The effect of statin therapy on ventricular tachyarrhythmias: a meta-analysis.

The objective of this study was to assess whether statin therapy is associated with a reduction in ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Statins have been shown to be beneficial beyond their cholesterol-lowering effects. These pleiotropic effects have been implicated in the protection against atrial fibrillation and the reduction in appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in patients with coronary artery disease. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate whether statins were associated with a reduction in ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease or nonischemic cardiomyopathy. The Medline and Cochrane databases were searched for studies in human subjects published in the English language between 1985 and February 2010. Studies were included in our analysis if they provided data regarding the association between the use of statins and the incidence of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) in patients with coronary artery disease or nonischemic cardiomyopathy. The occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias was defined as the VT/VF occurrence or appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy for VT/VF. Of the 166 identified articles, nine prospective studies with 150,953 patients enrolled met our inclusion criteria and were included in this analysis. Using a random effects model, statin therapy was associated with a 31% reduction in the risk of VT/VF when compared with the group not on statin therapy (pooled relative risk = 0.69, 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.83; heterogeneity I² = 57.3%). There was a low likelihood of publication bias in this analysis (Egger's test P = 0.957). Statin use in patients with coronary artery disease or nonischemic cardiomyopathy is associated with a 31% reduction in the development of ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Pericardial Effusion Secondary to Nilotinib in an Elderly Patient With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the first-line treatment for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Serositis, including pleural and pericardial effusions, is a frequent adverse event with some TKIs while less frequent with others. We present a case of a 76-year-old woman with CML on nilotinib who presented with progressive fatigue and was eventually found to have cardiac tamponade from a large pericardial effusion attributed to nilotinib. The patient required urgent therapeutic pericardiocentesis and switching of TKIs from nilotinib to bosutinib.

Atrial rate and rhythm abnormalities in a patient with hyperkalemia.

A 67 year old man presented with a serum potassium of 7.7 mEq/L and slow atrial flutter with variable A-V block and peaked T waves. Initial treatment for hyperkalemia was followed by an increase in the atrial flutter rate to 300 beats per minute. After hemodialysis the rhythm converted to sinus.

Differences in diagnostic evaluation and clinical outcomes in the care of patients with chest pain based on admitting service: the benefits of a dedicated chest pain unit.

BACKGROUND: Chest pain is one of the most common complaints of patients presenting at emergency departments. However, the most appropriate diagnostic evaluation for patients with chest pain but without acute coronary syndrome remains controversial, and differs greatly among institutions and physicians. At our institution, patients with chest pain can be admitted to an internist-run hospitalist service, a private attending service, or a cardiologist-run Chest Pain Unit. The goal of the present study was to compare the management and outcomes of patients admitted with chest pain based on admitting service. METHODS: The charts of 750 patients (250 consecutive patients per service) with a discharge diagnosis of chest pain were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Patients admitted to the Chest Pain Unit were younger and had a lower prevalence of known coronary artery disease, hypertension, or diabetes, but a similar prevalence of other risk factors compared with the other groups. Sixty percent of the patients in the Chest Pain Unit underwent stress myocardial perfusion imaging as their primary diagnostic modality (vs 22% and 12% of patients in the hospitalist and private services, respectively; P < .001). In contrast, 35% of the patients admitted to the hospitalist service underwent rest echocardiography (vs 8% and 17% of patients in the Chest Pain Unit and private services, respectively; P < .001). Finally, 47% of the patients in the private service underwent coronary angiography as their primary diagnostic modality (vs 6% and 10% of patients in the Chest Pain Unit and hospitalist services, respectively; P < .001). The length of stay was shortest for patients in the Chest Pain Unit (1.4 +/- 1.2 days vs 3.9 +/- 3.4 days and 3.5 +/- 3.6 days in the hospitalist and private services, respectively; P < .001), even when corrected for patient age and number of risk factors. Readmission within 6 months was lowest for patients in the Chest Pain Unit (4.4% vs 17.6% and 15.2% in the hospitalist and private services, respectively; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that a highly protocolized chest pain unit, using myocardial perfusion imaging as primary diagnostic modality, results in a decreased length of stay and readmission rate.

Absence of post-extrasystolic potentiation in takotsubo cardiomyopathy: Another piece of the puzzle?

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is an intriguing phenomenon characterized by transient and reversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction despite angiographically unobstructed coronary arteries. The detailed pathophysiology of stunned, viable myocardium in TCM remains to be determined. Post-extrasystolic potentiation (PESP), the phenomenon of enhanced LV contractility following extrasystole, has been used to assess myocardial viability. METHODS: Utilizing a local database, we identified 74 cases that met the modified Mayo Clinic criteria for TCM between October 2004 and March 2016. The patients undergoing left ventriculography were assessed for the presence of fortuitously provoked extrasystoles and the presence or absence of PESP. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics of TCM were 93.2% female patients with median age of 69 and majority cases were apical type (77%). In-hospital mortality was observed in 3 cases (4.1%), all of which were apical type. We observed improved ejection fraction after extrasystole compared to baseline, however stunned myocardium had minimal PESP whereas unaffected myocardium showed marked potentiation. CONCLUSION: Extrasystoles in TCM failed to elicit PESP in affected LV segments despite viability in those segments, in turn implicating a calcium handling abnormality in TCM. Potential explanations of our results may be that catecholamine excess caused maximum calcium release so that an extrasystole could not enhance contractility any further, or that there is a regional insensitivity to calcium release due to a disturbance of the calcium regulatory system at the molecular level despite the bolus of calcium availability provided by the extrasystole.

Dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction: a reversible mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction.

Dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction is a less well-known mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction. Early diagnosis is important because initiation of proper management and avoidance of precipitating factors can lead to complete recovery. A patient is described who presented with acute myocardial infarction and in whom significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction developed. Adequate therapy with beta blockers and calcium channel blockers led to complete resolution of the obstruction.

Left ventricular intracavitary mass and pericarditis secondary to metastatic renal cell carcinoma--a case report.

Cardiac metastases from renal cell carcinoma are a well-recognized entity. However, this phenomenon is extremely rare in the absence of vena caval extension. The authors report a patient who after successful resection of renal cell carcinoma presented with left ventricular mass causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. There was also metastatic pericardial and intramyocardial involvement. Such a unique combination of cardiac metastasis, in the same patient, has not been reported previously.

Mortality in the coronary care unit.

OBJECTIVES: Currently, there are limited data on mortality or predictors of survival for patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU). The purpose of this study was to provide data on mortality in the modern-day CCU and to better define factors influencing patient survival. METHODS: A survey was conducted of all patients admitted to CCUs in New York City metropolitan academic hospitals in 2011, followed by a retrospective analysis comparing clinical data from 59 nonsurvivors with those from 897 survivors at two representative institutions. RESULTS: The weighted average mortality in the CCU across all hospitals was 5.6% (range 2.2-9.2%). The average age of the patients admitted to the CCU was 67 years, with 68% being male. Acute coronary syndromes accounted for 57% of all CCU admissions. Survival was worse in patients admitted for cardiac arrest (P=0.000), sepsis (P=0.002), primary respiratory failure (P=0.031), and systolic heart failure (P=0.003). Excluding patients who were made 'do not resuscitate' during their CCU stay, patients receiving treatments such as defibrillation after in-CCU cardiac arrest, right heart invasive monitoring, mechanical ventilation, inotropic support, emergent dialysis, or placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump had higher rates of in-CCU mortality. The most frequent causes of death were intractable cardiogenic shock, brain death, respiratory failure, multiorgan failure, or hypotension. CONCLUSION: This study provides additional mortality information for the modern-day CCU and should help identify factors that may predict survival.

Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura: A Case Report.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is rare. We describe a case of AMI in patient with ITP. An 81-year-old woman presented with acute inferoposterior MI with low platelet count on admission (34,000/µl). Coronary angiography revealed significant mid right coronary artery (RCA) stenosis with thrombus, subsequently underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In some patients with immune thrombocytopenia purpura and acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention is a therapeutic option.

Telemetry monitoring guidelines for efficient and safe delivery of cardiac rhythm monitoring to noncritical hospital inpatients.

Telemetry monitoring is a limited resource in most hospitals. Few clinical studies have established firm criteria for inpatient telemetry. At our urban institution, we have developed and incorporated guidelines to identify patients who benefit from cardiac rhythm monitoring. These guidelines serve to minimize inappropriate use of telemetry beds, thereby preventing emergency department overcrowding and ambulance diversion. This improvement in efficiency is achieved without compromising health care.

Correlation of antecedent stress myocardial perfusion imaging with the infarct related artery in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: While stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has strong prognostic power, it predicts the site of a subsequent acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in only 47-77% of patients. Prior studies have included small number of subjects and the interval between the stress test and the AMI has varied. The objective of the present study was to further evaluate the relationship between antecedent stress MPI and subsequent AMI. METHODS: We screened 600 patients admitted to our institution with acute ST-elevation MI and identified 21 patients who had a stress MPI an average of 4.8 months prior to the event. The location of perfusion defects on MPI were compared to the angiographic findings at the time of the subsequent AMI. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (76%) with AMI had defects on antecedent stress MPI while 5 patients (24%) had normal scans. Reversible or fixed perfusion defects in the territory corresponding to the site of AMI were seen in 62% of patients. All 5 patients with normal scans had multiple risk factors for coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: Although a normal stress MPI portends an excellent outcome, a small proportion of patients with normal scans, but with risk factors go on to develop AMI. Stress MPI has reasonable power in predicting future STEMI, but a lesser degree for the location of the future MI. Complementary imaging approaches such as coronary calcium scoring or CT angiography may be beneficial in the assessment of patients at high risk for MI.

Acute myocardial infarction in a young man using anabolic steroids.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are used worldwide to help athletes gain muscle mass and strength. Their use and abuse is associated with numerous side effects, including acute myocardial infarction (MI). We report a case of MI in a young 31-year-old bodybuilder. Because of the serious cardiovascular complications of anabolic steroids, physicians should be aware of their abuse and consequences.

Sexual activity as a trigger for ventricular tachycardia in a patient with implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Occurrence of life threatening arrhythmias and sudden death during or following sexual activity is infrequent. We describe a patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator who developed increased ventricular ectopic activity followed by sustained ventricular tachycardia during extramarital coitus. A review of literature and management is discussed.