Pulmonary Vein Stenosis and Pulmonary Hypertension Following a Catheter-Based Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis is a rare condition characterized by progressive luminal size reduction of one or more pulmonary veins (PVs), which can increase postcapillary pressure resulting in shortness of breath, cough, hemoptysis, and pulmonary hypertension (PH). The diagnosis of PV stenosis requires a high degree of suspicion. PV stenosis is a rare but recognized complication of catheter-based radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for atrial fibrillation (AF). CASE REPORT We present a case of a 78-year-old man who underwent a surgical MAZE procedure followed by catheter-based RFA to treat AF. He subsequently developed shortness of breath, exercise limitation, and PH. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with PV stenosis, which was a sequela of the RFA and the cause of his PH. The patient was treated by stenting of his PV, with improvement in his exercise capacity and PH. Follow-up imaging showed improved pulmonary blood flow and reduced pulmonary pressures. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that PV stenosis should be high in the differential as the cause of dyspnea in patients with PH and a previous history of RFA for AF management. Early recognition and treatment can prevent complete occlusion of the affected PV and lead to an improvement in the patient's symptoms and quality of life.

The Impact of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure upon Pleural Fluid Pressures during Thoracentesis.

BACKGROUND: Excessive drop of pleural pressure (Ppl) during therapeutic thoracentesis may be related to adverse events and/or to repeated procedures due to incomplete drainage. OBJECTIVE: This was a pilot study of the impact of the application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) at +5 cm H2O upon the Ppl profile during thoracentesis. METHODS: This was a prospective, controlled study of 49 consecutive adults who underwent thoracentesis. Enrollment was via alternation on a one-to-one basis. Pleural manometry was used to compare serial Ppl in patients using CPAP at +5 cm H2O (CPAP group) with Ppl in patients without CPAP (control group). RESULTS: Mean volumes drained were comparable between CPAP and control groups (1,380 vs. 1,396 mL). Patients in the CPAP group had a significantly greater change in volume per centimeter water column pressure (p = 0.0231, 95% confidence interval 6.41-82.61). No patient in the CPAP group had a Ppl less than -20 cm H2O at termination of the procedure, while 8 (33%) control group patients developed a pressure lower than -20. No patient in either group developed re-expansion pulmonary edema. CONCLUSION: The application of CPAP at +5 cm H2O mitigates the decreases in Ppl caused by thoracentesis via an increase in pleural compliance. The clinical implications of this finding merit study.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing a Mapleson Circuit with Nasal Trumpet to Standard Oxygen Supplementation during EBUS Bronchoscopy under Monitored Anesthesia Care.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) procedures tend to be longer than routine bronchoscopies. Increased duration and sedative dosing put patients at increased risk for -hypoxic events. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether oxygen supplementation via a nasal trumpet connected to a Mapleson B circuit (NTM) was effective in decreasing hypoxic events when compared with the standard of care, oxygen supplementation with a nasal cannula (NC). METHODS: Patients referred for EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration with monitored anesthesia care (MAC) were randomized 1:1 to NTM or to NC. Hypoxia-related procedural interruptions, the primary endpoint of the study, were documented for all patients. Patients in the NC group who had refractory desaturations were allowed to cross over to the NTM group. Secondary endpoints included: number of crossovers from NC to NTM, sedative dosing, total procedure times, whether procedure goals were achieved, complications apart from hypoxia, patient discharge status. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were randomized to NC and 48 to NTM. Baseline characteristics were comparable. The NC group had significantly more interruptions than did the NTM group (p < 0.001). Procedure duration was also significantly (p < 0.03) shorter for the NTM group. Fourteen patients were crossed over from NC to NTM because of hypoxia. Thirteen out of the 14 completed the procedure with no interruptions. All procedures were successfully completed, and all goals were achieved. All patients returned to baseline status prior to discharge. Three minor complications of epistaxis occurred. CONCLUSION: For patients undergoing EBUS with MAC, oxygen supplementation with NTM significantly decreased the incidence of hypoxic events when compared with NC. NTM may also be of value for other subsets of patients who are at increased risk for desaturation when undergoing bronchoscopy.