Spontaneous multiarterial dissection immediately after childbirth.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection and vertebral artery dissection are rare, life-threatening conditions. The pathophysiology of spontaneous coronary artery dissection during the peripartum period is poorly understood. We present a case of spontaneous multivessel dissection in a 32-year-old postpartum woman who presented with neck and chest pain.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic features of unicuspid aortic valve stenosis correlate with surgical findings.

A unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) is a rare congenital defect that may manifest clinically as severe aortic stenosis or regurgitation in the third to fifth decade of life. This report describes two cases of UAV stenosis in adult patients diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The utility of three-dimensional TEE in confirming valve morphology and its relevance to transcatheter valve replacement are discussed.

Hyperperfusion syndrome following carotid artery stenting: the largest single-operator series to date.

Background: Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (HPS) results from autoregulatory failure of cerebral blood flow following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) and encompasses a range of neurological findings including headache, seizure, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), altered mental status and focal neurological changes. This report is the largest single-operator series evaluating the incidence and predictors of HPS following CAS.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 482 consecutive patients who underwent CAS between August 1999 and December 2007 at Baptist Medical Center--Princeton, Birmingham, Alabama.