The successful use of the Impella RP after a long cardiopulmonary resuscitation and systemic thrombolytic therapy in a patient with a fulminant pulmonary embolism: the first case report.

Acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE) can result in progressive cardiogenic shock, right heart failure, and respiratory failure requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We report the case of a 56-year-old woman who required prolonged CPR secondary to a highly suspected massive PE and cardiogenic shock. After receiving preclinical thrombolytic therapy, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit with ongoing CPR. Because of persistent haemodynamic instability and acute right ventricular failure, an Impella RP was successfully implanted and immediate haemodynamic improvement was observed. Absent any contraindications, the Impella RP should be considered a feasible alternative in patients with acute right ventricular failure due to pulmonary embolism.

ST-segment Elevation Following Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department: Unmasked Myocardial Infarction due to Left Main Coronary Artery Plaque Rupture or Unspecific Finding?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent reason for emergency department visits. According to current guidelines either rate- or rhythm-control are acceptable therapeutic options in such situations. In this report, we present the complicated clinical course of a patient with AF and a rapid ventricular response. Because of paroxysmal AF, the patient was on chronic oral anticoagulation therapy with warfarin. Pharmacological treatment was ineffective to control ventricular rate, and immediate synchronized electrical cardioversion was performed. One hour later, the patient complained of chest pain in combination with marked ST-segment elevation in the anterior leads. Cardiac catheterization with optical coherence tomography disclosed plaque rupture in the left main coronary artery without other significant stenosis. Stent implantation was performed successfully. During the course of the hospital stay, the patient remained asymptomatic and the ST-segment elevations resolved. However, despite treatment with amiodarone it was not possible to keep the patient permanently in sinus rhythm. Therefore, a biventricular pacemaker was implanted and AV node ablation performed.

Impact of rapid ventricular pacing during TAVI on microvascular tissue perfusion.

BACKGROUND: Rapid ventricular pacing (RVP) is an established technique to temporarily reduce left ventricular output during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of RVP on microvascular tissue perfusion (MTP) in patients undergoing TAVI. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 42 patients (mean age 81.8 ± 6.9 years, n = 18 females. EuroSCORE 33 ± 12 %) during TAVI. MTP was analyzed using Sidestream-Darkfield imaging, of the sublingual microvasculature. Microvascular flow index (MFI) was continuously measured in small (10-25 µm)- and medium (26-50 µm)-sized vessels, starting 10 s before and ending 12 s after RVP. Further, perfused capillary density, total vessel density and the proportion of perfused vessels were assessed. After a mean RVP duration of 14.3 s (range 6-29), mean arterial pressure decreased from 68 ± 05 to 40 ± 7 mmHg (p < 0.001). This was associated with a significant decrease of MFI in small- and medium-sized vessels from 2.29 ± 0.64 and 2.36 ± 0.6 to 0.87 ± 0.66 (p < 0.001) and 1.0 ± 0.83 (p < 0.001), respectively. MFI remained significantly below baseline values (small: 1.75 ± 0.8, p = 0.001 vs. baseline; medium: 1.77 ± 0.85; p = 0.005 vs. baseline) at 12 s after end of RVP. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates a time-dependent effect of RVP on microflow, leading to 50 and 25 % of baseline at 8 and 18 s of RVP, respectively. In a substantial proportion of patients, RVP is associated with microcirculatory arrest and a delayed recovery of microflow. Although the impact of these findings on outcome is yet unclear, TAVI operators should be aware of the potentially adverse effects of even short periods of RVP.