The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy of furosemide in addition to intravenous fluids in the prevention of radiocontrast nephropathy. 18 patients, referred to a radiocontrast study, considered at risk because of preexisting renal insufficiency, were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial, performed at the secondary care center of a 1,100-bed private university hospital. In addition to fluids, the treatment group received furosemide (mean dose 110 mg) intravenously 30 min prior to the injection of contrast material. The control group received fluids (mean 3 liters). Radiological studies were mostly angiographies performed with both ionic and non-ionic contrast material, at an average dose of 245 ml. Renal function significantly deteriorated in the group pretreated with furosemide (p < 0.005 by ANOVA), with a rise in serum creatinine from 145 ± 13 to 182 ± 16 μmol/l at 24 h, while no change occurred in the control group (from 141 ± 6 to 142 ± 7 μmol/l). Renal failure was associated with weight loss in the furosemide-treated group. Furosemide may be deleterious in the prevention of radiocontrast nephropathy.

Heart failure (HF) constitutes the growing cardiovascular burden and the major public health issue, but comprehensive statistics on HF epidemiology and related management in Europe are missing. The Heart Failure Association (HFA) Atlas has been initiated in 2016 in order to close this gap, representing the continuity directly rooted in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Atlas of Cardiology. The major aim of the HFA Atlas is to establish a contemporary dataset on HF epidemiology, resources and reimbursement policies for HF management, organization of the National Heart Failure Societies (NHFS) and their major activities, including education and HF awareness. These data are gathered in collaboration with the network of NHFS of the ESC member and ESC affiliated countries. The dataset will be continuously improved and advanced based on the experience and enhanced understanding of data collection in the forthcoming years. This will enable revealing trends, disparities and gaps in knowledge on epidemiology and management of HF. Such data are highly needed by the clinicians of different specialties (aside from cardiologists and cardiac surgeons), researchers, healthcare policy makers, as well as HF patients and their caregivers. It will also allow to map the snapshot of realities in HF care, as well as to provide insights for evidence-based health care policy in contemporary management of HF. Such data will support the ESC/HFA efforts to improve HF management and outcomes through stronger recommendations and calls for action. This will likely influence the allocation of funds for the prevention, treatment, education and research in HF.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been increasingly used in patients with advanced heart failure, either as a destination therapy or as a bridge to heart transplant. Continuous flow (CF) LVADs have revolutionized advanced heart failure treatment. However, significant vascular pathology and complications have been linked to their use. While the newer CF-LVAD generations have led to a reduction in some vascular complications such as stroke, no major improvement was noticed in the rate of other vascular complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive summary of the effects of CF-LVAD on vasculature, including pathophysiology, clinical implications, and future directions.

A method was developed for biopsy sampling of masses obstructing the biliary system in patients with a biliary drainage catheter. The biopsy needle is inserted through the drainage catheter, with fluoroscopic guidance, to the site of the lesion. The technique has been used without complication in more than 30 patients with cancer of the pancreas and bile ducts.