Thoracic Key

A 59-year-old healthy woman had a cryptogenic stroke that, based on visualization of a significant shunt on transoesophageal echocardiography with contrast bubbles appearing in the left atrium at three beats…

A 63-year-old woman with aplastic anaemia was admitted to hospital for fever and malaise. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a cavitary nodular lesion in the left lower lobe, which was…

Summary Pulmonary embolism can be life threatening and difficult to diagnose as signs and symptoms are not specific. European guidelines recommend stratification of pulmonary embolism by risk of early mortality….

Summary The number of children in need of mechanical circulatory support has increased substantially over the last two decades, due to the technological progress made in surgery and intensive care,…

Summary Background Although diabetes is associated with a high cardiovascular risk, very little information is available about diabetic patients enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Aims To analyse the characteristics of…

Summary Background Atrial fibrillation is the main cause of stroke, but the risk can be reduced, usually with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) such as warfarin. The RE-LY atrial fibrillation study…

Summary Background The alliance between surgeons and interventionists has inspired creative techniques to surgically precondition the heart for subsequent transcatheter repair. The interest stems from the need to avoid repeated…

Summary Background Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is feasible in neonates using a miniaturized probe, but is not widely used because of low imaging quality. Aims To assess handling and imaging quality…

Summary Background The Logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score are routinely used to identify patients at high surgical risk…