Background: Clinicians encounter sudden death among aortic stenosis (AS) patients especially after they become symptomatic. Mortality is 50% at 1 year and 70 to 80% at 2 years without aortic valve replacement. However, there have been few studies that investigate the predictor for short-term sudden cardiac arrest in patients with severe AS. We investigated the [...]

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the main treatment for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis but patients on dialysis have been excluded from major randomized controlled trials. Our aim was to compare outcomes after TAVI of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis versus those without. Methods: EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched through [...]

Background: Severe aortic stenosis (SAS) had been identified as being at elevated risk for non-cardiac surgery. However, two reports demonstrated that SAS did not increase mortality of intermediate to high risk non-cardiac surgery. The European Society of Cardiology guideline states non-cardiac surgery of low to intermediate risk can be safely performed among patients with SAS. [...]

Background: We have presented our experience with a novel percutaneous approach for axillary artery implant of intra-aortic balloon pumps. The axillary approach permits up-right posture and ambulation, but such enhanced mobility may predispose to higher risk of IABP malposition with unique complications. We present a few complications here. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of [...]

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an increasingly common procedure. While it is currently recommended for patients with severe aortic stenosis with high or intermediate surgical risk, it is currently being studied in lower risk patients. If approved for expanded use, it stands to become even more commonplace in hospitals around the country. We [...]

Background: Severe aortic stenosis (SAS) had been identified as being at elevated risk for non-cardiac surgery. However, two reports demonstrated that SAS did not increase mortality of intermediate to high risk non-cardiac surgery. The European Society of Cardiology guideline states non-cardiac surgery of low to intermediate risk can be safely performed among patients with SAS. [...]

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), defined as aortic diameter ≥ 3.0 cm, affects an estimated 1.5% to 1.7% of men aged 65 or older. It was estimated that a ruptured AAA has a mortality rate of 75% – 90%. Screening for AAA with an abdominal ultrasound is relatively cost-effective. It was noted that screening for [...]

Case Presentation: A 56 year old man presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe chest pain that radiated to his back. He had an initial HR of 72 and BP of 208/114. CT angiogram of the chest and abdomen revealed a large type B aortic dissection (AD). The patient was treated with [...]

Case Presentation: A 57-year-old female with a medical history of uncontrolled diabetes with a hemoglobin A1C of 14, hypertension, and a previous right-sided stroke presented to the emergency department with a four-day history of nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, fever and chills. On presentation, the patient was hemodynamic stable with no fevers. Physical examination revealed no [...]

Case Presentation: A 67-year-old male presented to the Emergency Department with a chief complaint of bilateral vision loss. He had a complex medical history including atrial fibrillation, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, aortic stenosis with bioprosthetic valve replacement, and ascending aortic aneurysm graft and repair performed in 2022. He was admitted and on inpatient work-up [...]