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Journal of the Belgian Society of... 2024The air crescent (AC) is a common radiological sign. Even if its commonest aetiology remains pulmonary aspergillosis, various other causes have been described. In this...
The air crescent (AC) is a common radiological sign. Even if its commonest aetiology remains pulmonary aspergillosis, various other causes have been described. In this study, we report four rare causes of ACs seen on chest radiographs that haven't been described in the literature. The differential diagnosis of an air crescent sign on chest radiographs includes oesophageal bezoar, interstitial lung emphysema, central bronchial stenosis and perforated emphysematous cholecystitis.
PubMed: 38911284
DOI: 10.5334/jbsr.3583 -
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders Jun 2024Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is a rare disease characterized by excessive proliferation of fibrous tissue in the mediastinum and can cause bronchial stenosis, superior...
INTRODUCTION
Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is a rare disease characterized by excessive proliferation of fibrous tissue in the mediastinum and can cause bronchial stenosis, superior vena cava obstruction, pulmonary artery and vein stenosis, etc. CASE PRESENTATION: An aging patient with intermittent chest tightness and shortness of breath was diagnosed with FM associated pulmonary hypertension (FM-PH) by echocardiography and enhanced CT of the chest, and CT pulmonary artery (PA)/ pulmonary vein (PV) imaging revealed PA and PV stenosis. Selective angiography revealed complete occlusion of the right upper PV, and we performed endovascular intervention of the total occluded PV. After failure of the antegrade approach, the angiogram revealed well-developed collaterals of the occluded RSPV-V2b, so we chose to proceed via the retrograde approach. We successfully opened the occluded right upper PV and implanted a stent.
CONCLUSIONS
This report may provide new management ideas for the interventional treatment of PV occlusion.
Topics: Humans; Treatment Outcome; Stents; Pulmonary Veins; Chronic Disease; Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease; Stenosis, Pulmonary Vein; Mediastinitis; Male; Phlebography; Angioplasty, Balloon; Aged; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Fibrosis; Collateral Circulation; Pulmonary Circulation; Female
PubMed: 38909188
DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03984-y -
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Jun 2024Superimposed high-frequency jet ventilation (SHFJV) is a new type of jet ventilation, but its safety and effectiveness in rigid bronchoscopy have not been fully...
Superimposed high-frequency jet ventilation (SHFJV) is a new type of jet ventilation, but its safety and effectiveness in rigid bronchoscopy have not been fully verified, especially in patients with airway stenosis and preoperative cardiovascular disease. This study is intended to retrospectively analyze the effectiveness and safety of SHFJV in the endobronchial treatment under rigid bronchoscopy. A total of 363 patients were included in this study. They were divided into 2 groups: Group A (n = 176)-presence of airway stenosis; Group B (n = 187)-absence of airway stenosis. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and pulse oxygen saturation were recorded before anesthesia and during the procedure. Arterial blood gases was recorded before anesthesia, at the end of the procedure and second-day postoperation respectively. The duration of procedure, extubation time, length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), length of postoperative hospitalization, incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications as well as 30 day mortality were also recorded. All the patients had stable circulation during the procedure, including that with preoperative cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. There were no substantial differences observed in terms of extubation time, PACU stay, and postoperative hospital days. Patients with severe preoperative airway stenosis exhibited longer procedure duration compared to those with mild to moderate stenosis, but there was no difference noted in terms of the extubation and PACU time. SHFJV is effective and safe in the endobronchial treatment for patients with airway stenosis and preoperative cardiovascular disease. It can serve as an ideal airway management strategy for rigid bronchoscopy.
PubMed: 38907650
DOI: 10.1177/01455613241261594 -
International Journal of General... 2024To explore the computed tomography (CT) features of bronchopneumonia caused by pepper aspiration to improve the diagnosis.
PURPOSE
To explore the computed tomography (CT) features of bronchopneumonia caused by pepper aspiration to improve the diagnosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
28 adult patients diagnosed with obstructive pneumonia caused by pepper aspiration from January 2016 to September 2022 were enrolled. The CT characteristics of bronchial changes and pulmonary lesions caused by pepper were analyzed and summarized.
RESULTS
Among 28 patients, the most common symptom was cough (26, 92.9%), followed by expectoration (23, 82.1%). Bronchoscopy revealed that peppers were mainly found in the bronchus of the right lower lobe (n = 18, 64.3%), followed by the bronchus of the left lower lobe (n = 5, 17.9%). In combination with bronchoscopy results, the pepper in the bronchus manifested as circular or V/U-shaped high-density, localized soft tissue, and flocculent opacification in 8 (28.6%), 16 (57.1%), and 3 (10.7%) cases on CT images, respectively. The bronchial wall around the pepper was thickened with localized occlusion (n = 19, 67.9%) and stenosis (n = 9, 32.1%). Regarding adjacent bronchi without peppers, extensive wall thickening with stenosis and/or occlusion was found in 23 (82.1%) cases. Distal pulmonary lesions frequently involved two or three segments (21, 75.0%) and mainly presented as patchy consolidation or atelectasis (24, 85.7%).
CONCLUSION
In combination to a history of eating peppers and clinical symptoms, bronchopneumonia caused by pepper should be highly suspected if U/V-shaped and annular high-density or localized soft tissue density is detected in the bronchi of the lower lobes, accompanied by extensive bronchial wall thickening, stenosis, or occlusion, and consolidation or atelectasis in multiple distal lung segments.
PubMed: 38895049
DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S464076 -
ESC Heart Failure Jun 2024In low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), sutureless surgical aortic valve replacement (SU-SAVR) may be an alternative to transcatheter aortic valve...
AIMS
In low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), sutureless surgical aortic valve replacement (SU-SAVR) may be an alternative to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The risk of heart failure hospitalization (HFH) after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in this population is incompletely characterized. This study aims to investigate the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of HFH in patients undergoing SU-SAVR versus TAVI.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Patients referred for AVR between 2013 and 2020 at two centres were consecutively included. The decision for SU-SAVR or TAVI was determined by a multidisciplinary Heart Team. Cox regression and competing risk analysis were conducted to assess adverse events. Of 594 patients (mean age 77.5 ± 6.4, 59.8% male), 424 underwent SU-SAVR, while 170 underwent TAVI. Following a mean follow-up of 34.1 ± 23.1 months, HFH occurred in 112 (27.8%) SU-SAVR patients and in 8 (4.8%) TAVI patients (P < 0.001). The SU-SAVR cohort exhibited higher all-cause mortality (138 [32.5%] patients compared with 30 [17.6%] in the TAVI cohort [P < 0.001]). These differences remained significant after sensitivity analyses with 1:1 propensity score matching for baseline variables. SU-SAVR with HFH was associated with increased all-cause mortality (61.6% vs. 23.1%, P < 0.001). Independent associates of HFH in SU-SAVR patients included diabetes, atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower glomerular filtration rate and lower left ventricular ejection fraction. SU-SAVR patients with HFH had a 12-month LVEF of 59.4 ± 12.7.
CONCLUSIONS
In low-risk AS, SU-SAVR is associated with a higher risk of HFH and all-cause mortality compared to TAVI. In patients with severe AS candidate to SU-SAVR or TAVI, TAVI may be the preferred intervention.
PubMed: 38894578
DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.14887 -
Radiology Case Reports Aug 2024Ventricular septal defect is the most common congenital heart disease in children and is associated with patent ductus arteriosus in 1%-7% of cases. The coexistence of...
Diagnostic approach and treatment of ventricular septal defect associated with PDA, coarctation of aorta, hypoplastic aortic arch and multiple valvular heart disease in a tertiary center: An infrequent association.
Ventricular septal defect is the most common congenital heart disease in children and is associated with patent ductus arteriosus in 1%-7% of cases. The coexistence of both malformities with hypoplastic aortic arch and aortic coarctation is even rarer. We present the case of a 6-year-old girl referred to our hospital because of dyspnea on feeding, recurrent respiratory infections, poor weight gain, and a heart murmur. The image studies revealed a ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, severe hypoplasia of the aortic arch with critical stenosis of the proximal portion, severe dilatation of the pulmonary artery and pulmonary, mitral, tricuspid, and aortic regurgitation. We will discuss the diagnostic approach and treatment in a tertiary reference center for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
PubMed: 38872743
DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2024.05.034 -
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders Jun 2024Studies of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) with the Melody valve have demonstrated good clinical and hemodynamic outcomes. Our study analyzes the...
BACKGROUND
Studies of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) with the Melody valve have demonstrated good clinical and hemodynamic outcomes. Our study analyzes the midterm clinical and hemodynamic outcomes for patients who underwent Melody valve implantation in Southeast Asia.
METHODS
Patients with circumferential conduits or bioprosthetic valves and experiencing post-operative right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction were recruited for Melody TPVR.
RESULTS
Our cohort (n = 14) was evenly divided between pediatric and adult patients. The median age was 19 years (8-38 years), a male-to-female ratio of 6:1 with a median follow-up period of 48 months (16-79 months), and the smallest patient was an 8-year-old boy weighing 18 kg. All TPVR procedures were uneventful and successful with no immediate mortality or conduit rupture. The primary implant indication was combined stenosis and regurgitation. The average conduit diameter was 21 ± 2.3 mm. Concomitant pre-stenting was done in 71.4% of the patients without Melody valve stent fractures (MSFs). Implanted valve size included 22-mm (64.3%), 20-mm (14.3%), and 18-mm (21.4%). After TPVR, the mean gradient across the RVOT was significantly reduced from 41 mmHg (10-48 mmHg) to 16 mmHg (6-35 mmHg) at discharge, p < 0.01. Late follow-up infective endocarditis (IE) was diagnosed in 2 patients (14.3%). Overall freedom from IE was 86% at 79 months follow-up. Three patients (21.4%) developed progressive RVOT gradients.
CONCLUSION
For patients in Southeast Asia with RVOT dysfunction, Melody TPVR outcomes are similar to those reported for patients in the US in terms of hemodynamic and clinical improvements. A pre-stenting strategy was adopted and no MSFs were observed. Post-implantation residual stenosis and progressive stenosis of the RVOT require long term monitoring and reintervention. Lastly, IE remained a concern despite vigorous prevention and peri-procedural bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis.
Topics: Humans; Male; Child; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Female; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Adolescent; Pulmonary Valve; Treatment Outcome; Hemodynamics; Young Adult; Prosthesis Design; Cardiac Catheterization; Time Factors; Adult; Recovery of Function; Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency; Bioprosthesis; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Asia, Southeastern
PubMed: 38872098
DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03919-7 -
Radiotherapy and Oncology : Journal of... Jun 2024Use of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for central lung tumors can result in up to a 35% incidence of late pulmonary toxicity. We evaluated an automated...
INTRODUCTION
Use of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for central lung tumors can result in up to a 35% incidence of late pulmonary toxicity. We evaluated an automated scoring method to quantify post-SABR bronchial changes by using artificial intelligence (AI)-based airway segmentation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Central lung SABR patients treated at Amsterdam UMC (AUMC, internal reference dataset) and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC, external validation dataset) were identified. Patients were eligible if they had pre- and post-SABR CT scans with ≤ 1 mm resolution. The first step of the automated scoring method involved AI-based airway auto-segmentation using MEDPSeg, an end-to-end deep learning-based model. The Vascular Modeling Toolkit in 3D Slicer was then used to extract a centerline curve through the auto-segmented airway lumen, and cross-sectional measurements were computed along each bronchus for all CT scans. For AUMC patients, airway stenosis/occlusion was evaluated by both visual assessment and automated scoring. Only the automated method was applied to the PMCC dataset.
RESULTS
Study patients comprised 26 from AUMC, and 33 from PMCC. Visual scoring identified stenosis/occlusion in 8 AUMC patients (31 %), most frequently in the segmental bronchi. After airway auto-segmentation, minor manual edits were needed in 9 % of patients. Segmentation for a single scan averaged 83sec (range 73-136). Automated scoring nearly doubled detected airway stenosis/occlusion (n = 15, 58 %), and allowed for earlier detection in 5/8 patients who had also visually scored changes. Estimated rates were 48 % and 66 % at 1- and 2-years, respectively, for the internal dataset. The automated detection rate was 52 % in the external dataset, with 1- and 2-year risks of 56 % and 61 %, respectively.
CONCLUSION
An AI-based automated scoring method allows for detection of more bronchial stenosis/occlusion after lung SABR, and at an earlier time-point. This tool can facilitate studies to determine early airway changes and establish more reliable airway tolerance doses.
PubMed: 38857700
DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2024.110376 -
International Journal of Cardiology.... Aug 2024To investigate the change in severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and its effect on 5-year mortality.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the change in severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and its effect on 5-year mortality.
BACKGROUND
There is inconsistency in literature on pre-existing MR influencing long-term survival in patients who undergo TAVR.
METHODS
Patients who underwent TAVR at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (USKH) Campus Kiel between March 2009 and February 2018 have been enrolled. Echocardiography determined the degree of MR before and within 7 days after TAVR. Patients were divided into two groups according to their MR at baseline: MR-grade ≤ 2 (non-relevant MR, nr-MR) and baseline MR-grade > 2 (relevant MR, r-MR). Primary endpoint was a composite of MR baseline influence on mortality and MR reduction and its' impact on mortality.
RESULTS
A total of 820 patients (642 nr-MR and 178 in r-MR) were included in this study. Of these, 167 patients showed an improvement in MR-grade. Thereof 106 (63.5 %) referred to r-MR with a significant decrease in mean MR-grade (p < 0.01). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) (p < 0.01) and NT-proBNP (p = 0.03) decreased in patients who had an improvement. There was no significant difference in 5-year mortality for MR at baseline (p = 0.35) or reduction in mortality for r-MR patients with an MR improvement compared to patients with worsening or equal MR status (p = 0.80).
CONCLUSION
In patients undergoing TAVR, 63.5 % of patients with MR-grade ≥ 2 at baseline showed an improvement of grade of MR after TAVR with reduction of their sPAP and NT-proBNP values but there was no significant difference in mortality.
PubMed: 38854408
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2024.101416 -
European Journal of Case Reports in... 2024Alagille syndrome (ALGS) is a multisystem disorder involving at least three systems among the liver, heart, skeleton, face, and eyes. Common cardiac associations include...
BACKGROUND
Alagille syndrome (ALGS) is a multisystem disorder involving at least three systems among the liver, heart, skeleton, face, and eyes. Common cardiac associations include pulmonary artery stenosis/atresia, atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD) and tetralogy of fallot (ToF). Coarctation of aorta (CoA), renal and intracranial arteries are commonly involved vessels in Alagille syndrome. We present two cases with rare cardiovascular manifestations of Alagille syndrome. .
CASE 1
A 25-year-old female with a history of Alagille syndrome presented to the cardiologist office for progressive exertional dyspnoea, orthopnoea, and palpitations. She was tachycardiac on examination and had an apical diastolic rumble. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 60% and parachute mitral valve (PMV) with severe mitral stenosis. A transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) showed insertion of chordae into the anterolateral papillary muscle, severe mitral stenosis with a valve area of 0.7 cm. She was referred to a congenital heart disease specialist and underwent robotic mitral valve replacement with improvement in her symptoms.
CASE 2
A 27-year-old female with known Alagille syndrome and resistant hypertension presented to the cardiologist office due to progressive exertional dyspnoea for a year. She was hypertensive and had a new 2/6 systolic ejection murmur along the left upper sternal border. TTE revealed an LVEF of 60% and pulmonary artery pressure of 19 mmHg. A CoA was suspected distal to the left subclavian artery due to a peak gradient of 38 mmHg. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging ruled out CoA, and diffuse narrowing of the descending thoracic aorta measuring 13-14 mm in diameter was noted. The patient was referred to a congenital heart disease specialist for further management.
CONCLUSION
PMV presenting as mitral stenosis and mid-aortic syndrome are not commonly described anomalies in association with Alagille syndrome. TTE, TOE and CMR played a key role in diagnosis and management of these patients.
LEARNING POINTS
Alagille syndrome (ALGS) is a complex multisystem disorder involving the liver, heart, skeleton, face, and eyes. Cardiovascular involvement occurs in up to 95% of the patients.Common cardiac associations include pulmonary artery stenosis/atresia, atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD) and tetralogy of fallot (ToF).A parachute mitral valve (PMV) presenting as mitral stenosis and mid-aortic syndrome is not commonly described anomalies in association with ALGS. Here, we present such rare cases.
PubMed: 38846669
DOI: 10.12890/2024_004545