Impact of intra-abdominal pressure on early kidney transplant outcomes.

Increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is common among post-surgical patients and may cause organ dysfunction. However, its impact after kidney transplantation on early postoperative complications and graft recovery remains unclear. We designed a prospective, observational cohort study to describe the prevalence and determinants of IAP, as well as its effect on delayed graft function, postoperative complications, and graft recovery.

Comparison of Different Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cell Approaches in Reperfused STEMI. A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Open-Labeled TECAM Trial.

Background: Stem cell-based therapy has emerged as a potential therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although various approaches have been studied, intracoronary injection of bone marrow autologous mononuclear cells (BMMC) and the ability of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize endogenous cells have attracted the most attention.

Objectives: This study compares, for the first time, the efficacy of BMMC injection, G-CSF mobilization, and the combination of both with standard treatment.

Role of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in right-sided endocarditis: one echocardiographic modality does not fit all.

The added value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) over transthoracic echocardiography in the assessment of left-sided infective endocarditis has been extensively validated in the literature. Little research has dealt with the role of echocardiography in right-sided infective endocarditis (RSE), however. In this review, the differences between RSE and left-sided endocarditis and the different types of RSE according to the types of patients who have the disease are described.

Age-dependent profile of left-sided infective endocarditis: a 3-center experience.

Background: The influence of age on the main epidemiological, clinical, echocardiographic, microbiological, and prognostic features of patients with infective endocarditis remains unknown. We present the series with the largest numbers and range of ages of subjects to date that analyzes the influence of age on the main characteristics of patients with isolated left-sided infective endocarditis. Furthermore, this series is the first one in which patients have been distributed according to age quartile.

Safety and predictors of complications with a new accelerated dobutamine stress echocardiography protocol.

Background: This study sought to document the safety of a new accelerated dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography protocol and to analyze its complications.

Methods: Dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography studies were performed using an incremental dobutamine infusion protocol from 20 to 40 microg/kg/min in 3-minute stages and followed by atropine.

Results: A total of 962 patients were included.

Definition, clinical profile, microbiological spectrum, and prognostic factors of early-onset prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Aim: There is no agreement in the best cutoff time to distinguish between early- and late- onset prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Our objectives are to define early-onset PVE according to the microbiological spectrum and to analyse the profile and short-term prognosis of this entity.

Methods And Results: The microbiological profile of 172 non-drug users, who were patients with PVE, were compared according to the time elapsed from surgery among 640 endocarditis diagnosed between 1996 and 2004.

A case report of a round cystic tumor in the left ventricular outflow tract.

We report a case of a patient who was admitted to our hospital complaining of angina pectoris. On auscultation, a systolic ejection murmur was heard at the right upper sternal border. Transthoracic echocardiography displayed regional wall motion abnormalities and detected a mobile mass in the left ventricular outflow tract, causing mild obstruction during systole.

Clinical and prognostic profile of patients with infective endocarditis who need urgent surgery.

Aims: Surgery in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) can be elective (upon completion of antibiotic treatment) or urgent (before antibiotic treatment has ended) when the clinical course is unfavourable. However, urgent surgery for left-sided endocarditis is associated with high mortality. The aims of this study were to describe the profile of patients with left-sided endocarditis who underwent urgent surgery and to analyse the factors that predicted mortality.

Value of contrast echocardiography for the diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome.

The hepatopulmonary syndrome must be suspected in patients with end-stage liver disease and refractory hypoxemia. We report a case of a 49-year-old woman with hypoxemia and cirrhosis referred to the cardiac ultrasound laboratory in the evaluation of liver transplantation. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography with intravenous injection of agitated saline solution was crucial to obtain the definitive diagnosis.

Acute pulmonary edema secondary to myocardial damage after electrical cardioversion.

Direct cardioversion used in the treatment of various cardiac arrhythmias is a highly effective and simple procedure with infrequent complications. An uncommon complication is the occurrence of pulmonary edema. This report describes a 68-year-old woman with normal coronary arteries who experienced pulmonary edema following cardioversion secondary to myocardial injury demonstrated by ECG changes and elevation of troponin T.

Clinical profile of Streptococcus agalactiae native valve endocarditis.

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae is an unusual pathogen in adults who are not pregnant. S agalactiae endocarditis is a poorly defined entity because it is uncommon; in contrast to other streptococcal endocarditis, it bears a high mortality rate. The aim of this study was to define its clinical, prognostic, and therapeutic profile on the basis of a series of 9 consecutive patients.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in women with chest pain: comparison with different noninvasive tests.

Background: Diagnosis of coronary artery disease(CAD) in women remains elusive. The classical diagnostic armamentarium has been found to be very limited. Dobutamine stress echocardiography has emerged as a powerful test in assessing CAD in the general population, but most studies failed to include women.

[Atrial hematoma in cardiac postoperative patients and the diagnostic use of transesophageal echocardiography].

The formation of atrial hematomas with a mass effect in patients who have undergone cardiac surgery originates a clinical and hemodynamic syndrome that is difficult to assess. Hypotension with high right atrial pressure and equalization of pulmonary wedge pressure is not always present due to the irregular distribution of the hematoma in cardiac chambers. Transesophageal echocardiography is a useful diagnostic procedure for atrial hematomas, differentiating them from other similar clinical and hemodynamic situations like left ventricular or prosthetic valve dysfunction.