Thrombin injection for the treatment of post-catheterization femoral pseudo-aneurysm is feasible and safe, but it must be performed with caution, especially when the sac is directly communicating with the artery, or when success cannot be achieved with a single injection.

BackgroundThe diagnosis of thrombus in the left atrium in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and may be inconsistent because of variability in thrombus morphology. In some cases it is challenging and requires unusual approach. New Doppler-derived methods might be helpful to identify such thrombi. We evaluated quantitative differences in mechanical function of the left atrial appendage (LAA) basal segments using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in patients with non-valvular AF with and without LAA thrombus and compared them with SR patients.MethodsA total of 80 patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction underwent transesophageal echocardiography (40 patients with SR and 40 patients with AF on oral anticoagulants including patients with LAA thrombus). We analyzed the basal segments of LAA including left lateral ridge (LLR) and baso-medial appendage segment (BMAS). Quantitative analysis was used to calculate peak velocity, average velocity, strain, strain rate and deformation.ResultsIn patients with AF the lower LLR strain rate was the sole new STE significant parameter differentiating patients with and without LAA thrombi: − 0.9(− 1.2; − 0.1)s− 1 vs. − 1.6(− 1.9; − 1.3)s− 1, (p = 0.004). Additionally, patients in SR demonstrated significantly better peak velocity, average velocity, strain, strain rate and deformation than those with AF (p < 0.001).ConclusionsLLR appeared to be an appropriate site for measuring Doppler derived parameters. It is possible that the strain rate in LLR area may be a novel parameter correlating with the presence of thrombus in patients with AF.

In patients with ASA, there was a significant dispersion of P wave duration and P wave vector. Variation in P wave duration was significantly correlated with the dispersion of P wave vector and age of these patients. Dispersion of P wave vector was significantly decreased in ASA patients with interatrial shunt. P wave dispersion in ASA patients may predispose to the development of atrial arrhythmias.

IntroductionLittle is known about gender-related differences in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and incomplete infarct-related artery (IRA) reperfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).AimTo evaluate gender-related differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with STEMI and incomplete IRA reperfusion after pPCI.Material and methodsFrom 42,752 STEMI patients hospitalized between 2009 and 2011 in Poland we analyzed a group of 984 (36%) females and 1,746 (64%) males with less than Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 flow following pPCI.ResultsWomen were older than men (72.0 ±11.3 vs. 64.0 ±11.7 years; p < 0.0001) and in age-adjusted analysis they were more likely to present with hypertension (73.7% vs. 67%; p = 0.0003), diabetes (33% vs. 22.6%; p < 0.0001) and obesity (28.1% vs. 22.6%; p = 0.0016). Heart rate > 100 beats/min was more common in women, while men were more often smokers and presented with sudden cardiac arrest. The most common IRA in women was the left anterior descending artery, and the right coronary artery in men. After adjusting for age statistically significant differences in pharmacotherapy concerned only the use of insulin (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.02–1.68). High risk of death, rehospitalization due to heart failure or cardiac causes, were observed in all patients during the 6-month and 12-month follow-up periods. The risk of heart failure was significantly higher in women than in men. The most significant decrease in survival rates was observed in the in-hospital period.ConclusionsAmong patients with STEMI and post-interventional TIMI flow grade < 3 women have unfavorable baseline characteristics and an adverse short- and long-term prognosis when compared to men.

Embolization of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm using tissue glue seems to be an effective technique for the treatment of this complication. It might be considered as a treatment option in case of unsuccessful primary repair by means of thrombin injection orhemorrhagic shock due to rapid aneurysm progression. Advances in knowledge: Patients with multiple recanalizations and those with dynamically enlarging pseudoaneurysm or rapidly progressing anemia are at risk of life-threatening bleeding. An ultrasound-guided tissue glue injection, a novel method for the treatment of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm, might be considered as a treatment option especially in case of primary thrombin injection failure.