Clinical Safety and Efficacy of New-Generation Single-Layer Polytetrafluorethylene Covered Coronary Stents.

Background: Early-generation "sandwich-design" polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) covered coronary stents (CS) are associated with a high frequency of adverse events. New-generation single layer PTFE-CS offers the potential to enhanced procedural efficacy and improves clinical safety. Data from a dedicated study, concerning outcomes after treatment with single-layer PTFE-CS in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention are scant.

Late infective endocarditis of an atrial septal occluder device presenting as a cystic mass.

We report an atypical echocardiographic presentation of a vegetation in a patient with late infective endocarditis of an atrial septal defect (ASD) occluder device. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a penduculated mass attached to the left atrial side of the occluder device. This mass presented as an oscillating echo free area surrounded by a membrane attached to the device by a thin stalk.

Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis mimicking a hydatid cyst.

We report an atypical echocardiographic presentation of Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis (IE) of the mitral valve in an octogenarian female. Echocardiography revealed perforation of the anterior mitral valve leaflet (AMVL), with a large cystic mass seemingly attached to the AMVL and surrounded by a thin membranous structure. These images were strongly reminiscent of a hydatid cyst.

Atrial myxomas grow faster than we think.

The finding of a cardiac myxoma usually implies immediate consequent surgical excision to prevent embolic events. Reports with documented growth rate are therefore very rare, and the actual growth rate remains a controversial issue. We report the growth of a left atrial myxoma in an asymptomatic 65-year-old patient with several years of follow up for aortic valve disease.

Right atrial inflow obstruction of the inferior vena cava due to atrial septal aneurysm and an elongated Eustachian valve.

We describe a patient with oedema of the legs and ascites due to right atrial (RA) inflow obstruction, caused by atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) and an elongated Eustachian valve (EV). Both structural abnormalities created a narrow inflow channel to the free RA cavity. RA inflow obstruction is usually related to constrictive pericardial disease and pericardial tamponade.

Aorto-right ventricular fistula as an occasional finding.

Aorto-right ventricular fistulas are defects of the aortic wall in the area above the right coronary cusp, where it separates aorta and right ventricular outflowtract. Often, these injuries are due to trauma or infective endocarditis. We report an occasional finding of such a fistula, without these causes.