Safety of electronic massagers in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices.

BACKGROUND: Current recommendations by cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) manufacturers on electromagnetic interference (EMI) are based on extrapolations of studies exposing CIEDs to electromagnetic fields produced by Helmholtz coils and industrial equipment. There are currently little data whether commercially available electronic massagers can cause EMI in CIEDs in vivo. This is of interest as the use of electronic massagers is common in Asia. METHODS: The study evaluated CIED patients before, during and after a 10-minute exposure to a commercially available electronic backrest upper body massager. Post-exposure sensing, pacing threshold, and lead impedance were compared to baseline values. The presence of artefacts, EMI, and adverse clinical events during exposure was recorded. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients (59 pacemakers and 27 implantable cardioverter-defibrillators) with a total of 151 leads (60 atrial, 86 right ventricular, and 5 left ventricular) were evaluated. There was no incidence of EMI causing inappropriate inhibition of pacing or inappropriate defibrillation. There was no significant difference in the pacing threshold, sensing, and lead impedance post-exposure compared to baseline values. CONCLUSION: Our study, though limited by small numbers and exposure to only 1 type of electronic massager, shows that it is potentially safe for patients with CIEDs to use commercially available electronic massagers with similar characteristics as the one tested in this study.

Clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcomes of South-East Asian patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: The clinical features of acute PE have not been well studied in South-East Asia. We therefore sought to evaluate the clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcomes of patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in our region. METHODS: From January 2008 to March 2013, 343 patients were admitted to our tertiary institution with acute PE. Data were collected retrospectively on baseline clinical characteristics, presenting signs and symptoms, results of electrocardiographic and imaging studies, therapeutic modality and hospital course. RESULTS: 91% of the patients presented with submassive PE. 6.1% of patients had saddle PE. The most common presenting symptom was dyspnea (72.3%) followed by chest pain (12.8%), hemoptysis (2.6%), syncope (2.6%) and cardiovascular collapse (1.2%). Risk factors for PE were idiopathic cause (33.5%), immobilization (21%), malignancy (6.1%) and hypercoagulable state (2.9%). The overall in-hospital mortality was 5%. Factors associated with mortality were massive PE, tachycardia at presentation, right ventricular dysfunction and cardiogenic shock. Bleeding complications occurred in 10.2% of patients (major bleeding in 3.5%). CONCLUSION: Acute PE in the South-East Asian patients is associated with an overall mortality rate of 5%. The bleeding complications from treatment are also high.

Successful drug-coated balloon angioplasty and single anti-platelet therapy to treat an ischaemic stroke patient with haemorrhage and acute coronary syndrome.

A 55-year-old male presented with two challenging problems, i.e. acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and a major bleeding episode. He first presented with ischaemic stroke and was treated with thrombolysis. However this was complicated by haemorrhagic transformation. He subsequently developed ACS with urgent coronary angiography demonstrating a critical stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was deemed necessary but we were mindful of causing bleeding complications from the use of anti-thrombotic therapy. Despite the complexities, we used a novel approach in terms of PCI strategy and anti-platelet regimen (drug-coated balloon angioplasty and a single anti-platelet therapy) and achieved a successful outcome.