…function and favour the accumulation of fat, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts and extracellular matrix beneath the endothelium. Plaques that are particularly prone to rupture characteristically…

…accounting for approximately 80% of cases. Other causes include acute mechanical complications—particularly ventricular septal defect (VSD) and papillary muscle rupture with acute severe mitral…

…muscle cells, leading to a white, platelet rich thrombus. Myocardial vulnerability, largely driven by coronary microvascular dysfunction, also contributes to the extension and severity of…

…without plaque rupture, coronary artery spasm, coronary microvascular dysfunction (encompassing endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle cell dysfunction, and dysregulation of sympathetic innervation), coronary embolism, and spontaneous…

…complex fibroatheroma. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) migrate from the tunica media into the intima, driven by platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and other cytokines. Within…

…rupture and compromise of branch vessels. Type A disease may cause cardiac tamponade, severe acute aortic regurgitation, coronary malperfusion, myocardial ischaemia, heart failure, shock and…

…outcomes. The vast majority of infections with COVID 19 result in mild disease, with symptoms similar to seasonal flu (influenza) and other viral respiratory infections…

…and spotty calcification. However, the concept has important limitations. Although thin capped fibroatheromas may have imaging characteristics associated with rupture, fewer than 5% of such…

…infarction Definition and pathophysiology Type 1 MI results from acute coronary atherothrombosis. It is usually precipitated by disruption of an atherosclerotic plaque through rupture or…

…in mitral and tricuspid inflow The echocardiographic counterpart of pulsus paradoxus Contraindications In overt tamponade with shock there are no absolute contraindications other than the…