Vascular Medicine
- Sickle cell disease: A primary care update
Survival has improved, but patients still face multiorgan damage, chronic anemia, and debilitating pain crises.
- Atraumatic splenic rupture in acute myeloid leukemia
Atraumatic splenic rupture is rare but potentially life-threatening, especially if the diagnosis is delayed.
- Pseudo-Ludwig angina
A woman on heparin developed a hematoma on the floor of her mouth that threatened to block her airway.
- Infective endocarditis: Beyond the usual tests
Newer imaging tests are increasingly used as alternatives or adjuncts to echocardiography for selected patients.
- Giant cell arteritis: An updated review of an old disease
Glucocorticoids, the mainstay of treatment, should be started as soon as the disease is suspected.
- Anti-Xa assays: What is their role today in antithrombotic therapy?
Should clinicians abandon the aPTT for monitoring heparin therapy in favor of anti-Xa assays?
- Dabigatran-induced esophagitis
The tablets contain tartaric acid, and if they get stuck in the esophagus, the acid leaching out can damage the mucosa.
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: An often unrecognized cause of acute coronary syndrome
SCAD accounts for up to 35% of acute myocardial infarctions in women 50 or younger, and even more in pregnant women.
- Repeating blood cultures after initial bacteremia: When and how often?
Repeating blood cultures after an initial positive result is superfluous except in certain situations.
- Follow-up blood cultures are often needed after bacteremia
Without follow-up cultures, the adequacy of treatment can be difficult to assess.