Takotsubo syndrome following mitral valve replacement and left anterior descending coronary artery bypass grafting.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is rarely diagnosed following valvular and nonvalvular cardiac surgery. Only several such cases, including 12 after mitral valve replacement (MVR) or plasty (MVP) and 2 after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been reported so far. A CASE REPORT: The authors describe a case of a 75-year-old female in whom TTS occurred on the first postoperative day after elective combined surgery: MVR (with bioprosthesis) and CABG (of the left anterior descending coronary artery). Echocardiography revealed left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the form of apical ballooning with markedly decreased ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS): 28 % and -9.3 %, respectively; there were no signs of prosthesis dysfunction. Due to circulatory and concomitant respiratory failure, she was transferred to the intensive care unit; however, an intra-aortic balloon pump was not necessary. Normalization of LV function (EF 60%, GLS -18.5%) was observed after 2 weeks. The authors compare the clinical data of the case presented with those of the remaining 14 TTS patients after MVR, MVP or CABG described in the literature and emphasize the coexistence of multiple triggering factors (e.g. additional procedures, catecholamines use, protamine use, pleural or pericardial drainage, blood transfusion, rapid heart rate). The authors suggest that TTS should be routinely included in differential diagnosis of post-cardiac surgery heart failure decompensation.

Cerebral malaria and multi-organ dysfunction in an adult woman with Plasmodium falciparum infection imported from Cameroon: a case report

Malaria is one of the most life-threatening parasitic diseases caused by the protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, occurring in the tropical and subtropical regions. Misdiagnosed infection can progress to a wide range of life-threatening pathologies, including severe anemia and cerebral malaria which can lead to death even few days after first symptoms appearance. Cerebral malaria is rare in adults and most cases are connected to children under 5 years old living in malaria endemic areas. In this article we describe cerebral malaria caused by the Plasmodium falciparum in a 45-year-old Polish patient, who traveled to Cameroon without any malaria prophylaxis. The patient had been treated in an intensive care unit because of multi-organ dysfunction as a result of the delayed malaria diagnosis. The presence of thrombocytopenia, anemia, metabolic acidosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome and multi-organ dysfunction involving liver, kidneys, and brain created an image of advanced severe malaria. Loss of consciousness, GCS 6, and the presence of asexual Plasmodium falciparum forms in blood films are the evidence of cerebral malaria. To avoid development of cerebral malaria, the illness should be diagnosed immediately. The cerebral malaria can occur also in adult healthy individuals. Appropriate treatment with intravenous artemisine can protect the patient from lifethreatening complications. Prolonged anemia after treatment can be a consequence of artemisine usage as well as a severe malaria sequel.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by profound hypoglycemia in a 39-year-old female with anorexia nervosa: strain monitoring of left ventricle function recovery.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by very low body mass index (BMI), related to obsessive fear of gaining weight, resulting in food restriction. In AN various cardiac complications may occur: hypotension, bradycardia, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, pericardial effusion, reduction of left ventricular mass and impairment of its function. Stress-induced takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is reported rarely since sympathetic activity in AN patients is lower than in healthy individuals. Different mechanisms are suggested to be involved in TC pathogenesis, including low estrogens levels or dyselectrolitemia, but hypoglycemia, which results in sympathetic stimulation, seems to be more important. A CASE REPORT: The authors describe a case of a 39-year-old female with so far untreated advanced AN, admitted to hospital due to profound hypoglycemia (17 mg/dl), cachexia (BMI 11) and with heart failure. Echocardiography revealed severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the form of apical TC with markedly decreased ejection fraction (28%) and global longitudinal strain (-10.2%). She received therapy focused on metabolic disturbances correction. Daily echocardiography was performed to follow LV function recovery, including longitudinal strain normalization, which was observed after two weeks. TC should be considered as a potential AN complication, but it may be triggered by hypoglycemia of any etiology. Longitudinal strain assessment is a convenient and accurate mode of LV function monitoring in TC patients.

Analgesic efficacy and safety of epidural oxycodone in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Oxycodone is poorly studied as an adjuvant to central blockades. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oxycodone hydrochloride in epidural blockade among patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 11 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system II/III, age range: 59-82 years), THA was conducted with an epidural blockade using 15 mL 0.25% bupivacaine (37.5 mg) with 5 mg oxycodone hydrochloride and sedation with propofol infusion at a dose of 3-5 mg/kg/h. After the surgery, patients received ketoprofen at a dose of 100 mg twice daily. In the first 24 hours postoperative period, pain was assessed by numerical rating scale at rest and on movement; adverse effects (AEs) were recorded; and plasma concentrations of oxycodone, noroxycodone, and bupivacaine were measured. RESULTS: The administration of epidural oxycodone at a dose of 5 mg in patients undergoing THA provided analgesia for a mean time of 10.3±4.89 h. In one patient, mild pruritus was observed. Oxycodone did not evoke other AEs. Plasma concentrations of oxycodone while preserving analgesia were >2.9 ng/mL. Noroxycodone concentrations in plasma did not guarantee analgesic effect. CONCLUSION: The administration of epidural oxycodone at a dose of 5 mg prolongs the analgesia period to ~10 hours in patients after THA. Oxycodone may evoke pruritus. A 5 mg dose of oxycodone hydrochloride used in an epidural blockade seems to be a safe drug in patients after THA.

ECG pattern in reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy demonstrated in 5 cases with intracranial hemorrhage.

In typical takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) apical transient left ventricular dysfunction with concomitant ECG changes mimicking acute anterior myocardial infarction can be observed. Reverse TC (RTC) characterized by contractile disturbances in all basal and often simultaneous mid-ventricular segments is definitely less frequent. ECG pattern of RTC is less known. The authors present ECG findings in 5 cases of RTC in course of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH); 3 patients were diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the other two with intracerebral hemorrhage or subdural posttraumatic hematoma. In all patients, initial ECG appearance was dominated by ST segment depression in inferior leads (II, III, avF) and/or lateral leads (V4-6). In 4 patients, concurrent ST segment elevation in avR and avL leads was seen, additionally 4 patients had low QRS voltage in high lateral leads (I, avL). Potential normalization of these changes did not influence the patient`s survival. In one woman, immediately before death, early repolarization was recorded. In subjects with an increased risk of TC, for example in intracranial hemorrhage, particularly in SAH, the ECG abnormalities presented may indicate a need for further search of its atypical echocardiographic variants.

Penetrating thoracic injuries - treatment of two patients after suicide attempts.

Thoracic injuries are usually caused by penetrating or blunt trauma. The primary method of treatment is surgery. This study describes two cases of male patients with stab wounds of the chest resulting from suicide attempts. The first case involved a 29-year-old patient transported and admitted to the hospital with a knife still in his chest; its blade extended from the jugular notch to the 5(th) thoracic vertebra but did not damage any important structures. The applied treatment, limited to evacuating the knife, resulted in a satisfactory outcome, and the patient was discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) in good condition. The second patient reached the hospital on his own. On admission, he did not reveal the real cause of the wound; however, in view of his deteriorating condition, he admitted that the knife penetrated deeply into the mediastinum. In this case, sternotomy was necessary to stop the bleeding of the pulmonary trunk and internal thoracic artery. After completion of treatment, the patient was discharged in good condition. The described management of life-threatening situations conducted by a multidisciplinary team of consultants enabled the choice of optimal treatment methods and resulted in successful outcomes.

[Septic shock in 23 year old female patient after surgical correction of the nasal septum effectively treated in the intensive care unit]. / Wstrzas septyczny u 23-letniej pacjentki po operacji korekcji przegrody nosa leczony skutecznie w oddziale intensywnej terapii.

A female patient 23 years old was admitted to the medical intensive care unit due to sudden loss of consciousness and seizures. At the time of admition observed lack of consciousness, seizures and severe critical condition was observed. Meningitis and septic shock were diagnosed. Based on computed tomography performed on the first day--inflammation of the sinuses soft tissues was diagnosed. Suspected cause of infection was performed 6 weeks earlier surgical correction of the nasal septum. In the next stage of treatment on the seventh day after admission the functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. Due to massive tissue hypoperfusion the necrosis in the skin of the lower limbs occurred. Due to the lack of effectiveness antimicrobial therapy use of intravenous ceftaroline was administrated. Effective treatment allowed in day 11 to wean the patient from the ventilator. At the day 26 the patient was transferred to a hospital in the place of residence.