Acute myocardial infarction due to giant coronary artery aneurysm and arteriovenous fistula: a challenging case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: A coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is an abnormal dilation of a coronary artery segment often accompanied by coronary artery fistula (CAF), leading to communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or a part of the coronary venous system. Both CAAs and CAFs can present with symptoms and signs of myocardial ischemia and infarction. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 46-year-old woman with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) caused by a "giant" CAA. Various imaging modalities revealed a thrombus-containing aneurysm located at the right-posterior cardiac border, with established arteriovenous communication with the distal part of left circumflex artery (LCx). After initial treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy, a relapse of pain was reported along with a new increase in troponin levels, electrocardiographic abnormalities, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and thrombus enlargement. Surgical excision of the aneurysm was favored, revealing its true size of 6 cm in diameter. Τhe aneurysm was excised without complications. The patient remained asymptomatic during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Management of rare entities such as "giant" CAAs and CAFs can be challenging. Cases such as this can serve as precedents to facilitate treatment plans and develop consistent recommendations, emphasizing the importance of personalized strategies for future patients.

Acute aortic dissection type A: case series and insights on incidence, management and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening condition with high mortality rates, despite significant advances in surgical approaches. The understanding of the clinical presentation and outcomes is crucial in order to upgrade management strategies. However, epidemiological data regarding AAD occurrence are scarce in Europe, highlighting the gap of evidence in the existing guidelines. CASE SERIES: We investigated 197 consecutive patients admitted to our institution from January 2018 to December 2019 with suspicion of type A AAD, conducting a retrospective case series. All demographic characteristics, as well as the outcomes of these patients, were recorded and further analyzed to deliver data on the epidemiology of AAD. A total of 197 patients were admitted to our hospital with a suspected AAD. Forty-one (25.9 %) patients presented with a dilated aortic lumen or with a previously repaired aortic dissection, while 28 patients (14.2 %) were diagnosed with AAD (14 patients with type A AAD, 13 with type B AAD and 1 with intramural hematoma). Among 14 patients with type A AAD, nine patients (64.0 %) were treated surgically, while the rest were managed conservatively due to futile clinical status or inability for immediate transportation to a surgical facility. The most frequent initial symptom was chest pain in 86.0 % of patients, followed by dyspnea in 42.9 %. Post-surgical mortality was 33.0 %, while all patients that were managed conservatively did not survive. D-dimers on arrival were significantly lower among patients who survived compared to those who did not. CONCLUSION: The incidence of type A AAD in our case series was consistent with the one demonstrated in other international cohorts; however, the mortality in our patient group was higher. Our results encourage surgical treatment due to a lower in-hospital mortality rate when compared to conservative treatment. HIPPOKRATIA 2021, 25 (1):42-46.

[The length of hospital stay in patients with acute coronary syndrome is reduced by establishing a chest pain unit]. / Reduktion der stationären Verweildauer bei Patienten mit akutem Koronarsyndrom durch Einrichtung einer Chest Pain Unit.

BACKGROUND: Providing prompt and appropriate therapy, combined with the increased economic requirements of treating patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), places high demands on the emergency department. The aim of the present analysis is to evaluate to what extent establishing a dedicated chest pain unit (CPU) influences the length of hospital stay in ACS patients. METHODS: Patients presenting with suspected ACS between 05/2004 and 05/2006 to either the emergency department (ED) or the newly established CPU were retrospectively analyzed. The CPU became functional in July 2005. Data were obtained according to standardized procedures based on patient charts and all available clinical information. RESULTS: A total of 247 patients were treated in the ED and 765 in the CPU. In the ED patient group 29 (11.7%) were diagnosed with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 38 (15.4%) with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 15 (6.1%) with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), while ACS could be excluded in 165 (66.8%) patients. Patients treated in the CPU showed a higher percentage of ACS with 75 (9.8%) STEMI, 128 (16.7%) NSTEMI and 136 (17.8%) UAP patients; ACS could be excluded in 426 (55.7%) patients. The median length of hospital stay was shorter in ACS patients treated in the CPU at 5.0 days compared to 8.0 days if admitted to the ED (p<0.001). No difference in length of hospital stay was observed in UAP patients, whereas in STEMI patients admitted to the ED the time was longer at 8.0 days compared to 7.0 days if admitted to the CPU (p=0.042). A reduction from 8.0 to 6.0 days in the length of hospital stay if admitted to the CPU compared to the ED could be observed (p=0.002) in NSTEMI patients. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing a chest pain unit with optimized diagnostic and structural processes is associated with reduced lengths of hospital stay in patients with ACS treated according to current guidelines and recommendations.

[Patient satisfaction in acute coronary syndrome. Improvement through the establishment of a chest pain unit]. / Patientenzufriedenheit beim akuten Koronarsyndrom. Verbesserung durch die Etablierung einer Chest-Pain-Unit.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chest pain units (CPUs) were established primarily in the United States with the aim of reducing hospital admissions and costs, whilst improving quality of life and patient care. Clinical trials have shown that these units are safe and practical; however, there was a need to investigate to what extent patients are satisfied with the care in CPUs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the experiences of patients receiving CPU care and routine emergency department (ED) treatment for acute chest pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients presenting with acute chest pain at the ED between May 2004 and June 2005 and at the CPU between July 2005 and May 2006 were evaluated in this retrospective analysis. Standardized data collection using all available clinical data as well as telephone follow-up was carried out. Evaluation was carried out on a school-mark basis and a quality assessment was performed. RESULTS: Of the total population, 479 patients (323 male, 156 female) were treated in the ED, whereas 1176 (743 male, 433 female) in the CPU. In the ED, 26 patients (5.4%) were diagnosed as ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 39 (8.1%) as non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 16 (3.3%) as unstable angina pectoris (UAP). In 398 patients (83.1%) acute coronary syndrome (ACS) could be ruled out. In the CPU, the incidence of STEMI was 74 (6.3%), of NSTEMI 141 (12%) and of UAP 153 (13%). ACS was excluded in 808 patients (68.7%). Data on satisfaction with in-hospital treatment was available in 78.5% of cases. In the CPU, 92.2% of the patients judged their treatment as excellent/good, 5.9% as appropriate and 1.9% as poor. The distribution of satisfaction in the ED was significantly lower with 78.6% excellent/good, 18.5% appropriate and 2.9% poor. CONCLUSION: The establishment of a CPU at the University Medical Center of Mainz demonstrated a higher level of patient satisfaction compared to the treatment of patients with acute chest pain in the general ED.