Usefulness of contrast echocardiography for assessment of intracardiac masses.

Background: Conventional echocardiography is not a reliable method for characterizing tissue patterns of intracardiac masses.

Aims: To assess the ability of contrast echocardiography to characterize intracardiac masses.

Methods: Thirty-one consecutive patients with an intracardiac mass were included in this prospective study.

Recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by convulsive status epilepticus.

Introduction: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can complicate several conditions including neurological emergencies. A few recurrent cases associated with seizures have been reported, but none of the patients had status epilepticus. The pathophysiology of takotsubo syndrome, although debated, may involve stunning of the myocardium by a catecholamine storm triggered by stress.

Lysergic acid amide-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with status epilepticus.

Introduction: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is known to occur in association with several substances. However, lysergic acid amide (LSA) is not among the previously reported causes of PRES.

Methods: We report on a patient with PRES presenting as convulsive status epilepticus associated with hypertensive encephalopathy after LSA ingestion.

Reliability of echocardiography for hemodynamic assessment of end-stage heart failure.

The management of patients with end-stage heart failure is difficult and may require the monitoring of intracardiac pressures. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the reliability of echocardiography in patients with end-stage HF. Twenty consecutive patients presenting with severe left ventricular dysfunction in end-stage heart failure were prospectively studied.

High-flow perfusion of sheaths for prevention of thromboembolic complications during complex catheter ablation in the left atrium.

Introduction: Mechanisms for thromboembolic complications during complex ablation procedures in left atrium (LA) have not been defined. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the perfusion rate of the transseptal sheath on the incidence of thromboembolic complications during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) or LA macroreentrant tachycardia.

Methods And Results: We analyzed clinical and procedural data from 86 consecutive patients (153 procedures) referred for catheter ablation of AF (74 patients) or LA macroreentrant tachycardia (12 patients).