1-Year Outcomes Following Transfemoral Transseptal Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: Intrepid TMVR Early Feasibility Study Results.

Background: High surgical risk may preclude mitral valve replacement in many patients. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) using transfemoral transseptal access is a novel technology for the treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR) in high-risk surgical patients.

Objectives: This analysis evaluates 30-day and 1-year outcomes of the Intrepid TMVR Early Feasibility Study in patients with ≥moderate-severe MR.

Impact of aortic valve replacement in symptomatic low-risk patients with less than severe aortic stenosis.

Objective: To evaluate whether transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement (TAVR or SAVR) affects clinical and haemodynamic outcomes in symptomatic patients with moderately-severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: Echocardiographic evidence of severe AS for enrolment in the Evolut Low Risk trial was based on site-reported measurements. For this post hoc analysis, core laboratory measurements identified patients with symptomatic moderately-severe AS (1.

A newly designed uncovered biliary stent for palliation of malignant obstruction: results of a prospective study.

Background: Biliary decompression can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Endoscopically placed stents have become the standard of care for biliary drainage with the aim of improving hepatic function, relieving jaundice, and reducing adverse effects of obstruction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance characteristics of a newly-designed, uncovered metal biliary stent for the palliation of malignant biliary obstruction.

Treatment of pulmonary blastomycosis with high-dose liposomal amphotericin B in a patient receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Blastomycosis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has a rare incidence. We report the case of a 29-year-old man with blastomycosis-associated ARDS receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and managed with high-dose liposomal amphotericin B. This case illustrates the importance of timely diagnosis of pulmonary blastomycosis and appropriate dosing of antifungal therapy.

Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Replacement with a Self-Expanding Valve in Low-Risk Patients.

Background: Transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative to surgery in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at increased risk for death from surgery; less is known about TAVR in low-risk patients.

Methods: We performed a randomized noninferiority trial in which TAVR with a self-expanding supraannular bioprosthesis was compared with surgical aortic-valve replacement in patients who had severe aortic stenosis and were at low surgical risk. When 850 patients had reached 12-month follow-up, we analyzed data regarding the primary end point, a composite of death or disabling stroke at 24 months, using Bayesian methods.

Idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis.

Idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis is clinically challenging and has substantial socioeconomic consequences. Investigations are expensive and often reveal little about the cause of the disease. Little is known about the interaction between genetic, environmental, anatomical, and other factors that contribute to the disease.

Decreased trend in hospital mortality from pancreatic cancer despite increase in number of hospital admissions.

Background And Aim: Pancreatic cancer is one of the common cancers in US and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The objectives of our study were to look at the recent trends in the number of hospitalizations with pancreatic cancer.

Methods: We identified patients with a discharge diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in the National Inpatient Sample from 2007 to 2011 using International Classification of Diseases-Clinical Modification, 9th revision (ICD-9-CM) codes.

Increased Rate of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients with Clostridium Difficile Infection.

Background: Risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is well established; however, there is paucity of data on the potential added risk of VTE in patients with IBD with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). We sought to study the difference in VTE rates in hospitalized patients with IBD with CDI compared to those without CDI.

Methods: We queried Nationwide Inpatient Sample from year 2011 to identify patients ≥18 years of age with a discharge diagnosis of IBD (i.

Randomized Trial of Pleural Fluid Drainage Frequency in Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusions. The ASAP Trial.

Rationale: Patients with malignant pleural effusions have significant dyspnea and shortened life expectancy. Indwelling pleural catheters allow patients to drain pleural fluid at home and can lead to autopleurodesis. The optimal drainage frequency to achieve autopleurodesis and freedom from catheter has not been determined.