Percutaneous Aspiration of a Mobile Infected Thrombus from the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Using the AngioVac System.

The AngioVac system was invented in 2012 and was originally designed for the removal of thrombi from the venous system. It has been successfully used in the management of iliocaval and right endocardial thrombi but is reportedly less effective in the management of pulmonary emboli (PE). Since its advent, there has been interest in its application towards other medical situations.

One down, one to go: coronary anomaly dual LAD blood supply with worsening chronic stable angina and 100% occluded left short LAD type IV variant.

Although rare, usually asymptomatic, and without concurrent disease, dual left anterior descending arteries (LAD) poses great challenges. We describe a 55-year-old male with no history of coronary disease, who presented with worsening substernal chest pain with exertion, and was ruled out for myocardial infarction. On left heart catheterization and subsequent computed tomography angiogram, he was determined to have a dual LAD with a long LAD emerging from the right coronary artery.

Down on your luck: cardiomyopathy precipitated by a bar fight.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient loss of systolic function in the absence of coronary artery disease. It is significantly more common in post-menopausal women and is typically brought on by intense emotional stress. Pathophysiology is not completely elucidated, but it appears to be related, in part, to excess catecholamine; this results in coronary artery vasospasm, ischemia and eventual ventricular dysfunction.

Dynamic Course of Pulmonic Valve Endocarditis Resulting in Submassive PE and Valve Replacement.

This report illustrates a case of a 42-year-old male with a history of intravenous drug abuse who presented with septic shock. Diagnostic studies, including a transthoracic echocardiogram, chest computed tomography angiography, transesophageal echocardiogram, and blood cultures ultimately revealed pulmonic valve infective endocarditis that was treated with intravenous antibiotics. In addition to the rare form of endocarditis and bacterium involved, this case brings into awareness the dynamic nature of the hospital course that requires vigilance in responding to hypotensive episodes for consideration of pulmonary embolism.