Nonoperative Management of Iatrogenic Right Atrial Appendage Pseudoaneurysm During Catheter Ablation.

Atrial pseudoaneurysms are exceedingly rare. Cardiac pseudoaneurysms are at risk for rupture, which may be catastrophic and require emergent thoracotomy for definitive treatment. We report a case of right atrial appendage perforation during catheter ablation leading to tamponade and right atrium pseudoaneurysm.

Atypical Presentation of the Classical Form of Locked-In Syndrome in a Young Patient.

Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is an uncommon neurologic disorder that manifests in quadriplegia and anarthria with preserved cognition and self-awareness. Generally, patients with LIS may live for years with preserved quality of life and cognitive function, but with severe disability. There are 3 types of LIS: classic, partial, and total. The classical form is defined by total immobility, with preservation of the ability to perform vertical eye movements, blink, and maintain a normal level of consciousness. We present an unusual case of classical LIS in a 54-year-old man who presented initially with acute-onset left lower extremity weakness and dysarthria with radiographic evidence of extensive, acute right paramedian pontine infarction and high-grade vertebral artery stenosis. However, a week later, the patient developed sudden-onset aphonia, bilateral facial palsy, and quadriplegia with repeat magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showing expansion of right paramedian pontine stroke to also involve the left paramedian pons, without significant change to the vertebral stenosis and basilar artery patency.

Acute Formation of Thrombus on a Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Device Immediately After Detachment.

Clots can form on the left atrial surface of left atrial appendage closure devices, with subsequent thromboembolization. However, we are unaware of any reports of clots forming on the devices immediately after deployment. We report a case where an acute thrombus strand formed at the tip of an occlusion device immediately after deployment. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Endoscopic Management of Jejunal Perforation During Endoscopic Ultrasonography: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Endoscopic ultrasound is a useful diagnostic and interventional device for gastroenterologists. Although extremely useful, endoscopic ultrasound is not a benign tool. Possible complications of endoscopic ultrasound include hemorrhage, infection, and perforation. Although rare, iatrogenic small bowel perforations have been reported largely on the duodenum and rarely on the jejunum or ileum. Traditionally, these iatrogenic small bowel perforations have been managed with open surgery. However, recent emerging clinical data has revealed that immediate endoscopic treatment may be a feasible and safe alternative to surgery in select cases. Here, we describe the endoscopic management of an iatrogenic jejunal perforation during a linear endoscopic ultrasound examination managed successfully using an endoscopic clip.

Recurrent Angina in a Patient With Myocardial Infarction With Non-obstructive Coronary Arteries.

The ubiquity of coronary angiography has increased the identification of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries. Currently among cardiologists, there is neither a consensus nor comprehensive diagnostic blueprint for accurate evaluation of patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries. We present a case of a patient with recurrent chest pain. A diagnosis of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries secondary to coronary artery vasospasm was determined with the use of multimodality imaging cardiac imaging.

Epicardial Ablation as a Treatment of Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia Originating From a Left Ventricular Aneurysm: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Catheter ablation (CA) is an important therapeutic modality for the management of ventricular tachycardia (VT). In some patients, CA may be ineffective because of the inability to reach the effective target site from the endocardial surface. Partly, this is due to the effect of the transmural extent of the myocardial scars. The operator's ability to map and ablate the epicardial surface has enhanced our understanding of scar-related VT in various substrate states. A left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) that develops after myocardial infarction may increase the risk of VT. Endocardial ablation alone of LVA may be insufficient in preventing recurrent VT. Numerous studies have demonstrated greater freedom from recurrence with adjunctive epicardial mapping and ablation via a percutaneous subxiphoid technique. Currently, epicardial ablation is performed predominantly at high-volume tertiary referral centers via the percutaneous subxiphoid approach. In this review, we first report a case of a man in his 70s with ischemic cardiomyopathy, a large apical aneurysm, and recurrent VT status post-endocardial ablation who presented with incessant VT. The patient underwent successful epicardial ablation over the apical aneurysm. Second, our case showcases the percutaneous approach and underscores its clinical indications and potential complications.

Suitability of the left internal jugular vein for CRT-D placement in the setting of extensive venous occlusion: Case report and review of the literature.

Placement of coronary sinus (CS) leads is predominantly accomplished via the left cephalic-axillary-subclavian venous system. However, vein stenosis or occlusion from long-term chronic hemodialysis (HD) in patients with end-stage renal failure can pose a challenge. Cannulation of the CS via the left internal jugular vein (IJV) is technically difficult but often feasible. We report a case in which a patient with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) had extensive left venous system occlusion from prior in dwelling HD catheters, and an AV fistula contralaterally, who underwent biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator placement with lead insertion through the left IJV.

Inferior mesenteric vein thrombosis in the setting of testosterone therapy.

Inferior mesenteric vein thrombosis (IMVT) is a rare and potentially lethal complication that can progress to mesenteric ischaemia if left untreated. We report a case of a man in his 70s with a history of polycythaemia vera (PV) with a known negative Janus kinase-2 mutation (JAK2V617) who was started on testosterone therapy 2 months before presenting with left lower quadrant abdominal and flank pain. Evaluation revealed thrombocytosis and IMVT on CT scan. A non-operative approach was deferred for anticoagulation therapy. Within 24 hours, the patient demonstrated significant clinical improvement, and he subsequently made a full recovery. The patient underwent 6 months of anticoagulation therapy with Apixaban. This case documents the first case of IMVT in the setting of PV and testosterone therapy in the literature.

Left atrial appendage occlusion with Watchman device after incomplete surgical ligation.

Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is the most common cause of cardioembolic stroke. The left atrial appendage (LAA) is the major source of cardiac emboli in patients with NVAF. Anticoagulation (AC) is the standard of care for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF), but many patients are intolerant of AC. Surgical exclusion of the LAA may result in incomplete closure and is associated with an increased risk of embolism. We report a case of a woman in her 50s with a history of persistent AF, mitral valve prolapse s/p repair with surgical LAA exclusion, and multifocal haemorrhagic stroke presented for elective LAA closure who underwent a Watchman placement successfully. This case demonstrates that a percutaneous approach for occlusion of the LAA when surgical exclusion was incomplete may be feasible with appropriate planning. Clinical outcome data for this patient group are needed.

Severe Ketamine-Induced Uropathy Associated With Cholangiopathy Requiring Percutaneous Nephrostomy.

Ketamine-induced uropathy (KIU) is becoming more prevalent as ketamine abuse becomes widespread. Recently, a plethora of reports have highlighted the association between recreational ketamine abuse and its deleterious effects including uropathy and cholangiopathy. However, there are hardly any reports that demonstrate the management of severe KIU in young people. We report a case of an Asian female in her late 20's with a 10-year history of ketamine abuse who presented to the emergency department with sharp, epigastric pain for two weeks. An evaluation revealed acute kidney injury and transaminitis with bilirubinemia. CT scan showed bladder and ureteral wall thickening with hydroureteronephrosis. The patient underwent percutaneous bilateral nephrostomy tubes placement, improving urine output and with acute kidney injury resolution. Repeat renal/bladder US showed near complete resolution of bilateral hydronephrosis. This case documents one of the first few documented cases of severe ketamine-induced uropathy with cholangiopathy necessitating bilateral nephrostomies in the continental U.S.

A Case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Patient With Coronary Artery Fistula.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy and mimics acute coronary syndrome in the setting of non-obstructive coronary artery disease. It is associated with reversible left ventricular apical, mid, and/or basal wall motion abnormalities. A coronary artery fistula (CAF) is a connection between one or more of the coronary arteries and the cardiac chamber or great vessel. We present a case of an elderly woman who presented with chest pain and was found to have non-obstructive coronary artery disease with wall motion abnormality pattern consistent with TTC and multiple CAF involving the left circumflex coronary artery and pulmonary artery. This case highlights a rare association between two uncommon entities.