An Unusual Complication of Infective Endocarditis Treated by Percutaneous Intervention.

Mycotic pseudoaneurysms (PA) are an infrequent complication of infective endocarditis (IE). However, due to advanced imaging modality and early therapy, this complication has been seen less frequently in the past few years. The reported incidence is 5%-15% of the patients, with the most common site being intracranial vessels (up to 65%), followed by abdominal and then peripheral vessels.

Clinical presentation, investigation, and management of pulmonary vein stenosis complicating ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Although segmental or circumferential ablation is effective in eliminating pulmonary vein (PV)-mediated atrial fibrillation (AF), this procedure may be complicated by the occurrence of PV stenosis.

Methods And Results: To establish the clinical presentation, diagnostic manifestations, and interventional management of PV stenosis, 23 patients with stenosis of 34 veins complicating ablation of AF were evaluated. Each patient became symptomatic 103+/-100 days after undergoing ablation.

Enhanced external counterpulsation improves endothelial function in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine the effect of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on endothelial function.

Background: Enhanced external counterpulsation improves symptoms and exercise tolerance in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the exact mechanisms by which this technique exerts its clinical benefit are unclear.

Comparison of in-hospital and one-year outcomes in patients with left ventricular ejection fractions or=50% having percutaneous coronary revascularization.

Outcome studies of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with conventional balloon angioplasty have established increased in-hospital and 1-year mortality in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction compared with others. It is unclear whether recent PCI practice innovations, including stents and adjunctive pharmacotherapy, have made PCI safer and more effective in patients with LV dysfunction. We evaluated the influence of LV ejection fraction (EF) indexes on in-hospital and 1-year outcomes in 1,458 patients within the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Dynamic Registry.

Improving Endothelial Function with ACE Inhibitors: An Important Therapeutic Target After Coronary Interventions.

Adjuvant medical therapy plays a central role in the ongoing care of patients with coronary artery disease after percutaneous revascularization. The cardiac and vascular protective effects of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors make these agents an attractive choice in this setting, especially in light of the HOPE study results. Mounting evidence suggests that ACE inhibitors exert their favorable effects at the cellular level by antagonizing angiotensin II and enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability and, in the process, restoring normal endothelial function.