Purpose To compare effectiveness of three widely used embolic agents in partial splenic embolization (PSE) by analyzing their clinical, laboratory, and radiological outcomes within one year of follow-up. Materials and methods This retrospective study examined 179 patients who underwent PSE to manage hypersplenism secondary to cirrhosis. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to embolic agent used. Group 1 (gelatin sponge) included 65 patients, group 2 (embospheres) included 58 patients, and group 3 (PVA) included 56 patients. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological outcomes were compared between groups. Results The technical success rate was 100% in all groups. Pain as a major complication was lower in the gelatin sponge group (20%) compared to the embosphere group (31%) and PVA group (32.3%). Major complications other than pain were found in 20.1%; 24.6% in gelatin sponge group, 15.5% in embosphere group and 19.6% in PVA group (p = 0.045). WBCs and platelet counts showed a significant increase after PSE in all groups. Entire splenic volume as measured by computed tomography after PSE showed no significant difference among the 3 groups; however, the volume of infarcted spleen was significantly lower in the gelatin sponge group compared to other two groups (p = 0.001). The splenic span was significantly reduced one-year post-procedure in three groups (p = 0.006), and it was significantly less in embosphere and PVA groups compared to gelatin sponge group (p < 0.05). Recurrent bleeding was higher in gelatin sponge group (p < 0.05). Conclusions Permanent embolic materials achieved better laboratory and radiological outcomes than gelatin sponge particles in PSE of cirrhotic hypersplenism patients. However, permanent particles were associated with greater abdominal pain.

Background: Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome that results from a functional or structural heart disorder. Acute heart failure is one of the main diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in clinical practice due to a non-specific clinical manifestation and the urgent need for timely and tailored management at the same time. During the first hours of admission the point-of-care focused on cardiac and lung ultrasound examination that are invaluable tool for rapid differential diagnosis of acute dyspnoea, which are highly feasible and relatively easy to learn. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the role of several portable and stationary imaging modalities, which are being increasingly used for the evaluation of cardiac structure and function, haemodynamic and volume status, precipitating myocardial ischaemia or valvular abnormalities, and systemic and pulmonary congestion. Methods: For article selection, the PubMed database and EBSCO Information Services were used. All articles relevant with our topic and other articles were used in our review. Other articles that were not related to this field were excluded. The data was extracted in a specific format that was reviewed by the group members. Conclusion: Heart failure is a main cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Assessment of the case is essential to determine the etiology and the best treatment strategy. For the assessment of HF patients, a variety of imaging techniques are used, each with advantages and disadvantages. For its accessibility, affordability, and utility, echocardiography remains the preferred method. It offers the majority of the data necessary it has been improved with the addition of 3DE and strain for the management and follow-up of patients with HF. In particular cases like ischemic heart disease, other methods may be helpful. It should be noted that the right imaging choice can assist in the management of the patient with HF.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening disorder marked by low oxygen levels and rigid or non-compliant lungs. In the absence of any indication of cardiogenic pulmonary edema, ARDS is defined as an acute disease that begins within 7 days of the triggering event and is marked by bilateral lung infiltrates and severe progressive hypoxemia. ARDS has a significant death rate, and there are few effective treatment options for this life-threatening illness. The management of these severely ill patients in the intensive care unit relies heavily on imaging. Chest radiography, bedside lung ultrasonography, and computed tomography scans can all help with patient care and prognostic variables identification. However, imaging results are not always specific, and other diagnosis should be considered.

Since it was declared a worldwide pandemic, COVID-19 has ravaged almost all over the world and has overloaded several health-care systems. The pandemic also resulted in job losses as a result of lengthy shutdowns, which burdened the global economy. Even though significant clinical research progress has led to a better perceiving of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) nature and the disease (COVID-19) management, preventing the virus's spread has become a major concern as SARS-CoV-2 continues to wreak havoc around the world. Several countries suffered from the second or third wave of viral disease outbreaks, primarily caused by the mutation of SARS-CoV-2. Imaging is critical in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with new coronavirus-infected pneumonia (NCIP). The primary imaging modality in clinically suspected cases is CT scan and it is useful for monitoring imaging changes following therapy. Therefore, CT is regarded as a useful diagnostic technique for clinically suspected cases of COVID-19. CT has the ability to detect patients who have a negative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) but are highly suspicious of NCIP in terms of clinical problems. In addition, the results of a CT scan may also reveal information concerning the severity of the condition. In this review article, the diagnosis of COVID-19 is discussed and CT characteristics are defined based on the newest research for the diagnosis and management of COVID-19.