Myocardial strain assessment using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is increasingly used in the evaluation of patients who are potential candidates for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy to assess left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF), myocardial fibrosis, and etiology of cardiomyopathy. It is unclear whether CMR-derived strain measurements are predictive of appropriate shocks and death among patients who receive an ICD. We evaluated the prognostic value of LV strain parameters on feature-tracking (FT) CMR in patients who underwent subsequent ICD implant for primary or secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death.

The Many Care Models to Treat Thoracic Aortic Disease in Canada: A Nationwide Survey of Cardiac Surgeons, Cardiologists, Interventional Radiologists, and Vascular Surgeons.

Background: Several specialties treat thoracic aortic disease, resulting in multiple patient care pathways. This study aimed to characterize these varied care models to guide health policy.

Methods: A 57-question e-survey was sent to staff cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, interventional radiologists, and vascular surgeons at 7 Canadian medical societies.

Outcome Analysis of Posterolateral Decompression and Spinal Stabilization for Tuberculous Spine.

Aim: This is a prospective study to analyze the clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes of posterolateral decompression and spinal stabilization with pedicle screws and rods done for the thoracolumbar tuberculous spine.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted at Gandhi Medical College and Hospital from September 2016 to September 2017 on 30 patients who underwent posterolateral decompression and spinal stabilization using pedicle screw and rod fixation for active spinal tuberculosis. Pain, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), kyphotic angle correction, and Frankel's grading were taken to study the clinical, radiological, and functional outcome at the end of 1 year.

Extended-arch repair for acute type-A aortic dissection: perioperative and mid-term results.

Objectives: Extended-arch techniques offer the potential to comprehensively treat acute type-A aortic dissection (ATAAD), but add surgical complexity compared to the standard hemiarch technique. This study describes both perioperative and mid-term outcomes following the introduction of an extended-arch technique for ATAAD.

Methods: Ours is a retrospective single-centre observational study of 95 consecutive patients with ATAAD from 2011 to 2016.

Hybrid Arch for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection: When to Deploy the Endograft? Debate: Frozen versus Staged?

Advances in open and endovascular techniques have resulted in novel approaches to repair of acute Type A aortic dissection. Hybrid arch procedures involve open arch resection and stent grafting of the descending aorta with stent graft insertion in one of two ways: Frozen or Staged. In this article, pros and cons of the two different paradigms of emerging hybrid arch techniques for acute Type A aortic dissections are discussed.

Cardiac MRI and radionuclide ventriculography for measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction in ICD candidates.

Objective: Current guidelines provide left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) criterion for use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) but do not specify which modality to use for measurement. We compared LVEF measurements by radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) vs cardiac MRI (CMR) in ICD candidates to assess impact on clinical decision making.

Methods: This single-centre study included 124 consecutive patients referred for assessment of ICD implantation who underwent RNV and CMR within 30 days for LVEF measurement.

Early Results of the PETTICOAT Technique for the Management of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Conventional surgical techniques for acute Type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) generally fail to address residual dissection in the descending aorta. The persistence of a false lumen is associated with visceral malperfusion in the acute setting and adverse aortic remodeling in the chronic setting. Hybrid aortic arch repair techniques may improve perioperative and long-term mortality by expanding the true lumen and obliterating the false lumen.

Zone 2 Arch Replacement and Staged Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Potential benefits of extending the distal extent of repair for acute type A aortic dissection beyond hemiarch has prompted the exploration of various total arch repair approaches. A zone 2 arch is advocated by some surgeons but the nomenclature and technique have not been described.

Complications at the Proximal Landing Zone of Endovascular Stent Grafts Deployed in Surgically Replaced Ascending Aorta.

Background: The ascending aorta, with its hostile angulations and forces, is the next frontier in the evolution of endovascular surgery. Type II hybrid arch repair, involving surgical replacement of the ascending aorta, arch debranching, and stent graft deployment in the ascending aortic graft, offers an opportunity to study the behavior of an endovascular prosthesis in the ascending aorta. We report complications seen at the proximal landing zone after type II hybrid arch repair.

Congenital gluteus maximus contracture syndrome--a case report with review of imaging findings.

Although the clinical features of gluteus maximus contracture syndrome have been frequently described, imaging features have been seldom described. Most commonly reported cases are those following intramuscular injection in the gluteal region although congenital contracture is an uncommon but important occurrence. This condition has most often been reported in children of school going age.

Migration of intraventricular neurocysticercus after ventriculostomy.

Intraventricular neurocysticerci are an uncommon occurrence and are often difficult to diagnose. They are often a cause of obstructive hydrocephalus and inflammatory reactions, which can be life threatening. Intraventricular neurocysticerci are most common in the fourth ventricle and surgical decompression of obstructive hydrocephalus is an important step in their management.