Transesophageal echocardiography guidance for atrial-caval thrombus removal with the AngioVac system.

Thromboembolectomy is often guided with fluoroscopy. For intracardiac and great vessel thromboemboli, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can assess these thrombi, guide precise suction catheter placement, prevent intracardiac injury, and serve as a hemodynamic monitor. TEE can also be used to assess blood flow and thrombotic material reduction following embolectomy.

The Evolution of Echocardiographic Type and Anesthetic Technique for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement at a High-Volume Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Center.

Objective: Describe the change in intraoperative transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) care by examining the utilization of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) versus transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and general anesthesia (GA) versus conscious sedation (CS) over time.

Design: Retrospective, observational.

Setting: A university, single, high-volume TAVR center.

The single kinin receptor signals to separate and independent physiological pathways in Malpighian tubules of the yellow fever mosquito.

In the past, we have used the kinins of the cockroach Leucophaea (the leucokinins) to evaluate the mechanism of diuretic action of kinin peptides in Malpighian tubules of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. Now using the kinins of Aedes (the aedeskinins), we have found that in isolated Aedes Malpighian tubules all three aedeskinins (1 microM) significantly 1) increased the rate of fluid secretion (V(S)), 2) hyperpolarized the basolateral membrane voltage (V(bl)), and 3) decreased the input resistance (R(in)) of principal cells, consistent with the known increase in the Cl(-) conductance of the paracellular pathway in Aedes Malpighian tubules. Aedeskinin-III, studied in further detail, significantly increased V(S) with an EC(50) of 1.

Effect of electroanatomically guided versus conventional catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter on the fluoroscopy time and resource use: a prospective randomized multicenter study.

Aims: Radiofrequency catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter is one of the most frequent indications for catheter ablation in electrophysiology laboratories today. Clinical utility of electroanatomic mapping systems on treatment results and resource utilization compared with conventional ablation has not been systematically investigated in a prospective multicenter study.

Methods And Results: In this prospective, randomized multicenter study, the results of catheter ablation to cure typical atrial flutter using conventional ablation strategy were compared with electroanatomically guided mapping and ablation (Carto).

Evaluation of a new catheter for esophageal pH monitoring.

A new catheter, provided with an Ion Sensitive Field Effect Transistor as a pH sensor and incorporating a reference electrode, was evaluated for esophageal pH recording. The pH-sensitivity was 54 mV/pH in vitro, with a linear response between pH 2 and pH 9. Clinical semi-ambulatory 24-hour esophageal pH recordings were carried out in 6 adults and 15 infants.

Intravascular pH-ISFET, a method of the future.

Since blood pH reflects the metabolic state as well as the functioning of the respiratory and circulatory systems, it appears to be one of the vital parameters that should be continuously monitored. The point to point measurement of pH by sampling has limitations, since results are available after some time only. A continuous pH signal is necessary in rapidly changing situations such as often occur during intensive treatment.

Use of an arterial pH catheter immediately after coronary artery bypass grafting.

An arterial pH catheter was inserted into a femoral artery of 15 patients immediately after coronary artery bypass grafting. Catheter pH measurements correlated well with conventional blood gas measurements during the first 12 h postsurgery, and revealed rapid pH changes during weaning and bronchial suctioning. This device is a promising step in the development of a complete on-line blood gas analyzer.

Neurofibromata of clitoris and labium majus simulating a penis and testicle.

A case report is presented of a circumscribed neurofibroma in the external genitalia of a young girl which gave the impression of a phallus and a labioscrotal gonad. There was a large care-au-lait spot on the lower abdomen. An acute anxiety state developed which, together with the genital abnormality was corrected by clitoral and labial reduction.