Cardiology
-
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients and is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and longer hospital stays. Because patients with this disorder are often asymptomatic, hyponatremia is frequently undiagnosed and untreated. Serious neurologic complications may ensue when hyponatremia develops too rapidly or the serum sodium concentration ([Na(+)]) falls below 120 mEq/l. ⋯ Hypovolemic hyponatremia is due to conditions promoting renal or extrarenal sodium loss. Because AVP, which is intimately involved in regulating osmolar homeostasis, is often elevated in patients with hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia, treatments that directly target the effects of this hormone may provide a more predictable correction of serum [Na(+)] than those traditionally used. The AVP receptor antagonists (conivaptan, tolvaptan, lixivaptan, and satavaptan) are a new class of agents that have been shown to normalize serum [Na(+)] by promoting aquaresis - the electrolyte-sparing excretion of free water.
-
Early reperfusion by direct percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarctions (STEMI) with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) reduces hospital and longterm mortality. ⋯ Short-term survival of patients after OHCA with STEMI treated with direct PCI was found to be 68.4%. Out of 6 patients not receiving reperfusion therapy 1 survived (16.7%). Over the course of the 1-year follow-up none of the patients died.
-
Hybrid coronary revascularization procedures apply minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for treatment of multivessel coronary artery disease. For logistic reasons simultaneous procedures would be desirable. In a pilot study the feasibility of simultaneous robotic totally endoscopic CABG and PCI using drug eluting stents was assessed. ⋯ We conclude that simultaneous robotic totally endoscopic left internal mammary artery to LAD placement and PCI to non-LAD targets using drug eluting stents is feasible in one session.
-
Case Reports
Pulmonary artery aneurysm as a cause for chest pain in a patient with Noonan's syndrome: a case report.
A pulmonary artery aneurysm is defined as pulmonary artery dilatation >4 cm. Pulmonary artery aneurysms are rare findings and are usually not associated with chest pain. ⋯ The patient underwent pulmonary valvuloplasty as well as pulmonary arterioplasty to repair the pulmonary artery aneurysm, and experienced subsequent relief of chest pain. In conclusion, pulmonary artery aneurysm is a rare complication in patients with Noonan's syndrome and can be the cause of chest pain in such patients.