Peri-operative fever and LVAD: SIRS or impaired right ventricular strain?

BACKGROUND: An inflammatory milieu after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is associated with multi-organ dysfunction and pre-operative heightened inflammatory state is associated with right ventricular failure after LVAD implantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 30 LVAD patients in our institution within the last 2 years for the development of fever and compared them to 30 non-LVAD open-heart surgery patients. RESULTS: Our results suggest that patients undergoing LVAD implantation are more likely to develop fever in the immediate post-operative period compared to other open-heart surgeries. This is independent of pharmacological treatment, age, or ethnical background. Females and obese patients were more likely to develop fever. CONCLUSION: Patients with right ventricular dysfunction, as demonstrated by elevated central venous pressure (CVP), had the strongest correlation with fever development. These results pose the question if there is a systemic inflammatory response-like phenomenon driven by increased right ventricular dysfunction.

Anatomical considerations and clinical interpretation of the 12-lead ECG in the prone position: a prospective multicentre study.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to provide guidance for the clinical interpretation of electrocardiograms (ECGs) in prone position and to establish the electroanatomic explanations for the possible differences to supine position ECGs that may be observed. Additionally, to determine if prone back ECG can be used as an alternative to standard ECG in patients who may benefit from prone position. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ECG in supine (standard ECG), prone back (precordial leads placed on the patient's back), and prone anterior position (precordial leads placed in the standard position with the subjects in prone position) were prospectively examined on 85 subjects. Comparisons of ECG parameters between these positions were performed. Computed tomography (CT) scans were performed in both positions to determine possible electroanatomic aetiologies for prone-associated ECG changes. There were significant differences in QRS amplitude in Leads V1-V5 between supine and prone positions. Q waves were more frequently observed in prone back position vs. supine position (V1: 74.1 vs. 10.6%, P < 0.0001; V2: 23.5 vs. 0%, P < 0.0001, respectively). Flat and inverted T waves were more common in prone back leads (V1: 98 vs. 66%, P < 0.0001; V2: 96 vs. 8%, P < 0.0001; V3: 45 vs. 7%, P < 0.0001). The 3D-CT reconstructions measurements corroborated the significant inverse correlation between QRS amplitude and the distance from the centre of the heart to the estimated lead positions. CONCLUSION: In prone back position ECG, low QRS amplitude should not be misinterpreted as low voltage conditions, neither should Q waves and abnormal T waves are considered anteroseptal myocardial infarction. These changes can be explained by an increased impedance (due to interposing lung tissue) and by the increased distance between the electrodes to the centre of the heart.

Electrocardiographic Features of Patients with COVID-19: An Updated Review.

Numerous systemic manifestations, including cardiac involvement in the form of myocardial infarction, myocarditis, and electrocardiographic changes, have been associated with COVID-19..In this review, the authors describe the electrocardiographic features that have been reported to date in patients affected by this disease and their possible underlying mechanisms.

White Clot Formation at Acetylcholine Testing: A Change of Heart in MINOCA?

Coronary intraluminal white clot formation, apparently in response to acetylcholine testing, may explain a woman's long-term history of daily chest pain and multiple myocardial infarctions. Acetylcholine testing reproduced chest pain and revealed luminal filling defects in multiple vessels; imaging showed fresh white platelet clots. Antiplatelet prasugrel has substantially suppressed her symptoms. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Stress and a sedentary lifestyle are associated with irritable bowel syndrome in medical students from Peru: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that medical students may have higher rates of irritable bowel syndrome as compared to the general population. We hypothesized lifestyle characteristics may be associated to irritable bowel syndrome. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015 among students in their fourth, fifth, sixth and seven years of a medical school in Peru. Volunteer participants responded to questions pertaining to demographics, surveys including the Rome III criteria and the Self-reported Stress questionnaire. Regression models were performed to establish variables independently associated with irritable bowel syndrome. RESULTS: Out of 452 students, 346 responded the survey (response rate: 76.5%; female rate: 47%; median age: 22 years). The irritable bowel syndrome prevalence in respondents was 9.5% (95% confidence interval: 6.7%-13.1%). On univariate analysis, being a senior medical student (odds ratio: 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-5.9; P < 0.01), mental illness (odds ratio: 3.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.6-6.8; P = 0.002), psychiatric medication use (odds ratio: 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.4-5.9; P = 0.005), sedentary lifestyle (odds ratio: 4.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.8-11; P = 0.001) and stress (odds ratio: 4.4; 95% confidence interval: 2.1-9.3; P < 0.001) were associated to irritable bowel syndrome. On a multivariate analysis, a sedentary lifestyle (odds ratio: 3.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.25-8.20; P = 0.01) and stress (odds ratio: 3.0; 95% confidence interval: 1.35-6.67; P < 0.01) were independently associated with irritable bowel syndrome. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in medical students from Peru is slightly lower compared to the global prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome. Stress and a sedentary lifestyle were independent risk factors associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Our study suggests that lifestyle modifications and stress coping techniques could have an impact to reduce the rates of irritable bowel syndrome in medical students.

Hypoxic hepatitis in an extensive aortic disecction: case report.

Hypoxic hepatitis is an uncommon cause of hepatic damage characterized by a centrolobular necrosis. Its pathophysiology remains unclear. Aortic dissection is a rare but frequently catastrophic event. It is caused by an aortic intimal tear with propagation of a false channel in the media. Depending on the site and extension, it can cause hypoperfusion of any organ leading to cellular ischemia and necrosis. We are presenting a case of hypoxic hepatitis in a patient with an extensive aortic dissection who present to the emergency department.

Hypoxic hepatitis in an extensive aortic disecction: case report / Hepatitis hipóxica en una disección aórtica extensa: reporte de caso

Hypoxic hepatitis is an uncommon cause of hepatic damage characterized by a centrolobular necrosis. Its pathophysiology remains unclear. Aortic dissection is a rare but frequently catastrophic event. It is caused by an aortic intimal tear with propagation of a false channel in the media. Depending on the site and extension, it can cause hypoperfusion of any organ leading to cellular ischemia and necrosis. We are presenting a case of hypoxic hepatitis in a patient with an extensive aortic dissection who present to the emergency department.

La hepatitis hipóxica es una causa poco frecuente de daño hepático caracterizada por una necrosis centrolobular. Su fisiopatología sigue siendo poco clara. La disección aórtica es un evento raro pero con frecuencia catastrófico. Dependiendo del sitio y la extensión, puede causar hipoperfusión de cualquier órgano lo que conduce a una isquemia celular y necrosis. Nosotros presentamos un caso de hepatitis hipóxica en un paciente con disección aórtica extensa que se presenta al servicio de emergencia.

[Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension due to didanosina. A rare case]. / Hipertensión portal no cirrótica por didanosina. Un caso infrecuente.

Liver involvement is usually seen in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), especially in patients coinfected with hepatitis B or C, in alcohol abuse, etc. However, there is a group of patients who develop liver involvement and portal hypertension of unspecified cause. Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) is a liver disorder recently described, but potentially serious. It has been reported in HIV-infected patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), specifically didanosine (DDI). The pathophysiology involves the infectious agent (HIV) and its treatment (HAART), since both generate a pre-hepatic portal venulopathy. Similarly, HIV infection produces a prothrombotic state by protein S deficiency leading to the obliteration of small hepatic venules. It has been postulated that DDI as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of NCPH. All this leads that many of the liver biopsies show nodular regenerative hyperplasia. We present the case of a HIV-infected patient who was treated with a longstanding DDI. She developed upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) and ascites due to NCPH, whose diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy. However, there is no similar study in our country.

Factores asociados a la anticoagulación oral óptima en el adulto mayor con fibrilación auricular / Factors associated with optimal oral anticoagulation in elder patients with atrial fibrillation

Objetivos: Determinar la calidad del control de la anticoagulación oral y los posibles factores asociados al tiempo de rango terapéutico. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo con grupo control y exploración de posibles variables, realizado en pacientes =65 años con fibrilación no valvular e indicación de anticoagulación del Hospital Cayetano Heredia entre el 2011-2013. Se determinó el tiempo de rango terapéutico (TRT) por el método de Rosendaal y se consideró control óptimo (TRT =60%) y subóptimo (TRT <60%). Se realizó análisis univariado para los factores. Resultados: La mediana de la edad fue 82,23 años, 74 (51,75%) fueron mujeres. Ciento cuarenta pacientes tuvieron indicación de anticoagulación, 94 (67,14%) iniciaron warfarina, 28 (19,72%) tuvo control óptimo y 66 (46,48%) subóptimo. La edad =75 años (OR 25,5; IC: 7,39-155,8), no bajo grado de instrucción (OR 8; IC 3,61-20,61), =3 comorbilidades (OR 4,5; IC 2,33-9,39), discontinuidad terapéutica (OR 2,75; IC 1,44-5,52) y polifarmacia (OR 4,2; IC 2,16-8,80) se asociaron con control subóptimo, mientras que independencia funcional (OR 4,3; IC 2,16-9,47), no deterioro cognitivo (OR 7,8; IC 3,53-20,19) y género femenino (OR 3; IC 1,62-5,81) al control óptimo. Conclusiones: Un gran porcentaje de pacientes con indicación de ACO y con bajo riesgo de sangrado no inició terapia anticoagulante; y el 50% de quienes la iniciaron, tuvo un control subóptimo. Los pacientes de mayor edad, con mayor comorbilidad y el uso de múltiples medicamentos se asociaron con control subóptimo; mientras que el género femenino y la independencia funcional se asociaron con control óptimo. (AU)

Objective: To determine the quality of oral anticoagulation control and the possible factors associated with time to reach therapeutic range. Methods: Retrospective study with a control group in patients =65 years old with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who had indication for oral anticoagulation at Hospital Cayetano Heredia from 2011 to 2013. Time to therapeutic range (TTR) was determined by the Rosendal´s method, an optimal control was defined as TTR =60%. A multivariate analysis was performed. Results: Median age was 82.23 years; 74 (51.75%) were females; 140 patients had indication for anticoagulation; 94 (67.14%) started warfarin; 28 (19.72%) had optimal control and 66 did not (46.48%). Age = 75 years (OR 25.5; CI: 7.39-155.8) and no low degree of instruction (OR 25.5; CI: 7.39-155.8) were associated with sub optimal control, while functional independence (OR 4.3; CI: 2.16-9.47), no cognitive deterioration (OR 7.8; CI: 3.53-20.19) and female gender (OR 3; CI: 1.62-5.81) were associated with optimal control. Conclusions: A great percentage of patients with indications for oral anticoagulation and at low risk of bleeding did not start it, and 50% of those who started it had suboptimal control. Older patients with comorbidities who used multiple medications had sub optimal control, while females and functional independence were associated with optimal control. (AU)

Insidious onset of intermittent claudication as the primary manifestation of infective endocarditis.

Musculoskeletal manifestations of infective endocarditis are well-described in the literature. However, insidious onset of localized calf pain is an uncommon presentation of embolization and may represent a diagnostic challenge owing to the nonspecific nature of the symptoms. This study reviewed the literature and reports a case of infective endocarditis in a patient who presented with bilateral calf pain as the primary complaint and reason for seeking medical attention.

Hipertensión portal no cirrótica por didanosina: Un caso infrecuente / Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension due to didanosina: A rare case

El compromiso hepático es usualmente visto en pacientes con infección por el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), sobretodo en pacientes coinfectados con el virus de la hepatitis B o C, con el abuso de alcohol, etc. Sin embargo, existe un grupo de pacientes que desarrolla compromiso hepático e hipertensión portal de causa no específica. La hipertensión portal no cirrótica (HPNC) es un desorden hepático descrito recientemente, potencialmente grave, que ha sido reportado en pacientes infectados por el VIH con terapia antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA), específicamente didanosina (DDI). La fisiopatología involucra al agente infeccioso (VIH) y a su tratamiento (TARGA), pues ambas generan una venulopatía prehepática portal. Además, la infección por el VIH genera un estado protrombótico por deficiencia de proteína S conllevando a la obliteración de pequeñas vénulas hepáticas. Se ha postulado a la didanosina como un cofactor en la patogénesis del HPNC. Todo ello conlleva a que en muchas de las biopsias hepáticas se evidencie una hiperplasia nodular regenerativa. Se reporta el caso de una paciente con infección del VIH y en tratamiento con DDI de larga data que debuta con hemorragia digestiva alta (HDA) y ascitis como consecuencia de la HPNC, cuyo diagnóstico fue corroborado por biopsia. No existe reporte de casos del tema en nuestro país

Liver involvement is usually seen in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), especially in patients coinfected with hepatitis B or C, in alcohol abuse, etc. However, there is a group of patients who develop liver involvement and portal hypertension of unspecified cause. Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) is a liver disorder recently described, but potentially serious. It has been reported in HIV-infected patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), specifically didanosine (DDI). The pathophysiology involves the infectious agent (HIV) and its treatment (HAART), since both generate a pre-hepatic portal venulopathy. Similarly, HIV infection produces a prothrombotic state by protein S deficiency leading to the obliteration of small hepatic venules. It has been postulated that DDI as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of NCPH. All this leads that many of the liver biopsies show nodular regenerative hyperplasia. We present the case of a HIV-infected patient who was treated with a longstanding DDI. She developed upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) and ascites due to NCPH, whose diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy. However, there is no similar study in our country