Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery

Background: Cardiac strain is a dimensionless measure of myocardial deformation. There are two parameters that can be assessed with the right ventricle (RV) strain software the RV free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWS) and the RV global longitudinal strain (RVGLS). The recent studies are recommending RV strain as a reliable marker of RV systolic and diastolic function. Methods: In this review article, we searched for new publications in the last 10 years from peer reviewed journals related to RV strain. The findings of these studies are summarised. Result: Seven studies proved the reliability of RV longitudinal strain as a reliable predictor of RV function compared to the TAPSE, RV fraction area change and RV EF, E/A ratio and tissue Doppler. Patients with reduction in RV longitudinal strain have high VIS score and worse postoperative outcome. Conclusion: Right ventricular strain is a reliable and better marker of RV function. The reduction in RV GLS and free wall strain are predictors of high inotropes and vasopressors requirement; and increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery.

Dr Kenneth K. Keown (1917–1985) was a pioneering American anesthesiologist whose work was instrumental in establishing cardiac anesthesiology as a distinct and essential subspecialty of anaesthesia. At the time when cardiac surgery was considered extremely high risk, Dr Keown developed anesthetic techniques that made intracardiac procedures safer and more reproducible. His contributions are invaluable in the evolution of modern cardiac anesthesia.

We report a 49-year-old hypertensive female smoker presenting with stroke and juxtarenal aortoiliac occlusive disease, who underwent supra-celiac aorto-bifemoral (SCAB) and left renal artery (LRA) bypass. Failure of femoral artery access during planned carotid stenting led to diagnosis of extensive occlusion of abdominal aorta and atrophic right kidney. Surgical technique, renal protection strategy involving cold perfusion with mannitol, methylprednisolone, and papaverine, and postoperative recovery are discussed.

We present the case of a 58 year old female with a large left sided chronic supraclavicular swelling which was gradually increasing in size. Excision biopsy revealed a large mass attached to brachial plexus. Histopathological examination showed angiolipoma, a rare variant of lipoma. There is no recurrence over year of follow up. To the best of our knowledge, this is the tenth reported case of angiolipoma in the neck worldwide.