Improvement in Cheyne-Stokes respiration following cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

The effect of standard cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) on the severity of Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) in patients with congestive heart failure was studied. It was hypothesised that CRT, through its known beneficial effects on cardiac function, would stabilise the control of breathing and reduce CSR. Twenty-eight patients who were eligible for CRT and receiving optimised medical treatment for congestive heart failure were referred for overnight polysomnography, including monitoring of thoracic and abdominal movements to identify CSR and obstructive sleep apnoea events. Patients underwent repeat polysomnography after 6 months of CRT to re-evaluate sleep quality and sleep-disordered breathing. Twelve of the 28 patients had significant CSR (43%); 10 patients had a successful implantation and underwent repeat polysomnography a mean+/-SD 27+/-7 weeks after continuous biventricular pacing. Six of the 10 patients experienced a significant decrease in CSR severity following CRT, associated with correction of congestive heart failure-related hyperventilation and hypocapnia. Circulation time, oxygen saturation, frequency of obstructive apnoeas and sleep quality did not change. In conclusion, cardiac resynchronisation therapy is associated with a reduction in Cheyne-Stokes respiration, which may contribute to improved clinical outcome in patients treated with cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

Left atrial appendage thrombus in atrial flutter with no associated heart disease.

The risk of cardioembolic events and the role of anti-coagulation therapy in the management of patients with lone atrial flutter is not well defined in the medical literature. We report the case of an otherwise healthy 42-year-old man with chronic established atrial flutter, unassociated with any other heart disease or systemic illness, with transesophageal echocardiographic findings of a mobile left atrial appendage thrombus. The literature to date, potential mechanisms, and recommendations are discussed. The role of transesophageal electrocardiography and anticoagulation in atrial flutter may need to be considered more seriously, especially if atrial flutter has been present for a prolonged period of time.

Spontaneous iliopsoas hematoma in patients with unstable coronary syndromes receiving intravenous heparin in therapeutic doses.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the relationship between the use of anticoagulants, specifically heparin, and the development of iliacus and psoas muscle hematoma. Three patients with unstable angina who developed groin pain while on heparin anticoagulation are presented. Patients who are anticoagulated with heparin are at increased risk of developing iliacus or psoas hematoma, manifesting a wide range of symptoms from groin pain to massive bleeding and shock. Identification of these patients is crucial in cardiology practice. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE searches under "iliacus', "psoas' and "iliopsoas hematoma' were conducted and cross-referenced with patients on anticoagulant therapy. Only English language articles were included. STUDY SELECTION: The search covered January 1966 to February 1995. Fifty-one articles were studied. DATA SYNTHESIS: The current literature suggests that anticoagulation can cause iliacus or psoas muscle hematoma and usually presents as femoral neuropathy. However, the presented case reports provide evidence that an earlier manifestation of this entity is the development of groin pain, and that early identification is crucial to improving patient morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who are on heparin anticoagulation should be carefully monitored for development of groin pain or leg weakness. In such cases, early recognition of possible iliacus or psoas hematoma should be by abdominal ultrasound or computed tomography, and heparin anticoagulation should be modified according to its clinical requirement.