Embolism detected by transoesophageal echocardiography during hip arthroplasty.

This case report demonstrates embolization of echogenic material detected by transoesophageal echocardiography during a cemented total hip arthroplasty in a 76-yr-old woman without patent foramen ovale. During the placement of the acetabular and femoral components, and during relocation of the hip joint, a "snow flurry" appearing in the right atrium was followed by several highly echogenic and mobile emboli of various sizes, some of them with a vermiform shape 1 to 5 cm long. At skin closure, echogenic material was seen in the right branch of the pulmonary artery adherent to the vascular wall of the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery.

Lack of cardiovascular side effects of the new tricyclic antidepressant tianeptine. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study in young healthy volunteers.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, the effects of therapeutic doses of the new tricyclic antidepressant tianeptine on cardiovascular function were closely monitored in 21 healthy volunteers during a 2-week treatment period. Blood pressure measurements, ECG recording, 24-h Holter monitoring, and echocardiography were carried out at 1-week intervals. Isotopic ventriculography was measured twice under each treatment.