cardiology

Calcific aortic valve stenosis causes the left ventricle (LV) to adapt to chronic pressure overload over time. Classically, this involves left ventricular hypertrophy resulting in diastolic dysfunction. After a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the...

When I'm on service as an intensivist, I have a knack for misplacing my stethoscope somewhere in the CVICU or OR. Every now and then, I'll have to retrace my steps from room-to-room looking...

As a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and intensivist, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a powerful cardiac imaging modality I perform in the OR during cardiac surgery and in the cardiovascular ICU when point-of-care ultrasound is not feasible...

Complete (3°) heart block (CHB) occurs when atrial signals do not reach the ventricle; therefore, the atria (P-waves) and ventricles (wide QRS complexes) pace themselves independently of each other. Symptoms can range from fatigue...

Cangrelor (Kengreal) is an intravenous P2Y12 platelet inhibitor which is run as a continuous infusion. Unlike clopidogrel (Plavix) which is a prodrug requiring conversion to an active metabolite, cangrelor is already active and has...

Myxomas are the most common primary, benign cardiac tumors occurring. They typically occur in middle-aged adults with a higher incidence in women. Most commonly, myxomas are located in the left atrium (LA). Large myxomas...

A left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm is an LV outpouching devoid of myocardium/endocardium contained by the pericardium and adhesions. As one can imagine, this pathology carries a high risk of rupture and mortality. LV pseudoaneurysms...

Iodixanol (Visipaque) is an iodinated intravenous (IV) contrast agent which is iso-osmolar with plasma. Unlike the non-ionic monomer iohexol (Omnipaque), Visipaque is a non-ionic dimer; however, both agents are routinely utilized for angiography, venography,...