Impact of Hospital Volume of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) on In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Based on the 2014 Cohort of the Korean Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (K-PCI) Registry

Background and Objectives@#The relationship between the hospital percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) volumes and the in-hospital clinical outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains the subject of debate. This study aimed to determine whether the in-hospital clinical outcomes of patients with AMI in Korea are significantly associated with hospital PCI volumes. @*Methods@#We selected and analyzed 17,121 cases of AMI, that is, 8,839 cases of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and 8,282 cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, enrolled in the 2014 Korean percutaneous coronary intervention (K-PCI) registry. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to hospital annual PCI volume, that is, to a high-volume group (≥400/year) or a low-volume group (<400/year). Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were defined as composites of death, cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis, stroke, and need for urgent PCI during index admission after PCI. @*Results@#Rates of MACCE and non-fatal MI were higher in the low-volume group than in the high-volume group (MACCE: 10.9% vs. 8.6%, p=0.001; non-fatal MI: 4.8% vs. 2.6%, p=0.001, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis showed PCI volume did not independently predict MACCE. @*Conclusions@#Hospital PCI volume was not found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital clinical outcomes in patients with AMI included in the 2014 K-PCI registry.

Post-Operative Multiple Thrombosis Associated with Patent Foramen Ovale: Embolic Stroke, Right Atrial Thrombi, Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis

Patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty frequently develop post-operative complication, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism. However, it is not common coexisting deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary thromboembolisms, right atrial thrombus and acute cerebral infarction raised by thrombus through patent foramen ovale. We reported the patient who had multiple thrombi which were accompanied with a cryptogenic ischemic stroke and associated with patent foramen ovale after operation.

Exercise-Induced Intranodal Atrioventricular Block

Exercise-induced atrioventricular (AV) block in patients with normal AV conduction at rest is rare. Herein, we describe the case of a 67-year-old woman with normal 1 : 1 AV conduction at rest, who developed complete AV block during a treadmill test. Our patient complained of effort-related dizziness and dyspnea, which had been ongoing for 3 months. The patient's physical examination was normal. The resting electrocardiogram showed left anterior fascicular block with a PR interval of 0.19 seconds. The echocardiogram was normal except for mild aortic valve regurgitation. During the treadmill test, the patient developed complete AV block at a sinus rate of 90 beats/min, which was followed by 2 : 1 AV block associated with dyspnea and dizziness. The patient's coronary angiogram was normal, and the ergonovine provocation test was negative. Electrophysiological studies demonstrated rate-dependent intranodal AV block. The patient received implantation of a permanent dual chamber (DDD) pacemaker and had no further symptoms during the follow-up period.

Porcelain Heart: Rapid Progression of Cardiac Calcification in a Patient with Hemodialysis

Cardiac calcification usually occurs in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, rapid progression of cardiac calcification is rarely associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism of end-stage renal disease. We report a patient with end-stage renal disease who showed moderate left ventricular hypertrophy at the first echocardiography, and showed severe myocardial calcification and severe mitral valve stenosis 4 years later. We suspected a rapid progression 'porcelain heart' cardiomyopathy secondary to hyperparathyroidism of end-stage renal disease. The patient underwent parathyroidectomy, and considered mitral valve replacement.

A Case Report of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Induced Cardiomyopathy Complicated with Left Ventricular Thrombus

The heart and the brain, most oxygen-dependent organs, may be severely affected after carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. CO induced cardiotoxicity may occur as a consequence of moderate to severe CO poisoning, including angina attack, myocardial infarct, arrhythmias, and heart failure. We present a rare case of CO poisoning induced cardiomyopathy with left ventricular (LV) thrombus. It is thought that LV thrombus may have been caused severely decreased LV function with dyskinesis. After short-term anticoagulant therapy, echocardiography findings revealed complete recovery of LV dyskinesis and resolution of LV thrombus.

Complete Atrioventricular Block due to Infective Endocarditis of Bicuspid Aortic Valve

A 38-year-old man visited our emergency department presenting with a 6-day persistent fever. The man had undergone an orthodontic procedure 7 days prior to the visit. He had a fever with a temperature of 38.2degrees C and a diastolic murmur (grade III) was detected at the left sternal border. Reddish-brown lines beneath the nails were present, and raised lesions which were red and painful were detected on the soles of the patient's feet. Laboratory findings showed an elevated inflammatory marker. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms, showed a bicuspid aortic valve, and moderate aortic regurgitation and vegetation were noted. Treatment with antibiotics was given, but 4 days later, a 12 lead electrocardiogram revealed complete atrioventricular (AV) block. Immediately, a temporary pacemaker was inserted, and the following day an aortic valve replacement was performed. Intraoperative findings revealed a fistula around the AV node. He has suffered no subsequent cardiac events during the follow-up.

The Relationship Between Serum Pentraxin 3 and Central Obesity in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As shown in previous studies, pentraxin 3 (PTX3) can be a useful inflammatory marker for metabolic syndrome and central obesity. Serum PTX3 levels are also an independent factor associated with visceral fat area. The aim of this study was to assess the role of PTX3 as an inflammatory maker in patients with central obesity undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From December 2007 to June 2008, 40 subjects (mean age: 61+/-11 years, M : F=34 : 6) with STEMI who underwent primary PCI were enrolled. We determined waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, body mass index (BMI), and visceral and total fat area via fat computed tomography (FAT-CT), and compared them with serum PTX3 concentrations. RESULTS: The serum PTX3 concentration was closely related to FAT-CT-estimated visceral fat area (r=0.41, p<0.01) and total fat area (r=0.38, p=0.01), respectively. The serum PTX3 concentration was not related to waist circumference (r=0.27, p=0.20), waist circumference/hip ratio (r=0.25, p=0.16), BMI (r=0.04, p=0.80) and lipid profiles, respectively. Among the parameters determining metabolic syndrome, an increasing visceral fat area had the strongest association with PTX3 concentrations. CONCLUSION: In patients with STEMI, PTX3 is associated with central obesity and it is significantly and independently correlated with visceral fat area. FAT-CT-estimated visceral fat area is the most reliable factor associated with serum PTX3 levels in patients with STEMI and central obesity.

Evaluation of Cardiac Function by Transthoracic Echocardiography in Subjects with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Following Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention according to Valsartan Dose: The Valsartan One Center Trial

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term changes in cardiac function by transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) according to valsartan dose. METHODS: Between April 2006 and February 2009, 78 subjects (mean age: 57 +/- 12 years, M : F = 74 : 4) with STEMI who underwent primary PCI were enrolled. Fifty three patients received low dose valsartan (40 or 80 mg) and 25 patients received high dose valsartan (160 or 320 mg). Follow-up TTE was done approximately 2 years later. We evaluated the changes in left ventricular (LV) function between initial and final TTE after primary PCI and compared the changes between low and high dose valsartan group. RESULTS: The mean follow-up TTE duration was 24 +/- 8 months. Deceleration time (188.6 +/- 56.3 msec vs. 221.5 +/- 71.3 msec, p = 0.01), E/e' (12.24 +/- 5.2 vs. 10.1 +/- 4.9, p = 0.002), ejection fraction (52.7 +/- 8% vs. 55.2 +/- 8.4%, p < 0.01), and wall motion score index (1.45 +/- 0.30 vs. 1.33 +/- 0.32, p < 0.01) showed significant changes during the follow-up period. Wall motion improvement in injured myocardial segments was more frequently observed in the high-dose valsartan group compared to the low-dose group [18/25 (72%) vs. 24/53 (43.7%), p = 0.03]. There was no significant difference in the changes in cardiac dimensions and function between the low and high dose valsartan group. CONCLUSION: In patients with STEMI who undergoing primary PCI, high-dose valsartan treatment may be more helpful than low-dose in improving wall motion in the injured myocardium.

Three Cases of Non-Surgical Treatment of Stent Loss During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting is widely used for ischemic heart disease. Because stent loss, which occurs rarely during the procedure, might have dire consequences, such as bleeding, stent embolism, acute myocardial infarction, emergency coronary artery bypass graft, and death, appropriate treatment is needed as soon as stent loss occurs. We report three cases of stent loss which were successfully treated with three different non-surgical methods.

Takayasu's Arteritis Treated by Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty with Stenting in the Descending Aorta

A 17-yr-old young woman was referred to our hospital with a 2-yr history of claudication of the lower extremities and severe arterial hypertension. Physical examination revealed significantly different blood pressures between both arms (160/92 and 180/95 mmHg) and legs (92/61 and 82/57 mmHg). The hematological and biochemical values were within their normal ranges, except for the increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (83 mm/hr) and C-reactive protein (6.19 mg/L). On 3- dimensional computed tomographic angiography, the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and its branches, and the thoracic and, descending aorta, but not the renal artery, were shown to be stenotic. The diagnosis of type IIb Takayasu's arteritis was made according to the new angiographic classification of Takayasu's arteritis, Takyasu conference 1994. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting was performed on the thoracic and abdominal aorta. After the interventional procedures, the upper extremity blood pressure improved from 162/101 mmHg to 132/85 mmHg, respectively. She has been free of claudication and there have been no cardiac events during 2-yr of clinical follow-up.

A Case of Symmetrical Peripheral Gangrene Complicating Escherichia coli Sepsis

We have encountered a rare case of symmetrical peripheral gangrene complicating Escherichia coli sepsis in a 47-years-old male. He was successfully treated with antibiotics, anticoagulants, and vasodilator. To our knowledge, this is the first report on symmetrical peripheral gangrene complicating E. coli sepsis in Korea.

A Case of Symmetrical Peripheral Gangrene Complicating Escherichia coli Sepsis

We have encountered a rare case of symmetrical peripheral gangrene complicating Escherichia coli sepsis in a 47-years-old male. He was successfully treated with antibiotics, anticoagulants, and vasodilator. To our knowledge, this is the first report on symmetrical peripheral gangrene complicating E. coli sepsis in Korea.