Catecholamine-Induced Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Pheochromocytoma Rescued With Percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device: Novel Application of the Impella CP in a Pediatric Patient.

Background: Catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy is an uncommon complication of pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that predominantly occurs in adults, making catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy secondary to pheochromocytoma in children an exceedingly rare presentation. Treatment typically consists of medical management followed by surgical resection. Mechanical support, typically salvage therapy with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, has been used in adult patients with cardiogenic shock and after cardiac arrest, but to our knowledge, the use of mechanical support has not been described in pediatric patients. Case Report: A 16-year-old female presented with cardiogenic shock resulting from catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy secondary to pheochromocytoma. She was treated with a percutaneous left ventricular assist device to allow myocardial recovery while medical therapy was optimized. Given the early initiation, the patient's myocardial recovery was prompt, and only 3 days of device support were required. She was discharged in good condition and subsequently underwent uncomplicated laparoscopic resection of the tumor a few weeks later. Conclusion: In pediatric patients with catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy secondary to pheochromocytoma, aggressive measures of support-including mechanical support and infrequently used options such as percutaneous left ventricular assist devices-should be considered early in treatment to maintain adequate cardiac output, avoid cardiac arrest, and allow for prompt myocardial recovery.

Stapling Common Enterotomy Does Not Increase Leak Rates in Stapled Anastomoses.

BACKGROUND: Stapled vs handsewn methods of bowel anastomosis have been extensively studied, however, no study has compared the handsewn vs stapled technique of closing the common enterotomy. Anecdotal concerns of higher leak rates due to crossing staple lines has led some to prefer a handsewn technique for closing the common enterotomy. METHODS: Patients undergoing stapled side-to-side enteroenteric and enterocolonic anastomoses in both emergent and elective settings at 1 tertiary center from 2016 to 2020 were studied. 758 patients were included. They were divided into 2 cohorts: Stapled-Stapled (SS) and Stapled-Handsewn (SH) depending on the fashion in which their stapled common enterotomy was closed. Association of anastomotic leak rate overall, in the emergent vs elective setting, and within enteroenteric and enterocolonic anastomotic subgroups was evaluated with both univariate and multivariate analysis. Association with the closure technique, mortality and average operative time was also compared. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis overall leak rates (SS 5.9% vs SH 3.7%, P = .23) and enteroenteric leak rates (SS 2.9 vs SH 4.1, P = .52) were similar between cohorts. Operative times were significantly shorter in the SS cohort (SS 121.8 min vs SH 138.1 min, P = .049), with a difference of 16.3 min on average. No difference in mortality was seen. DISCUSSION: The SH and SS result in similar anastomotic leak rates overall, and the SS technique is significantly faster than the SH technique. We therefore consider the SS technique to be an acceptable, and in the emergent setting, potentially preferred method of anastomotic technique.

Disparities in Secondary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Heart Disease After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Northern Plains American Indians.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of death in American Indians (AIs). For patients with severe disease requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), AIs have been demonstrated to present with increased risk factors. Guideline-directed medical therapy after CABG effectively reduces mortality and recurrent ischemic events in all patients and is especially important in high-risk populations such as AIs. Methods: Isolated CABG patients between 2012 and 2017 were studied and 74 AI patients were identified. Propensity matching was performed and the resulting 148 patients were followed for a year after surgery. Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for secondary prevention of atherosclerotic disease after CABG was detailed in all patients. Results: GDMT was similar between groups (85% AI vs. 89% non-AI; p=NS), and the incidence of prescribed antiplatelet medications, beta-blockers, and statins was similar. AIs were more likely to receive insulin therapy (p=0.002) and opioids (p=0.03) at discharge, while non-AIs were more likely to receive anti-arrhythmic medications (p=0.002). One year after discharge, GDMT trended lower in AIs (75% AI vs. 85% non-AI; p=0.2) and AIs were less likely to be on a statin 1 year after surgery (81% AI vs. 93% non-AI; p=0.04). Opioid use trended higher after 1 year in AIs (28% AI vs. 18% non-AI; p=NS) and fewer AI patients participated in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after CABG. Conclusions: Disparities in GDMT for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease after CABG exist, with fewer AI patients receiving statins and undergoing CR 1 year after surgery. Increased use of opioids in AIs is troubling and deserves further investigation. Improved adherence to GDMT would be expected to improve long-term outcomes after CABG in this high risk population.