Unusual case of infectious endocarditis in a patient subjected to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) without cardiovascular risk factors. / Endocarditis en un paciente sujeto a RTU de próstata sin factores de riesgo cardiovascular.

OBJECTIVE: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard for the treatment of obstructive prostatic hyperplasia. A bacteremia leading to infectious endocarditis (IE) can be the result of urological procedures. IE post TURP is rare. METHODS: We report an unusual case of an infectious endocarditis complicating TURP for benign prostatic hyperplasiain absence of known previous cardiovascular risk factors or conditions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The patient developed intermittent episodes of fever lasting more than two months starting 3 weeks from hospital discharge, and he was never referred to the hospital by his general practitioner, until he was evaluated by his Surgeon, admitted to the Emergency Department and diagnosed with infectious endocarditis, later dying for cardiac arrest before getting a cardiac valve replacement. This report aims to be a reminder of how invasive procedures can trigger secondary distant complications that should be taken into account while assessing a post-operative patient.

OBJETIVO: La resección transuretral de próstata es el gold estándar en el tratamiento de la hiperplasia benigna de próstata. Una bacteriemia que comporta endocarditis infecciosa (EI) puede ser como resultado de procedimientos urológicos. La EI post RTU próstata es rara. METODOS: Describimos un caso inusual de endocarditis infecciosa complicada post RTU de próstata por hiperplasia benigna de próstata en ausencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular conocidos u otras patológicas. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: El paciente desarrolló episodios intermitentes de fiebre por más de 2 meses iniciándose a las 3 semanas del alta hospitalaria. El paciente nunca fué mandado al hospital por el medico de familia hasta que fue evaluado por su cirujano, ingresado en el servicio de urgencias y diagnosticado de endocarditis infecciosa. Finalmente murió de parada cardiorespiratoria antes de someterse a cirugía de sustitución valvular. Este caso pretende recordar lo invasivo que es el procedimiento y que puede desencadenar complicaciones secundarias que deben tenerse en consideración en el contexto postoperatorio del paciente.

Pol-CDRIE registry - 1-year observational data on patients hospitalized due to cardiac device-related infective endocarditis in Polish referential cardiology centres.

BACKGROUND: The rate of cardiac device-related infective endocarditis (CDRIE) is increasing worldwide, but no detailed data are available for Poland. AIMS: We aimed to evaluate clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic data of patients hospitalized due to CDRIE in 22 Polish referential cardiology centers from May 1, 2016 to May 1, 2017. METHODS: Participating cardiology departments were asked to fill in a questionnaire that included data on the number of hospitalized patients, number and types of implanted cardiac electrotherapy devices, and number of infective endocarditis cases. We also collected clinical data and data regarding the management of patients with CDRIE. RESULTS: Overall, 99 621 hospitalizations were reported. Infective endocarditis unrelated to cardiac device was the cause of 596 admissions (0.6%), and CDRIE, of 195 (0.2%). Pacemaker was implanted in 91 patients with CDRIE (47%); cardioverter­defibrillator, in 51 (26%); cardiac resynchronization therapy­defibrillator, in 48 (25%); and cardiac resynchronization therapy­pacemaker, in 5 (2.5%). The most common symptoms were malaise (62%), fever/chills (61%), cough (21%), chest pain (19.5%), and inflammation of the device pocket (5.6%). Cultures were positive in 77.5% of patients. The cardiac device was removed in 91% of patients. The percutaneous approach was most common for cardiac device removal. All patients received antibiotic therapy, and 3 patients underwent a heart valve procedure. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 80% of patients. The most common complication was heart failure (25% of patients). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical profile, pathogen types, and management strategies in Polish patients with CDRIE are consistent with similar data from other European countries. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed less frequently than recommended. The removal rate in the Polish population is consistent with the general rates observed for interventional treatment in patients with CDRIE.

Acupuncture-Related Cardiac Complications: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to review acupuncture-related cardiac complications, such as infective endocarditis (IE), cardiac tamponade (CT), pericarditis, and cardiac rupture, as there is no known reported literature to determine the burden of cardiac adverse events due to acupuncture. METHODS: Structured computerized databases were searched using the special Medical Subject Heading (MeSH). Manual search using the references of relevant articles was also performed. RESULTS: A total of 133 articles were initially retrieved, but careful reading resulted in only 30 cases of relevant cardiac adverse events. There were 8 articles of infective complications (mostly IE), while 22 articles of CT have been reported to date. The diagnoses were made with echocardiography and patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics. The source of the infection was mostly localized to acupuncture needle prick sites, such as earlobes and legs. Mortality rate for post-acupuncture CT was not significantly higher than infective cardiac complication (Pearson's Chi-square = 0.559; likelihood ratio = 0.553). However, the weighted percentage of death was about 80% in CT vs only 20% mortality for infective cardiac complications. On the other hand, CT was the most common presentation when the needle pricks were close to the heart, and had a clinical presentation of hypotension and venous distention. CONCLUSIONS: Although the universally reported complications of acupuncture are low, and the procedure itself has been deemed low risk in acupuncture-related literature, these cardiac complications are alarming. To avoid these potentially catastrophic consequences, more education needs to be done for adopting safer techniques.

Ten-year study of late electrotherapy complications. Single-centre analysis of indications and safety of transvenous leads extraction.

BACKGROUND: An increase in the number of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantations is associated with a higher frequency of electrotherapy complications. AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the risk factors for late electrotherapy complications and to evaluate the effectiveness of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) and survival after TLE. METHODS: We analysed the clinical data of 225 patients with electrotherapy complications referred for TLE in a single centre in the years 2006 to 2015. Indications for TLE, risk factors for infectious complications, effectiveness of TLE, and survival after the procedure were assessed. RESULTS: In the study group, non-infectious indications for TLE predominated (78.2%). Analysis of risk for infectious complications demonstrated the important role of chronic renal failure (hazard ratio [HR] 1.842, p = 0.034) and a greater number of CIED-related procedures (HR 4.768, p < 0.001). High effectiveness of TLE and significantly higher long-term mortality of patients with infectious complications compared with the remainder (50% vs. 20%, p < 0.05) were documented. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated a high rate of patients with non-infectious complications referred for TLE and very high effectiveness of the procedure. The worse long-term survival of patients with infectious complications, as well as increased risk for such complications due to the greater number of prior procedures, should prompt the consideration of early referral for TLE in the case of lead dysfunctions.

Safety and effectiveness of transvenous extraction of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads in patients under or over 80 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Progressive aging of the population and the increasing number of complications of electrotherapy procedures are the main reasons of a remarkable increase in the number of transvenous extraction procedures of pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads in the elderly patients. AIM: To assess the safety and effectiveness of such procedures in patients under or over 80 years of age. The study included all patients who underwent transvenous PM/ICD lead extraction in 2003-2011. METHODS: All patients were divided into two groups based on their age at the time of the procedure: group A included patients under 80 years of age (134 patients; 97 male, 37 female) and group B included patients over 80 years of age (26 patients; 16 male, 10 female). RESULTS: No differences were found between the two groups in terms of gender proportions, comorbidities, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, and left ventricular ejection fraction. In total, 220 leads were removed (group A: 63 defibrillating and 122 pacing leads, group B: 2 defibrillating and 33 pacing leads). The most common indication for the lead removal procedure in both groups was infection, either in the form of PM/ICD pocket infection (46 and 13 cases, respectively) or infective endocarditis (18 and 2 cases, respectively). Procedural outcomes in both groups were not statistically different in terms of the final outcome or complication rates. The results in groups A and B were as follows: complete success 95.5% vs. 96.2%, respectively, clinical success 3% vs. 3.8%, respectively, and failure 1.5% vs. 0%, respectively, with no significant differences between the groups. No major complications of the procedure were observed in either of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that transvenous extraction of PM/ICD leads appears to be a safe and effective procedure both in relatively younger patients and in patients over 80 years of age.

Lead-dependent infective endocarditis complicated by septic emboli.

Lead-dependent infective endocarditis (LDIE) has emerged as a serious complication of electrotherapy in the era of advanced medical technology and is a growing problem due to greater patient longevity, limited electrode life-time, an increasing number of abandoned leads, and subclinical symptoms. We present a case of dramatic course of LDIE in a 26 year-old patient in whom standard management had failed to cure endocarditis. This case was complicated by extensive pulmonary septic emboli and required cardio-thoracic intervention.

Apparent failure of endocarditis prophylaxis caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus mitis.

Antibiotic resistance among viridans streptococci has increased with Streptococcus mitis being more resistant than other viridans species. In a case presented in this report, it is possible that antibiotic resistance contributed to an apparent failure of endocarditis prophylaxis. The patient had undergone periodontal surgery on 2 separate occasions and in both instances was administered 2 g of amoxicillin orally 1 hour before each procedure. He subsequently developed a subacute illness and had multiple blood cultures drawn that grew S. mitis with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.0 microg/mL for penicillin. Transesophageal echocardiogram provided further evidence of infective endocarditis with vegetations seen on the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. Combination therapy with high-dose intravenous aqueous crystalline penicillin G and gentamicin sulfate for 4 weeks was curative. Clindamycin, rather than amoxicillin, has since been used as dental prophylaxis for subsequent procedures.

[Use of Organon, a synthetic heparinoid, in two cardiopulmonary bypass procedures in the same patient sensitive to heparin]. / Utilisation de l'Orgaran, héparinoïde de synthèse, lors de deux circulations extracorporelles, chez un même patient allergique à l'héparine.

We report the case of a patient who underwent two cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures with Orgaran because of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. A 38 years-old man with ischemic mitral insufficiency was operated for coronary artery bypass and valvular replacement. The CPB was carried out with heparin. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia occured and was proven immunologically. Two months later, a new valvular replacement was performed because of paravalvular leak due to endocarditis. The Orgaran-CPB protocol was as follows: 5,000 units before cardiopulmonary bypass, 5,000 units in the priming volume, anti-Xa level between 0.9 and 1.1 units/mL, with injection of 1,500 units if necessary, no administration of protamine. One month later, a new valvular replacement was necessary and performed with the same protocol using Orgaran. No bleeding or thrombotic complication occurred. Orgaran is a safe and reliable anti-thrombotic substitute if anti-Xa activity is closely monitored.

[Necrosis of the pouch due to nontraumatic rupture of the pile during permanent endocardial electrostimulation]. / Necrosi della tasca per rottura non traumatica di pile in corso di elettrostimolazione endocardica permanente.

Necrosis of the pouch containing the generator, due to non-traumatic breakage of the batteries, was observed in a patient with a permanent pacemaker, followed by rapid ingravescence. The cause of this complication is discussed. Chemical inflammation was noted soon after the pacemaker ceased to function. Initially this was similar to the not uncommon bacterial inflammation noted in such patients. Here, of course, the pacemaker usually continues to work, and its replacement is optional, whereas in the reported case is an emergency matter. In situations where tissue distress in the pouch is accompanied by inflammation, therefore, thought should be given to the possibility that, even if the batteries are still working, the cause may be chemical or electrochemical rather than septic, and than sudden breakdown of the generator may be expected.