BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The detection of circulating particulate cerebral emboli using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography has been recently reported. It has been suggested that this method might allow discrimination between different embolic materials; this would be very useful for selecting specific pharmacological treatment in individual patients. This study was designed to identify those pa...

FALL/1973 R. L. Swank R. S. Connell M. C. Webb Microemboli composed of aggregates of platelets and leukocytes can become a serious threat to the microvasculature. These aggregates develop in blood --stored for future transfusion, and during hemorrhagic and traumatic shock. During the use of the extracorporeal circulation, these causal factors combine together with the trauma of suction, pumping...

This study describes microthrombotic emboli (with their ultrastructure) and emboli of fat and of dimethylpolysiloxane with silica in the retinal microcirculation of two patients who died-each after his second open heart operation. The presence of silica was confirmed by electron probe x-ray micro-analysis.

We report three cases of arterial emboli in patients with lung cancer treated with cisplatin chemotherapy. All three patients were managed without surgical intervention but subsequent oncological treatment was complicated by the sequelae of arterial emboli. We discuss the issues surrounding these patients and the importance of identifying patients at risk of arterial embolic phenomena with cisp...

Endocarditis is a rare presentation of group B streptococcal infection. Its association with pulmonary septic embolism was only barely studied and limited data is available up to date. Multiple septic emboli is a common complication of bacterial endocarditis, but only a few cases have been documented in relation to group B streptococcus. We present the case of an 87 year old female patient with...

We report an unusual case of infective endocarditis (IE) in an 88-year-old woman, occurring on a prolapsing mitral valve and characterized by an atypical vegetation shape resembling a spiral-like appearance. After the patient refused surgical correction, persistent IE despite prolonged antibiotic therapy was observed, resulting in an ischemic stroke probably secondary to septic embolus. The imp...

A 30 year-old man referred to the emergency department with loss of consciousness and a stab wound in the right para-spinal region at about the level of the T6 vertebra. On admission, the patient was confused, agitated, and had automatism in his lips and mouth. There were no obvious signs of head trauma. Vital signs were stable, and lung and abdominal exams were normal. The brain computed tomog...