Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty in Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension in Greece: Data from the Hellenic Pulmonary Hypertension Registry.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a novel and promising treatment option for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who are ineligible for pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) and for those with persistent or recurrent pulmonary hypertension after PEA. We present the results of BPA procedures in CTEPH patients included in the Greek Pulmonary Hypertension Registry, evaluating the real-life efficacy and safety. We analyzed data from 180 BPA procedures (2−17/patient, mean 8 ± 4/patient, 1248 dilated vessels, 0−18/session).

Missed Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) Diagnosis in a Patient with Acute Stent Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious complication of heparin therapy, characterized by thrombocytopenia and high risk for venous and arterial thrombosis. CASE REPORT We report an unusual case of acute stent thrombosis secondary to delayed HIT. A 74-year-old man with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction had a coronary angiography which revealed 2-vessel disease.

Literature review of apheresis procedures performed perioperatively in cardiac surgery for ASFA category indications.

Background: Perioperative therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with cardiovascular diseases poses several challenges, including alterations in intravascular volume, serum electrolytes, the coagulation cascade, and drug pharmacokinetics.

Methods: This review article summarizes different indications of plasma exchange for patients requiring cardiac surgery based on reported case reports and case series.

Results: The most common reported indication is plasma exchange for the management of allosensitized cardiac transplant candidate patients in combination with immunosuppressive regimens, which increases the likelihood of obtaining a cross-match-negative allograft, improving post-transplant clinical outcome.

Dabigatran plasma levels, aPTT and thromboelastography in patients with AF: implications for allowing early non-elective surgical procedures.

According to current recommendations, patients on dabigatran should stop the drug 24-96 h before scheduled surgery. This may seem too long for non-elective cases. The aim of our study was to assess the number of patients on dabigatran who could theoretically undergo surgery 12 h post last drug dosing.