Artificial Intelligence-Driven Advances in Coronary Calcium Scoring: Expanding Preventive Cardiology.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for effective cardiovascular risk stratification and preventive strategies. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, traditionally performed using electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated cardiac computed tomography (CT) scans, has been widely validated as a robust tool for assessing cardiovascular risk. However, its application has been largely limited to high-risk populations due to the costs, technical requirements, and limited accessibility of cardiac CT scans.

Should Mesh Plug Use Be Discontinued in Hernia Repair Practices?

Mesh plugs are commonly used in inguinal hernia repair due to their perceived efficacy in reducing recurrence rates. However, their use has been associated with significant complications, including mesh migration, chronic pain, infection, hernia recurrence, adhesions, and erosion into adjacent organs. This case series presents three patients who experienced complications from mesh plug migration post-hernia repair.

Can Intrapleural Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Deoxyribonuclease Be Used to Treat Persistent Hemothorax After Robotic Lobectomy?

Hemothorax is a serious complication following thoracic surgery, often resulting from vessel injury or rib fractures, and is typically managed with chest tube drainage. Persistent or loculated hemothorax, referred to as retained hemothorax, may require more invasive interventions, such as thoracotomy. Although the intrapleural administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and deoxyribonuclease (DNase) has shown promise in managing pleural infections, its use for hemothorax remains controversial due to bleeding risks.

Intrahepatic Rupture of Acute Cholecystitis Complicated by Septic Portal Thrombosis.

Gallbladder rupture, though rare, is a serious complication often arising from choledocholithiasis and subsequent interventions such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In this case, the patient presented with acute choledocholithiasis and underwent ERCP with sphincterotomy and stone extraction, followed by placement of a fully covered metal stent in the common bile duct (CBD). While the use of covered stents is appropriate, it is important to note that these stents can obstruct the cystic duct orifice in patients with a gallbladder.

Blunt trauma-induced complete esophageal avulsion: A case report on surgical intervention and clinical insights.

Blunt esophageal injury is an exceptionally rare condition, with complete esophageal avulsion being almost unprecedented in adults. This case study details the clinical presentation, surgical management, and postoperative course of a 50-year-old male who sustained a complete esophageal avulsion following blunt abdominal trauma. The patient presented with increasing abdominal pain two hours after falling while stepping up onto a high truck step, striking his upper abdomen on the step.