Transcatheter mitral valve repair with the MitraClip(®) can be performed without general anesthesia and without conscious sedation.

Background: General anesthesia is known to be associated with an increased risk for complications, especially in elderly and multi-morbid patients, the primary target population of the MitraClip(®) technique. The aim is to assess whether general anesthesia and even conscious sedation can be avoided during the MitraClip(®) procedure.

Methods: A total of 91 consecutive patients who underwent MitraClip(®) implantation [median 77 years, (IQR 72-83), 40 % female] were retrospectively analyzed.

Differential Diagnosis of Acute Myelopathies: An Update.

Appropriate description may lead to adequate diagnostic and therapeutic measures, and therefore, a simple scheme to categorize and term the imaging findings of acute myelopathy is suggested based on current literature. Assigning imaging findings to five groups, that is (a) "segmental with rash," (b) "poliolike," (c) "granulomatous-nodular," (d) "longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis," (e) "short-segment ovoid or peripherally located," provides a rationale to lessen differential diagnoses. The key for understanding, proper description and differential diagnosis is the correlation of two time points: When did the first symptoms appear and when did imaging take place? Early infarction within the first 24 h will show neither swelling nor enhancement.

Spinal cord ischemia: aetiology, clinical syndromes and imaging features.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to analyse MR imaging features and lesion patterns as defined by compromised vascular territories, correlating them to different clinical syndromes and aetiological aspects.

Methods: In a 19.8-year period, clinical records and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of 55 consecutive patients suffering from spinal cord ischemia were evaluated.

Differential diagnosis of white matter lesions: Nonvascular causes-Part II.

The knowledge of characteristic lesion patterns is important in daily practice imaging, as the radiologist increasingly is required to provide precise differential diagnosis despite unspecific clinical symptoms like cognitive impairment and missed elaborated neurological workup. This part II dealing with nonvascular white matter changes of proven cause and diagnostic significance aimed to assist the evaluation of diseases exhibiting lesions exclusively or predominantly located in the white matter. The etiologies commented on are classified as follows: (a) toxic-metabolic, (b) leukodystrophies and mitochondriopathies, (c) infectious, (d) neoplastic, and (e) immune mediated.

Initial clinical experience with the Coherex FlatStent™ and FlatStent™ EF PFO closure system for in-tunnel PFO closure: results of the Coherex-EU study.

Objective: The Coherex-EU Study evaluated the safety and efficacy of PFO closure utilizing novel in-tunnel PFO closure devices.

Background: Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) followed the development of transcatheter closure devices designed to patch atrial septal defects (ASDs). The Coherex FlatStent™ and FlatStent™ EF devices were designed specifically to treat PFO anatomy.

Percutaneous injection of thrombin for the treatment of pseudoaneurysms: the German multicentre registry.

Aims: False aneurysms can be treated surgically or by ultrasound guided manual compression. Another method is to inject thrombin into the aneurysm under ultrasound guidance. We evaluated safety and efficacy of this approach in a multicentre registry.