Case report: Physiological changes due to a rapid ascent from 55 metres underwater.

We present the case of a diver who experienced an uncontrolled ascent from 55 m and presented with a severe decompression illness. She was clinically shocked and in multi organ failure due to massive fluid shifts. She demonstrated bilateral lower limb loss of power and sensation and required multiple hyperbaric therapy sessions. With joint critical care, hyperbaric and physical therapy involvement, she was discharged some five weeks after her presentation with an independent level of function.

Predicting the Need For Permanent Pacing After Implantation of the Repositionable Lotus Transcatheter Aortic Valve.

BACKGROUND: The need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a recognized complication due to compression of the cardiac conduction system. PPI rates vary according to type of TAVI device, implantation technique, and patient-related factors. METHODS: We analyzed the baseline characteristics, and then the preprocedure and daily postprocedure electrocardiograms (ECGs) of 101 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI using the Lotus valve (Boston Scientific) between 2013 and 2015. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 81.7 ± 7.7 years, 56% were male. and 21 patients were excluded because of baseline atrial fibrillation or a pre-existing PPI. Of the remaining 80 patients, a total of 28 (35%) underwent PPI at a mean 2.7 days after TAVI. There were no differences in development of new left bundle-branch block between the two groups (65% PPI group vs 74% no-PPI group; P=.37). The initial PR interval did not differ between groups (183 ms PPI group vs 184 ms no-PPI group). The PR interval increased by day 1 post procedure (232 ms PPI group vs 195 ms no-PPI group; P<.01) and day 2 (267 ms PPI group vs 211 ms no-PPI group; P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a PR interval ≤230 ms on day 1 or ≤260 ms on day 2 post TAVI using the Lotus device are at very low risk of requiring PPI, irrespective of the presence of left bundle-branch block, and can be safely discharged without prolonged monitoring.

A Multicenter Cohort Study of Histologic Findings and Long-Term Outcomes of Kidney Disease in Women Who Have Been Pregnant.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: For many women pregnancy is the first contact with health services, thus providing an opportunity to identify renal disease. This study compares causes and long-term renal outcomes of biopsy-proven renal disease identified during pregnancy or within 1 year postpartum, with nonpregnant women. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Native renal biopsies (1997-2012), in women of childbearing age (16 to <50 years), from 21 hospitals were studied. The pregnancy-related diagnosis group included those women with abnormal urinalysis/raised creatinine identified during pregnancy or within 1 year postpartum. Pregnancy-related and control biopsies were matched for age and ethnicity (black versus nonblack). RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-three pregnancy-related biopsies (19 antenatal, 154 postpregnancy) were identified and matched with 1000 controls. FSGS was more common in pregnancy-related biopsies (32.4%) than controls (9.7%) (P<0.001) but there were no differences in Columbia classification. Women with a pregnancy-related diagnosis were younger (32.1 versus 34.2 years; P=0.004) and more likely to be black (26.0% versus 13.3%; P<0.001) than controls, although there were no differences in ethnicities in women with FSGS. The pregnancy-related group (excluding antenatal biopsies) was more likely to have a decline in Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration eGFR in the follow-up period than the control group (odds ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 2.71; P=0.04), and this decline appeared to be more rapid (-1.33 versus -0.56 ml/min per 1.73 m2 per year, respectively; P=0.045). However, there were no differences between groups in those who required RRT or who died. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy is an opportunity to detect kidney disease. FSGS is more common in women who have been pregnant than in controls, and disease identified in pregnancy or within 1 year postpartum is more likely to show a subsequent decline in renal function. Further work is required to determine whether pregnancy initiates, exacerbates, or reveals renal disease.