No abstract

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has risen over the past 20 years as a safe and effective alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for treatment of severe aortic stenosis, and is now a well-established and recommended treatment option in suitable patients irrespective of predicted risk of mortality after surgery. Studies of numerous devices, either newly developed or reiterations of previous prostheses, have been accruing. We hereby review TAVI devices, with a focus on commercially available options, and aim to present a guide for prosthesis tailoring according to patient-related anatomical and clinical factors that may favor particular designs.

Infective endocarditis is a severe condition that requires rapid identification and treatment. Early diagnosis is often difficult due to diverse and often vague presenting symptoms. One uncommon complication is acute coronary syndrome that can be secondary to dissemination of septic emboli. Although rare, this coronary complication is life threatening and associated with increased mortality. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful diagnostic modality in patients with suspected endocarditis because it can attempt to identify vegetations and evidence of cardiac ischemia by identifying regional wall motion abnormalities. The following case demonstrates a patient with infective endocarditis causing a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction diagnosed in the emergency department using POCUS. K E Y W O R D Sendocarditis, NSTEMI, POCUS