Constrictive pericarditis in the setting of repeated chest trauma in a mixed martial arts fighter.

BACKGROUND: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is characterized by scarring and loss of elasticity of the pericardium. This case demonstrates that mixed martial arts (MMA) is a previously unrecognized risk factor for CP, diagnosis of which is supported by cardiac imaging, right and left heart catheterization, and histological findings of dense fibrous tissue without chronic inflammation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old Caucasian male former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter from the Western United States presented to liver clinic for elevated liver injury tests (LIT) and a 35-pound weight loss with associated diarrhea, lower extremity edema, dyspnea on exertion, and worsening fatigue over a period of 6 months. Past medical history includes concussion, right bundle branch block, migraine headache, hypertension, chronic pain related to musculoskeletal injuries and fractures secondary to MMA competition. Involvement in MMA was extensive with an 8-year history of professional MMA competition and 13-year history of MMA fighting with recurrent trauma to the chest wall. The patient also reported a 20-year history of performance enhancing drugs including testosterone. Physical exam was notable for elevated jugular venous pressure, hepatomegaly, and trace peripheral edema. An extensive workup was performed including laboratory studies, abdominal computerized tomography, liver biopsy, echocardiogram, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Finally, right and left heart catheterization-the gold standard-confirmed discordance of the right ventricle-left ventricle, consistent with constrictive physiology. Pericardiectomy was performed with histologic evidence of chronic pericarditis. The patient's hospital course was uncomplicated and he returned to NYHA functional class I. CONCLUSIONS: CP can be a sequela of recurrent pericarditis or hemorrhagic effusions and may have a delayed presentation. In cases of recurrent trauma, CP may be managed with pericardiectomy with apparent good outcome. Further studies are warranted to analyze the occurrence of CP in MMA so as to better define the risk in such adults.

Surgical Strategies for Cardiac Perforation After Catheter Ablation or Electrophysiology Study.

Catheter ablation is a treatment modality which has been increasingly used for cardiac arrhythmias. However, it is not complication-free, and cardiac perforation is one of its most life-threatening complications. As surgery is usually not the first-line treatment for this emergent episode, there were only very few sporadic surgical reports in the literature. This systemic review primarily aims to collect different surgical approaches for catheter-induced cardiac perforation to help surgeons manage this kind of uncommon and critical patients. Of the 452 initially screened articles, 22 studies (38 patients) were included in the systemic review. Of all the included patients, 84% (32/38) were found to have pericardial effusion acutely following catheter-related procedures, and 16% (6/38) experienced delayed-onset episodes. Regarding the surgical procedures, four patients underwent removal of clots only, eight patients underwent suture repair of the left ventricle (LV), nine patients underwent suture repair of the right ventricle (RV), five patients underwent suture repair of the LA, and four patients underwent sutureless repair of the LV and pulmonary vein (LV 1, RV 1, pulmonary vein 1). In addition to repair of perforation sites, the concomitant combined procedures included repair of intercostal vessels (complication of pericardiocentesis) for one patient, cryoablation for two patients, and maze procedure for one patient. For cardiac perforation following catheter ablation or electrophysiology study, although the majority of the patients are treated with pericardiocentesis and medical management at first, cardiovascular surgeons have to prepare to take over if the bleeding is persistent or if the cardiac tamponade is not relieved.

Heridas penetrantes cardiacas / Cardiac penetrating wounds

La herida penetrante cardíaca ha aumentado en frecuencia como resultado del aumento de la agresividad y de los accidentes automovilísticos e industriales. La experiencia que ello ha significado y la derivada de los conflicots bélicos ha ido mejorando los índicces de recuperación. Para graficar la magnitud del problema en el área occidente del Servicio Metropolitano de Salud se realizó un estudio prospectivo de los pacientes atendidos con este diagnóstico en el Hospital San Juan de Dios durante un período de dos años (junio de 1993 a julio de 1995). Se reunieron 28 pacientes en los que predominaron los hombres (27). El promedio de dad fue de 27 años y la causa más frecuente fue la agresión con arm blanca (89 por ciento). El diagnóstico clínico fue seguido de una toracotomía de urgencia, salvp uno que falleció antes de llegar al pabellón y la vía preferentemente empleada fue la intercostal ánterolateral (85 por ciento). Se realizó cardiorrafia de la cavidad comprometida, que en este grupo fue el ventrículo izquierdo preferentemente. Tanto el inreso en shock hipovolémico severo (17 por ciento), como el 14 por ciento del daño hipóxico del SNC como complicación, sugieren que pudiera haber retraso en el traslado. Se recuperaron 18 pacientes o dicho de otro modo, la letalidad fue de 35,7 por ciento. El estudio cardiológico dirigido previo al alta demostró un 22,3 por ciento de secuelas

[Blood reinfusion in stab-incision heart injuries]. / Reinfuziia krovi pri koloto-rezanykh raneniiakh serdtsa.

The authors had 110 patients with heart injuries (HI) under observation. The blood loss was, 1,092 +/- 120 ml in isolated HI and 2,410 +/- 246 ml in combined HI. Blood reinfusion (BR) was performed during 91 operations, the average volume was 1,233 +/- 215 ml. The peculiarities of reinfusion techniques are analysed and its advantages and shortcomings are critically appraised. The causes of fatal outcomes are shown according to the character of the heart damage and the volumes of blood loss and reinfusion. Mortality in HI with the use of BR was 16.5%.

[Peace-time injuries of the heart and pericardium]. / Raneniia serdtsa i perikarda mirnogo vremeni.

The experience with the treatment of 93 patients with knife injury to the heart and pericardium is summarized. The only proper therapeutical tactics in injury to the heart and pericardium is the emergency performance of operative intervention. The therapeutical value of pericardial punction is doubtful. Good results of treatment were achieved after the use of blood reinfusion. Fourteen (15.1%) patients died.

[Reinfusion of blood in emergency surgery of severe injuries]. / Reinfuziia krovi v ekstrennoi khirurgii tiazhelykh povrezhdenii.

The immediate results of blood reinfusion in 357 patients with wounds and closed injuries of thoracic and abdominal organs are analysed. The data obtained evidence the rationality of reinfusion in urgent surgery for injuries. Reinfusion enables adequate replenishment of blood losses to be terminated more rapidly and physiologically.

New insights in cardiac trauma.

Recent advances in cardiac surgery associated with newer diagnostic modalities have decreased the mortality from cardiac wounds. With decreasing operative mortality, previous nonoperative approaches have been abandoned while judicious total repair of valvular, septal, and coronary artery injuries at the initial operative procedure seems resonable and justified.