Lipoid pneumonia induced by aspiration of liquid paraffin.

INTRODUCTION: This case report describes a case of exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) resulting from the inhalation of a lipoid substance. Lipoid pneumonia, also known as cholesterol pneumonia or golden pneumonia, is an uncommon inflammatory lung disease characterized by the presence of lipid-laden macrophages in the alveolar walls and lung interstitial tissue. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia occurs when substances containing lipids enter the airways through aspiration or inhalation, triggering an inflammatory response. CASE REPORT: The patient in this case study was an 83-year-old woman with hypertension and diabetes mellitus who had been using paraffin oil as a mouthwash for an extended period. The diagnosis of exogenous lipoid pneumonia was established based on the patient's history of exposure to liquid paraffin oil, typical radiological findings, and histopathological examination.

The non-invasive evaluation of heart function in patients with an acute myocardial infarction: The role of impedance cardiography.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze hemodynamic changes in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at an early stage of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and at 1-month follow-up. METHODS: Patients with AMI (n = 27) who underwent PCI were analyzed using impedance cardiography (ICG). ICG data were collected continuously (beat by beat) during the whole PCI procedure and thereafter at every 60 s for the next 24 h. Blood pressure was taken every 10 min and stored for analysis. Additionally the following parameters were measured: cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVi), left cardiac work index (LCWi), contractility index (CTi), ventricular ejection time (VET), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRi), thoracic fluid content index (TFCi) and heart rate (HR). RESULTS: In the first 24 h after PCI all the contractility parameters including CI, SVi, LCWi, CTi and VET significantly decreased, whereas HR, SVRi and TFCi increased compared to baseline. All of the parameters examined got normalized at 1 month. The CI, SVi, LCWi, CTi, SVRi did not significantly differ from baseline, however the HR and VET were significantly lower compared to first day after PCI CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac performance deteriorates early after PCI and normalizes after 1 month in patients with an AMI. ICG is useful for hemodynamic monitoring of AMI patients during and after invasive therapy.

Non-invasive assessment of haemodynamic parameters in patients after Fontan procedure.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Single ventricle anomaly is one of the complex congenital heart defects. A dependable non-invasive method of evaluation of Fontan circulation haemodynamics for early diagnosing unstable patients is hardly available in routine clinical practice. The aim of the study is non-invasive evaluation of the haemodynamic parameters in patients after Fontan operation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 11 participants (age 24.4±4.3 years) with functionally univentricular hearts after Fontan operation. Evaluation of haemodynamic parameters was performed in supine and sitting positions using the impedance cardiography method. RESULTS: In comparative analysis, heart rate (70.1 vs.78.3 1/min; p=0.001), diastolic blood pressure (73.9 vs. 76.7 mm Hg; p=0.026), mean arterial blood pressure (84.5 vs. 88.0 mm Hg; p=0.013), systemic vascular resistance (1284.8 vs. 1334.9 dyn*s*cm-5; p=0.024), systemic vascular resistance index (2178.7 vs. 2272.8 dyn*s*cm-5*m2 ; p=0.018), pre-ejection period (124.2 vs. 136.2 ms; p=0.009), systolic time ratio (0.43 vs. 0.53; p=0.0001), and Zo (26.2 vs. 28.7 Ω; p<0.00001), were significantly higher in the sitting position. Stroke volume (75.4 vs. 68.5 ml; p=0.013), stroke index (42.7 vs. 39.0 ml*m-2; p=0.014), thoracic fluid content (38.5 vs. 35.4 1*kΩ-1; p=<0.00001), thoracic fluid content index (22.8 vs. 21.0 1*kΩ-1*m-2; p=<0.00001), and leftventricular ejection time 291.1 vs. 260.1 ms; p <0.00001, were significantly higher in the supine position. CONCLUSIONS: In patients after Fontan procedure, impedance cardiography can be a useful tool the assessment of shortterm haemodynamic changes provoked by postural changes. Its clinical value in patients with congenital heart defects should be further investigated.