Influence of summer tourist flows on occurrence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in an Italian tourist-intensive area.

Introduction: The study aims to evaluate the seasonal variation of out-of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in a tourist-intensive area.

Methods: Data of all OHCA treated by the Emergency Medical Service of Lecce (LE-EMS), Italy, between 2013 and 2017, were retrospectively analyzed and complemented with information about tourist flows, in order to determine the influence of the seasonal variation of population on incidence and outcome.

Results: Tourist arrivals were around 1,700,000 per year, mostly in summer, adding up to 803,161 residents.

Floating thrombus in the thoracic aorta: what should be done?

Floating thrombus in a non-aneurysmal and non-atherosclerotic thoracic aorta is a rare event with potentially catastrophic complications. Especially younger patients have a higher risk of embolization. Transesophageal echocardiography is the diagnostic method of choice.