Heart failure secondary to myocarditis after SARS-CoV-2 reinfection: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac involvement in COVID-19 can range from mild damage to severe myocarditis. The precise mechanism by which COVID-19 causes myocardial injury is still unknown. Myocarditis following administration of COVID-19 vaccines, especially those based on mRNA, has also been described. However, no reports of heart failure following reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 in patients immunized with an inactivated vaccine have been identified. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 47-year-old male construction worker of African descent, with type II diabetes and a history of infection by SARS-CoV-2 in December 2020 and May 2021, confirmed by RT-PCR. He received two doses of an inactivated vaccine against COVID-19. Between the two COVID-19 episodes with positive RT-PCR, he had two episodes of bacterial lung infection. After the second episode of SARS-CoV-2 infection, he was diagnosed with severe heart failure as a sequela of myocarditis. CONCLUSION: It is essential to perform a thorough follow-up after infection with SARS-CoV-2 since, even with proper immunization, it is possible that the patient was reinfected and suffered severe cardiac sequelae as a consequence. The hypothesis of an etiology associated with the use of an inactivated vaccine against COVID-19, with a potential immune enhancement mechanism following reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, cannot be rejected.

Ultrasound-guided antecubital vein approach for right heart catheterisation in a Brazilian tertiary centre.

Objective: As a parallel to the radial approach for left heart catheterisation, forearm veins may be considered for the performance of right heart catheterisation. However, data regarding the application of this technique under ultrasound guidance are scarce. The current study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of right heart catheterisation through ultrasound-guided antecubital venous approach in the highly heterogeneous population usually referred for right heart catheterisation. Methods: Data from consecutive right heart catheterisations performed at an academic centre in Brazil, between January 2016 and March 2017 were prospectively collected. Results: Among 152 performed right heart catheterisations, ultrasound-guided antecubital venous approach was attempted in 127 (84%) cases and it was made feasible in 92.1% of those. Yet, there was no immediate vascular complication with the antecubital venous approach in this prospective series. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided antecubital venous approach for the performance of right heart catheterisation was feasible in the vast majority of cases in our study, without occurrence of vascular complications.

Multiple Culprit Coronary Artery Thrombosis in a Patient with Coronary Ectasia.

We here report a case of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to simultaneous acute coronary artery occlusions of two major coronary arteries in a patient with coronary ectasia. The patient had been previously submitted to percutaneous coronary angioplasty with bare metal stent implantation in both culprit vessels. Very late stent thrombosis could be the cause of the first occlusion, triggering the event in the other vessel. In addition, concomitant embolic sources were not identified. Although routine aspiration thrombectomy in STEMI was not proven to be beneficial in randomized clinical trials, it was of great value in this case. We also discuss the relation between coronary ectasia, chronic inflammatory status, and increased platelet activity which may have caused plaque disruption in another already vulnerable vessel.

Comparação de escores anatômicos e clínicos na predição de desfechos em intervenções coronárias percutâneas primárias / Comparison of anatomical and clinical scores in predicting outcomes in primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Fundamento: Diferentes escores baseados em variáveis anatômicas e/ou clínicas têm sido desenvolvidos para estratificação de risco em pacientes submetidos à intervenção coronariana percutânea (ICP). Estudos comparando a capacidade desses modelos na predição de eventos cardíacos e cerebrovasculares adversos maiores (ECCAM) em pacientes submetidos à ICP primária são escassos. Objetivo: O objetivo desse estudo foi o de comparar os escores SYNTAX (SS), Clinical SYNTAX (CSS), ACEF e ACEF modificado (ACEF Mod ) na predição de ECCAM em pacientes com infarto agudo do miocárdico com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (IAMCSST) submetidos à ICP primária. Métodos: Foram analisados 311 pacientes consecutivos com IAMCSST submetidos a ICP primária entre abril/2011 e dezembro/2015. As áreas sob a curva característica de operação do receptor (ROC) foram calculadas para avaliar a habilidade desses escores em predizer ECCAM. O nível de significância adotado em todos os testes foi de 5%. Resultados: Os pacientes apresentaram idade média de 60,2 ± 12,0 anos, 35,4% eram do sexo feminino e 22,5% eram diabéticos. A ocorrência de ECCAM foi observada em 23,8% dos participantes. A área sob a curva ROC foi 0,586 (p = 0,028) para ACEF, 0,616 (p = 0,003) para SS, 0,623 (p = 0,002) para ACEF Mod e 0,658 (p < 0,001) para CSS. Na análise multivariada, apenas SS (p = 0,011) e CSS (p = 0,002) foram preditores independentes de ECCAM. Conclusões: SS e CSS elevados foram preditores independentes de ECCAM. Em nossa coorte de pacientes com IAMCSST submetidos à ICP primária, o SS calculado à cineangiocoronariografia inicial mostrou-se uma ferramenta útil para predizer ECCAM

Background: Different scores based on anatomical and/or clinical features have been developed for risk stratification of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Studies comparing the ability of these different models in predicting major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients submitted to primary PCI are limited. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the ability of the scores SYNTAX (SS), Clinical SYNTAX (CSS), age, creatinine and ACEF, and modified ACEF (ACEF Mod ) to predict MACCE in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) submitted to primary PCI. Methods: We analyzed 311 consecutive patients with STEMI submitted to primary PCI between April/2011 and December/2015. The area under the ROC curve was calculated to evaluate the ability of these scores in predicting MACCE. P-values were considered significant at < 0.05. Results: Mean age of the patients was 60.2 ± 12.0 years, 35.4% were females, and 22.5% had diabetes. MACCE occurred in 23.8% of the patients. The area under the ROC curve was 0.586 (p = 0.028) for ACEF, 0.616 (p = 0.003) for SS, 0.623 (p = 0.002) for ACEF Mod , and 0.658 (p < 0.001) for CSS. In multivariate analysis, only high SS (p = 0.011) and CSS (p = 0.002) were independent predictors of MACCE. Conclusions: High SS and CSS were independent predictors of MACCE. In our cohort of STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, pure anatomical SS calculated at the baseline coronary angiography was a useful tool to predict MACCE

Cateterismo cardíaco direito por acesso venoso antecubital guiado por ultrassonografia / Right heart catheterization through ultrasound-guided antecubital vein approach

Introdução: As complicações no cateterismo cardíaco direito estão quase sempre relacionadas ao local de acesso. As veias do antebraço podem ser um alvo para reduzir tais complicações durante o procedimento. No entanto, dados relativos à ampla aplicação desta técnica são escassos. Métodos: Série de casos que relata nossas primeiras experiências com o cateterismo cardíaco direito por acesso venoso antecubital. Resultados: Tentamos realizar o cateterismo cardíaco direito em 20 pacientes com abordagem antecubital em janeiro de 2016. A abordagem antecubital foi bem-sucedida em 19 casos (95,0%). Todos os acessos venosos foram obtidos guiados por ultrassonografia. Os cateterismos cardíacos direito e esquerdo foram realizados simultaneamente em 12 casos (60,0%). O cateterismo cardíaco esquerdo foi realizado através da artéria radial direita em 11 casos (91,7%), e da artéria braquial direita em 1 caso (8,3%). O acesso antecubital foi obtido pela veia basílica em 18 (94,7%) casos, e pela veia cefálica em 1 (5,3%) caso. Conclusões: O cateterismo cardíaco direito através das veias da prega antecubital parece ser viável e seguro. Outros estudos controlados são necessários para estabelecer o melhor local de acesso para realizar o cateterismo cardíaco direito

Background: Complications in right heart catheterization are almost all access-site related. Forearm veins may be a target to reduce access-site complications during the procedure. However, data regarding wide application of this technique is scarce. Methods: This is a case-series that reports our first experiences in right heart catheterization through the antecubital approach. Results: We attempted to perform right heart catheterization in 20 patients using antecubital approach on January 2016. The antecubital approach was successful in 19 (95.0%) cases. All venous access were obtained with ultrasound guidance. Simultaneous right and left heart catheterization was performed in 12 cases (60.0%). Left heart catheterization was performed through right radial artery in 11 cases (91.7%) and through the right brachial artery in 1 case (8.3%). Antecubital access was obtained through the basilic vein in 18 (94.7%) cases and through the cephalic vein in 1 (5.3%) case. Conclusions: Right heart catheterization through the antecubital fossa veins appears to be feasible and safe. Further controlled studies are required to establish the best access site to perform right heart catheterization