Role of Pocket Ultrasound in Assessing Intravascular Volume to Guide Management in Heart Failure Patients with Renal Impairment.

Introduction: Inpatient management of patients with heart failure (HF) and renal impairment is challenging. We sought to evaluate the role of pocket ultrasound (US)-guided management of this patient population.

Methods: We prospectively included patients with acute HF exacerbation and renal impairment admitted to the HF service in our University hospital from January 2017 to August 2018.

Large Spontaneous Right Catamenial Pneumothorax with Diaphragmatic Defect and Liver Herniation.

Catamenial pneumothorax is a spontaneous pneumothorax that occurs predominantly women of child bearing age. We describe a case of a 40-year-old nulliparous woman with medical history significant for endometriosis who presented with severe chest tightness of one-day duration. Chest radiography (CXR) showed a large right spontaneous pneumothorax, what was thought to be a 5.

Efficacy of Drug-Eluting Balloons for Patients With In-Stent Restenosis: A Meta-Analysis of 8 Randomized Controlled Trials.

The optimal treatment for in-stent restenosis (ISR) of both bare-metal stent (BMS) and drug-eluting stent (DES) is currently unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the role of drug-eluting balloon (DEB) as an optional treatment for ISR. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOS, and Web of Science from 2005 to July 2014.

Coronary artery disease in patients with chronic kidney disease: a clinical update.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD. The outcomes of CAD are poorer in patients with CKD.

Percutaneous Hemodynamic Support (Impella) in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure and/or Cardiogenic Shock Not Eligible to PROTECT II Trial.

PROTECT I and II trials have tested the efficacy of Impella in patents with high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, patients with severe hemodynamic instability such as cardiac arrest, ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI), or cardiogenic shock were excluded. The objective was to investigate the efficacy of Impella in sicker patient population who were not included in PROTECT trials.

Very Late Development of Coronary Artery Aneurysm with Total Occlusion following Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation.

A 41-year-old African American woman presented with chest pain and was found to have non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction with a peak cardiac troponin I of 28.5. Elective cardiac catheterization revealed a 70% ostial left anterior descending (LAD) artery stenosis.

Use of impella ventricular assist device in patients with severe coronary artery disease presenting with cardiac arrest.

Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) is a percutaneously inserted ventricular assist device (VAD). It has been increasingly used in patients with severe heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and high-risk percutaneous intervention (PCI). However, the use and efficacy of Impella in patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) presenting with cardiac arrest has rarely been reported.

Long-term follow up of percutaneous coronary intervention of coronary artery disease in women ≤45 years of age.

The aim of the present study was to report the short- and long-term clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention in young women with premature coronary artery disease. From February 2003 to December 2011, 168 consecutive women aged ≤45 years who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation were retrospectively analyzed. The primary end point was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at short- and long-term follow-up.

Long-term outcome of native artery versus bypass graft intervention in prior coronary artery bypass graft patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) have a poor outcome after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Little is known about the treatment strategy and outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in these patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of graft versus native artery PCI on the outcomes of prior CABG patients with AMI.

Overview of substance use disorders and incarceration of african american males.

Incarceration affects the lives of many African American men and often leads to poverty, ill health, violence, and a decreased quality of life. There has been an unprecedented increase in incarceration among African American males since 1970. In 2009, the incarceration rate among black males was 6.