Associations and outcomes of septic pulmonary embolism.

Background: Septic pulmonary embolism is a serious but uncommon syndrome posing diagnostic challenges because of its broad range of clinical presentation and etiologies.

Objective: To understand the clinical and radiographic associations of septic pulmonary embolism in patients presenting to an acute care safety net hospital.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of imaging and electronic health records of all patients diagnosed with septic pulmonary embolism in our hospital between January 2000 and January 2013.

Diltiazem-induced Transient Complete Atrioventricular Block in an Elderly Patient with Acute on Chronic Renal Failure.

Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker commonly used in the treatment of various cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, angina and supraventricular tachycardias. Metabolism occurs mainly in the liver, but a small percentage of unchanged drug and metabolites are excreted in the urine. Toxicity from this medication usually presents in the form of dysrrhytmias and heart block.

Adjuvant Role of CT in the Diagnosis of Post-Infarction Left Ventricular Free-Wall Rupture.

Left ventricular free wall rupture is usually a catastrophic mechanical complication of myocardial infarction. Risk factors include advanced age, female gender and absence of prior infarction. The vast majority of patients succumb rapidly due to cardiac tamponade and electromechanical dissociation.

Prognostic value of 12-lead electrocardiogram and peak troponin I level after vascular surgery.

Objective: The aim of this investigation was to determine if the presence of ischemic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in patients undergoing vascular surgery provides incremental prognostic information about the long-term risk of death compared with a single peak troponin level within 48 hours after surgery.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 337 patients undergoing moderate-risk to high-risk vascular surgery at our institution whose ECG and biomarker data were complete. Peak cardiac troponin (cTn) I values that exceeded the upper reference limit (URL) were categorized as low-positive (+), at or exceeding the URL but less than three times the URL, or high-positive (+), at or exceeding three times the URL.

The association of septic thrombophlebitis with septic pulmonary embolism in adults.

Background: There have been an increasing number of pediatric reports of septic pulmonary embolism in the setting of septic thrombophlebitis adjacent to a primary infectious source.

Methods: Retrospective review at an urban hospital. A total of five adults with a documented primary infectious source, adjacent septic thrombophlebitis and septic pulmonary embolism were identified between 2000 and 2011.

Peak postoperative troponin levels outperform preoperative cardiac risk indices as predictors of long-term mortality after vascular surgery Troponins and postoperative outcomes.

Background: The utility of postoperative troponins as an independent predictor of long-term mortality after vascular surgery is unknown.

Methods: One hundred sixty-four consecutive patients underwent vascular surgery and postoperative mortality was determined at 2.5 years.