Rescue of CardioSEAL PFO closure device malposition with Amplatzer PFO closure device at time of initial implantation.

This case report describes a patient undergoing patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure for recurrent transient ischemic attacks. A CardioSEAL device was placed, but immediately prolapsed into the left atrium in an unstable position. We describe a novel percutaneous technique that allowed capture of the CardioSEAL device and closure of the PFO.     

Late free atrial wall rupture after percutaneous atrial septal defect closure and transvenous pacemaker implantation

We report a remarkable case of right atrial rupture, 3 years after transcatheter closure of a secundum atrial septal defect, and 7 months after permanent transvenous two‐chamber pacemaker implantation. The etiology of the rupture remains unclear, but the presence of the two intracardiac devices is probably not coincidental. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Coarctation and related aortic arch anomalies in hypoplastic left heart syndrome

The aortic arches of 34 specimens with hypoplastic left heart syndrome were studied in order to establish the frequency, the nature and the clinical implications of aortic arch anomalies. A localized aortic coarctation was present in 23 specimens. The coarcation was located preductally in 2 and paraductally in 21 cases. The degree of obstruction caused by the coarctation varied considerably. In only 6 cases (1 preductal and 5 paraductal) was the obstruction judged to be severe. One of these cases had an additional aneurysm of the aortic wall proximal to the coarctation. An aberrant relation of the ductus arteriosus and the aortic arch was found in 2 specimens without localized coarctation. In the remaining 9 specimens the aortic arch appeared normal. The aortic arch anomalies were mostly present in specimens with a severely hypoplastic ascending aorta. Clinicians, when preparing infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome for surgical palliation, should always suspect associated aortic arch anomalies, especially when there is severe hypoplasia of the ascending aorta. Coarctation of the aorta will require additional surgical treatment.     

Inadvertent stenting of patent ductus arteriosus with Amplatzer Vascular Plug.

We report a 12-month old patient who presented for murmur evaluation after percutaneous closure of type C patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) using a 10 mm Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AGA Medical Corporation, Golden Valley, MN) at an outside institution. Echocardiography revealed a large left-to-right shunt through the implanted device, inadvertently stenting the PDA instead of closing it. The patient underwent repeat catheterization with successful coil implantation within the Amplatzer Vascular Plug, completely eliminating the large residual ductal shunt. Although challenging, this case illustrates the technique of implanting coils within this occlusion device. This case also illustrates that occlusion of type C PDA utilizing the Amplatzer Vascular Plug may not only result in incomplete occlusion but also create a potentially worse clinical situation in which the PDA is stretched larger and stented open. Without consideration of simultaneous coil implantation within this device, use of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug might be contraindicated in type C PDA, because there may be no way to ensure successful closure by the Vascular Plug alone.     

Cardiac perforation and tamponade 3 months after transcatheter PFO closure by STARFlex device: A case report

Percutaneous Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) closure after paradoxical embolism has become established as a safe, effective and validated procedure. The use of dedicated devices by experienced operators allows for low complication rates and good clinical results in the prevention of paradoxical embolism recurrence. This has led to a widespread use of the technique. However, late complications have been reported after the implantation of different types of devices. We report the first case of cardiac tamponade due to atrial wall erosion, which occurred three months after the implantation of a STARflex device (Nitinol Medical Technologies, Boston, Massachusetts, USA) in a 57 year‐old‐patient Transoesophageal echocardiographic images and surgical views of the perforation related to the device are presented. This report describes treatment of a late complication that arose following implantation of a STARflex device. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Age is not a predictor of patent foramen ovale with right-to-left shunt in patients with cerebral ischemic events

BACKGROUND: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) with or without atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is highly associated with cerebral ischemic events in young patients. The prevalence of PFO and ASA in elderly patients with cerebral ischemic events is not well described. OBJECTIVE: Our study is to evaluate the frequencies of PFO with right-to-left shunt (RLS) and ASA in elderly patients and to determine whether age is a predictor of flow-reversed PFO with RLS in cerebral ischemic events. METHODS: A prospective registry for all consecutive patients with cerebral ischemic events who were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for the detection of possible cardiac source of embolization was established and maintained in a university hospital. Patients' demographics including age, gender, ethnic origin, cerebrovascular risk factors, and all positive TEE data were collected from July 2000 to August 2001 for statistical analysis. A univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: In older patients the prevalence of PFO with RLS, PFO, and ASA was 25/118 (20%), 28/118 (24%), and 38/118 (32%), respectively, as opposed to younger patients, in whom it was 35/119 (30%), 39/119 (33%), and 38/119 (32%), respectively. Older patients had higher frequencies of hypertension (59; 69%), CAD (25; 21%), and prior history of stroke (23; 20%) as opposed to younger patients. Younger age (<60 years), gender, smoking history, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, CAD, and prior history of stroke were not associated with higher prevalence of PFO with RLS. Patent foramen ovale was associated with ASA (P < 0.001) and LVH (P < 0.019) in patients with TIA and stroke. In multivariate analysis only ASA (P < 0.001) remained significant with PFO, with RLS controlling for age, gender, and LVH. CONCLUSIONS: PFO with RLS and ASA are frequently present in elderly stroke and/or TIA patients and age is not a predictor for PFO. Transesophageal echocardiography should be considered for all stroke and/or TIA patients irrespective of their age.     

药师对本院中成药重复使用的干预效果

目的:探讨药师干预对中成药重复使用的效果,促进中成药的合理使用。方法:选取我院2018年6—12月使用中成药的患者299例为对照组,2019年1—6月使用中成药的患者301例为干预组。对照组采用常规的处方点评,干预组通过完善中成药重复用药点评细则、规范培训点评中药师、加大临床监测力度和中成药合理用药宣教等药学干预手段进行点评,对比干预前后中成药重复使用率。结果:与对照组比较,干预后我院中成药重复使用率由干预前46.15%(138/299)下降至13.95%(42/301),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);干预前本院中成药重复使用排名前10位的组合中,9组的重复使用率在药师干预后明显下降,仅参芪扶正注射液和复方黄芪益气口服液组合的重复使用率由干预前的1.34%(4/299)上升至3.99%(12/301)。结论:药师干预有效降低我院中成药的重复使用率,促进中成药的合理使用,但仍存在重复用药情况,还需干预。     

盐城地区7家医院抗肿瘤中成药使用情况调查及 影响因素分析*

目的：对盐城地区7家医院抗肿瘤中成药使用情况进行调查,以促进抗肿瘤中成药的合理使用。方法：随机抽取7家医院2017年7月至2018年6月间收治的肿瘤患者病历共1933份,对其性别、年龄、支付方式及抗肿瘤中成药的名称、剂型、用法用量、金额等进行统计,分析抗肿瘤中成药使用的影响因素。结果与结论：抽取三级综合医院病历470份、三级专科医院451份、二级综合医院1012份,上述医院抗肿瘤中成药使用率分别为24.9%、30.2%、21.4%,单个病例平均抗肿瘤中成药使用种数分别为0.48（0.48~0.60）、0.48（0.48~0.60）、0.48（0.48~0.48）种。各级医院中艾迪注射液使用率均较高。患者性别、年龄、是否手术对各级医院抗肿瘤中成药使用均无影响;而患者是否化疗、支付方式对抗肿瘤中成药使用存在影响。抗肿瘤中成药不合理使用问题主要表现在用法用量、中成药与西药联用、溶媒等方面不适宜。     

Orthodeoxia-platypnea due to intracardiac shunting relief with transcatheter double umbrella closure

The safety and efficacy of transcatheter clamshell occlusion of patent foramen ovale for relief of severe arterial desaturation and dyspnea in the upright position due to intracardiac shunting were examined in eight patients with excessive risk of surgical patent foramen ovale closure. All patients had successful reduction of intracardiac shunting with an immediate rise in oxygen saturation ?95% by implantation of a clamshell device on the atrial septum. Despite two early incidents of device embolization, retrieval and immediate re-implantation, and one patient with nonsustained atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, there were no adverse clinical sequelae. In follow-up evaluation transcatheter clamshell closure of patent foramen ovale has provided persistent relief from shuntrelated arterial desaturation and symptomatology in all living patients. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Refractory hypoxemia in inferior myocardial infarction from right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale: A case report and review of the literature

Right ventricular (RV) infarction is a well-recognized complication of some acute inferior myocardial infarctions. Recently, there have been numerous case reports of RV infarctions complicated by severe refractory hypoxemia secondary to right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale. An additional case missed by transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac catheterization is reported and the English literature on the subject is reviewed.