Impending paradoxical embolism across a patent foramen ovale: case report.

We describe a case of impending paradoxical embolism in a 43-year-old male patient with pulmonary embolism. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a thromboembolus straddling a patent foramen ovale. The patient underwent emergency removal of the intracardiac clot with closure of the patent foramen ovale.

Improved pain control after cardiac surgery: results of a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial.

Objective: We sought to determine whether a continuous regional infusion of a local anesthetic delivered to the operative site would result in decreased levels of postoperative pain and narcotic requirements for patients who undergo a standard median sternotomy for cardiac surgery.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted at a single center. Patients who were undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery alone or combined with laser transmyocardial revascularization received bilateral intercostal nerve blocks with either ropivacaine or saline.