Renal Sympathetic Denervation: A Comprehensive Review.

In 2017, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association released its updated blood pressure guidelines, redefining hypertension to be any systolic blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mm Hg. Among United States adults, these new parameters increased the prevalence of hypertension from 72.2 million (31.

Uterine intravenous leiomyomatosis with femoral vein, intracaval, intracardiac and pulmonary artery extension.

We report a 54-year-old female with recently diagnosed multiple cardiac thrombi and pulmonary embolism that was treated with thrombolytics and anticoagulants. She presented again with worsening dyspnea and was found to have persistent large cardiac thrombi on echocardiogram. Surgical findings revealed a single right atrial mass originating from inferior vena cava and extending into the pulmonary artery.

Right ventricular metastasis from unclassified Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Cardiac metastasis of unclassified renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtype is very rare, and even more so is an isolated right ventricular (RV) metastasis without vena cava extension or right atrial involvement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a cardiac metastasis of an unclassified RCC (an aggressive RCC) without vena cava extension.

Case Presentation: A 61-year-old African American male with past medical history of hypertension and schizophrenia presented to the emergency room following 2 episodes of syncope and 3-month history of progressive neck mass.

Post-Myocardial Infarction Ventricular Septal Defect: A Comprehensive Review.

Post-myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a rare but potentially catastrophic mechanical complication that occurs in <1% of patients following a myocardial infarction and it is associated with a high morbidity and mortality despite improvements in medical and surgical therapies. Post-MI VSD is a medical emergency and outcome is very poor in medically treated patients. Treatment of choice remains surgical closure of defect and transcatheter defect closure less so.

Outcomes of Percutaneous Antegrade Intraluminal Coronary Intervention of Chronic Total Occlusion With Remote Surgical Backup.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO) is not favored in facilities without on-site surgical backup. We reviewed outcomes of patients who had CTO intervention with remote surgical backup in our institution. All patients who underwent attempted antegrade intraluminal CTO PCI from January 2013 to July 2017 were analyzed.

Modifiable Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an acceptable therapy for patients with severe aortic valve stenosis at high or prohibitive surgical risk. Attempts are ongoing to validate risk prediction models for in-hospital mortality after TAVR. Our aim was to define modifiable risk factors predictive of in-hospital mortality after TAVR.

Clinical and echocardiographic predictors of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients admitted with blunt trauma.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia after trauma or burn injury; however, its predisposing factors are not well known. Moreover, little is known about its effect on mortality and other short-term clinical outcomes.

Objectives: This study is aimed at identifying risk factors for new-onset AF in patients admitted with blunt trauma or burn injuries at a Level 1 academic trauma center, and to determine its effects on the short-term clinical outcomes.

Simultaneous acute cardio-cerebral infarction: is there a consensus for management?

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are both life-threatening medical conditions with narrow therapeutic time-window that carry grave prognosis if not addressed promptly. The acute management of both condition is well documented in the literature, however the management of a simultaneous presentation of both AIS and AMI is unclear. A delayed intervention of one infarcted territory for the other may result in permanent irreversible morbidity or disability, and even death.

Severe sepsis and cardiac arrhythmias.

Background: Although sepsis is a known risk factor for cardiac arrhythmias, data on incidence and outcomes of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in severe sepsis is limited. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of severe sepsis with cardiac arrhythmias and their impact on outcome in this patient population.

Methods: We used hospital discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) during the year 2012.

Trends, predictors and outcomes of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage in patients with a left ventricular assist device.

Background: Patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are at a higher risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). There is limited data available on risk factors and outcomes associated with IS and ICH in LVAD patients.

Methods: All patients >18 years of age with an LVAD were identified based on the U.

Stress-induced thrombus: prevalence of thromboembolic events and the role of anticoagulation in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy has a favorable prognosis with expected recovery in weeks. Left ventricular (LV) thrombus is a known complication of TCM, which can lead to embolization and potentially a stroke. The prevalence of LV thrombus and the role of anticoagulation have yet to be fully defined in this condition.

Aortic Valve Regurgitation: A Comprehensive Review.

Aortic regurgitation (AR) has an estimated prevalence of 4.9% in the Framingham study, with moderate or severe AR occurring in 0.5% of the study population.

Clinical outcomes of coronary occlusion following transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review.

Background: Coronary occlusion (CO) is a rare but serious complication following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with limited published data. We sought to evaluate the immediate and short-term outcomes of CO complicating TAVR.

Methods: Studies, including case reports, case series and original articles published from 2002 to 2016 describing CO following TAVR were identified with a systematic electronic search using the PRISMA Statement.

Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy and Recurrent Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Noncompaction cardiomyopathy is a rare phenotype of cardiomyopathy associated with severe cardiac arrhythmia and thromboembolic complications.

Case Presentation: A 55-year-old woman presented with frank pulmonary edema and received a diagnosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy.

Discussion: Left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy is increasingly being diagnosed because of advances in imaging modalities.

A Case of Fulminant Hepatic Failure Secondary to Congestive Heart Failure Without Evidence of Acute Cardiac Decompensation.

There are so far only a few reported cases of acute fulminant hepatic failure resulting from acute cardiomyopathy. This is a rare occurrence, especially in patients that do not exhibit any signs and symptoms of acute cardiac decompensation. We report a case of fulminant liver failure with nondiagnostic work up for the common causes of liver failure.

Melatonin and Human Cardiovascular Disease.

The possible therapeutic role of melatonin in the pathophysiology of coronary artery disorder (CAD) is increasingly being recognized. In humans, exogenous melatonin has been shown to decrease nocturnal hypertension, improve systolic and diastolic blood pressure, reduce the pulsatility index in the internal carotid artery, decrease platelet aggregation, and reduce serum catecholamine levels. Low circulating levels of melatonin are reported in individuals with CAD, arterial hypertension, and congestive heart failure.

Association of Sleep Duration with Stroke in Diabetic Patients: Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey.

Background: Habitual sleep duration is increasingly being recognized as an important risk factor for stroke. We sought to describe the association between sleep duration and stroke in a cohort of individuals with diabetes.

Methods: Data from the National Health Interview Survey for the years 2004-2013 were used.

Correlation of Prehypertension with Left Ventricular Mass Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Introduction. The purpose of this observational cross-sectional study was to assess left ventricular mass (LVM) in prehypertensive individuals in comparison to normotensives and to determine if central blood pressure (BP) correlates better with LVM index (LVMI) than brachial BP. Methods and Result.

Right Atrial Myxoma and Syncope.

Background: Right atrial myxoma accounts for 15-20% of cardiac myxomas and syncope is a very rare manifestation. We present the case of an 89-year-old man with right atrial myxoma and syncope, and discuss the role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of myxomas.

Case Report: An 89-year-old man with a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease stage 4, mild dementia, and benign prostatic hyperplasia presented to the emergency department with an episode of syncope.

A Rare Association of Sinus Venosus-Type Atrial Septal Defect and Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava Detected by Transthoracic Echocardiography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: Association of persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) and sinus venosus-type atrial septal defect (SVASD) is rare. We describe a patient with dilated coronary sinus (CS) found to have PLSVC and SVASD.

Case Report: The patient is a 60-year-old man with history of stroke who underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) for evaluation of shortness of breath.

Trazodone and omeprazole interaction causing frequent second-degree Mobitz type 1 atrioventricular (AV) block (Wenckebach phenomenon) and syncope: a case report and literature review.

Background: This case report highlights serious cardiovascular adverse effects with a conventional dose of trazodone as a result of its potential interaction with omeprazole.

Case Report: A 54-year-old man who was a former smoker, with dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, and anxiety disorder developed lightheadedness and syncope the morning of admission. He was taking trazodone 50 mg daily, omeprazole 20 mg daily, and simvastatin 20 mg at bedtime.

Inadequate Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients Referred for Cardiac Stress Test.

The current study examined the degree of blood pressure (BP) control and incidence of myocardial ischemia in hypertensive patients (n=2039) referred for cardiac stress test. Patients were categorized into well-controlled (<140/90 mm Hg), poorly controlled (140-160/90-100 mm Hg), and very poorly controlled (>160/100 mm Hg) groups according to their resting BP. The mean age[±standard error of the mean] of the patients was 68±13 years, and 885 (43.

Sleep as a mediator in the pathway linking environmental factors to hypertension: a review of the literature.

Environmental factors, such as noise exposure and air pollution, are associated with hypertension. These environmental factors also affect sleep quality. Given the growing evidence linking sleep quality with hypertension, the purpose of this review is to investigate the role of sleep as a key mediator in the association between hypertension and environmental factors.