Relationship between Cardiac Acoustic Biomarkers and Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Patients with Heart Failure.

Since an elevation of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) often precedes clinical worsening of heart failure (HF), early and non-invasive detection of this sign is useful in HF care. This study aimed to assess whether cardiac acoustic biomarkers (CABs) are associated with the elevation of PAP in patients with HF. Patients with HF scheduled to undergo right heart catheterization were prospectively enrolled. CABs were concurrently recorded during catheterization at rest (baseline) and while applying a handgrip (exercise). Forty-nine patients were included in the analysis, and their mean PAP significantly increased after exercise compared to baseline. Several CABs correlated significantly with mean PAP by absolute values, among which S2 Width (r = 0.354; p = 0.014 and r = 0.363; p = 0.010) and S3 Strength (r = 0.375; p = 0.009 and r = 0.386; p = 0.007) were consistent throughout baseline and exercise. The response of CABs to exercise-induced PAP elevation was divided into two patterns: increasing and decreasing. The frequency of cardiac index below 2.2 mL/m2 was significantly higher in the decreasing pattern. CABs related to S2 and S3 showed significant correlations with absolute PAP values both at baseline and after exercise in patients with HF, but no significant correlations between their changes from baseline to post-exercise were observed in this study population. Further research is therefore needed to assess whether CABs can sensitively reflect changes in PAP according to HF status and underlying phenotypes.

Different types of Kounis syndrome caused by different episodes of bee sting anaphylaxis: Misfortunes never come singly.

We report our experience with a 69-year-old man who had different types of Kounis syndrome over a short time frame, caused by two episodes of bee sting anaphylaxis. After his first allergic reaction to a bee sting, he experienced a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; he was treated with percutaneous coronary intervention for near-occlusion of his right coronary artery. This episode was deemed type 2 Kounis syndrome. Four weeks later, we electively treated the nonculprit residual stenosis in his left anterior descending artery. Unfortunately, 2 weeks after this elective procedure, he experienced anaphylactic shock due to a second bee sting. Electrocardiography showed ST elevation in the anterior leads, and emergent coronary angiography showed thrombotic occlusion of the newly implanted stent in the left anterior descending artery. This second episode was deemed type 3 Kounis syndrome. Learning objectives: This is a rare example of different types of Kounis syndrome resulting from repeated exposures to an allergic source, an example that deepens our understanding of Kounis syndrome. This patient's experience illustrates the need for careful evaluation of the indications for revascularization of nonculprit lesions in patients with a history of Kounis syndrome.

Acute Dissection of the Middle Colic Artery Immediately after Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Case Report.

A 78-year-old man underwent endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for a true aortic aneurysm. He developed sudden abdominal pain 4 hr after EVAR. Angiography revealed a dissected aneurysm of the middle colic artery (MCA). Despite conservative treatment, follow-up computed tomography revealed an expanded aneurysm of the MCA. We therefore performed coil embolization of the dissected MCA to prevent a rupture of the aneurysm. There has never been a reported case of acute dissection of the MCA immediately after EVAR that was not caused by catheters. In this report, we discuss the possible underlying mechanisms and the optimal therapeutic strategy for this rare complication.