Pregnancy-related chronic type A aortic dissection highlights the importance of thorough prenatal maternal examination

Aortic dissection occurs rarely during pregnancy but carries a significantly high vital risk for both the mother and the fetus. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for a successful outcome.

Lobar lung transplantation, followed by partial sternal resection and bronchial stenosis, in a patient with scoliosis

Scoliotic deformity represents a serious spinal disorder that influences the locomotive and cardiopulmonary systems. Some patients with severe scoliosis and end-stage lung disease are therefore denied lung tra…  Read More

Superior vena cava obstruction following pericardial effusion absorption in the presence of a pericardial teratoma: a case report

Intrapericardial teratoma is a rare tumor that usually presents in neonates or during infancy because of the associated high degree of pericardial effusion, cardiac compression and severe respiratory distress…  Read More.

Risk of stroke associated with proton pump inhibitor use among individuals with and without pre-existing cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used for managing gastroesophageal disorders but concerns about their potential association with increased stroke risk have emerged, especially among patients with pr…  Read More

Rare Presentation of Echinococcal Disease: A Systematic Review on Arterial Hydatid Cyst

Ann Vasc Surg. 2024 Dec 13;112:22-31. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2024.11.095. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus that most commonly affects the liver (70%) and lungs (20%). Despite rarely reported, arterial echinococcosis represents a severe and potentially life-threatening condition but management strategies and related outcomes have not been fully investigated.

METHODS: A comprehensive review of the international English literature was performed on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to May 30, 2024 to identify relevant articles about arterial echinococcosis. Data regarding epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment were investigated.

RESULTS: A total of 143 articles were screened and 30 articles were included. Overall 32 cases were identified. About half of the patients were female (18, 56.2%) and the mean age was 40.6 years (range 12-60 years). Echinococcus cyst was more commonly detected on the aorta (27, 84.3%) in association or not with other cysts on the iliofemoral axis. Five cases (15.2%) affected only peripheral arteries. Most patients presented with chronic pain due to vascular obstruction or thromboembolism, while one patient was asymptomatic. In most cases (31, 96.8%) a total surgical excision was done in association with antiparasitic treatment using albendazole (17, 53.1%) or mebendazole (4, 12.5%). Arterial reconstruction was required in 19 cases (59.4%) and done with prosthetic substitutes or bovine pericardium. Only one case (3%) was treated with an endovascular approach. Four patients (12.5%) died in-hospital from hemorrhagic shock (3) or respiratory failure (1). During the follow-up period (mean 14 months, range 2-72 months) only one recurrence was reported.

CONCLUSIONS: Arterial echinococcosis is an extremely rare condition that may potentially be lethal. The current review showed favorable outcomes following complete surgical excision and antiparasitic drug that currently remain the only definitive treatment.

PMID:39675696 | DOI:10.1016/j.avsg.2024.11.095

Beating-Heart Coronary Artery Bypass grafting (BH-CABG) in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD): comparison of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) predicted risk with actual outcomes

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is an independent risk factor in outcomes for traditional coronary artery bypass grafting (TRAD-CAB) utilizing aortic cross-clamping and cardioplegic arrest. In order to determin…  Read More

Interventricular septal dissection secondary to acute inferior myocardial infarction: case series and literature review

Interventricular septal dissection is a critical disease characterized by the separation of the intraventricular septum into two layers, forming an intermediate layer with a cystic cavity that communicates wit…  Read More