What Is the Optimal Digoxin Level? Challenging Case of Fetal Atrial Flutter Treatment in a Monochorionic Diamniotic Twin.

Background: Atrial flutter is an infrequent yet potentially fatal arrhythmia. Digoxin is the preferred first-line treatment for fetal atrial flutter due to its efficacy and favorable safety profile. The optimal digoxin serum target level for neonatal atrial flutter management remains uncertain, with the standard target level ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 ng/mL due to potential toxicity concerns above this threshold. Case Presentation: We present a case of atrial flutter in a fetus within a monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancy that was successfully managed using a higher-than-standard target level of digoxin. A 34-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to our institution at 31 + 3 weeks of gestation due to fetal distress in an MCDA twin pregnancy. Fetal echocardiography revealed a ventricular rate of 214 bpm in twin A, while twin B exhibited no abnormal findings. Conclusions: Our case highlights a distinct correlation between the serum digoxin level and its impact on atrial flutter. A higher target serum level of digoxin may be necessary to achieve sinus conversion due to the unique maternal and fetal circulatory characteristics in MCDA pregnancies.

ECG clues for false ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction activations.

BACKGROUND: Rapid diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is crucial for appropriate management. Catheterization for a false STEMI activation has risks including exposure to contrast agent and radiation, increased healthcare costs and delay in treatment of the primary medical condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single center retrospective study including all 'cath alerts' between January 2012 and December 2015. 'Cath alert' is a term used to activate the interventional cardiology team when STEMI is suspected by the emergency department physicians based on review of the initial ECG. We reviewed all STEMI alerts to understand ECG differences between true and false STEMI. RESULTS: Our study population (N = 361) included 221 (61%) men and 140 (39%) women, with average age 60 ± 4.2 years. Among the 361 STEMI alerts, 82 (22.7%) did not have acute coronary syndrome. Common ECG causes of misdiagnosis included left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH, found in 40/82, 49%), early repolarization changes (20/82, 24%), right bundle branch block (RBBB) (13/82, 16%), and Brugada pattern (3/82, 4%). Multivariate regression analysis showed that LVH and RBBB were independent predictors of nonacute coronary syndrome false STEMI (odds ratio: 0.54; 95% confidence interval: 0.32-0.93; P = 0.03 for LVH, and odds ratio: 0.26, 95% confidence interval: 0.1-0.62, P = 0.004 for RBBB). CONCLUSION: The incidence of false STEMI alerts was almost 23% at our center. This number might be reduced with additional training of emergency department physicians in ECG interpretation, and recognition of common causes of misdiagnosis such as LVH, early repolarization changes, RBBB, and Brugada pattern.

Invasive Hemodynamic Predictors of Renal Outcomes after Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of right heart invasive hemodynamic parameters with post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) acute kidney injury (AKI). BACKGROUND: AKI after PCI is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Various mechanisms are implicated in AKI after PCI. However, the association between filling pressures and invasive hemodynamic measures of right heart function with post-PCI AKI has not been described. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-center analysis of patients of who underwent simultaneous right heart catheterization (RHC) and left heart catheterization with PCI at the Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, between January 2010 and December 2016. We included patients who had hemodynamic parameters from the concomitant RHC as well as measurements of kidney function up to 1 month after the procedure. We excluded patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction, end-stage renal disease, cardiogenic shock, and PCI with a need for mechanical circulatory device support. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to analyze the association between the various right ventricular hemodynamic parameters and eGFR within 1 week and 1 month after catheterization after adjusting for age, race, gender, diabetes and hypertension, contrast volume, cardiac index, and baseline eGFR. RESULTS: Right atrial (RA) pressure was inversely associated with eGFR within 1 week (ß = -1.66; 95% CI -3.06 to -0.25; p = 0.021) and 1 month after PCI (ß = -2.14; 95% CI -4.08 to -0.20; p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Elevated RA pressure is associated with a worsening kidney function after cardiac catheterization and PCI.