The State of the Absorb Bioresorbable Scaffold: Consensus From an Expert Panel.

Significant progress has been made in the percutaneous coronary intervention technique from the days of balloon angioplasty to modern-day metallic drug-eluting stents (DES). Although metallic stents solve a temporary problem of acute recoil following balloon angioplasty, they leave behind a permanent problem implicated in very late events (in addition to neoatherosclerosis). BRS were developed as a potential solution to this permanent problem, but the promise of these devices has been tempered by clinical trials showing increased risk of safety outcomes, both early and late.

Myocardial Fistulisation and Coronary Arterial Ectasia in Children with Univentricular Circulation: An Under-Recognised Problem.

Among 241 children with univentricular circulation who underwent total cavopulmonary connection (Glenn or Fontan) over a 17 years period (January 2000-April 2017), we found two patients who had diffuse coronary fistulisation of their myocardium (0.8%). We also report an additional third case from Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA.

Lower Extremity Revascularization Using Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided Directional Atherectomy: Final Results of the EValuatIon of the PantheriS OptIcal COherence Tomography ImagiNg Atherectomy System for Use in the Peripheral Vasculature (VISION) Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided atherectomy catheter in treating patients with symptomatic femoropopliteal disease.

Methods: The VISION trial ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01937351) was a single-arm, multicenter, global investigational device exemption study enrolling 158 subjects (mean age 67.

Women and ESRD: modalities, survival, unique considerations.

Women currently constitute 44.3% of prevalent patients on hemodialysis and 47% of those on peritoneal dialysis. Women on dialysis do not experience the survival benefit seen in those not on dialysis.

An ovary with a twist: a case of interesting sonographic findings of ovarian torsion.

An otherwise healthy young woman presented to the Emergency Department with abdominal pain. Multiple diagnoses were considered, as must be in cases of women with lower quadrant abdominal pain. Rapid identification of an abnormally enlarged ovary in close proximity to the opposite ovary on pelvic ultrasonography suggested the diagnosis of ovarian torsion.

Evaluation of impedance cardiography as an alternative to pulmonary artery catheterization in critically ill patients.

Invasive pulmonary artery catheterization has historically been the method of choice for the evaluation of hemodynamic status. Impedance cardiography (ICG) is an accurate, noninvasive technique to obtain hemodynamic status information without the risk and cost associated with invasive methods. The purpose of this prospective, observational study was to determine whether the availability of ICG could decrease the need for placement of a pulmonary artery catheter in critically ill patients in coronary care units.

The effect on the hemodynamic stability of varying calcium chloride administration during protamine infusion in pediatric open-heart patients.

We conducted a randomized study in 147 pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass to determine when there are any differences in hemodynamic effects if CaCl(2) 20 mg/kg and protamine 5mg/kg are mixed together and infused over 10 min versus administering half of the calcium dose (10 mg/kg) as a bolus followed by a 10-min infusion of protamine 5 mg/kg and CaCl(2) 10mg/kg.

Blood and blood product use in perioperative patient care.

A variety of health care personnel are involved in the collection, storage, and administration of the 20 million units of blood products that are transfused into millions of patients each year. This article reviews blood transfusion practices, nursing care guidelines, and new developments to help perioperative nurses prevent or ameliorate adverse transfusion outcomes in surgical patients.