Case report: A case of isolated cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosed by multimodal imaging and endomyocardial biopsy.

Due to its low incidence, isolated cardiac sarcoidosis (ICS) is often missed or misdiagnosed. Herein, we describe a case of ICS in a 52-year-old male patient. Advanced imaging, including cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), could not only screen high-risk patients for establishing diagnosis, but also guide endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) for improving cardiac disease detection rate. This case highlights the importance of multimodal imaging for screening and necessity of EMB for diagnosis.

Limb Ischemia Complications of Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Background: This study aimed to summarize and analyse the risk factors, clinical features, as well as prevention and treatment of limb ischemia complications in patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 179 adult patients who had undergone V-A ECMO support in the Cardiac Care Unit of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between March 2019 and December 2021. Patients were divided into the limb ischemia group (LI group) and the non-limb ischemia group (nLI group) according to whether limb ischemia occurred on the ipsilateral side of femoral artery cannulation. In the LI group, patients were salvaged with a distal perfusion cannula (DPC) according to each patient's clinical conditions. The baseline data and ECMO data were compared between the two groups, and risk factors for limb ischemia complications were screened using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, 19 patients (10.6%) had limb ischemia complications, of which 5 (2.8%) were improved after medication adjustment, 12 (8.4%) were salvaged with a DPC, and 2 had undergone surgical intervention. There were significant differences in terms of Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR), Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), peak vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) within 24 h after ECMO (VIS-max), Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), weaning from ECMO, and discharge rate between the two groups. ECPR, IABP, and VIS-max in the LI group were significantly higher than those in the nLI group, whereas weaning from ECMO, discharge rate, and LVEF were significantly lower in the LI group compared to those in the nLI group. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that diabetes [odds ratio (OR) = 4.338, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.193-15.772, P = 0.026], IABP (OR = 1.526, 95% CI: 1.038-22.026, P = 0.049) and VIS-max (OR = 1.054, 95% CI: 1.024-1.085, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for limb ischemia complications in patients who underwent V-A ECMO. Conclusion: Diabetes, prevalence of IABP and VIS-max value in analyzed groups were independent risk factors for predicting limb ischemia complications in patients who underwent V-A ECMO. The cannulation strategy should be optimized during the establishment of V-A ECMO, and limb ischemia should be systematically evaluated after ECMO establishment. A DPC can be used as a salvage intervention for the complications of critical limb ischemia.

Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Elective High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

Background: The safety and feasibility of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) as mechanical circulatory support in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR-PCI) remain unclear. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with complex and high-risk coronary artery disease who underwent elective PCI with VA-ECMO support pre-operatively during March 2019-December 2020. Rates of VA-ECMO-related complications, complications during PCI, death, myocardial infarction, and stroke during hospitalisation and 1-year post-operatively were analysed. Results: Overall, 36 patients (average age: 63.6 ± 8.9 years) underwent PCI. The average duration of VA-ECMO support was 12.5 (range, 3.0-26.3) h. Intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation was used in 44.4% of patients. The SYNTAX score was 34.6 ± 8.4 pre-operatively and 10.8 ± 8.8 post-operatively (P < 0.001). Intraoperative complications included pericardial tamponade (N = 2, 5.6%), acute left-sided heart failure (N = 1, 2.8%), malignant arrhythmia requiring electrocardioversion (N = 2, 5.6%), and no deaths. Blood haemoglobin levels before PCI and 24 h after VA-ECMO withdrawal were 145.4 ± 20.2 g/L and 105.7 ± 21.7 g/L, respectively (P < 0.001). Outcomes during hospitalisation included death (N = 1, 2.8%), stroke (N = 1, 2.8%), lower limb ischaemia (N = 2, 5.6%), lower limb deep venous thrombosis (N = 1, 2.8%), cannulation site haematoma (N = 2, 5.6%), acute renal injury (N = 2, 5.6%), bacteraemia (N = 2, 5.6%), bleeding requiring blood transfusion (N = 5, 13.9%), and no recurrent myocardial infarctions. Within 1 year post-operatively, two patients (5.6%) were hospitalised for heart failure. Conclusions: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation mechanical circulation support during HR-PCI is a safe and feasible strategy for achieving revascularisation in complex and high-risk coronary artery lesions. VA-ECMO-related complications require special attention.