A 68-year-old man presented to the emergency depart-ment due to recurrent episodes of syncope and shortness ofbreath during the previous two days. Her medical historyincluded arterial hypertension and diabetes. She wa...A 68-year-old man presented to the emergency depart-ment due to recurrent episodes of syncope and shortness ofbreath during the previous two days. Her medical historyincluded arterial hypertension and diabetes. She was nottaking any negative chronotropic drugs but she referred afhmilial history of fhtal pulmonary embolism and suddencardiac death. At admission, blood pressure, pulse rate andperipheral oxygen saturation were 88/60 mmHg.展开更多
Rationale: Cope's sign is reflex bradycardia seen in the patient presenting with symptoms of acute cholecystitis. This bradycardia may be due to vagally mediated cardio-biliary reflex. Many of these reflexes due t...Rationale: Cope's sign is reflex bradycardia seen in the patient presenting with symptoms of acute cholecystitis. This bradycardia may be due to vagally mediated cardio-biliary reflex. Many of these reflexes due to acute cholecystitis have similar clinical features (some electrocardiographic changes like bradycardia, complete heart block, and asystole) mimicking that of acute coronary syndrome. Patient's concern: A 60-year old male presented with symptoms of acute cholecystitis and referred to the emergency department with complete heart block and abdominal pain with hypotension requiring an emergency temporary pacemaker. Diagnosis: Cope's sign and complete heart block. Intervention: Emergency temporary cardiac pacemaker insertion. Outcomes: The patient was discharged after three days with regular follow-up and advice for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Lessons: Complete heart block or any symptomatic bradycardia associated with abdominal pain should be under consideration of cholecystitis that may be associated with either presence or absence of gall stones due to cardio biliary reflex.展开更多
BACKGROUND An atrial septal defect is a common condition and accounts for 25%of adult congenital heart diseases.Transcatheter occlusion is a widely used technique for the treatment of secondary aperture-type atrial se...BACKGROUND An atrial septal defect is a common condition and accounts for 25%of adult congenital heart diseases.Transcatheter occlusion is a widely used technique for the treatment of secondary aperture-type atrial septal defects(ASDs).CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old female patient was diagnosed with ASD by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE)1 year ago.The electrocardiogram showed a heart rate of 88 beats per minute,normal sinus rhythm,and no change in the ST-T wave.After admission,TTE showed an atrial septal defect with a left-to-right shunt,aortic root short-axis section with an ASD diameter of 8 mm,a parasternal four-chamber section with an ASD diameter of 9 mm,and subxiphoid biatrial section with a diameter of 13 mm.Percutaneous occlusion was proposed.The intraoperative TTE scan showed that the atrial septal defect was oval in shape,was located near the root of the aorta,and had a maximum diameter of 13 mm.A 10-F sheath was placed in the right femoral vein,and a 0.035°hard guidewire was used to establish the transport track between the left pulmonary vein and the inferior vena cava.A shape-memory alloy atrial septal occluder with a waist diameter of 20 mm was placed successfully and located correctly.TTE showed that the double disk unfolded well and that the clamping of the atrial septum was smooth.Immediately after the disc was revealed,electrocardiograph monitoring showed that the ST interval of the inferior leads was prolonged,the P waves and QRS waves were separated,a junctional escape rhythm maintained the heart rate,and the blood pressure began to decrease.After removing the occluder,the elevation in the ST segment returned to normal immediately,and the sinus rhythm returned to average approximately 10 min later.After consulting the patient’s family,we finally decided to withdraw from the operation.CONCLUSION Compression of the small coronary artery,which provides an alternative blood supply to the atrioventricular nodule during the operation,leads to the emergence of a complete atrioventricular block.展开更多
BACKGROUND Congenital complete heart block(CCHB)with normal cardiac structure and negativity for anti-Ro/La antibody is rare.Additionally,CCHB is much less frequently diagnosed in adults,and its natural history in adu...BACKGROUND Congenital complete heart block(CCHB)with normal cardiac structure and negativity for anti-Ro/La antibody is rare.Additionally,CCHB is much less frequently diagnosed in adults,and its natural history in adults is less well known.CASE SUMMARY A 23-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for frequent syncopal episodes.She had bradycardia at the age of 1 year but had never had impaired exercise capacity or a syncopal episode before admission.The possible diagnosis of acquired complete atrioventricular block was carefully ruled out,and then the diagnosis of CCHB was made.According to existing guidelines,permanent pacemaker implantation was recommended,but the patient declined.With regular follow-up for 28 years,the patient had an unusually good outcome without any invasive intervention or medicine.She had an uneventful pregnancy and led a normally active life without any symptoms of low cardiac output or syncopal recurrence.CONCLUSION This case implies that CCHB in adulthood may have good clinical outcomes and does not always require permanent pacemaker implantation.展开更多
The appropriate preparation of the patient with asymptomatic congenital complete heart block (CCHB) and a narrow QRS complex for elective non-cardiac surgery is controversial. Prophylactic temporary pacemaker insertio...The appropriate preparation of the patient with asymptomatic congenital complete heart block (CCHB) and a narrow QRS complex for elective non-cardiac surgery is controversial. Prophylactic temporary pacemaker insertion is associated with well-defined risks, and less invasive techniques exist to treat transient, hemodynamically significant intraoperative brady-arrhythmias. The present case report details the performance of general anesthesia for arthroscopic knee surgery in an adult patient with this condition without a pacemaker. Documentation of preoperative chronotropic competence with isoproterenol may be of value in deciding whether to proceed without temporary pacing capability in this setting.展开更多
A sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SOVA) is abnormal dilatation of the either aortic sinuses, area of the aortic root between the aortic valve annulus and the sinotubular junction. Their clinical presentation may range fro...A sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SOVA) is abnormal dilatation of the either aortic sinuses, area of the aortic root between the aortic valve annulus and the sinotubular junction. Their clinical presentation may range from being asymptomatic as an incidental finding on cardiac imaging to symptomatic presentations related to the compression of adjoining structures or intracardiac shunting caused by rupture of the SOVA mostly into the right side of the heart. The compression leads to findings of tricuspid valve regurgitation, right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction and rarely complete heart block (CHB). Dissection or erosion into interventricular septum is one of the rarest complications of SOVA. The symptomatic presentation is almost always a surgical emergency. Here we present a case report of a patient with unruptured sinus of valsalva originating from right sinus dissecting into interventricular septum causing complete heart bock. In this case after surgical correction the complete heart block reverted to sinus rhythm.展开更多
AIM: To compare the atrio-ventricular(AV/PV) delay optimization by echocardiography and intra-cardiac electrocardiogram(IEGM) based Quick Opt algorithm in complete heart block(CHB) patients, implanted with a dual cham...AIM: To compare the atrio-ventricular(AV/PV) delay optimization by echocardiography and intra-cardiac electrocardiogram(IEGM) based Quick Opt algorithm in complete heart block(CHB) patients, implanted with a dual chamber pacemaker. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 20 patients(age 59.45 ± 18.1 years; male: 65%) with CHB, who were implanted with a dual chamber pacemaker. The left ventricular outflow tract velocity time-integral was measured after AV/PV delay optimization by both echocardiography and Quick Opt algorithm method. Bland-Altman analysis was used for agreement between the two techniques. RESULTS: The optimal AV and PV delay determined by echocardiography was 155.5 ± 14.68 ms and 122.5 ± 17.73 ms(P < 0.0001), respectively and by Quick Opt method was 167.5 ± 16.73 and 117.5 ms ± 9.10 ms(P < 0.0001), respectively. A good agreement was observed between optimal AV and PV delay as measured by two methods. However, the correlation of the optimal AV(r = 0.0689, P = 0.77) and PV(r = 0.2689, P = 0.25) intervals measured by the two techniques was poor. The time required for AV/PV optimization was 45.26 ± 1.73 min by echocardiography and 0.44 ± 0.08 min by Quick Opt method(P < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: The programmer based IEGM method is an automated, quick, easier and reliable alternative to echocardiography for the optimization of AV/PV delay in CHB patients, implanted with a dual chamber pacemaker.展开更多
Cardiac Sarcoidosis (CS) is a rare and deceptive disease affecting young adults with catastrophic results including life threatening arrhythmia, congestive heart failure and even sudden death as the initial presentati...Cardiac Sarcoidosis (CS) is a rare and deceptive disease affecting young adults with catastrophic results including life threatening arrhythmia, congestive heart failure and even sudden death as the initial presentation. CS has been linked to a significant high morbidity & mortality. We present two patients: The first patient with an initial cardiac event that led us to a diagnosis of Pulmonary and Cardiac Sarcoidosis. A second patient, who was diagnosed initially with pulmonary Sarcoidosis, presented with a severe heart conduction abnormality. Both patients were successfully treated with permanent pacemakers. The dual purpose of our study is first to emphasize the importance of follow up on patients with Non-Cardiac Sarcoidosis for cardiac involvement and secondly to increase awareness of CS as part of a differential diagnosis among young adults with unexplained arrhythmia.展开更多
文摘A 68-year-old man presented to the emergency depart-ment due to recurrent episodes of syncope and shortness ofbreath during the previous two days. Her medical historyincluded arterial hypertension and diabetes. She was nottaking any negative chronotropic drugs but she referred afhmilial history of fhtal pulmonary embolism and suddencardiac death. At admission, blood pressure, pulse rate andperipheral oxygen saturation were 88/60 mmHg.
文摘Rationale: Cope's sign is reflex bradycardia seen in the patient presenting with symptoms of acute cholecystitis. This bradycardia may be due to vagally mediated cardio-biliary reflex. Many of these reflexes due to acute cholecystitis have similar clinical features (some electrocardiographic changes like bradycardia, complete heart block, and asystole) mimicking that of acute coronary syndrome. Patient's concern: A 60-year old male presented with symptoms of acute cholecystitis and referred to the emergency department with complete heart block and abdominal pain with hypotension requiring an emergency temporary pacemaker. Diagnosis: Cope's sign and complete heart block. Intervention: Emergency temporary cardiac pacemaker insertion. Outcomes: The patient was discharged after three days with regular follow-up and advice for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Lessons: Complete heart block or any symptomatic bradycardia associated with abdominal pain should be under consideration of cholecystitis that may be associated with either presence or absence of gall stones due to cardio biliary reflex.
文摘BACKGROUND An atrial septal defect is a common condition and accounts for 25%of adult congenital heart diseases.Transcatheter occlusion is a widely used technique for the treatment of secondary aperture-type atrial septal defects(ASDs).CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old female patient was diagnosed with ASD by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE)1 year ago.The electrocardiogram showed a heart rate of 88 beats per minute,normal sinus rhythm,and no change in the ST-T wave.After admission,TTE showed an atrial septal defect with a left-to-right shunt,aortic root short-axis section with an ASD diameter of 8 mm,a parasternal four-chamber section with an ASD diameter of 9 mm,and subxiphoid biatrial section with a diameter of 13 mm.Percutaneous occlusion was proposed.The intraoperative TTE scan showed that the atrial septal defect was oval in shape,was located near the root of the aorta,and had a maximum diameter of 13 mm.A 10-F sheath was placed in the right femoral vein,and a 0.035°hard guidewire was used to establish the transport track between the left pulmonary vein and the inferior vena cava.A shape-memory alloy atrial septal occluder with a waist diameter of 20 mm was placed successfully and located correctly.TTE showed that the double disk unfolded well and that the clamping of the atrial septum was smooth.Immediately after the disc was revealed,electrocardiograph monitoring showed that the ST interval of the inferior leads was prolonged,the P waves and QRS waves were separated,a junctional escape rhythm maintained the heart rate,and the blood pressure began to decrease.After removing the occluder,the elevation in the ST segment returned to normal immediately,and the sinus rhythm returned to average approximately 10 min later.After consulting the patient’s family,we finally decided to withdraw from the operation.CONCLUSION Compression of the small coronary artery,which provides an alternative blood supply to the atrioventricular nodule during the operation,leads to the emergence of a complete atrioventricular block.
文摘BACKGROUND Congenital complete heart block(CCHB)with normal cardiac structure and negativity for anti-Ro/La antibody is rare.Additionally,CCHB is much less frequently diagnosed in adults,and its natural history in adults is less well known.CASE SUMMARY A 23-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for frequent syncopal episodes.She had bradycardia at the age of 1 year but had never had impaired exercise capacity or a syncopal episode before admission.The possible diagnosis of acquired complete atrioventricular block was carefully ruled out,and then the diagnosis of CCHB was made.According to existing guidelines,permanent pacemaker implantation was recommended,but the patient declined.With regular follow-up for 28 years,the patient had an unusually good outcome without any invasive intervention or medicine.She had an uneventful pregnancy and led a normally active life without any symptoms of low cardiac output or syncopal recurrence.CONCLUSION This case implies that CCHB in adulthood may have good clinical outcomes and does not always require permanent pacemaker implantation.
文摘The appropriate preparation of the patient with asymptomatic congenital complete heart block (CCHB) and a narrow QRS complex for elective non-cardiac surgery is controversial. Prophylactic temporary pacemaker insertion is associated with well-defined risks, and less invasive techniques exist to treat transient, hemodynamically significant intraoperative brady-arrhythmias. The present case report details the performance of general anesthesia for arthroscopic knee surgery in an adult patient with this condition without a pacemaker. Documentation of preoperative chronotropic competence with isoproterenol may be of value in deciding whether to proceed without temporary pacing capability in this setting.
文摘A sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SOVA) is abnormal dilatation of the either aortic sinuses, area of the aortic root between the aortic valve annulus and the sinotubular junction. Their clinical presentation may range from being asymptomatic as an incidental finding on cardiac imaging to symptomatic presentations related to the compression of adjoining structures or intracardiac shunting caused by rupture of the SOVA mostly into the right side of the heart. The compression leads to findings of tricuspid valve regurgitation, right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction and rarely complete heart block (CHB). Dissection or erosion into interventricular septum is one of the rarest complications of SOVA. The symptomatic presentation is almost always a surgical emergency. Here we present a case report of a patient with unruptured sinus of valsalva originating from right sinus dissecting into interventricular septum causing complete heart bock. In this case after surgical correction the complete heart block reverted to sinus rhythm.
文摘AIM: To compare the atrio-ventricular(AV/PV) delay optimization by echocardiography and intra-cardiac electrocardiogram(IEGM) based Quick Opt algorithm in complete heart block(CHB) patients, implanted with a dual chamber pacemaker. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 20 patients(age 59.45 ± 18.1 years; male: 65%) with CHB, who were implanted with a dual chamber pacemaker. The left ventricular outflow tract velocity time-integral was measured after AV/PV delay optimization by both echocardiography and Quick Opt algorithm method. Bland-Altman analysis was used for agreement between the two techniques. RESULTS: The optimal AV and PV delay determined by echocardiography was 155.5 ± 14.68 ms and 122.5 ± 17.73 ms(P < 0.0001), respectively and by Quick Opt method was 167.5 ± 16.73 and 117.5 ms ± 9.10 ms(P < 0.0001), respectively. A good agreement was observed between optimal AV and PV delay as measured by two methods. However, the correlation of the optimal AV(r = 0.0689, P = 0.77) and PV(r = 0.2689, P = 0.25) intervals measured by the two techniques was poor. The time required for AV/PV optimization was 45.26 ± 1.73 min by echocardiography and 0.44 ± 0.08 min by Quick Opt method(P < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: The programmer based IEGM method is an automated, quick, easier and reliable alternative to echocardiography for the optimization of AV/PV delay in CHB patients, implanted with a dual chamber pacemaker.
文摘Cardiac Sarcoidosis (CS) is a rare and deceptive disease affecting young adults with catastrophic results including life threatening arrhythmia, congestive heart failure and even sudden death as the initial presentation. CS has been linked to a significant high morbidity & mortality. We present two patients: The first patient with an initial cardiac event that led us to a diagnosis of Pulmonary and Cardiac Sarcoidosis. A second patient, who was diagnosed initially with pulmonary Sarcoidosis, presented with a severe heart conduction abnormality. Both patients were successfully treated with permanent pacemakers. The dual purpose of our study is first to emphasize the importance of follow up on patients with Non-Cardiac Sarcoidosis for cardiac involvement and secondly to increase awareness of CS as part of a differential diagnosis among young adults with unexplained arrhythmia.
