Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic biopsy of the lung is a well-established diagnostic technique, but it can pose complications to the patients. Air embolism is one of the rarest but potentially fatal complications of this procedure. The authors report a fatal case of systemic and massive air embolism to the coronary and cerebral arteries after the performance of lung biopsy. Careful reviewing of the obtained CT images during the procedure may avoid a missing systemic air embolism and can immediately provide an adequate therapy also in asymptomatic patients. This extremely rare complication is an inevitable event and may happen in spite of appropriate experience and meticulous care.

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Objectives:L-Carnitine is a crucial component of activated fatty acid transport. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine on patients with a history of mild heart failure and diastolic dysfunction. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with a history of NYHA functional class II symptoms and ejection fraction >45% with documented grade 1 diastolic dysfunction on echocardiogram were randomized in blinded fashion to receive 1,500 mg of L-carnitine daily for 3 months in comparison to a no treatment group (31 patients). Baseline echocardiographic and follow-up measurements of diastolic parameters were assessed after 3 months. Results: Important parameters of diastolic function improved in the L-carnitine group only: left atrial size (3.6 ± 0.4 cm before treatment vs. 3.4 ± 0.5 cm after treatment, p = 0.01); isovolemic relaxation time (127 ± 26 ms before vs. 113 ± 24 ms after treatment, p = 0.007); septal mitral E′ velocity (0.064 ± 0.01 m/s before vs. 0.074 ± 0.01 m/s after treatment, p = 0.01), and lateral mitral E velocity (0.082 ± 0.01 m/s before vs. 0.091 ± 0.02 m/s after treatment, p = 0.006). Dyspnea also significantly improved in L-carnitine-treated patients. Conclusion: In patients with a history of diastolic heart failure, important indices of diastolic function and symptoms appear to improve with L-carnitine treatment.

We report and discuss a case of primary hydatidosis of the pelvic cavity in a woman who presented with severe weight loss and abdominal pain. This unusual presentation was initially considered as a tumor process until surgical exploration and microscopic studies confirmed the diagnosis. The gynecologists should be aware of possibility of primary hydatid cyst of the pelvic cavity and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic pelvic masses, especially in areas where the disease is endemic.