Pulmonary Hypertension in Underrepresented Minorities: A Narrative Review.

Minoritized racial and ethnic groups suffer disproportionately from the incidence and morbidity of pulmonary hypertension (PH), as well as its associated cardiovascular, pulmonary, and systemic conditions. These disparities are largely explained by social determinants of health, including access to care, systemic biases, socioeconomic status, and environment. Despite this undue burden, minority patients remain underrepresented in PH research.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is the preferred procedure for biliary drainage in benign and malignant obstructions. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage is an emerging technique for when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography fails. It is a highly versatile procedure with several options of access point, stent direction, and drainage route.

Endoscopic management of perforations, leaks and fistulas.

The endoscopic management armamentarium of gastrointestinal disruptions including perforations, leaks, and fistulas has slowly but steadily broadened in recent years. Previously limited to surgical or conservative medical management, innovations in advanced endoscopic techniques like natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) have paved the path towards development of endoscopic closure techniques. Early recognition of a gastrointestinal defect is the most important independent variable in determining successful endoscopic closure and patient outcome.

Outcome of catheter-directed thrombolysis for lower extremity arterial bypass occlusion.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical outcome of patients undergoing catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for lower extremity arterial bypass (LEAB) occlusion.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of two university-based practices from 1988 to 2001. All patients with LEAB occlusion (<14 days by history) undergoing CDT as initial treatment were included.