Heart failure - An unexplored risk factor for infective endocarditis after pacemaker implantation.

BACKGROUND: With the widespread use of permanent pacemakers (PPM), and increased mortality associated with pacemaker endocarditis, it is essential to evaluate comorbidities that could potentially increase the risk of infective endocarditis (IE). Heart failure (HF), a common comorbidity, has not been well studied as an independent risk factor for development of IE in individuals with PPM. METHODS: The US National Inpatient Sample database was used to sample individuals with PPM. Patients with concomitant implantable cardioverter defibrillator, acute heart failure, history of endocarditis, intravenous drug use, prosthetic heart valves, or central venous catheter infection were excluded. Propensity matching was performed to match patients with and without HF. Pre- and post-match logistic regression was performed to assess HF as an independent risk factor for IE. A subgroup analysis was performed comparing IE rates between patients with HF with reduced (HFrEF) vs preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction. RESULTS: Out of 333,571 patients with PPM included in the study, 121,862 (37 %) had HF. HF patients were older and had a higher prevalence of females. All comorbidities except for dental disease and cancer were more prevalent in the HF group. Patients with HF were 1.30 times more likely to develop IE [OR: 1.30 (1.16-1.47); p < 0.001]. The two cohorts were then matched for age, gender, and 20 comorbidities using a 1:1 propensity score matching algorithm. After matching, HF was still independently associated with increased risk of IE [OR: 1.62 (1.36-1.93); p < 0.001]. In our sub-group analysis, HFrEF and HFpEF patients had similar IE rates. CONCLUSION: In PPM population, HF was associated with an increased risk of IE compared to those without HF. We hypothesize that HF being a low-flow and high-inflammatory state might have contributed to this increased risk. Larger studies are required to corroborate our findings and evaluate the need for antimicrobial prophylaxis for this population.

Resolution of Sinus Tachycardia Secondary to Hyperthyroidism With Ivabradine.

Currently, ivabradine is not approved for the treatment of sinus tachycardia secondary to hyperthyroidism. We aimed to increase the recognition of ivabradine as an effective alternative to, or combination with, beta-blockers in controlling sinus tachycardia secondary to hyperthyroidism. Elevated thyroid hormone levels enhance cardiac performance through a positive chronotropic effect, resulting in an increased heart rate (HR), an effect brought on by increasing the If funny current at sinoatrial node (SAN). Ivabradine is a novel, dose-dependent selective inhibitor of If channels. By decreasing SAN pacemaker activity, ivabradine allows for selective reduction of HR with a resultant increase in ventricular filling time. This mechanism sets ivabradine apart from the typical rate-reducing medications, namely beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, which simultaneously decrease HR and myocardial contractility. We describe a case of hyperthyroidism-induced sinus tachycardia, resistant to maximal doses of beta-blocker, which was successfully managed by ivabradine. After excluding other causes of tachycardia, such as anemia, hypovolemic states, structural heart disease, drug abuse, and infection, ivabradine was given off-label for symptomatic relief of hyperthyroidism-induced sinus tachycardia. Within 24 h, HR steadily decreased to the low 80s. Our patient had a unique presentation in which he presented with hyperthyroidism-induced sinus tachycardia with no relief after administration of maximal dose of beta-blocker. Ivabradine was then given, with resolution of sinus tachycardia within 24 h.

A Rare Case of High-Grade Atrioventricular Block in Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is an autoimmune disease that affects small and medium-sized vessels. It is classically known to present with renal and respiratory tract symptoms. However, the disease can manifest in other organ systems, especially cardiovascular involvement. Though there are multiple reports of cardiac involvement in GPA, it is not commonly evaluated and is often overlooked in patients with GPA. Heart disease in GPA has a wide range of presentations ranging from subacute and silent to severe abnormalities, which can prove fatal if not identified and treated appropriately. Identifying cardiac involvement early in patients with no apparent signs can help with prevention strategies and follow-up to avoid significant complications. Pericarditis is the most common pathology noted in GPA, followed by cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, valvular disease, and conduction abnormality. In our report, we present a case of GPA in a young male with asymptomatic conduction abnormality of the heart. Although it was silent at the presentation, identifying the initial electrocardiogram (ECG) changes prompted us to admit him to the telemetry floor. Continuous telemetry monitoring helped us identify the progression of the conduction abnormality, which otherwise could have been missed. This led us to correlate to his symptoms which he later developed during his admission course. His symptoms subsided after prompt treatment. If not identified early, these cardiac abnormalities can delay management, leading to increased disease burden and morbidity. Hence, essential cardiac work with at least ECG and continuous telemetry monitoring is recommended.

Lactococcus endocarditis after Bentall procedure presenting with intracranial hemorrhage.

Background: Endocarditis is more common in patients with cardiac prostheses. A Bentall procedure entails surgical replacement of the aortic valve, aortic root, and ascending aorta with re-implantation of coronary arteries into the graft. Case: 65-year-old male with history of atrial fibrillation on rivaroxaban, bicuspid aortic valve, and ascending aortic aneurysm with a history of a Bentall procedure two years prior, presented with headache and dysarthria for one day. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 3 and CT head showed 2.7 cm left frontal hematoma with extension into the subarachnoid space. Andexanet alfa was given for rivaroxaban reversal followed by cerebral angiogram which showed 5 mm intracranial inferior MCA aneurysm and embolization and coil placement was done. Blood cultures grew Lactococcus garvieae and transesophageal echocardiogram revealed aortic valve thickening and vegetation on the non-coronary cusp. He was subsequently treated with six weeks of IV ceftriaxone and Gentamycin. Conclusion: With increasing use of bioprosthetic valves, the possibility of infective endocarditis with uncommon pathogens should be kept in mind. Lactococcus commonly affects native valves, however it can affect bioprosthetic valves and can present with mycotic aneurysms.

Permanent Pacemaker Placement Secondary to Remdesivir Induced Bradycardia: A Case Report.

Remdesivir is approved by the FDA for the treatment of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. It is known to be associated with transient bradycardia that resolves after discontinuation of the drug. We present a case of a 71-year-old male with a history of congestive heart failure, hypertension, and atrial flutter (rate controlled with carvedilol) presented for evaluation of worsening dyspnea, dry cough, and fatigue. His COVID-19 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was positive and his chest x-ray showed right mid-lung opacity. Oxygen saturation was 88% on room air. He was started on dexamethasone and remdesivir. Bradycardia was noted on telemetry monitoring 48 hours after starting remdesivir. Carvedilol was discontinued, but the bradycardia persisted. Heart rate reached a nadir of 38 beats per minute (bpm) three days after completion of remdesivir therapy. Due to persistent bradycardia, he received a dual-chamber cardiac pacemaker without any immediate complications. Three months later, his pacemaker interrogation showed 99% ventricular pacing. We recommend that extra caution should be taken when initiating remdesivir therapy in individuals with baseline conduction abnormalities due to the possibility of persistent bradycardia.

Intra-Atrial Right Coronary Artery and Anomalous Origin of Left Circumflex Artery Found Concurrently.

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are known to be anatomical aberrations in the origin and structure. Due to the diverse anatomical variants, surgeons and angiographers have struggled when faced with patients who have CAA. To frame the complicated issues surrounding CAA, we present a case of a young patient found to have two CAAs, concurrently on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), while in the emergency room being evaluated for chest pain. Patient was medically observed without any invasive procedure since he was deemed to have low cardiovascular risk. Subsequently, literature on prevalence, as well as high risk findings are reviewed. Further studies to evaluate pharmacological, angiographic, and surgical interventions may have additional benefit for both patients and practitioners. Our aim is to help shed the light on difficulties cardiologists are facing during angiography. Additionally, our paper offers some guidance for how to evaluate and follow patients with similar findings into the future.

Severe Tricuspid Stenosis Secondary to Permanent Pacemaker Lead.

Tricuspid stenosis (TS) is a rare valvular abnormality and generally associated with mitral stenosis in cases of rheumatic heart disease. TS is now frequently being described in the setting of permanent pacemaker leads, either with or without the presence of infective endocarditis. We describe a case of a female with TS secondary to permanent pacemaker leads in the absence of infective endocarditis being managed during the pre-conception period. She initially had a balloon valvuloplasty done for moderate to severe TS and subsequently conceived and delivered without complications. However, upon being evaluated before her second pregnancy, she was again found to have severe TS. We hypothesize that the presence of permanent pacemaker lead contributed to the development of early restenosis after the first procedure. A repeat balloon valvuloplasty was unsuccessful and she ultimately underwent successful tricuspid valve replacement with no echocardiographic or clinical signs of restenosis years later. The options for management of TS secondary to permanent pacemaker lead include medical management, balloon valvuloplasty (with or without removal of pacemaker lead), or tricuspid valve replacement. Overall, there is a scarcity of data on long-term outcomes of either option making the management challenging.

Repeat Revascularization Post Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Comparing Minimally Invasive and Traditional Sternotomy Techniques in 1468 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Traditional open sternotomy coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) utilizes highly invasive techniques that lead to several serious complications. In response, minimally invasive cardiac surgery CABG (MICS-CABG) was developed. MICS-CABG is safe, reproducible, and with fewer complications, while allowing for better postoperative recovery periods. There is a paucity of data exploring rates of repeat revascularization in patients post MICS-CABG compared to post traditional sternotomy CABG. METHODS: This was a retrospective billing database review examining 1468 CABG patients at a large university medical center from January 2005 to December 2017. The primary objective was to compare the rate of repeat revascularization events between MICS-CABG and traditional open sternotomy CABG over an eight-year follow-up period. RESULTS: Our study population consisted of 1468 patients, of whom 513 had MICS-CABG and 955 had traditional CABG. The number of patients undergoing repeat revascularization within the eight-year surveillance was 99 for MICS-CABG and 75 for traditional CABG. The Kaplan-Meier survival probability estimates for eight years were 0.86 for MICS-CABG and 0.91 for traditional CABG. The mean time until a repeat revascularization event was 84.1 months for MICS-CABG and 88.5 months for traditional CABG. CONCLUSIONS:  Traditional CABG was found to have a statistically significantly longer time to repeat revascularization than MICS-CABG. Despite the technical challenges associated with MICS-CABG, the time to repeat revascularization was different by only about four months, which may not hold large clinical significance. This suggests that MICS-CABG may have a role to play due to previous findings showing a reduction in complications while allowing for better postoperative recovery periods.

The Association of Digital Health Application Use With Heart Failure Care and Outcomes: Insights From CONNECT-HF.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether digital applications can improve guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Care Optimization Through Patient and Hospital Engagement Clinical Trial for Heart Failure trial (CONNECT-HF) included an optional, prospective ancillary study of a mobile health application among patients hospitalized due to HFrEF. Digital users were matched to nonusers from the usual-care group. Coprimary outcomes included change in opportunity-based composite HF quality scores and HF rehospitalization or all-cause mortality. Among 2431 patients offered digital applications across the United States, 1526 (63%) had limited digital access or insufficient data, 425 (17%) were digital users, and 480 (20%) declined use. Digital users were similar in age to those who declined use (mean 58 vs 60 years; P = 0.031). Digital users (n = 368) vs matched nonusers (n = 368) had improved composite HF quality scores (48.0% vs 43.6%; + 4.76% [3.27-6.24]; P = 0.001) and composite clinical outcomes (33.0% vs 39.6%; HR 0.76 [0.59-0.97]; P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Among participants in the CONNECT-HF trial, use of digital applications was modest but was associated with higher HF quality-of-care scores, including use of GDMT and better clinical outcomes. Although cause and effect cannot be determined from this study, the application of technology to guide GDMT use and dosing among patients with HFrEF warrants further investigation.

Multivalvular infective endocarditis with Proteus mirabilis.

Proteus species belong to the Enterobacteriaceae family and are gram-negative-rods, commonly known to cause urinary tract infections and asymptomatic bacteriuria in elderly patients with risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and urinary catheterization. However, Proteus species are rarely known to cause infective endocarditis. We present a case of an 85-year-old female who presented due to decreased responsiveness with urine and blood cultures growing Proteus mirabilis. While she was being treated for her urinary tract infection, her echocardiogram showed vegetation on the left coronary cusp of the aortic valve and left pulmonic valve leaflet. Uncontrolled tachyarrhythmias and new-onset atrial fibrillation complicated the hospital course. Later, she became bradycardic during the hospital stay, and all rate-control medications were held. Unfortunately, she went into cardiac arrest and spontaneous circulation could not be established with resuscitation attempts and she expired. To our knowledge, this is a rare case of native valve infective endocarditis secondary to Proteus mirabilis, leading to uncontrolled tachyarrhythmias and death.

A Case of Peripartum Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Woman With a History of Obesity.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with a high prevalence in young pregnant females. A 38-year-old female with a history of morbid obesity status post-bariatric surgery presented with chest pain. The electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads as well as slightly elevated troponin. Urgent cardiac catheterization showed SCAD, and she was subsequently managed with medical therapy. We hypothesize that the history of obesity leads to a compromise in the coronary vasculature, thereby predisposing the patient to SCAD.

Current Practice of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Coagulation Disorders.

Acute coronary artery disease represents the leading cause of death worldwide. Some studies have shown that coagulation disorders can play a protective role against ischemic heart disease, presumably due to hypocoagulable state and decrease thrombin formation. However, autopsy reports showed atherosclerotic lesions in some patients with hemophilia. Since the introduction of clotting factors and replacement therapies, the life expectancy of patients with coagulation disorders has increased significantly. As a result, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases became higher making their treatment more challenging. Door to balloon strategy applies in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and percutaneous coronary intervention should not be delayed. While in non-STEMI (NSTEMI) and unstable angina, a hematology consult is essential. Prophylactic coagulation factor replacement is crucial in these patients in order to avoid bleeding complications, but on the other hand, these factors were also associated with thrombotic complications. Historically, bare-metal stents were preferred over drug-eluting stents in view of the shorter duration of dual antiplatelets therapy (DAPT). Currently, some trials have demonstrated the safety of new-generation drug-eluting stents in patients with elevated bleeding risk, where DAPT use is limited to four weeks. The radial artery is the preferred access and was found to have less bleeding complications when compared to the femoral access. Anticoagulation with heparin is the safest in view of antidote availability and shorter half-life. Bivalirudin has also been used in some case reports, while GP2b3a inhibitors are usually avoided except in a high thrombus burden. Close peri procedural follow-up is important with patient education about symptoms of bleed. Carefully and individually tailored antithrombotic and factor replacement therapy is required to overcome these clinically challenging situations. Early screening for cardiovascular risk factors and considering early intervention and management might help to improve the general health status of this population and reduce morbidity.

Left Atrial Thrombus Mimicking Myxoma Secondary to Rebound Hypercoagulable State.

Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have made the use of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) much more convenient and predictable. It is a very common practice to hold anticoagulation either in anticipation of surgical procedures (to prevent excessive bleeding) or in case of acute bleeding episodes. This abrupt withdrawal of anticoagulation tilts the balance in favor of pro-thrombotic state in the body. We present a case of a 60-year-old man with past medical history of AFib who abruptly discontinued his apixaban (Eliquis). This patient presented to emergency room with the complaint of weakness and numbness of left arm and left half of the face. Stroke code was activated, and patient received tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). This resulted in significant improvement of symptoms within hours of receiving treatment. Later during the same day, patient developed numbness and tingling of fingers of left hand. On physical exam, left hand was cold to touch and radial pulse was absent. Arterial duplex revealed occluded ulnar and radial arteries. Vascular surgery performed embolectomy to establish blood flow in the radial and ulnar arteries. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed large left atrial mass attached to the atrial septum. Most likely t-PA infusion in the setting of atrial mass led to distal showering of emboli resulting in stenosis of radial and ulnar arteries. The left atrial mass was most likely thrombus as patient had cardiac imaging including transthoracic echocardiogram and computed tomography of heart prior to these events which did not reveal any mass in left atrium. In short, as clinicians we should be aware of the hypercoagulability associated with withdrawal of anticoagulation. In addition, we should be wary of the challenges associated with differentiating cardiac masses of different etiology.

Prevalence of Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted this study to ascertain whether chronic inflammation secondary to chronic pancreatitis (CP) has any association with myocardial infarction(MI). METHODS: Data were collected from a commercial database (Explorys, Inc, IBM Watson, Ohio). Adults with the diagnosis of "chronic pancreatitis," based on Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms, were included in the CP group, and the rest of the patients were included in the non-CP group. The prevalence of MI was compared in both groups, and statistical multivariate model was performed. RESULTS: A total of 28,842,210 patients were included in the study. The overall prevalence of MI was 14.22% in the CP group as compared with 3.23% in the non-CP group (P < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for MI in CP group was 1.453 (95% confidence interval, 1.418-1.488, P < 0.0001). Hypertension was a strong predictor for MI in the CP group with an OR of 3.2 (95% confidence interval, 3.0-3.5), followed by chronic kidney disease, older than 65 years, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol abuse, smoking, White race, and male sex. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that CP is associated with comorbidities, which can increase the prevalence and OR of MI.

Gender-related Disparities of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Retrospective Chart Review of 500 Patients.

Door-to-balloon (DTB) time of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a predictive indicator of outcomes and mortality. Traditional gender-related differences that existed in the provision of DTB in STEMI had been allegedly improving until recent controversial data showed re-emergence of longer DTB in females. The objective of our study was to compare circadian disparities in percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI according to gender in our institution. We compared DTB and symptom-to-balloon (STB) as well as mortality outcomes in a registry of 514 patients. We studied 117 females and 397 males. Baseline characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors were similar among both populations. Men used more self-transportation (51% vs. 38%) compared with women. Both had similar DTB median times: males, 63 (47-79) min; and females, 61 (44-76) min. In addition, STB median times were also similar: males, 155 (116-264) min; and females, 165 (115-261) min. Mortality outcomes at 1 month were comparable at 3% in males versus 0.9% in females (P = 0.164). In a review of a tertiary care center in New York, we observed no gender differences in DTB and STB, endorsing the role of emergency medical service transportation in eliminating disparities.

Rare Case of Iatrogenic Myocardial Infarction Induced by Use of Pyridostigmine.

Myasthenia gravis is an auto-immune disease that results in muscle weakness caused by antibodies released against acetylcholine receptors at the presynaptic membrane. Treatment options include acetylcholinesterase medications that cause a wide range of side-effects by increasing the concentration of acetylcholine at the synaptic cleft. One peculiar side effect seen is the precipitation of myocardial infarction caused by an excess of acetylcholine especially among elderly females. We present an interesting case of an 88-year-old female with a history of lung cancer newly diagnosed with paraneoplastic myasthenia gravis, started on treatment with prednisone 40 mg daily, and pyridostigmine 60 mg every six hours. She initially showed remarkable improvement in symptoms within a few hours, however, one day later, the patient developed sudden onset of chest pain radiating towards her left arm. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG) showed diffuse ST-elevation in anterior leads and cardiac enzymes were found to be elevated. Pyridostigmine was stopped and the patient was started on heparin. The patient underwent cardiac catheterization which showed 50% stenosis in the right coronary artery (RCA) and 70% in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). The patient was monitored in the cardiac care unit (CCU) for 24 hours and later on discharged home on oral prednisone. It is a common practice to start treatment with anti-cholinesterase medications in newly diagnosed patients of myasthenia gravis, however, these medications can precipitate myocardial ischemia by coronary vasogenic spasm or by their arrhythmogenic effect. It is important to be aware of these outcomes while starting patients on these medications.

Utilization of Ultrasound to Assess Volume Status in Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) represents a significant financial burden to the US health care system, affecting approximately 5.7 million Americans. By 2030, the prevalence of HF is expected to increase by 23%. Clinicians generally evaluate volume status in patients with HF by visualizing jugular venous distension to estimate right atrial pressure; a method with an estimated accuracy of only 50%. Currently, the only endorsed methods for acute HF diagnosis in the 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC) guidelines are brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), pre-discharge BNP or NT-proBNP, and myocardial fibrosis markers. However, serial testing of BNP to monitor therapy remains controversial. Moreover, an elevated BNP cannot be attributed solely to a cardiac cause. Given the limitations of the current methods, a robust tool is needed to reliably assess volume status in HF patients. It is now known that hemodynamic congestion from increases in intracardiac pressure occurs days to weeks prior to the onset of typical HF symptoms, such as weight gain and shortness of breath. It has been postulated that assessing the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter with a portable ultrasound, may be the simple, reliable, and cost-effective method of evaluating right atrial pressure, and thus, the severity of HF. Given this exciting new tool in assessing volume status in patients with HF, we pose the question of whether this imaging modality can be used to risk-stratify patients and guide management. The aim of this paper is to highlight the many benefits of portable ultrasound in assessing volume status in this population, and to discuss whether this imaging modality can help guide physicians in the management of their HF patients.

Complete atrioventricular block caused by pulmonary embolism: A case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Acute electrocardiogram abnormalities are common in patients afflicted with pulmonary embolism (PE). Rarely, a patient with acute pulmonary embolism and electrocardiogram changes may have an underlying conduction abnormality that complicates their course. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a patient with known history of left bundle branch block who presented with acute PE and developed a right bundle branch block, which devolved into complete third degree heart block without ventricular escape rhythm and led to concomitant hemodynamic compromise. DISCUSSION: Given the rarity of this clinical scenario, we call for clinicians to be aware of PE-associated conduction pathology as well as the possibility that malignant cardiac conduction blocks may occur in the setting of PE particularly if the patient is known to have underlying conduction system disease. We emphasize the importance of continuous telemetry monitoring in patients presenting with PE as these types of arrhythmic complications and hemodynamic decompensation has been observed.

Purulent Pericarditis Caused by Bacteroides fragilis: A Rare Complication of Cholangitis.

Bacterial infection is a rare cause of pericarditis especially in the post-antibiotic era. When compared to viral or idiopathic etiologies, purulent pericarditis carries a higher risk for complications. While most cases are due to Staphylococcus aureus, we present a rare case of pericarditis due to Bacteroides fragilis originating from a liver abscess and leading to pericardial effusion. Our case highlights the need to maintain a high clinical suspicion of bacterial infection when patients present with sepsis and have evidence of pericarditis.