Electrocardiographic changes in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TC) is a syndrome characterized by reversible left ventricular dysfunction in the presence of possible emotional or physical triggers but without evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease. It has become increasingly reported worldwide and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. TC may present with an array of electrocardiographic (ECG) findings. These ECG findings, if accurately interpreted, can play an important role in the diagnosis and risk stratification of this syndrome. In the last three decades since the disease was first described, multiple diagnostic criteria have been established. The key diagnostic tools for TC include clinical symptomatology, cardiac biomarkers, non-invasive cardiac imaging, and coronary angiography. The ECG findings in TC can be variable, however, some ECG scores have been proposed in association with TC with reasonably good diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. This article aims to provide a succinct review of important electrocardiographic findings associated with TC and its impact on clinical outcomes.

Transverse sinus fat pad may masquerade as left atrial appendage thrombus.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a commonly utilized investigation in patients with atrial fibrillation to study the left atrial appendage (LAA) and exclude an appendage thrombus before proceeding with cardioversion. Although TEE is considered the procedure of choice for this purpose, it may sometimes offer a limited specificity due to common anatomical variations associated with either the LAA or the adjoining cardiac structures. We herewith present a patient with atrial fibrillation who underwent TEE and was found to have an echodensity in the vicinity of left atrial appendage that mimicked a thrombus. A careful further evaluation however confirmed that the echodensity actually was consistent with a dense epicardial fat pad. TEE imaging evaluation in different planes and angulations is thus paramount in establishing a correct diagnosis. Supplemental information from other imaging modalities such as cardiac computed tomography may sometimes offer an additional value, especially if the diagnosis remains unclear.

Colchicine In Epistenocardiac Pericarditis.

Epistenocardiac pericarditis (EP) is a rare form of pericarditis which occurs in the early period after a myocardial infarction (MI) and is commonly regionalized to the area of infarction. The preferred treatment for EP is high-dose oral aspirin, given the compelling indication for aspirin use in the post-MI setting; however, high-dose aspirin use may be prohibitive in certain clinical situations such as with concomitant use of newer antiplatelet agents like ticagrelor. The treatment option with colchicine remains an alternative; however the efficacy of colchicine in EP is not well established. We herewith describe a case series of 11 patients with EP who were treated with colchicine.

Corrected QT in ventricular paced rhythms: what is the validation for commonly practiced assumptions?

INTRODUCTION: Ventricular pacing (VP) may impact the accuracy of QT interval measurement, as it increases the QT by increasing the QRS duration amongst other mechanisms. We aimed to investigate the accuracy of the commonly used clinical practice of subtracting 50 ms from the corrected QT (QTc) in ventricular paced rhythms. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study on 23 consecutive pacemaker patients. Four ECGs were recorded for each subject, 2 in their native rate and 2 following an atrial paced, atrial sensed and inhibited response to sensing and then a dual pacing, dual sensing and dual response pacing of 100 bpm to allow for an intrinsic and a ventricular paced QRS, respectively. The averaged QTc in the ventricular paced rhythm was then compared with the non-ventricular-paced QTc for individual subjects. RESULTS: At a mean spontaneous heart rate of 66 bpm (SD ±8), the mean difference in QTc between the ventricular paced and nonpaced QRS was 48.27 ms (95% CI = 32-64.6 ms, p < 0.001). At faster paced rates, the mean QTc difference was 81.3 ms (95% CI = 35.8-126.8 ms, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The QTc measurement during VP confirms the current 50-ms subtraction assumption rule within a range of ±16 ms at an average heart rate of 66 bpm. However, at faster heart rates, the 50-ms adjustment may underestimate the QTc discrepancy between a wide and normal QRS.

A Temporal Correlation Between Electrocardiogram and Computed Tomography in Acquired Postpneumonectomy Dextrocardia.

Herein, we describe a temporal correlation between the electrocardiographic changes and the chest computed tomographic findings in a 73-year-old woman who underwent a right pneumonectomy (RP) for lung adenocarcinoma.

An Adverse Electrophysiological Interaction Between an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator and a Ventricular Assist Device.

Many patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) as part of the management of advanced heart failure. With increasing use and coexistence of these devices in patients with advanced cardiomyopathy, adverse interactions between these devices have been recognized. We herewith describe a rare adverse interaction of electromagnetic interference (EMI) between a third-generation, continuous-flow device (The HeartWare HVAD) and an ICD which resulted in the delivery of inappropriate ICD therapies. A schematic approach for the prevention and treatment of electromagnetic interference has also been described.

A Large-Sized Left Main Coronary Artery with Quadfurcation: A Rare Anatomy.

A 63-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with chest pain. She subsequently underwent an evaluation with a diagnostic coronary angiogram that demonstrated a rare coronary anatomy. Instead of its usual bifurcation into two main branches--a left anterior descending and a left circumflex artery--her left main coronary artery quadfurcated into four branches: a left anterior descending artery, a left circumflex artery, and two ramus intermedii arteries. Possible implications of this unusual finding are discussed.

Caseous Calcification of Mitral Annulus: A Rare Monster Leading to Cerebrovascular Accident.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus (CCMA) is a rare variant of mitral annular calcification that maybe easily misdiagnosed or confused with an abscess, a tumor, or infective vegetation. The main pathophysiological mechanism leading to CCMA involves degeneration and calcium deposition on the mitral valve. We present a case of CCMA to help understand this clinical entity.

PYREXIA-INDUCED BRUGADA PHENOCOPY.

Brugada syndrome (BS) is characterized by a typical electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern in the right precordial leads and a predisposition to develop ventricular arrhythmias. Mutations in a subunit of cardiac sodium channel (SCN5A) have been linked to BS. Experimental studies in the literature suggest that this dysfunction of the mutated channel can be temperature sensitive. Several antiarrhythmics have been used in the management of BS but Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) remains the only effective treatment. We herewith present the case report of a 62-year-old man who developed a type-2 Brugada ECG phenotype in a febrile state with complete resolution once the fever subsided.

Eastern equine encephalitis: a classical case.

We present the case of a 40-year-old man with rapidly deteriorating acute meningoencephalitis, finally diagnosed as eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). The course and timing in this patient are quite characteristic. EEE is an arthropod borneviral illness in which the mosquito serves as the vector. It is amongst the most severe of the arbovirus encephalitides and has a high mortality and morbidity. In nonfatal cases, residual neurological deficits are often severe and permanent. North American lineage of EEE is mainly found in the northeast especially along the coastal areas. EEE is primarily found in horses and other domestic mammals that remain outdoors nocturnally. In humans, symptoms range from nonspecific constitutional features to catastrophic neurological sequelae including death. Hyponatremia and increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell count are independent predictors of poor outcomes. Diagnosis is suggestive by demonstrating IgM antibody in blood or CSF samples and can be confirmed by other serologic assay including immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for prevention include using repellents, protective clothing, screens, and eradication of mosquito breeding areas. EEE remains without cure and prevention is the best medicine.

Peritoneal blastomycosis: a hidden mystery unfolds itself.

Blastomycosis is a disease caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. Pulmonary blastomycosis is the most common form of blastomycosis. Disseminated blastomycosis is the fulminant form of the disease, with rare reports of peritoneal cavity involvement. We report a case of extensive form of the disease presenting initially as abdominal pain and mimicking peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Electrocardiographic impacts of lung resection.

INTRODUCTION: Electrocardiographic (ECG) changes accompanying lung resection have not been well investigated previously in a large controlled series of human adults. Thus, our current investigation was undertaken for a better understanding of the ECG changes associated with lung resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 117 patients who underwent lung resection (segmentectomy, lobectomy, or pneumonectomy) were reviewed. Their clinical course and ECGs were compared during early, intermediate and late postoperative course (<1 month, 1 month to 1 year and >1 year post-op respectively). RESULTS: Patients in the acute postoperative phase had higher heart rate, increased maximum P-duration and P-dispersion, increased incidence of atrial arrhythmias and frequent ST-T changes. P-vector and QRS-vector were significantly affected after the lung resections; the correlation being most consistent between the anatomical displacements and the QRS-vector in the majority of patients. The axial shifts also demonstrated a characteristic temporal relationship after left pneumonectomy (a leftward deviation in the acute, normal or slight rightward deviation in the intermediate and a rightward deviation in the late postoperative course). The precordial R/S transition is often affected due to the mediastinal shifts and the ECGs in patients after left lung resection may simulate acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction due to a delayed R/S transition. CONCLUSION: The understanding and recognition of the expected ECG findings after lung resection are imperative to avoid confusing these changes with other acute cardiopulmonary events which would prevent unnecessary further investigational work-up. These ECG changes are often dynamic and may bear a temporal relationship to the dynamic post-surgical changes in the thoracic anatomy.

Orthostatic hypertension: recognizing an underappreciated clinical condition.

Orthostatic hypertension refers to an increase in the blood pressure upon assuming an upright posture. This clinical condition has been understudied and is often underappreciated in clinical practice probably because of its unfamiliarity to many clinicians including subspecialists. We report a case of severely symptomatic orthostatic hypertension in a Caucasian female, which was likely secondary to an autonomic dysfunction caused by an underlying vascular adrenergic hypersensitivity and possibly also due to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (causing baroreflex dysfunction associated with excessive sympathetic stimulation). The case work-up also illustrates a schematic diagnostic and management approach to this rarely encountered clinical entity.