Tako tsubo cardiomyopathy (transient left ventricular apical ballooning): case report of a myocardial perfusion echocardiogram study.

We are reporting a case of Tako tsubo cardiomyopathy (transient left ventricular apical ballooning) in the Western population identified by a perfusion echocardiogram that demonstrated perfusion defect at baseline in the apical and adjacent walls that was incongruous to the wall-motion abnormality. The perfusion defect improved within 72 hours on a repeated study indicating that microvasculature disruption is a key feature of this enigmatic cardiomyopathy.

Comparative costs of home positive inotropic infusion versus in-hospital care in patients awaiting cardiac transplantation.

Background: Outpatient positive inotropic support combined with implantation of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) may be used as a successful bridge to cardiac transplantation in patients with end-stage heart failure. A detailed comparative cost analysis of this outpatient strategy versus in-hospital care has not been previously reported.

Methods And Results: Twenty-one United Network for Organ Sharing 1B patients awaiting cardiac transplantation received continuous outpatient inotropic therapy for a total of 3070 patient-days.

Identifying patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation for mitral valve repair and replacement: a transesophageal echocardiographic study.

Objective: We sought to preoperatively identify the suitability of patients with degenerative mitral valve (MV) regurgitation for MV repair (MVR) and MV replacement.

Background: MVR is the preferred method of treatment over MV replacement, if surgically feasible. MVR preserves left ventricular function and decreases risk of hemolysis, thromboembolism, and-in the absence of anticoagulation-hemorrhage.