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Mechanical circulatory support devices are increasingly used for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. These devices provide different levels of univentricular and biventricular support, have different mechanisms of actions, and provide different physiologic effects. Institutions require expert teams to safely implant and manage these devices. This article reviews the mechanism of action, physiologic effects, and data as they relate to the utilization of these devices.

Background This study sought to assess the contemporary outcomes of patients transferred after receiving fibrinolytic therapy (‘drip-and-ship’) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the United States. Methods During 2009–2016, adults (>18 years) with STEMI (>18 years) without cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock that received fibrinolytic therapy and were subsequently transferred were identified using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). These admissions were divided into those undergoing fibrinolysis alone, subsequent coronary angiography (CA) without revascularization and subsequent CA with revascularization. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality, resource utilization, and discharge disposition. Results A total of 27,454 STEMI admissions receiving a ‘drip-and-ship strategy’, 96.3% and 85.8% received subsequent coronary angiography and revascularization Admissions receiving CA and revascularization were younger, male, and with lower comorbidity. The fibrinolysis alone cohort had higher rates of organ failure, hemorrhagic sequelae, and intracranial hemorrhage. Compared to the fibrinolysis cohort, CA with revascularization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.17 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.11–0.27]; p Conclusion Fibrinolysis with subsequent revascularization is associated with excellent outcomes in STEMI. Admissions receiving fibrinolysis alone were systematically different, sicker and had poorer outcomes.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of acute coronary syndrome, especially in young women. Recurrent SCAD can be due…, Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of acute coronary syndrome, especially in young women. Recurrent SCAD can be due to extension of dissection or de novo dissection of unrelated vessel. The authors present a case of acute de novo recurrent SCAD treated conservatively and with coronary intervention. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.), Graphical abstract

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), especially in pregnant women. SCAD has angiographic appearance that might mimic atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). SCAD in pregnancy can be associated with both maternal and fetal complications. The best management approach of such cases may be achieved by a multi-disciplinary team, including an obstetrician, an interventional cardiologist and a cardiothoracic surgeon. We present a very interesting case of SCAD involving the left anterior descending (LAD) artery with two different angiographic appearances in a pregnant woman which was associated with fetal heart deceleration requiring urgent cesarean section and later coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of patients across the globe. Multiple studies, national and international governmental data have shown important sex and gender differences in the incidence and outcomes of patients with COVID-19. These differences are not only attributed to the differences in age and comorbid conditions but likely a combination of factors, including hormonal differences, immune response, inflammatory markers and behavioral attitudes, among others. In this review, we discuss the studies addressing sex- and gender-specific differences in COVID-19 infections with discussion on the potential pathophysiological mechanisms of these differences.

Vasospasm is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among those with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Treating increased intracranial pressure by drainage of cerebral spinal fluid through an external ventriculostomy is routine practice. The objective of this study is to evaluate the trends of CSF output in patients who experience vasospasm.Electronic medical charts were reviewed to identify two groups of patients with aSAH, 75 consecutive patients who developed vasospasm and 75 matched patients who did not develop vasospasm. CSF output was recorded within 3 days before and 3 days after the occurrence of vasospasm. CSF output was recorded for the same days after SAH in matched patients with no vasospasm.Total CSF output was lower in patients with vasospasm as compared to patients without vasospasm matched for the same day (p0.001). In patients with vasospasm, CSF output recordings were significantly higher prior to the occurrence of vasospasm (438ml/day) than the period following vasospasm (325.7ml/day), with a consistent decrease in CSF drainage from day 3 before vasospasm to day 3 after vasospasm (p=0.012). Decreasing CSF output was significantly associated with the occurrence of vasospasm (p=0.017). Youden indices demonstrated that daily CSF drainage160ml was significantly associated with the occurrence of vasospasm. The sensitivity of this test was 64.79% and the specificity was 55.38%.In addition to clinical exam findings, observation of a CSF output decline to less than 160ml/day may be used as additional support for the diagnosis of vasospasm.

Intranidal vessel geometry and organization underlying flow within cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) is poorly understood. We examine the relationship between intranidal vessel characteristics and AVM flow. Records of patients with AVM evaluated at our institution between 2007 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were included if surgical specimens were available and flows were obtained before treatment using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography. Intranidal vessels were identified and the diameter and cross-sectional area of each vessel were measured from digitized images of specimen slides. The relationship between vessel diameter, vessel cross-sectional area, AVM volume, and AVM flow was assessed. Twenty-nine patients were included. Mean total number of vessels per specimen was 133. Mean total AVM flow was 340 ± 276 mL/min. Mean vessel diameter ranged from 0.18-2.37 mm and mean vessel cross-sectional area ranged from 0.09-9.46 mm(2). Linear regression analysis showed that total flow is significantly associated with larger AVM volume (R(2)=0.28, P=0.007), but not with number of vessels per section of the specimen (P=0.20) or mean vessel diameter (P=0.92). Exponential regression analysis demonstrated that AVM flow is significantly correlated to the sum of the cross-sectional vessel areas within each specimen (R(2)=0.16, P=0.05). Total AVM flow is significantly related to sum of the cross-sectional areas of all vessels within each nidus, rather than to total number of vessels or mean nidal vessel diameter. This finding suggests that the sum of the cross-sectional areas of intranidal vessels likely determines the resistance to flow within a cerebral AVM.

For patients traditionally contraindicated for MRIs due to presence of non-MR-conditional cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), we established the Patient Registry Of Magnetic resonance imaging in Non-Approved Devices (PROMeNADe). This involves significant resources including research