Transfusion practice in anemic, non-bleeding patients: Cross-sectional survey of physicians working in general internal medicine teaching hospitals in Switzerland.

Background: Transfusion practice might significantly influence patient morbidity and mortality. Between European countries, transfusion practice of red blood cells (RBC) greatly differs. Only sparse data are available on transfusion practice of general internal medicine physicians in Switzerland.

[A deceptive gut feeling].

We report the case of a 58 year old man with unspecific lower abdominal pain, respiratory failure and shock. An acute aortic syndrome and a massive pulmonary embolism were excluded, and a coronary angiography for suspected acute myocardial infarction was performed, with detection of a high-grade stenosis of the left main coronary artery. A percutaneous coronary intervention was needed.

Differences and similarities between spontaneous dissections of the internal carotid artery and the vertebral artery.

Background And Purpose: To compare potential risk factors, clinical symptoms, diagnostic delay, and 3-month outcome between spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection (sICAD) and spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD).

Methods: We compared patients with sICAD (n=668) and sVAD (n=302) treated in 3 university hospitals.

Results: Patients with sICAD were older (46.

Statins and the risk of cancer after heart transplantation.

Background: Although newer immunosuppressive agents, such as mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitors, have lowered the occurrence of malignancies after transplantation, cancer is still a leading cause of death late after heart transplantation. Statins may have an impact on clinical outcomes beyond their lipid-lowering effects. The aim of the present study was to delineate whether statin therapy has an impact on cancer risk and total mortality after heart transplantation.