Dual coronary - cameral fistula "double the trouble".

A patient presenting with worsening dyspnea and left-sided chest pain underwent heart catheterization, found to have a rare connection between the right and left coronary arteries draining into the left ventricle, consistent with dual coronary-cameral fistula.

Bioprosthetic Valve Thrombosis.

Degenerative valve disease is on the rise with greater than 100,000 valve operations performed in the US alone per year. The majority of those procedures employ tissue bioprostheses to avoid the attendant risk of anticoagulation, especially in the elderly. Though traditionally this approach has been considered a superior option to avoid anticoagulation, more recent analyses have demonstrated a significant incidence of previously unrecognized thrombosis associated with bioprosthetic valves, especially with the more recent advent of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement implantations.

Myocardial Stunning After Electrocution With Complete Reversibility Within 24 Hours: Role of Repeat Transthoracic Echocardiograms in Potential Cardiac Transplant Donors.

Despite the development of ventricular assist devices, cardiac transplantation remains an important procedure for patients with advanced heart failure. The number of transplants done annually has remained stable because of lack of of donors. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction remains one of the most important reasons for seeking a donor heart.

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide: A Predictor for Mortality, Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay, and Hospital Length of Stay in Patients With Resolving Sepsis.

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone secreted by cardiomyocytes in response to myocardial ischemia, increased ventricular wall tension, and overload. BNP is utilized as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in congested heart failure (CHF). Its prognostic value in sepsis is unknown.

Gabapentin-Induced Bullous Pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune blistering dermatosis with separation of the epidermis from the dermis. This disease process is common among elderly patients and manifests with subepidermal vesicles and tense bullae. Patients with bullous pemphigoid are more likely to have also received a previous diagnosis of a neurologic disorder.

Energetic etiologies of acute pancreatitis: A report of five cases.

There are several common causes of acute pancreatitis, principally excessive alcohol intake and gallstones, and there are many rare causes. However, cases of pancreatitis still occur in the absence of any recognizable factors, and these cases of idiopathic pancreatitis suggest the presence of unrecognized etiologies. Five cases of acute pancreatitis in four patients came to attention due to a strong temporal association with exposure to nerve stimulators and energy drinks.