Long-term Survival Benefit of Statin in Patients with Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion without Revascularization

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the efficacy of statin therapy in stable ischemic heart disease with chronic total occlusion (CTO) without revascularization. We investigated whether statin therapy could be beneficial in stable patients with CTO without revascularization. METHODS: From March 2003 to February 2012, 2,024 patients with at least one CTO were enrolled in a retrospective, single-center registry; 664 of these patients were managed conservatively without an initial revascularization strategy. Among them, we excluded CTO cases involving acute coronary syndrome, in-hospital death or incomplete data and classified 551 patients into statin (n = 369) and non-statin (n = 182) groups according to use of statin at discharge. Propensity score matching analysis was also performed in 148 pairs. The primary outcome was cardiac death. RESULTS: The median overall follow-up duration was 45.7 months (interquartile range: 19.9–70.5 months). Cardiac death occurred in 22 patients (6.0%) in the statin group vs. 24 patients (13.2%) in the non-statin group (P 70 years, renal insufficiency, prior myocardial infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%, proximal-to-mid CTO location, and no use of statin in CTO patients. CONCLUSION: Statin therapy at discharge may be associated with a reduction in long-term cardiac mortality in stable CTO patients without revascularization.

Successful Surgical Treatment of Trombus in the Aortic Arch / 대한내과학회지

Thrombi within the aortic arch are rare, and are generally detected after cerebral, visceral, or peripheral embolization. Although the indications for treatment remain controversial, there is increasing interest in the etiopathogenesis of this rare clinical entity and the development of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We report a case in which a thrombus was detected in the proximal aortic arch on echocardiography and computed tomography angiography as the origin of upperextremity ischemia. This pedunculated thrombus was attached to the atherosclerotic aortic wall and was removed surgically.

Successful Retrieval of Intravascular Stent Remnants With a Combination of Rotational Atherectomy and a Gooseneck Snare

Stent migration from the delivery balloon catheter is a rare but serious complication during percutaneous coronary intervention, particularly when a part of the stent stretches into the aorta. We report an unusual case of stent migration treated with a combination of a gooseneck snare and rotablation. A part of the stent was overstretched and unrolled into the aorta and the rest of the stent remained implanted in the coronary artery. The stent was captured with a gooseneck snare but could not be retrieved because it was connected to a stent remnant implanted in the coronary artery. The stent strut was cut with rotablation, and the stent was successfully removed through the femoral sheath.

Successful Surgical Treatment of Trombus in the Aortic Arch / 대한내과학회지

Thrombi within the aortic arch are rare, and are generally detected after cerebral, visceral, or peripheral embolization. Although the indications for treatment remain controversial, there is increasing interest in the etiopathogenesis of this rare clinical entity and the development of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We report a case in which a thrombus was detected in the proximal aortic arch on echocardiography and computed tomography angiography as the origin of upperextremity ischemia. This pedunculated thrombus was attached to the atherosclerotic aortic wall and was removed surgically.

Amiodarone-induced Pulmonary Toxicity within a Short Period of the Initiation of Amiodarone Therapy: A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

Amiodarone is one of the most commonly prescribed antiarrhythmic drug for almost all atrial or ventricular arrythmias. Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity (APT) was first described in 1980 and has potentially serious side effects that are believed to develop in 5% of patients. In general, APT occurs only when high amiodarone doses are used for a long time. However, during short-term therapy of amiodarone, APT is rarely reported. In this report, we describe a case of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity after a short course of amiodarone therapy for atrial fibrillation.

A Case of Paradoxical Renal Embolism through Patent Foramen Ovale / 대한신장학회지

Paradoxical embolism is a kind of stroke caused by embolism of thrombus of venous origin through a lateral opening in the heart, such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Although the most frequent manifestation of paradoxical embolism is cryptogenic stroke, noncerebral paradoxical embolism is also associated with PFO. We experienced a case of cryptogenic renal infarction in a previously healthy 70-year-old man. He had no cardiac thrombus on transthoracic echocardiography and electrocardiogram revealed a normal sinus rhythm. Because it was cryptogenic renal infarction, we performed transesophageal echocardiography with microbubble test. Microbubble test using agitated saline proved the presence of right-to-left shunt and patent foramen ovale was diagnosed. We also performed lower leg doppler ultrasonogram, but there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis. Although only the presence of a right-to-left shunt is not enough to establish the diagnosis of paradoxical embolism, it is uncommon for the source of the embolism to be identified. In this case, we concluded that paradoxical embolism is the cause of renal embolism. We report paradoxical renal embolism through PFO with review of relevant literatures.

Two Cases of Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum Complicating Viral Pneumonia Caused by Influenza A Virus, (H1N1 Subtype): A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

Influenza A virus, (H1N1 Subtype), was identified as the cause of outbreaks of febrile respiratory infection in Mexico, the US, Canada and elsewhere during the spring of 2009. In Korea, a novel virus infection showing many variable complications was also pandemic. We report two cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum, complicating viral pneumonia, caused by Influenza A virus, (H1N1 Subtype).

A case of a huge gastric bezoar treated with an endoscopic Coca-cola injection and an Argon plasma beam / 대한내과학회지

Bezoars are persistent concretions of indigestible materials found in the stomach. They can cause mucosal ulceration or wall perforation, gastritis, gastric outlet obstruction, or gastrointestinal bleeding. With the significant development of endoscopic techniques, many authors have reported the removal of bezoars using methods such as endoscopic mechanical lithotomy and chemical dissolution however, the outcomes differ according to the treatment method. We report a case treated successfully with an endoscopic Coca-cola injection and an argon plasma beam for 90 minutes. A 61-year-old man was admitted with a 4-day history of upper abdominal pain. A bezoar was detected by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The bezoar (10x8x6 cm) was dark brown in color and extremely hard. Attemptat endoscopic removal using a polypectomy snare failed. We then injected Coca-cola directly into the bezoar mass and sprayed it with an Argon plasma beam. Ninety minutes later, the bezoar was broken into pieces and removed. The bezoar was absent at the follow up endoscopy 2 weeks later.