IMH is associated with a clinical profile and prognosis similar to classic dissection and may be considered an ominous precursor of overt aortic dissection. Tomographic noninvasive imaging ensures rapid, nontraumatic diagnosis of IMH. The outcome of IMH of the ascending aorta appears favorable only with immediate surgical repair.

Background-Closed kinetic chain exercises such as single-limb squats are preferred for knee rehabilitation. A complete understanding of the neuromuscular control of the knee during the single-limb squat is essential to increase the efficiency of rehabilitation programs.

Heart failure patients benefit from a combined therapy with carvedilol and amiodarone resulting in a markedly improved NYHA stage, an increase in LV ejection fraction, a stabilization of sinus rhythm, a significant reduction in heart rate, a delay of electrical signal conduction and a suppression of ventricular ectopies. Approximately 6% of patients under such a regime became pacemaker-dependent in the first year. Compared to historic controls prognosis was better and the need for heart transplantation was lower. The exact role of either agent in combination or alone should be clarified in larger randomized studies.

This large-scale study of stored EGMs revealed their value in validating diagnostic counter data. Therapeutic decisions should not be based on diagnostic counters alone; they should be validated by sophisticated tools like stored EGMs.

Routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed a previously undiscovered ventricular positioning of an infected ventricular lead left in place for 10 years. This case report describes successful removal of this lead from the left ventricle by means of excimer laser and discusses some important aspects to be considered.