Temporary pacemaker protected transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a patient with acute variceal bleeding and bradyarrhythmia:A case report

BACKGROUND Esophagogastric varices are a common complication of cirrhosis with portal hypertension and endoscopic treatment has been recognized as a primary preventive and therapeutic option for such patients;however,it should be noted that bradyarrhythmia is regarded as one of the contraindications to endoscopic examination.Meanwhile,acute variceal bleeding may result in a high mortality rate in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension accompanied by bradyarrhythmia.At present,there is an absence of reports concerning the treatment of such group of patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS).The present report details the case of a cirrhotic patient with acute variceal bleeding accompanied by bradyarrhythmia who underwent TIPS under temporary pacemaker protection.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 64-year-old male patient who was confirmed with bradyarrhythmia by ambulatory electrocardiogram 24 h before the operation.The patient was successfully treated by TIPS under temporary pacemaker protection.CONCLUSION In terms of cirrhotic patients with abnormal cardiac electrophysiological conduction,TIPS may be effective in reducing the complications of portal hypertension following the exclusion of severe pulmonary hypertension and heart failure,showing moderate feasibility in clinical applications.

Clinical application of temporary pacemaker insertion guided by bedside ultrasound in elder and critical patients

Background Ultrasound-guided temporary pacemaker implantation has been proven safe and efficient. However, few studies have focused on elder and critical patients. Methods Twelve elder and critical patients underwent temporary cardiac pacing through the jugular vein or subclavian vein, with bedside ultrasound images to assist the placement of electrode within the right ventricle. Results Ultrasound-guided temporary cardiac pacemaker insertion was successful in all of the 12 patients. Electrodes were sent into the right ventricle correctly with the help of ultrasound imaging. In all cases, temporary pacemaker functioned well without procedure-related complications. Conclusion Temporary cardiac pacing guided by ultrasound is safe and effective in elder and critical patients, which is worth of promoting, especially in intensive care unit.

Cope's sign and complete heart block secondary to acute cholecystitis: A case report

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.

Study of Bradyarrhythmias in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction are common. Bradyarrhythmias need specific insight into when and how to treat them. Objectives: To delineate the incidence, course, and management of different types of bradyarrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction, the study period was five years. Methods: 453 patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) were admitted to intensive care in five years. ECGs were analyzed for the presence of bradyarrhythmias and details of management. Results: 65 patients with bradycardia were found. Sinus bradycardia in 40, sick sinus syndrome in 10, junctional rhythm in 10, second-degree block in 10, complete heart block in 24. We divided patients with sinus bradycardia into a stable group and an unstable group. Unstable sinus bradycardia is more prevalent in cases with hypotension or shock, slower heart rates, gross or transmural infarction. Also, predictors of instability were changeable morphology of the “P” wave and inferior rather than anterior infarction. The indications and danger of atropine are defined. Complete heart block was found in 24 patients (0.053%). 13 were managed by drug therapy (isoprenaline, corticosteroids, and atropine);Eleven patients were paced. 14 out of the 24 patients died (58%), the total mortality rate among the 453 patients was 22%. The prognostic factors of CHB were defined. Techniques of introduction of the lead in RV without fluoroscopy are described. Conclusions: Sinus bradycardia in AMI is accompanied by a lower incidence of mortality. Atropine is not a safe drug to be given as routine. Complete heart block predictors of mortality are the association with heart failure, early-onset, and persistence of the block.

Improved Cardiac Contractility of Human Recombinant Growth Hormone on the Congestive Heart Failure of Pig

The enhanced cardiac contractility effect of human recombinant growth hormone (hr-GH) on the congestive heart failure (CHF) was studied on the pig. To build a pig model of congestive heart failure, a temporary artificial cardiac pacemaker was implanted in the pig’s body and paced at 220 beats to 240 beats per minute for 1 week. After the model of congestive heart failure was successfully set up, the frequency of the pacemaker was changed to 150 beats to 180 beats per minute to maintain the CHF model stable. Pigs were divided into three groups: The hr-GH group in which 0.5 mg/kg per day of hr-GH was administrated intramuscularly for 15 days, the injection control group in which an equal amount of physiological saline was injected intramuscularly, and a normal control group. The left ventricular diastolic end pressure was (10.60±2.41) mmHg in the hr-GH group, but (19.00±3.81) mmHg in the saline control group (P<0.01); Cardiac output was (1.86±0.13) L/min in the hr-GH group, but (1.56±0.18) L/min in the saline control group (P<0.05); Peripheral vascular resistance was (56.88±7.51) mmHg·(L/min) -1 in the hr-GH group, whereas (70.30±11.59) mmHg·(L/min) -1 in the saline control group (P<0.05); +dp/dt max was (2900±316.23) and (2280±286.36) in the hr-HG group and the saline control group respectively (P<0.05). The results show that hr-GH enhances myocardial contractility of CHF, and the CHF model built by a temporary artificial cardiac pacemaker at a high rate of stimulation is reasonable and applicable.