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Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi 2020 May;48(5):422-424

Department of Cardiology, Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital, Wuhan 430022, China.

J Vasc Surg 2020 May 19. Epub 2020 May 19.

Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York. Electronic address:

Introduction: and Objectives: Volume-outcome relationships in surgery have been well established. Recent studies have shown that high-volume surgeons provide improved outcomes performing open abdominal aneurysm repairs. The hypothesis of this study is that high-volume surgeons provide superior short and midterm outcomes performing elective open aortic operations when compared to low-volume surgeons. Read More

Diagnosis (Berl) 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14.

Director of Patient Safety, CRICO Strategies, Boston, MA, USA.

Background Missed vascular events, infections, and cancers account for ~75% of serious harms from diagnostic errors. Just 15 diseases from these "Big Three" categories account for nearly half of all serious misdiagnosis-related harms in malpractice claims. As part of a larger project estimating total US burden of serious misdiagnosis-related harms, we performed a focused literature review to measure diagnostic error and harm rates for these 15 conditions. Read More

Indian J Crit Care Med 2020 Jan;24(1):73-76

Department of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to present an interesting case of viral myocarditis complicated by sepsis, its sequelae, including multi-organ dysfunction syndrome, and the approach to manage it successfully.

Background: Viral myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of myocardium, often leading to residual heart disease. Commonly, dengue and Coxsackie B viruses are the causative agents. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020 Jun 2;193:105771. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Anesthesiology, Montefiore Hospital Medical Center, United States.

Objectives: There is a scarcity of literature exploring the consequences of Failure To Extubate (FTE) and Delayed Reintubation (DRI) in spine surgery. While it is reasonable to believe that patients who FTE or undergo DRI after Posterior Lumbar Fusion (PLF) and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) are at risk for graver outcomes, there is minimal data to explicitly support that. The goal of this study was to investigate the morbidity and mortality associated with FTE and DRI after lumbar spine surgery in a large pool of patients. Read More

Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2020 Mar 24;13(3):e008303. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

Helmsley Electrophysiology Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY (J.S.K., K.K., I.K., S.R.D., V.Y.R.).

Background: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) can be myocardium selective, potentially sparing the esophagus during left atrial ablation. In an in vivo porcine esophageal injury model, we compared the effects of newer biphasic PFA with radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methods: In 10 animals, under general anesthesia, the lower esophagus was deflected toward the inferior vena cava using an esophageal deviation balloon, and ablation was performed from within the inferior vena cava at areas of esophageal contact. Read More

Pol Merkur Lekarski 2019 Dec;47(282):226-228

Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Warsaw, Poland; Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland.

Colon perforation is most common in patients with colorectal cancer and diverticulitis. It is one of the causes of the so-called "acute abdomen". Herein do we present a case in which dyspnea was the main symptom of colon perforation. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2019 Dec 9:1-4. Epub 2019 Dec 9.

Center for Pain Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Episodic attacks of autonomic dysreflexia (AD) are regularly experienced by patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) on T6 or higher levels. The episodes can result in a pounding headache, flushing, blurred vision, anxiety, a stroke, posturing, hyperthermia, retinal bleeding, seizures, myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrhythmias, and death. The observed associated bradycardia is explained as a baroreceptor reflex response to the high blood pressure. Read More

Am J Med 2020 04 9;133(4):508-514. Epub 2019 Nov 9.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta.

Background: Unexplained or persistent leukocytosis is an increasing common cause of consultation to infectious disease physicians. Patients appear to be in a state of continued inflammation recently described as the persistent inflammation-immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome (PICS). Hospital course of such patients is frequently prolonged and associated with extensive use of empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics. Read More

Med Leg J 2019 Dec 4;87(4):210-214. Epub 2019 Oct 4.

Department of Forensic Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, Delhi, India.

Cardiac tamponade is a condition produced by the rapid accumulation of pericardial fluid, which restricts the filling of the heart. Often the forensic pathologist comes across different naturally occurring sudden deaths. Cardiovascular causes are the most common. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Sep;98(38):e17141

Department of Medical Ultrasound.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of transthoracic echocardiography for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) to provide a basis for the better treatment of IE. From October 2016 to October 2018, 87 consecutive patients with IE at our hospital were selected for this study. All the patients were subjected to transthoracic echocardiography. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2019 Sep 1;20(3):73-76. Epub 2019 May 1.

Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.

A 75-year-old man presented to the hospital with a low-grade fever and worsening dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiogram and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a 20 × 20 mm lesion adjacent to the left ventricle with pericardial effusion. We suspected pericardial abscess, but no bacteria were detected even after 6 consecutive blood cultures. Read More

Acad Forensic Pathol 2018 Sep 31;8(3):653-691. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Use of recreational drugs is associated with a number of histologic changes. These may be related to the method of administration or due to systemic effects of the drugs. This paper reviews the histopathological features seen following recreational drug use. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2019 Jun 30;23:122-128. Epub 2019 Apr 30.

Marshfield Labs, Marshfield, WI, 54449, USA.

Abscess formation in the pericardial space has been described as a rare complication of trauma, congenital defects, penetrating foreign body, or extension of local myocardial infection in the dog. Presented here is a case of a juvenile dog with septic pericardial effusion secondary to an isolated intrapericardial abscess. Surgical pericardiectomy was successful in removing the abscess and nidus for septic effusion in this patient, and histopathology of the abscess tissue was suggestive of foreign plant material migration as the nidus for abscess formation. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Aug 13;66:277-279. Epub 2019 May 13.

Department of Radiology, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Bichat Hospital, 75018 Paris, France; INSERM U1148, Paris, France; Université Paris 7, Diderot, France. Electronic address:

A 72-year-old man without obvious risk factors initially presented with acute ischemic stroke and fever, without concomitant infection. Broad spectrum antibiotic therapy was initiated. Transthoracic and Transesophageal echocardiography, and cardiac MRI revealed a 20 mm round mass attached to the anterior mitral valve leaflet, suggesting the diagnosis of a benign cardiac tumor or a vegetation. Read More

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 2019 May;58(5):361-365

Division of Infectious Disease, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.

To describe the clinical characteristics of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) infection. To analyze the antibiotic susceptibility of hvKP to provide the empiric antibiotic options. To investigate capsule serotype and sequence type (ST) of hvKP and their correlation with clinical profiles. Read More

Eur Heart J Case Rep 2018 Jun 4;2(2):yty067. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Department of Cardiology, Care Hospitals, 5-4-199, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Introduction: Coronary artery stent infection is a rare event. We report a case of delayed coronary artery stent infection with coronary cameral fistula presented as pyrexia of unknown origin, 1 year after coronary intervention.

Case Presentation: A 66-year-old man presented with paroxysmal low-grade fever of 2 years duration. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2019 Apr 17;19(4):117-120. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

We present the case of a 65-year-old immunocompromised male with a history of kidney transplantation, diabetes, coronary artery bypass, and cardiac resynchronization therapy device implantation who was finally diagnosed with an unusual form of infective endocarditis due to co-infection of fungal and bacterial pathogens. He was afebrile at the time of admission and presented with decompensated heart failure and pneumonia. A spleen abscess was discovered incidentally and prompted us to search for a cardiac source of emboli. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Sep 4;2018. Epub 2018 Sep 4.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK.

We present the case of a 76-year-old patient who attended our emergency department with signs of sepsis and severe respiratory distress. She had stridor, type 1 respiratory failure and a left-sided neck swelling. On CT, it was initially misdiagnosed as parapharyngeal abscess. Read More

Cranio 2018 Jul;36(4):209-210

e University of Kentucky College of Dentistry , Lexington , KY , USA.

Leuk Lymphoma 2019 02 2;60(2):559-561. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

c Division of Hematology , Mayo Clinic , Rochester , MN , USA.

World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 24;119:e250-e261. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address:

Background: In the United States, the number of posterior cervical fusions has increased substantially. Perioperative neurologic complications associated with this procedure, such as spinal cord and peripheral nerve injuries, can have significant effects on patient health. We examined the impact of perioperative neurologic deficits on mortality in patients undergoing posterior cervical fusion. Read More

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2018 Jun;28(6):S137-S139

Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Peshawar.

During recent epidemic of dengue fever in Peshawar, there has been a significant increase in dengue-associated admission in hospitals. We performed a postmortem examination of dengue-related death in our hospital. He was a young man, who was given supportive care at our tertiary care hospital, despite that he died on seventh day of admission. Read More

Echo Res Pract 2018 Jun 11;5(2):K35-K40. Epub 2018 Apr 11.

Cardiology Department, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK.

SummaryThis case describes an unusual presentation of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE): an acute coronary syndrome. A 67-year-old male presented with cardiac sounding chest pain on a background of a short history of night sweats, weight loss and general malaise. Four months previously, he had undergone bio-prosthetic aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis and single vessel bypass grafting of the obtuse marginal. Read More

Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2018 06 19;14(2):229-235. Epub 2018 Mar 19.

Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, Policlinico di Bari Hospital, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

"Krokodil" is a home-made opioid drug obtained by synthesizing desomorphine from codeine and combining it with other low-cost additives. Initially introduced in the former Soviet countries, it was then imported to Western Europe as a heroin substitute. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an Italian case of lethal krokodil abuse, that occurred in a 39-year-old man, who died suddenly after transportation to the Emergency Department (ED) for hyperthermia associated with sweating, dyspnoea and tachycardia. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2018 07 9;106(1):e15-e17. Epub 2018 Mar 9.

Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Utilization of a left ventricular assist device as a bridge to myocardial recovery is an established therapy for acute systolic heart failure. However, device removal can present a technical challenge, with no clear consensus on preferred method. In this case report, we describe a complex patient who underwent successful explantation of a left ventricular assist device using an intraoperatively constructed apical plug. Read More

J Card Surg 2018 Mar 11;33(3):144-145. Epub 2018 Mar 11.

Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2018 02;11(2):e005917

From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2018 02 9;18(1):28. Epub 2018 Feb 9.

Department of Cardiology, Dell'Angelo Hospital, Mestre, Italy.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still a condition with high mortality and morbidity, especially in the elderly, and in patients with prosthetic valves. The concept of "time-to-therapy" plays a key role for the prompt management of IE and related complications, and the currently available multimodality imaging may play a key role in this setting. Myocardial ischemia due to extrinsic coronary compression from an aortic abscess is an extremely rare condition where the optimal therapeutic strategy has not been defined yet. Read More

Heart 2018 05 30;104(10):868. Epub 2018 Jan 30.

Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Nara, Japan.

Clinical Introduction: A man in his 50s with sudden-onset chest pain and dyspnoea was transferred to the emergency room. He had a history of aortic valve replacement due to aortic regurgitation with a mechanical valve 6 years previously. Heart rate was 90 bpm, and blood pressure was too low to measure. Read More

J Saudi Heart Assoc 2018 Jan 4;30(1):55-58. Epub 2017 May 4.

Department of Cardiology, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus (CCMA) is a rare echocardiographic finding. It is commonly misdiagnosed as an abscess, tumor or infective vegetation on the mitral valve. Since it is a benign process, differentiating it from malignant intra-cardiac mass is primordial to avoid unnecessary surgery. Read More

Ann Dermatol Venereol 2018 Apr 7;145(4):261-265. Epub 2017 Dec 7.

Service de dermatologie et vénérologie, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie, université Mohammed V, centre hospitalier universitaire Ibn Sina, BP 6527, 10100 Rabat, Maroc.

Background: We report a case of recurrent post-partum pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) complicated by post-partum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

Patients And Methods: A 23-year-old woman presented with a previous medical history of aseptic abscess of the left breast in her fourth pregnancy, which developed after surgical drainage of an inflammatory ulceration treated by atraumatic topical care. During her fifth pregnancy, the patient presented a large and painful ulceration in relation to the scar of the Caesarean section, despite the introduction of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Read More

Thorax 2017 12;72(12):1154-1163

Pulmonary Hypertension Department, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are structurally abnormal vascular communications that provide a continuous right-to-left shunt between pulmonary arteries and veins. Their importance stems from the risks they pose (>1 in 4 patients will have a paradoxical embolic stroke, abscess or myocardial infarction while life-threatening haemorrhage affects 1 in 100 women in pregnancy), opportunities for risk prevention, surprisingly high prevalence and under-appreciation, thus representing a challenging condition for practising healthcare professionals. The driver for the current Clinical Statement was the plethora of new data since previous hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) guidelines generated in 2006 and a systematic Cochrane Review for PAVM embolisation in 2011. Read More

Heart Lung Circ 2018 Mar 31;27(3):e34-e37. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Centre Hospitalier Victor Dupouy, Argenteuil, France. Electronic address:

Background: Fistula to the pericardial cavity is a very rare complication of perivalvular abscess during infective endocarditis, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most commonly associated microorganism.

Methods: We report a fatal septic shock due to a mitral endocarditis revealed by a myocardial abscess fistulised toward the pericardial cavity.

Results: A 66-year-old female without previous valvular disease was admitted to intensive care for severe sepsis. Read More

Jpn J Infect Dis 2017 Nov 31;70(6):685-686. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University.

An increasing number of invasive infections due to Streptococcus agalactiae in non-pregnant adults have been reported. We report a case of infective endocarditis complicated by intraventricular abscesses, pericarditis, and mycotic aneurysm due to S. agalactiae belonging to ST681 with a capsular serotype VI in a woman with diabetes. Read More

Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris) 2017 Nov 16;66(5):338-342. Epub 2017 Oct 16.

Service de cardiologie, unité de soins intensif cardiologiques et cardiologie interventionnelle, hôpital André-Mignot, centre hospitalier de Versailles, 177, rue de Versailles, 78150 Le-Chesnay, France.

A 80-year-old man was admitted to catheterization room for an acute infero-lateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Coronary angiography showed a thrombotic occlusion of the second left marginal branch, and normal other coronary arteries. The thrombo-embolic mechanism of the STEMI, and the infectious context in this patient who had had a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) two months earlier, led us to suspect a bioprosthesis endocarditis. Read More

Pathologe 2017 Sep;38(5):402-406

Institut für Pathologie, Katharinenhospital, Klinikum Stuttgart, Kriegsbergstr.60, 70174, Stuttgart, Deutschland.

Background: Ethics consultations in a clinical setting can be challenging, specifically with respect to limiting therapeutic interventions in terminally ill patients. Some decisions will even be controversial.

Objective: Can a clinical autopsy be used to confirm the recommendations given by the ethics committee, i. Read More

Rev Med Suisse 2017 Jan;13(544-545):70-73

Service des urgences, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne.

Several articles have been published during 2016 suggesting amendments in certain established practices of emergency medicine. Amongst such practices now in question are : 1) the use in mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation of amiodarone and lidocaine which appear not to improve survival or neurological outcome ; 2) apneic oxygenation being associated with a significant increase in first pass success intubation ; 3) an updating of the definition of sepsis and septic shock which facilitate earlier identification of susceptible patients ; 4) the use of the high sensitivity troponin 0-hour / 1-hour algorithm which differentiates earlier patients with or without acute myocardial infarction ; 5) that intramuscular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs offer effective sustained analgesia for renal colic, and finally 6) that irrigation of an abscess cavity after incision and drainage is not beneficial. Read More

Int Marit Health 2017 ;68(2):122-125

Centre de Consultations Médicales Maritimes, French TMAS, SAMU 31, Hôpital Purpan, CHU Toulouse, France, France.

The maritime medical tele-consultation carried out by a doctor from the Toulouse Tele-Medical Assistance Service is currently based on tele-consultation using radiotelegraphy and the complementary transmission of data (photographs, electrocardiogram) via the Internet. In a previous article, we presented the benefits of photograph transmission for trauma management in isolated areas. Through this new series of cases, we wanted to expose the aspect of the medical pathologies and the contribution of sending photographs in their management. Read More

Acta Clin Belg 2018 Apr 28;73(2):156-161. Epub 2017 Jun 28.

a Department of Cardiology and Vascular Diseases , Poitiers University Hospital , Poitiers , France.

Pancarditis is a rare condition with a poor prognosis combining endocarditis, myocarditis with abscess formation, and purulent pericarditis. Diagnosis is often delayed and the clinical signs are predominantly those of the embolic complications. Literature is scarce. Read More

J Assoc Physicians India 2017 May;65(5):95-96

Senior Professor, Department of Radiology, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana.

Myocardial Abscess (MA) is a rare life threatening condition mostly occurring secondary to underlying infective endocarditis. But it can also be found secondary to septicemia with some unknown focus of sepsis in the body. Development of MA as a consequence of left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) secondary to myocardial infarction is very rare. Read More

Mymensingh Med J 2017 01;26(1):145-153

Dr Bidhan C Das, Associate Professor, Division of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh; E-mail:

Mortality and morbidity was assessed after adoption of a systematic care for patient with pancreatoduodenectomy starting from patient selection and preparation, operative technique, and postoperative care. In this prospective study seventy patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary carcinoma with curative intent between January 2010 and December 2014 were carefully analyzed prospectively. Patients were selected those who had ampullary carcinoma, lower bile duct carcinoma and small size carcinoma head of pancreas without local invasion and distant metastasis, and the patient who did not have any major disabling comorbid diseases. Read More

Cardiovasc Pathol 2017 May - Jun;28:1-2. Epub 2017 Feb 2.

Department of Pulmonary and Critical care Medicine, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY.

A 53-year-old woman presented to our hospital with dizziness and low-grade fever. She underwent percutaneous coronary intervention to the obtuse marginal artery with a drug-eluting stent 20 months prior to this presentation. Physical examination was remarkable for bradycardia. Read More

Rev Cardiovasc Med 2016 ;17(3-4):85-99

Aurora Cardiovascular Services, St. Luke's Medical Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Milwaukee, WI.

A rapid diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is mandatory for optimal treatment of an acute coronary syndrome. However, a small number of patients with suspected STEMI are afflicted with other medical conditions. These medical conditions are rare, but important clinical entities that should be considered when evaluating a STEMI alert. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2017 Jan 21;13(1):30. Epub 2017 Jan 21.

Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, 23 200, Elazig, Turkey.

Background: Systemic nocardiosis due to Nocardia cyriacigeorgica has not been reported in dogs.

Case Presentation: Light and electron microscopy, microbiological culture and molecular identification (PCR) were used to diagnose systemic nocardiosis caused by Nocardia cyriacigeorgica in a 3-month-old husky dog. The postmortem changes included multifocal to coalescing, sharply circumscribed pyogranulomatous inflammation and abscess formation in lungs, liver, myocardium, spleen, kidneys, brain, and hilar lymph nodes. Read More

Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars 2017 Jan;45(1):73-76

Department of Cardiology, Başkent University İstanbul Medical and Research Center Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infectious condition with high morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It has been particularly associated with recurrent bacteremia due to vascular access via lumen catheters. The most common pathogen is Staphylococcus (S. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017 05 9;216(5):502.e1-502.e11. Epub 2017 Jan 9.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

Background: Healthcare teams that frequently follow a bundle of evidence-based processes provide care with lower rates of morbidity. Few process bundles to improve surgical outcomes in hysterectomy have been identified.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a bundle of 4 perioperative care processes is associated with fewer postoperative complications and readmissions for hysterectomies in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. Read More

Med Clin (Barc) 2017 Feb 27;148(4):e21-e22. Epub 2016 Dec 27.

Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, España/Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), España.