Individual value of each of the Duke criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of each of the Duke criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE). METHODS: Detailed review was done of charts of all cases discharged with the diagnosis of IE, and classification as 'definite', 'possible' and 'rejected' cases was made according to the Duke criteria. The diagnostic impact of each criterion was assessed by reclassifying each 'definite' case after subtraction of each individual criterion and by reclassifying each 'possible' and 'rejected' case after addition of each individual criterion.

Successful repair of a right ventricular rupture at the atrioventricular groove.

We report a patient who presented with a delayed spontaneous right ventricular rupture at the anterior atrioventricular groove after open heart operation. Successful surgical repair consisted of reestablishing anterior atrioventricular groove continuity by pericardial patch placement on the arrested heart. We discuss the risk factors that could initiate the primary tear and contribute to the extension of this type of right ventricular rupture.

[Secondary polycythemias: the role of erythropoietin].

The discovery of high hemoglobin and hematocrit values in a patient necessitates the determination of the red blood cell mass in order to confirm the absolute character of the polycythemia. If a true polycythemia is confirmed, its etiology must then be established. The diagnostic approach of polycythemia is presented in this paper.