A method for successfully implanting an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator wrapped with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet in a patient with metal allergy.

Contact dermatitis is a severe complication of cardiac-device implantation that may be observed in patients with metal allergies. Some studies have suggested that wrapping cardiac devices with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) sheets is effective in preventing contact dermatitis. Most of these studies involved pacemakers, whereas those on implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are rare. Herein, we report a method for the successful implantation of an ICD wrapped with an ePTFE sheet in a patient with metal allergy. The metal part of the ICD generator was tightly wrapped with an ePTFE sheet, which was sewn with ePTFE sutures approximating the edges of the generator. After the wrapping procedure, the patient entered the operating room, and the generator and an ePTFE-coated dual-coil shock lead were implanted via a standard procedure. The shock impedance in the coil-to-can vector was high immediately after the implantation, but it reduced to less than half of its initial value over a period of two weeks post-surgery. The patient did not develop any new skin problems during the 20-month follow-up. This is a method for successfully preventing contact dermatitis; however, attention to the associated high risk of infection is required. Learning objective: Wrapping an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet was effective in preventing contact dermatitis after implantation. The shock impedance in the coil-to-can vector was high immediately after implantation but reduced to approximately half of its initial value with time.

Fracture of a Temporary Inferior Vena Cava Filter.

Anticoagulation is recommended for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In some cases, an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is used to prevent PE. We report the case of a 70-year-old woman who developed non-massive PE and proximal DVT, which were treated using an IVC filter; two filters were placed owing to the fracture of the filters. Few previous reports have discussed IVC fractures and the difficulty in detecting such fractures on computed tomography before retrieval. Based on our experience, we suggest that a temporary IVC filter for DVT treatment should be considered carefully.

Meigs' syndrome mimicking heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Meigs' syndrome is a rare disease characterized by a triad of presentations, including benign ovarian tumor, ascites, and pleural effusion. However, a clinical diagnosis of Meigs' syndrome remains challenging because pleural and ascitic effusions can be common findings in a variety of underlying conditions. Furthermore, these findings can often be misdiagnosed as pleural and peritoneal dissemination caused by potentially malignant tumors, leading to the administration of improper treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: We described a case of an 85-year-old postmenopausal female patient with atypical Meigs' syndrome presenting with right-sided pleural effusion, notable leg edema, and trivial ascites, which was initially mistaken as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. However, pleural effusion was totally ineffective against diuretic therapy. Subsequently, thoracentesis yielded serosanguineous exudative effusion. Moreover, refractory pleural effusions and abdominal/pelvic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings strongly suggested bilateral malignant ovarian tumors with pleural dissemination. Repetitive negative cytological results allowed the patient to undergo bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Finally, a definitive diagnosis of Meigs' syndrome was made by confirming the presence of a benign mitotically active cellular fibroma of the ovary by pathology and that pleural effusion resolved following tumor resection. CONCLUSIONS: Our case highlights the clinical importance of assessing Meigs' syndrome in the diagnostic workup of pleural effusion in postmenopausal female patients. Given the favorable prognosis of Meigs' syndrome, clinicians should consider surgical resection, even with potentially malignant ovarian tumors with accompanying pleural effusion, ascites, or both.

Percutaneous Catheter Thrombus Aspiration of Right Renal Infarction Caused by Left Ventricular Thrombi due to Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a temporal dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV) due to psychological or physiological stress; however, it rarely causes LV thrombus. We report a case of a 49-year-old woman who developed LV thrombi due to TC despite anticoagulation therapy. The thrombi caused acute systemic infarction, with the most severe occlusion being in the right renal artery. The patient underwent percutaneous catheter aspiration thrombectomy of the right renal artery and her renal function recovered shortly after. The results of this case suggest that catheter aspiration thrombectomy is effective in the treatment of thromboembolism in TC.