DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA IN A PIED TAMARIN (SAGUINUS BICOLOR).

An intact male pied tamarin (Saguinus bicolor) presented with a hunched posture while moving, dysuria, pollakiuria, and hematuria. After diagnostic imaging assessment and prostate biopsy, benign prostatic hyperplasia was diagnosed. Treatments with delmadinone acetate and osaterone caused clinical signs and hematuria to resolve temporarily for a variable period of time. Because of frequent recurrence, elective surgical castration was performed, leading to resolution of the clinical signs.

Decreasing operators' radiation exposure during coronary procedures: the transradial radiation protection board.

AIM: Transradial coronary procedures are associated with decreased vascular access site complications and other benefits compared to the femoral approach. There is some concern however about high-recorded radiation doses for interventional cardiologists using the transradial route. We therefore designed and investigated the effect of a transradial radiation protection board (TRPB) on operator radiation exposure during coronary procedures. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and six patients were randomly assigned by time period to undergo radial coronary procedures either with or without a TRPB. This is a grooved arm board with a detachable 0.5-mm lead equivalent shield designed to rest between the patient's arm and side. Individual case-specific radiation exposures were measured using electronic personal dosimeter worn on the left outer pocket of the lead apron at chest level. The TRPB was used in addition to standard lead apron and thyroid shielding, below-table leaded flaps, and leaded glass. Operator radiation exposure was significantly decreased in the TRPB group overall: 28 [18-65] microSV versus 19.5 [10.5-35] microSV, P = 0.003. There were no significant differences in procedure duration, total fluoroscopy dose, or contrast load between the two groups. conclusion: Identification of methods to reduce operator radiation dose is important. The use of the TRPB can significantly reduce radiation exposure to radial operators.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for stenosed and regurgitant aortic valve bioprostheses CoreValve for failed bioprosthetic aortic valve replacements.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is increasingly being used to treat severe aortic stenosis in patients with high operative risk. In an aging population the incidence of aortic stenosis is rising, and increasing numbers of elderly patients are undergoing aortic valve replacement with bioprosthetic valves. Therefore, there is a corresponding increase in prosthetic degeneration. This presents cardiologists with a cohort of patients for whom the risk of re-do aortic valve surgery is prohibitive. We present the first series of such patients with degenerative bioprosthetic stenosis or regurgitation successfully treated with CoreValve (Medtronic, Luxembourg) implantation.

Prognostic benefit of transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with medical therapy in patients with inoperable aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare survival in patients with inoperable aortic stenosis who undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation against those managed medically. BACKGROUND: Without surgical correction, survival of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis is poor. It is unknown whether patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have a better prognosis than similar patients who are treated with medical management. METHODS: Survival rates were compared in consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who either underwent TAVI or continued on medical management following multidisciplinary team assessment. All patients had been turned down, or considered at unacceptably high risk, for conventional aortic valve surgery. Patients were reviewed in clinic or by telephone six monthly. Mortality data was obtained from the United Kingdom Office of National Statistics. RESULTS: The study group included 85 patients aged 81 +/- 7 years (range 62-94), of whom 48 were male. Thirty eight patients underwent TAVI while 47 patients were deemed unsuitable based on echocardiographic, angiographic, or clinical criteria and remained on medical therapy. The calculated EuroSCORE for the TAVI group was 11 +/- 2 and for the medical group 9 +/- 2 (P < 0.001). TAVI-related procedural mortality was 2.6%, and 30-day mortality was 5.2%. Among the medically-treated patients, 14 (30%) underwent palliative balloon aortic valvuloplasty, with a trend toward improved survival (P = 0.06). During overall follow-up of 215 +/- 115 days there were a total of 18 deaths; TAVI N = 5 (13%); Medical N = 13 (28%) (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe aortic valve disease who are not suitable for surgical aortic valve replacement have an improved prognosis if treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation rather than continuing on medical management alone.

Patent foramen ovale closure without echocardiographic control: use of "standby" intracardiac ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to develop a "standby intracardiac echocardiography" approach to patent foramen ovale (PFO) closures where intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is only utilized where there are adverse features. BACKGROUND: Percutaneous closure of PFO is usually aided by transesophageal echocardiography or ICE. This may be unnecessary where anatomical features are straightforward. METHODS: Patients were excluded from standby ICE if they had adverse anatomical features on their diagnostic transoesophageal echocardiogram, a device other than Amplatzer (AGA Medical, Plymouth, Minnesota), STARflex (NMT Medical, Boston, Massachusetts), or BioSTAR (NMT Medical) were to be used, or they were in a clinical trial demanding ICE/transesophageal echocardiography. Procedurally, defect diameter >15 mm on balloon sizing and tunnel length >12 mm warranted ICE guidance. RESULTS: Between April 2006 and October 2007, 124 patients underwent PFO closure. Fifty-four were excluded from standby ICE due to trial protocols (n = 22), hybrid atrial septal defect/PFO (n = 6), additional defect (n = 4), exuberant aneurysm (n = 3), or other device (n = 19, all HELEX, Gore Medical, Flagstaff, Arizona). The remaining 70 patients were age 38.1 +/- 6.4 years, 49% men. Primary indication for PFO closure was stroke (n = 46, 65%), transient ischemic attack (n = 22, 31%), or decompression illness (n = 2, 3%). Sixty-four (91%) underwent contrast fluoroscopic PFO closure alone. Six patients (9%) converted to ICE-controlled closure: PFO sized to >15 mm (n = 2); difficulties crossing PFO (n = 2), or long tunnel requiring transseptal puncture (n = 2). All 70 patients had procedural success without significant complications. Procedure duration and cost favored standby ICE. CONCLUSIONS: PFO closure can, in the majority of cases, be performed safely using contrast media and fluoroscopy alone. Standby ICE facilitates closure in the remaining patients during the index procedure.