Left Main Snorkel Stent Thrombosis in Association With Takayasu Arteritis.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare form of large vessel arteritis that predominantly affects the aorta and its major branches. This inflammation leads to thickening, fibrosis, and stenosis of the arterial walls, which may lead to thrombus formation. The resulting symptoms are typically due to ischemia of the end organs. Coronary artery involvement is uncommon and primarily affects the ostia of the arteries. Ostial involvement of the coronary arteries can have a dramatic course, including fatal outcomes. We present the case of a 16-year-old female with TA involving the ostium of the left main coronary artery, causing severe stenosis. A successful percutaneous coronary intervention was performed on the left main artery with snorkel stent placement, which was complicated by cardiac arrest seven months later due to complete thrombosis of the proximal opening of the protruding stent.

The Ramus Intermedius: A Bridge to Survival in the Setting of Triple-Vessel Total Occlusion.

Coronary artery disease continues to remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Coronary blood supply is provided through the right and left main coronary arteries. The left main coronary artery (LMCA) in turn gives rise to the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCX) arteries. In some cases, LMCA may trifurcate into the ramus intermedius (RI) in addition to the LAD and LCX arteries. Atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture with subsequent clot formation and occlusion of coronary arteries are the underlying mechanisms of myocardial infarction. Though the clinical implications of the presence of ramus intermedius (RI) are controversial some data suggest that the RI is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation in the LMCA and the proximal LAD. Conversely, it has been proposed that the RI provides an additional collateral source of blood supply to the myocardium and may potentially contribute to improved survival. Case reports tout the benefits of RI, specifically in the setting of multivessel coronary artery occlusions. Whether it increases the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation or whether it is protective has yet to be determined. We present a case of a 58-year-old male who presented with acute coronary syndrome and cardiogenic shock due to total ostial occlusion of LAD. The patient had also chronic total occlusions of the right coronary artery and LCX but a patent RI, which was the only source of blood supply to the myocardium and practically determined the patient's survival. Additionally, we performed a literature review to identify similar cases, to support RI's potentially protective role in enhancing survival.

Late-Onset Hemorrhagic Pericardial Effusion and Cardiac Tamponade Associated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Case Report and Literature Review.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are monoclonal antibodies that target T lymphocytes and stimulate the immune system. However, the use of ICIs is associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Pericardial disease is a cardiovascular irAEs that can present as cardiac tamponade. The precise mechanisms underlying pericardial complications are not fully understood. Late-onset hemorrhagic pericardial effusion associated with ICIs is quite rare; the mechanism and predisposing factors are yet to be determined. This case report describes a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received pembrolizumab for 390 days and subsequently developed cardiac tamponade caused by hemorrhagic pericardial effusion. The purpose of this report is to raise awareness about the occurrence of late-onset cardiac tamponade and provide a summary of available data on patients who experienced hemorrhagic pericardial effusion during ICI treatment.

Dissection of the left main coronary artery during percutaneous intervention: successful surgical management.

Coronary dissection during diagnostic catheterization presents a therapeutic challenge. Medical management or percutaneous intervention may be an option in a stable patient. Unstable patients should promptly undergo surgical revascularization. We report on a patient in whom dissection of the left main coronary artery, the left anterior descending artery, and a diagonal branch occurred during catheterization. Clear signs of myocardial ischemia indicated immediate surgery. Coronary artery bypass grafting was carried out within a very short time frame and the patient survived. This case demonstrates the value of an expeditious surgical treatment strategy.

Heyde's Syndrome Complicating Management in a Patient With High Bleeding and Thrombotic Risks.

The association of severe aortic stenosis and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a well-known phenomenon. The pathogenesis involves an acquired deficiency of von Willebrand factor (vWF) due to shear stress resulting in alteration of vWF morphology. This results in in-appropriate cleavage of vWF multimers into smaller dysfunctional fragments. Patients with atrial fibrillation and high thrombotic risk require anticoagulation for stroke prophylaxis. We describe a case of severe intermittent GI bleeding in a patient with atrial fibrillation while being on warfarin and other novel anticoagulants. This case highlights the role of severe aortic stenosis and resultant acquired vWF deficiency in complicating decision making in patients with a need for anticoagulation due to high thrombotic risk.

Is Testosterone Replacement Safe in Men with Cardiovascular Disease?

Testosterone is an anabolic hormone that is responsible for the development of male sex organs. It also increases muscle mass and fortifies bone density. In addition to being responsible for primary sexual characteristics at birth and puberty (development and changes of sexual organs such as uterus, vagina, penis, and testes), testosterone is also involved in maintaining secondary sexual characteristics. Patients with low testosterone who are symptomatic should be treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) once the diagnosis has been confirmed. The goal of treatment is to improve the symptoms including the physical, sexual, and cognitive health with the aim being to keep the testosterone in the mid-normal limit of the reference range. Male hypogonadism has been increasingly diagnosed and treated in elderly males since the last decade. A proportionate increase in the prescription of testosterone has been seen as well. The relationship of testosterone levels with cardiovascular (CV) outcomes is challenging and has shown conflicting results. Moreover, in patients with established CV disease, those with high CV risk factors including diabetes, or those with significant risk factors for atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD), the benefits of TRT should be weighed against the risks of replacement. Risks and benefits of TRT should be discussed with every patient prior to starting or restarting the procedure.

Rare ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Mimic: Diabetic Ketoacidosis With Severe Hypercalcemia.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common complication in patients with type I and ketosis-prone type II diabetes mellitus. A variety of electrolyte derangements are encountered during the presentation and management of DKA. Hypercalcemia has been rarely reported in DKA, particularly when patients develop severe acidosis. However, we describe a patient with DKA and severe hypercalcemia in the absence of severe acidosis. The hypercalcemia quickly corrected back to normal with the treatment of DKA.

ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Presenting as Acute Limb Ischemia.

We describe a case of delayed presentation of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by ventricular thrombus and peripheral embolization causing limb ischemia. Our patient initially presented with symptoms of acute limb ischemia. However, on preoperative evaluation, STEMI was diagnosed. He required emergent revascularization of the left anterior descending artery followed by thrombectomy of the femoral artery. The cause of the limb ischemia was deemed to be a late presenting STEMI that was complicated by left ventricular thrombus, hence causing lower extremity embolization. Delayed presentations and complications related to STEMI may manifest as acute limb ischemia in the setting of ventricular thrombus formation and subsequent distal embolization.

On-pump beating-heart with axillary artery perfusion: a solution for robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting?

Robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) can be performed on the arrested heart or on the beating heart without heart-lung machine support. In high-risk patients or in patients where technical difficulties are expected with a complete off-pump approach, a beating heart concept with heart-lung machine support can be an important option. Femoral arterial cannulation is associated with additional risk of retrograde cerebral embolization, and axillary cannulation is an accepted method in aortic surgery. We describe a case where an axillary artery cannulation method was used for the first time in TECAB performed with the da Vinci telemanipulation system.

The Heart as a Site of Metastasis of Benign Metastasizing Leiomyoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common gynecological tumors in premenopausal women. While the lung is the most common extrauterine organ afflicted, benign metastasizing leiomyomas (BML) of the heart are rarities. We report an incidental finding of a cardiac mass in a 36-year-old woman who presented to the Emergency Department after a motor vehicle accident. CT scan of the chest revealed 2 well-circumscribed pulmonary nodules and a filling defect in the right ventricle. Echocardiogram showed a 4 cm mass attached to the right ventricular (RV) septum. The cardiac tumor was resected and showed benign histologic features. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for smooth muscle α-actin and desmin, as well as estrogen and progesterone receptors, consistent with the diagnosis of uterine leiomyoma.

Giant aneurysm of the saphenous vein graft presenting as a mediastinal mass: a case report.

We report a patient who presented initially with a diagnosis of a mediastinal mass. During the cardiac catheterization, the patient was diagnosed with a saphenous vein graft aneurysm. We proceeded with a catheter-based intervention resulting in occlusion of the aneurysm. Repeat angiogram after three months showed complete occlusion of the vein graft supplying the aneurysm. We believe that in selected patients with saphenous vein graft aneurysm a catheter-based procedure is feasible and successful.

Primary percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy.

Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy was reported by Palacious et al in 1991. From 1996-2000, we utilized this procedure as the initial treatment for 17 patients at West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown with cardiac tamponade who had a high likelihood of recurrence of pericardial effusion. Primary pericardiotomy was successful after the initial procedure in 82% (n = 14) of these patients, so it appears to be an effective non-surgical procedure for patients at high risk for re-accumulation of pericardial effusions. In addition, our comparison at this institution revealed that primary percutaneous pericardial window creation is significantly less costly than pericardiocentesis followed by surgical pericardial window creation.

Robotic total endoscopic coronary artery bypass hybrid revascularization procedure in a patient with a preoperative tracheostoma.

Preoperative tracheostoma presents a significant risk of sternal wound complications, mediastinitis, stoma necrosis and tracheal injury in patients requiring cardiac surgery. Several approaches have been described to limit these risks. Robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with a tracheostoma has not been reported. We describe a case of completely endoscopic coronary surgery using the daVinci(®) Si™ system in a patient with a tracheostoma. Single left internal mammary artery grafting to the left coronary artery system was carried out successfully as the first stage of a hybrid revascularization and followed by percutaneous coronary intervention to the circumflex coronary artery. We regard this technique as the most minimally-invasive method of surgical coronary revascularization with a significant potential to reduce the risk of mediastinitis in patients with a tracheostoma.

Robotically assisted coronary endarterectomy.

Robotic assistance has enabled coronary artery bypass surgery to be performed safely in a completely endoscopic fashion, but diffusely diseased target vessels may pose a technical challenge. We present a case in which coronary endarterectomy was performed on the left anterior descending coronary artery during a two-vessel totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass procedure. A 52-year-old woman presented with intermittent substernal pain. Preoperative studies showed diffuse disease in the left coronary artery system. Bilateral internal mammary arteries were harvested robotically using a skeletonized technique in a completely endoscopic fashion. Cardiopulmonary bypass was achieved via peripheral cannulation, and the heart was arrested with intermittent cold antegrade hyperkalemic blood cardioplegia delivered via an ascending aortic occlusion balloon catheter. The first obtuse marginal anastomosis was performed. The left anterior descending coronary artery was diffusely diseased and heavily calcified. An end-to-side anastomosis was attempted to the right internal mammary artery with unsatisfactory results. A localized coronary endarterectomy was performed, and an extended anastomosis was completed using the right internal mammary artery. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged home on postoperative day 6. Diffuse coronary artery disease was once thought to be a prohibitive challenge for minimally invasive coronary bypass procedures. This case demonstrates that local coronary endarterectomy is feasible and safe in robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass surgery.