score. At present, cardiac computed tomography (CT) provides a high diagnostic performance for the detection of coronary atherosclerosis.

Early prognosis and predictor analysis for positive coronary angiography after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Background: Key predictors of survival after OHCA have been described in the literature. Current guidelines recommend emergency angiography in patients without an obvious extra-cardiac cause of arrest. However, the value of this strategy is debated.