Prediction of new onset atrial fibrillation in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: The role of sPESI Score.

Objective: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a serious clinical situation and atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhytmia in clinical practice. The Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) is an accepted risk stratification tool used to predict short term mortality in APE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the PESI score and new-onset AF in patients with APE.

The relationship between right ventricular outflow tract fractional shortening and Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index in acute pulmonary embolism.

Objective: Right ventricular (RV) functions are clinically important in acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Measurement of systolic function of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) with echocardiography is a simple method to evaluate RV function. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between RVOT systolic function and the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI).

Do we overestimate left ventricular ejection fraction by two-dimensional echocardiography in patients with left bundle branch block?

Aims: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) causes a dyssynchronized contraction of left ventricle. This is a kind of regional wall-motion abnormality and measuring left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography could be less reliable in this particular condition. Our aim was to evaluate the role of dyssynchrony index (SDI), measured by three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, in assessment of LVEF and left ventricular volumes accurately in patients with LBBB.

Is there a relationship between slow coronary flow and normal to mildly impaired renal function?

Objective: The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation is more effective at estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) than the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation, particularly in patients with mildly impaired renal function. Recent studies have demonstrated, using the Cockroft-Gault and MDRD formulas, a significant correlation between slow coronary flow (SCF) and normal to mildly impaired renal function. However, these studies had some limitations.

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after mitral valve replacement: Review of pseudoaneurysms late after mitral valve replacement.

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVPA) due to incomplete or late rupture after mitral valve replacement is a rare condition but can be life threatening if it develops into perdicardial tamponade. LVPA may develop de novo after the surgical procedure or may be a sequela of an earlier rupture. Clinical presentation includes shortness of breath, heart failure, chest pain, endocarditis, and pericardial tamponade.