Computed tomography with positron emission tomography is more useful in local than systemic infectious process related to cardiac implanted electrotherapy device: a prospective controlled multicenter diagnostic intervention PET-Guidance Trial.

Assess the diagnostic value of 18-F FDG PET/CT in cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) infections in facilitating diagnostic process and optimizing decision-making process.Study group (n = 21) patients with initial suspected diagnosis of CIED-related infection or fever of unknown origin and patients referred for device removal due to infection. Control group (n = 13) patients with implanted CIED, who underwent PET/CT due to other non-infectious indications and had no data for infectious process in follow-up.

Feasibility of FDG PET in the cardiac inflammation.

The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of FDG PET in cardiac inflammation with a particular focus on the delayed scan. Thirty-five consecutive FDG PET scans of patients with suspected or confirmed cardiac inflammation were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were referred for PET because of endocarditis (n = 16) or sarcoidosis (n = 19).

Additional data from clinical examination on site significantly but marginally improve predictive accuracy of the Revised Trauma Score for major complications during Helicopter Emergency Medical Service missions.

Introduction: The Revised Trauma Score (RTS) accurately identifies trauma patients at high risk of adverse events or death. Less is known about its usefulness in the general population and non-trauma recipients of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). The RTS is a simple tool and omits a lot of other data obtained during clinical evaluation.

Occurrence and extraction of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads with conductor externalization.

Background: The increasing number of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) contributes to the rising number of patients qualifying for a transvenous lead extraction (TLE) due to infection, vascular or lead failure related indications. The purpose of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of the occurrence of conductor externalization in TLE patients and to assess the success rate in the extraction of these leads.

Methods: TLE procedure was performed between 2012 and 2014 of 428 electrodes in 259 patients.