Comparison of anterior mitral line and mitral isthmus line for ablation of mitral annular flutter.

BACKGROUND: Mitral annular flutter (MAF) is the most common left atrial macro-reentrant arrhythmia following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). The best ablation approach for this arrhythmia remains unclear. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study sought to compare the acute and long-term outcomes of patients with MAF treated with an anterior mitral line (AML) versus a mitral isthmus line (MIL). Acute ablation success, complication rates, and long-term arrhythmia recurrence were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2021, a total of 81 patients underwent ablation of MAF (58 with an AML and 23 with a MIL). Acute procedural success defined as bidirectional block was achieved in 88% of the AML and 91% of the MIL patients respectively (p = 1.0). One year freedom from atrial arrhythmias was 49.5% versus 77.5% and at 4 years was 24% versus 59.6% for AML versus MIL, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.38, confidence interval [CI]: 0.17-0.82, p = .009). Fewer patients in the MIL group had recurrent atrial flutter when compared to the AML group (HR: 0.32, CI: 0.12-0.83, p = .009). The incidence of recurrent AF, on the other side, was not different between both groups (21.7% vs. 18.9%; p = .76). There were no serious adverse events in either group. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study of patients with MAF, a MIL compared to AML was associated with a long-term reduction in recurrent atrial arrhythmias driven by a reduction in macroreentrant atrial flutters.

The Application of Point of Care Ultrasound to Screen for Pulmonary Hypertension: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a condition with several cardiopulmonary etiologies that has the potential of progressing to right heart failure without proper intervention. After a history, physical exam, and investigations, cases of suspected PH typically undergo imaging via a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). This is a resource-intensive procedure that is less accessible in remote communities. However, point of care ultrasound (POCUS), a portable ultrasound administered at the bedside, has potential to aid in the diagnostic process of PH. METHODS: The MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases were searched to screen the intersection of POCUS and PH. Studies involved adult patients, and only English articles were accepted. Reviews, case reports, unfinished research, and conference abstracts were excluded. Our aim was to identify primary studies that correlated POCUS scan results and additional clinical findings related to PH. RESULTS: Nine studies were included after our search. In these studies, POCUS was effective in identifying dilatation of inferior vena cava (IVC); internal jugular vein (IJV); and hepatic, portal, and intrarenal veins in patients with PH. The presence of pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, or b-lines on POCUS are also associated with PH. CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests important potential for the use of POCUS in the initial screening of PH. IVC and basic cardiopulmonary POCUS exams are key for PH screening in patients with dyspnea. Right-heart dilatation can be visualized, and peripheral veins may be scanned based on clinical suspicion. POCUS offers screening as an extension of a physical exam, with direct visualization of cardiac morphology. However, more studies are required to develop a statistically validated POCUS exam for PH diagnosis. More studies should also be conducted at the primary-care level to evaluate the value of screening using POCUS for PH in less-differentiated patients.

Incidental Acute ST Elevation Due to Cannabis-Induced Myocarditis After a Mechanical Fall.

We present the case of a young male with an orthopedic injury after a mechanical fall, who developed atypical chest pain associated with ST elevation and elevated biomarkers suggestive of myocardial injury. He was found to have myocarditis on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging that we postulate was secondary to inhalation of marijuana. Cannabis-induced myocarditis and its potential complications are a health hazard that is bound to grow with the legalization of marijuana use in many countries.

Nous présentons ici le cas d'un jeune homme souffrant d'une lésion orthopédique subie après une chute mécanique, qui a développé une douleur thoracique atypique associée à une élévation du segment ST et à des biomarqueurs élevés évocateurs d'une lésion myocardique. L'imagerie par résonance magnétique cardiaque a révélé qu'il souffrait d'une myocardite que nous supposons être consécutive à l'inhalation de marijuana. La myocardite induite par le cannabis et ses complications potentielles constituent un risque pour la santé qui ne peut que croître avec la légalisation de l'usage de la marijuana dans de nombreux pays.

Typical and reverse Takotsubo syndromes as initial manifestations of consecutive Addisonian crises in a 38-year-old patient: the heart has its reasons!

We report an interesting case of a 38-year-old woman presenting with reverse Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) secondary to an Addisonian crisis, her second such episode. A few years prior, she had presented with typical TTS in the setting of Addisonian crisis; diagnostic work-up revealing Auto-Immune Polyglandular Syndrome Type II (APS II). We believe this to be the first case report of typical and variant phenotypes of TTS in a patient with APS II. The pathogenic link between these two conditions is explored. In patients presenting with Addisonian crises and refractory shock, the possibility of concurrent TTS should be considered. TTS muddies the diagnostic waters and poses therapeutic challenges as outlined.

Myocarditis and Raw Meat Consumption: Strange Bedfellows!

Trichinellosis is a parasitic infection that is associated with the consumption of raw meat. The specific genotype Trichinella nativa has been found in raw bear meat. The most common genotype that has been linked with myocarditis is T spiralis. We present a case of T nativa myocarditis secondary to consumption of raw bear meat. The clinical manifestations as well as therapy of this specific genotype is outlined.

An Atypical Case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Transient Global Amnesia.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) may clinically mimic an acute coronary syndrome and is most often associated with an acute stressor. In this case report, we describe an atypical case of TTC triggered by multiple subacute stressors rather than 1 acute stressor. We also report TTC and transient global amnesia occurring concurrently. This case highlights that TTC can present without a typical stressor and should nonetheless by considered in the appropriate clinical context. Concomitant presentation with transient global amnesia is uncommon, but may result from the 2 conditions potentially sharing an underlying etiology.

La cardiomyopathie de Takotsubo (CTT) peut ressembler sur le plan clinique à un syndrome coronarien aigu et est plus souvent associée à un facteur de stress aigu. Dans ce rapport de cas, nous décrivons un cas atypique de CTT provoquée par de nombreux facteurs de stress subaigu plutôt que 1 facteur de stress aigu. Nous faisons également état de la survenue simultanée de la CTT et de l'amnésie globale transitoire. Ce cas illustre que la CTT peut survenir sans facteur de stress typique et qu'elle devrait néanmoins être considérée dans le contexte clinique approprié. La survenue concomitante de la CTT et de l'amnésie globale transitoire n'est pas fréquente, mais peut résulter de 2 affections ayant possiblement en commun une étiologie sous-jacente.