Aortic valve insufficiency due to myxomatous degeneration: a case report and literature review.

Myxomatous degeneration is a non-inflammatory degenerative process leading to disruption of the fibrosa layer of the valve with acid mucopolysaccharide accumulation. This type of degeneration commonly affects the mitral valve leading to mitral regurgitation; however, few cases have been reported regarding myxomatous degeneration of the aortic valve leading to acute decompensated heart failure. We report a case of myxomatous degeneration of the aortic valve as an etiology of acute decompensated heart failure to highlight the importance of considering myxomatous degeneration as an underlying etiology of symptomatic aortic insufficiency. A 64-year-old female presented with progressively worsening dyspnea, cough, and peripheral edema over a one-month duration. Clinical evaluation and imaging studies revealed aortic valve regurgitation (AVR). Subsequent aortic valve replacement was performed. The histopathology report was consistent with myxomatous degeneration of the aortic valve. Upon symptom improvement, the patient was discharged home. Subsequent transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated a normal hemodynamic profile across the bioprosthetic valve without aortic regurgitation or paravalvular leak. We highlight a unique presentation of heart failure secondary to myxomatous degeneration of the aortic valve. Furthermore, a review of available literature on myxomatous degeneration of the aortic valve was conducted to illustrate the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment to improve the patients' quality of life.

Light Chain (AL) Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Diagnostic Dilemma.

Amyloidosis is a clinical condition characterized by amyloid fibril deposition into different organ systems. The most common types are light chain (AL) amyloidosis and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) amyloidosis. Amyloidosis involves the heart with an incidence of 1.38 to 3.69 per 100,000 person-years and a prevalence of 14.85 per 100,000 person-years between 2004 and 2018. Diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis can be made through cardiac imaging, including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and 99mTc-labeled pyrophosphate (PYP) cardiac scan. However, a tissue biopsy is frequently needed to confirm the diagnosis. Herein, we report such a case of cardiac amyloidosis. The patient presented with pericardial effusion and acute kidney injury as the initial presentation. The presumptive diagnosis was ATTR amyloidosis, but the endomyocardial biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of AL amyloidosis. The patient was started on bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone therapy. We aimed to highlight the different diagnostic modalities of cardiac amyloidosis and the importance of obtaining tissue biopsy to confirm the amyloidosis type before starting the treatment.

An Unusual Presentation of Cholesterol Embolization Syndrome.

Cholesterol embolization syndrome (CES) is a rare presentation of systemic atherosclerosis, which commonly presents in patients with risk factors of coronary artery disease and usually occurs after cardiac or vascular procedures. Laboratory tests are nonspecific, and imaging studies may visualize the plaque. Management includes supportive care directed to relieve the end-organ damage. The prognosis of CES is poor, with high mortality of up to 29% if the CES resulted in atheroembolic renal disease (AERD). In our report, we present a 90-year-old Caucasian female who was diagnosed with CES and complicated with AERD. The patient did not undergo any cardiac or vascular procedures. This case highlights the importance of considering CES and AERD as a potential cause of renal failure, especially in high-risk patients, even if the patients did not have any history of cardiac or vascular intervention.

Patient engagement with digital disease management and readmission rates: The case of congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common diagnoses in the elderly United States Medicare (⩾ age 65) population. This patient population has a particularly high readmission rate, with one estimate of the 6-month readmission rate topping 40%. The rapid rise of mobile health (mHealth) presents a promising new pathway for reducing hospital readmissions of CHF, and, more generally, the management of chronic conditions. Using a randomized research design and a multivariate regression model, we evaluated the effectiveness of a hybrid mHealth model-the integration of remote patient monitoring with an applied health technology and digital disease management platform-on 45-day hospital readmissions for patients diagnosed with CHF. We find a 78% decrease in the likelihood of CHF hospital readmission for patients who were assigned to the digital disease management platform as compared to patients assigned to control.

A Case Report of Sick Sinus Syndrome as an Initial Presentation of Primary Amyloidosis.

Primary light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) rarely presents as sick sinus syndrome (SSS), and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. A higher index of suspicion is needed to diagnose AL amyloidosis in patients presenting with SSS. Recognizing the electrocardiography (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) findings for amyloidosis are crucial for early recognition, proper management, and to improve the patients' quality of life. A 79-year-old female initially presented with dyspnea and was diagnosed with SSS that required a pacemaker insertion. Ten days later, the patient had complained of dysphagia and difficulty swallowing. She underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to investigate further, and it revealed esophageal and duodenal ulcers, and biopsy was positive for amyloidosis. The patient was worked up for amyloidosis, including bone marrow biopsy, renal biopsy, frees light chains, and serum electrophoresis, which all confirmed the diagnosis of primary amyloidosis. Unfortunately, due to the terminal nature of her condition, the patient was discharged with comfort measures to hospice care.

Improving the use of intravenous antihypertensive medications in the hospital setting: a quality improvement initiative for patient safety.

Intravenous (IV) hydralazine, enalapril and labetalol are oftentimes used without indication for the treatment of asymptomatic hypertension in the hospital setting and have been shown to have substantial adverse effects that are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as longer length of stay. Their use is also associated with greater monetary costs. In this project, we studied the frequency of use and consequences of these medications before and after a series of education cycles which clarified when and when not to use intravenous antihypertensives (IVAHs). Our initial aim was to decrease the unindicated use of IVAH by at least 25% in the setting of asymptomatic hypertension in our community hospital within a 1-year period after introducing education on the topic. Multidisciplinary involvement throughout three Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles yielded favourable results. We focused on education towards a hospital-wide knowledge gap stemming from a lack of guidelines regarding the treatment of asymptomatic hypertension, as well as the guideline indications for IVAH. After three cycles of education targeting different groups, the unindicated use of IVAH fell by a total of 66%, decreasing patient exposure by approximately 248 cases over the total course of the study and ultimately, yielding a 52% increase in patient safety. Secondary outcome included a reduction in cost. It was noted that IV drugs cost more than their oral counterparts. The culture change in switching away from IVAH unless otherwise indicated was driven by repetitive education and group discussion to close the gap created by a lack of guidelines.