Comparison of anticoagulation vs mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis.

Objective: To compare the comparative effects of treatment with contemporary mechanical thrombectomy (MT) or anticoagulation (AC) on Villalta scores and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) incidence through 12 months in iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Methods: Patients with DVT in the Acute Venous Thrombosis: Thrombus Removal with Adjunctive Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis (ATTRACT) randomized trial and the ClotTriever Outcomes (CLOUT) registry were included in this analysis. Both studies evaluated the effects of thrombus removal on the incidence of PTS.

End-stage heart failure in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: a multicentre study.

Background And Aims: For patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA), factors associated with progression to end-stage congestive heart failure (CHF) remain largely unclear.

Methods: This multicentre, retrospective cohort study included adults with ccTGA seen at a congenital heart disease centre. Clinical data from initial and most recent visits were obtained.

Utilization of WATCHMAN FLX for surgically incomplete left atrial appendage occlusion: a multicentre case series.

Background: In patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, the vast majority of thrombi originate in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Thus, occluding the LAA significantly reduces one's risk for developing an ischaemic stroke. To date, many different surgical methodologies in LAA occlusion (LAAO)/exclusion have been studied and utilized.

Safety and Effectiveness of Mechanical Thrombectomy From the Fully Enrolled Multicenter, Prospective CLOUT Registry.

Background: We report in-hospital outcomes from the multicenter, prospective, single-arm ClotTriever Outcomes (CLOUT) registry, which enrolled up to 500 patients with proximal lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) treated with percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy using the ClotTriever System (Inari Medical).

Methods: The CLOUT registry enrolled all-comer patients with DVT, irrespective of symptom duration, thrombus age, prior treatment of the current DVT, or bilateral thrombus. The primary effectiveness end point was defined as complete or near complete (≥75%) reduction in Marder score.

Single-Session Thrombolysis-Free Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis With a Novel Mechanical Thrombectomy Device.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis of iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) carries an increased risk of major bleeding and may fail to rapidly remove thrombus or prevent post-thrombotic syndrome. We describe an alternative, thrombolysis-free, advanced DVT treatment strategy with rapid single-session percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy using the ClotTriever system. ().

Closure of a Thoracic Aortic Graft Pseudoaneurysm With an Amplatzer Septal Occluder.

We describe the case of a young man 7 weeks postoperative from repair of a Stanford type A aortic dissection who developed an expanding pseudoaneurysm of the proximal graft anastomosis. Owing to the morbidity and mortality associated with reoperation, an interdisciplinary team of interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons implanted an Amplatzer septal occluder device in a hybrid operating room, successfully excluding the defect from the true lumen of the aorta. This case highlights the utility of a team approach and creative thinking for the treatment of a pseudoaneurysm in a high-risk, recently postoperative patient.

The effect of esophageal cooling on esophageal injury during radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) may lead to collateral damage to the esophagus. We tested the hypothesis that luminal esophageal temperature (LET)-guided esophageal cooling might reduce the incidence of esophageal thermal lesions (ETL).

Methods: Seventy-six patients from August 2015 to March 2017 with paroxysmal or persistent AF underwent a first-time catheter ablation procedure with or without LET-guided active esophageal cooling through an orogastric tube placed in the esophagus.

Pheochromocytoma, "the Great Masquerader," Presenting as Severe Acute Decompensated Heart Failure in a Young Patient.

A 22-year-old man presented to the hospital with progressive shortness of breath, chest discomfort, sinus tachycardia, and emesis. The echocardiogram demonstrated global hypokinesis with a left ventricle ejection fraction of 15-20%. The patient was treated for acute systolic heart failure decompensation with diuresis and afterload reduction.

The ABLATE Trial: Safety and Efficacy of Cox Maze-IV Using a Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation System.

Background: The Cox Maze-IV procedure (CMP-IV) has replaced the Cox Maze-III procedure as the most common approach for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The Food and Drug Administration-regulated AtriCure Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation of Permanent Atrial Fibrillation (ABLATE) trial sought to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the CMP-IV performed with the Synergy ablation system (AtriCure, Inc, Cincinnati, OH).

Methods: Fifty-five patients (aged 70.

Right ventricular outflow obstruction with intact ventricular septum in adults.

Cardiothoracic surgeons whose practice is limited to adults rarely see patients with right ventricular outflow obstruction and an intact ventricular septum. Of more than 10,000 open-heart procedures performed at our institution from 1983 to 1993 (in patients 18 to 75 years old), only 5 procedures were for correction of this problem. Both the pulmonary valve and the subvalvular area were abnormal in these 5 patients, and 4 of the 5 had subvalvular stenosis.

Clinical Spectrum of Congestive Heart Failure in the Elderly Population.

One hundred and fifty-two patients with congestive heart failure above 65 years of age were treated at The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh in the calendar year 1992, forming 38% of the total number of inpatients with this condition for that year. Hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and valvular diseases were the common etiological factors. Evidence for diastolic dysfunction was seen in 34% of patients by echocardiographic Doppler study.

Dual chamber pacing in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a case study.

Implantation of dual chamber pacemakers for symptoms associated with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is being evaluated as an alternative treatment. The effectiveness of this intervention involves programming pacemaker parameters specific to the individual patient. We present a case of a patient diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who underwent dual chamber pacemaker implantation for symptoms refractory to medical therapy.

Normothermic retrograde continuous cardioplegia for myocardial protection during cardiopulmonary bypass. A modified technique.

Normothermic retrograde continuous cardioplegia is a revolutionary development for myocardial preservation in cardiac surgery. Despite excellent reports regarding this technique, the surgical community has expressed concern over technical problems encountered. The method of normothermic retrograde continuous cardioplegia in current use requires both large total crystalloid volumes and large potassium loads to deliver adequate cardioplegia.

Postoperative effects of intrathecal morphine in coronary artery bypass surgery.

To determine whether intrathecal morphine is effective in decreasing analgesic and antihypertensive drug requirements after coronary artery bypass (CAB) surgery, a prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed. Approximately 30 minutes before induction of anesthesia with IV sufentanil and diazepam, and 2 hours before heparinization, one group of patients (n = 16) were given morphine 0.5 mg, while the control group (n = 14) were given placebo intrathecal injections through 22- or 25-gauge lumbar puncture needles.