Graves' Disease Associated With Pulmonary Hypertension and Cardiac Arrest.

Thyrotoxicosis has been associated with several cardiac conditions including atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure due to left ventricular dysfunction, and cardiomyopathy. However, few cases of ventricular fibrillation as a complication of thyrotoxicosis have been reported. Our case described a 45-year-old male with a history of hypertension and Graves' disease, who presented with 1 week of left-sided chest pain associated with shortness of breath on exertion and occasional palpitations. His workup revealed acute diastolic congestive heart failure secondary to thyrotoxicosis, causing pulmonary hypertension, which led to ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. After being treated with methimazole and metoprolol, the patient's symptoms improved. This case underscores the significance of assertive medical interventions alongside both invasive and non-invasive cardiac procedures. Addressing thyrotoxicosis and ventricular arrhythmia in hyperthyroid patients is crucial to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.

In-hospital outcomes and postdischarge mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome and atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether advances in management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and introduction of novel oral anticoagulants have changed outcomes in patients with ACS with concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the incidence of AF in patients admitted for ACS and to evaluate its association with adverse outcomes, given the recent advances in management of both diseases. METHODS: Natural language processing search algorithms identified AF in patients admitted with ACS across 13 Northwell Health Hospitals from 2015 to 2021. Hierarchical generalized linear mixed modeling was used to assess the association between AF and in-hospital mortality, bleeding, and stroke outcomes; marginal Cox regression modeling was used to assess the association between AF and postdischarge mortality. RESULTS: Of 12,315 patients admitted for ACS, 3018 (24.5%) had AF with 1609 (53.3%) newly diagnosed. AF patients more commonly received anticoagulation with an oral anticoagulant (80.4% vs 12.3%) or heparin (61.9% vs 56.9%), had lengthier intensive care unit stay (72 vs 49 hours), and underwent fewer percutaneous coronary interventions (31.9% vs 53.1%). In-hospital bleeding, stroke, and mortality were higher in the AF group (15.3% vs 5.0%, 7.4% vs 2.4%, and 6.9% vs 2.1%, respectively). AF was an independent risk factor for all in-hospital outcomes (odds ratios of 2.5, 2.7, and 2.0 for bleeding, stroke, and mortality, respectively) as well as for postdischarge mortality (hazard ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2-1.5). CONCLUSION: AF is present in 25% of ACS patients and increases risk of in-hospital and postdischarge adverse outcomes. Additional data are required to direct optimal management.

Libman-Sacks endocarditis as the first manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus in an adolescent, with a review of the literature.

Libman-Sacks endocarditis is rare in children and adolescents, more so as a first manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Currently, sterile verrucous lesions of Libman-Sacks endocarditis are recognised as a cardiac manifestation of both systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome. They are clinically silent in a majority of the cases. The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with three times higher prevalence of mitral valve nodules and significant mitral regurgitation. We present the case of isolated mitral regurgitation with abnormal looking mitral valve, detected in early childhood, which deteriorated to a severe degree in the next decade and was diagnosed as Libman-Sacks endocarditis after surgical repair from histopathology. The full-blown clinical spectrum of systemic lupus erythematosus with antiphospholipid antibodies was observed several weeks after cardiac surgery. We discuss the atypical course of Libman-Sacks endocarditis with follow-up for 10 years, along with a review of the literature.

The Simultaneous Occurrence of Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Acute Ischemic Stroke, and Pulmonary Embolism.

Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are life-threatening conditions, each posing a high risk of morbidity and mortality. When all three of these acute conditions occur simultaneously, the overall prognosis for the patient becomes considerably worse. We report a case of a 70-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a triad of acute STEMI, AIS, and PE as a consequence of atherosclerotic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and a prolonged transatlantic flight. The diagnoses were promptly confirmed through emergent coronary and cerebral angiography, along with a computerized tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA). The patient underwent a combination of medical therapy and endovascular thrombectomy. However, she later developed a subarachnoid hemorrhage and eventually progressed to brain death.

Repair of left ventricular aneurysm in the setting of noncompaction.

Although left ventricular (LV) aneurysm is a well-described complication of ischemic heart disease, it may less frequently develop in the setting of normal coronary anatomy and myocardial blood supply. LV noncompaction (LVNC) is a particularly rare etiology of LV aneurysm; in the few cases previously reported in the literature, non-surgical management was pursued. In this report, we discuss the surgical repair of an 'idiopathic' LV aneurysm in a patient who presented with multiple thromboembolic events, with LVNC as the likely etiology on the underlying LV pathology. .

Pulmonary Embolism Complicated With Cardiopulmonary Arrest Treated With Combination of Thrombolytics and Aspiration Thrombectomy.

Systemic thrombolytic therapy is frequently used in the treatment of massive pulmonary embolism. We describe a case of pulseless electrical activity arrest, refractory obstructive shock in the setting of massive pulmonary embolism despite tissue plasminogen activator that was successfully treated with catheter-directed aspiration thrombectomy. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Pseudoaneurysm Formation After "Preclose"-Assisted Impella Insertion in a Patient With Cardiogenic Shock.

The use of mechanical support devices such as the Impella CP (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) is a growing form of treatment for patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). Despite the increase in usage, there remains a dearth in literature regarding potential complications. Vascular complications such as pseudoaneurysms (PAs) are rare but important potential complications that can occur with use of the Impella. We present Impella-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a patient with CS, "Preclosed" with the Perclose ProGlide (Abbott, Plymouth, MN) device complicated by development of a PA. A 62-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes and hypertension presented to our emergency room (ER) with chest pain and electrocardiogram (ECG) findings consistent with an acute anterior wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This was further complicated by refractory CS. The patient was urgently taken to the cardiac catherization laboratory. After exchange of sequential dilators, a single Perclose device was used prior to the insertion of the Impella sheath. The patient then underwent a successful Impella-assisted PCI of his left anterior descending artery. Upon stabilization of hemodynamics, the patient was taken to the catheterization laboratory for Impella removal. After removal of Impella, imaging detected extravasation of contrast, without development of hematoma, later confirmed to be a PA via computed tomography (CT) scans and ultrasound Doppler imaging. The PA was successfully managed with injection of thrombin. The PA was likely caused by shearing forces of the dilators, the 14-F Impella sheath and foot of the device. We propose deploying the Perclose device earlier in the process of dilating the access site to avoid such complication. This is one of the first case reports that detail the occurrence and management of a PA with Impella insertion.

Access site complications following cardiac catheterization assessed by duplex ultrasonography.

Access site complications are major source of morbidity following cardiac catheterization. Their incidence varies in the literature because of multiple definitions and methods of determining the presence of particular complication. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of access site complications following cardiac catheterization using arterial duplex ultrasonography. A total of 319 consecutive patients, who had cardiac catheterization underwent femoral artery duplex study 24 to 48 hours following manual hemostasis. Diagnostic angiogram had 232 (71.8%) while 87 (28.2%) had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Femoral artery duplex ultrasound was normal in 247 (77.4%). Haematoma was found in 48 (15.1%), pseudoaneurysm in 17 (5.3%), AV fistula in 2 (0.6%) and dissection of the femoral artery in 5 (1.6%) patients. Baseline demografic characteristics were similar in group with normal duplex study and group with detected complication. Pseudoaneurysm and AV fistula were more commonly observed in patients following PCI than diagnostic angiogram (9.2% vs. 4.7%, p<0.001). Patients with documented complications more frequently had concomitant administration of antiplatelet and anticoagulant medication compared to the patients without complications (p=0.003). Hemodynamic disturbances (hypotension and bradycardia) during manual compression were more frequent in patients with complication (11% vs. 4.5%, p=0.047). Low threshold for use of duplex ultrasound should be exercised in patients following cardiac catheterization to establish the presence of access site complications. Special attention is needed in the setting of aggressive antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy, interventional procedures and hemodynamic disturbances during manual hemostas.

Dengue fever as a cause of perimyocarditis and low-pressure cardiac tamponade.

We describe a case of dengue shock syndrome, perimyocarditis, and low-pressure cardiac tamponade following a trip to the Caribbean. The case was managed in the critical care unit and 6 weeks after discharge the patient was asymptomatic with a normal ejection fraction. Dengue fever presenting as cardiac tamponade is exceedingly rare and emphasizes the importance of taking a thorough travel history as well as being aware of atypical manifestations of rare diseases to make a correct diagnosis.

Postpartum Sudden Cardiac Death After Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Patient With Fibromuscular Dysplasia.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare entity that can cause acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death (SCD) which often goes unrecognized. We report a case of SCAD in a young postpartum female who presented with sudden cardiac arrest. The patient was managed medically and found to have fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). After being stabilized in the critical care unit, coronary angiography was performed which showed dissection of the left main artery, intramural hematoma, and the culprit lesion. Further investigation showed dissection of the left vertebral artery which was all consistent with a diagnosis of FMD. The patient was followed as an outpatient and a repeated coronary angiography demonstrated healed dissection site. In conclusion, this case exemplifies that prompt diagnosis along with medical management without the need of coronary artery bypass graft, and percutaneous coronary intervention can improve survival in SCAD.

A prospective registry to evaluate sirolimus-eluting stents implanted at coronary bifurcation lesions using the "crush technique".

The "crush technique" has been proposed as an alternative approach to treat bifurcation lesions because of its predictability and high procedural success rate. However, few data are available regarding its safety and long-term efficacy. We report the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with coronary bifurcation lesions treated with sirolimus-eluting stents using the crush technique. From April 2003 to May 2004, 120 patients with coronary bifurcation lesions were treated with sirolimus-eluting stents using the crush technique. Six months of clinical follow-up was completed in 95.8% of patients. Mean patient age was 64 years; 36% had diabetes mellitus, and the left anterior descending artery/diagonal was the most frequent bifurcation location (69%). Final kissing balloon inflation was performed in 87.5% of patients. Compared with the main vessel, side branch lesions were shorter, with a smaller reference diameter and final in-stent minimum lumen diameter. Procedural success was achieved in 97.5%. At 30 days of follow-up, 1 patient had died of noncardiac causes and 2 patients (1.7%) had subacute stent thrombosis. At 6 months of follow-up, target lesion revascularization was required in 13 patients (11.3%), all of whom had focal restenosis predominantly at the side branch ostium. In conclusion, the crush technique with final kissing balloon inflation can be safely used by experienced operators to treat highly complex bifurcation lesions with sirolimus-eluting stents. The safety profile of this technique is similar to that of other bifurcation stenting techniques reported thus far. Nonetheless, despite the excellent patency rates of the main vessel, the need for revascularization at the ostium of the side branch was not fully eliminated.

A simple risk score for prediction of contrast-induced nephropathy after percutaneous coronary intervention: development and initial validation.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to develop a simple risk score of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: Although several risk factors for CIN have been identified, the cumulative risk rendered by their combination is unknown. METHODS: A total of 8,357 patients were randomly assigned to a development and a validation dataset. The baseline clinical and procedural characteristics of the 5,571 patients in the development dataset were considered as candidate univariate predictors of CIN (increase >or=25% and/or >or=0.5 mg/dl in serum creatinine at 48 h after PCI vs. baseline). Multivariate logistic regression was then used to identify independent predictors of CIN with a p value <0.0001. Based on the odds ratio, eight identified variables (hypotension, intra-aortic balloon pump, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, age >75 years, anemia, and volume of contrast) were assigned a weighted integer; the sum of the integers was a total risk score for each patient. RESULTS: The overall occurrence of CIN in the development set was 13.1% (range 7.5% to 57.3% for a low [or=16] risk score, respectively); the rate of CIN increased exponentially with increasing risk score (Cochran Armitage chi-square, p < 0.0001). In the 2,786 patients of the validation dataset, the model demonstrated good discriminative power (c statistic = 0.67); the increasing risk score was again strongly associated with CIN (range 8.4% to 55.9% for a low and high risk score, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of CIN after PCI can be simply assessed using readily available information. This risk score can be used for both clinical and investigational purposes.

Vascular complications associated with arteriotomy closure devices in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary procedures: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the safety of arteriotomy closure devices (ACDs) versus mechanical compression by meta-analysis in patients undergoing percutaneous transfemoral coronary procedures. BACKGROUND: Although ACDs are widely applied for hemostasis after percutaneous endovascular procedures, their safety is controversial. METHODS: Randomized, case-control, and cohort studies comparing access-related complications using ACDs versus mechanical compression were analyzed. The primary end point was the cumulative incidence of vascular complications, including pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, retroperitoneal hematoma, femoral artery thrombosis, surgical vascular repair, access site infection, and blood transfusion. RESULTS: A total of 30 studies involving 37,066 patients were identified. No difference in complication incidence between Angio-Seal and mechanical compression was revealed in the diagnostic (Dx) setting (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11 to 10.0) or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.12). Meta-analysis of randomized trials only showed a trend toward less complications using Angio-Seal in a PCI setting (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.20 to 1.04; p = 0.062). No differences were observed regarding Perclose in either Dx (OR 1.51, 95% CI 0.24 to 9.47) or PCI (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.54) setting. An increased risk in complication rates using VasoSeal in the PCI setting (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.07 to 4.71) was found. The overall analysis favored mechanical compression over ACD (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.79). CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of Dx angiography, the risk of access-site-related complications was similar for ACD compared with mechanical compression. In the setting of PCI, the rate of complications appeared higher with VasoSeal.

Effectiveness of the concomitant use of bivalirudin and drug-eluting stents (from the prospective, multicenter BivAlirudin and Drug-Eluting STents [ADEST] study).

Sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) reduce restenosis compared with bare metal stents. Safety issues with drug-eluting stents are particularly important given concerns of possible increased thrombogenicity. Compared with heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, the direct thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin has been shown to reduce the risk of hemorrhagic complications in patients receiving bare metal stents, with similar efficacy in preventing ischemic complications. The safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with SESs and bivalirudin anticoagulation have not been prospectively studied. This prospective study performed at 9 United States hospitals evaluated 1,182 patients referred for PCI with SESs in whom the procedural anticoagulant was bivalirudin. Clopidogrel was administered before PCI in 79% of patients, and only 5.3% received procedural glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. At 30 days, major adverse cardiac events occurred in 7.1% of patients, including 0.3% mortality, 4.4% myocardial infarction (defined as creatine kinase-MB >3x normal), 1.7% target vessel revascularization, and 0.6% stent thrombosis. Major bleeding occurred in only 0.8% of patients. Thus, use of bivalirudin as the procedural anticoagulant to support SES implantation in a "real world" population of patients undergoing PCI results in low rates of major adverse cardiac events, stent thrombosis, and major bleeding.

Vascular closure devices: a review of their use after invasive procedures.

In the endovascular procedure setting, vascular closure devices (VCD) have emerged as an alternative to mechanical compression in order to achieve vascular hemostasis after puncture of the femoral artery. VCD are categorized based primarily on the principle mechanism of hemostasis, which includes biodegradable plug, suture, staples, or ultrasound. While VCD offer advantages over mechanical compression (shorter time to hemostasis and patient ambulation, high rate of patient satisfaction, and greater cost-effectiveness) complications related to the site of femoral access are still present. Efficacy and safety of VCD have been evaluated in a number of clinical trials, but to date there is still a lack of randomized clinical trials with sample sizes large enough to reveal superiority or non-inferiority of VCD compared with mechanical compression. Mechanical compression and VCD are effective and well tolerated in the setting of diagnostic procedures and procedures that do not use anticoagulation. For both methods, success rates are lower, and complication rates higher, in the setting of interventional procedures and when anticoagulation medications are used. Regardless of the device type, deployment failure is the major drawback of VCD. However, overall, meta-analysis data demonstrated that complications and success rates are not significantly different between mechanical compression and VCD. Current data suggest that the correct answer on whether or not to use VCD still remains in the operator domain where integration of clinical data and familiarity with a particular closure device plays a key role in achieving successful hemostasis and avoiding access site complication.

Real-time ultrasound guidance facilitates transradial access: RAUST (Radial Artery access with Ultrasound Trial).

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the utility of ultrasound (US) guidance for transradial arterial access. BACKGROUND: US guidance has been demonstrated to facilitate vascular access, but has not been tested in a multicenter randomized fashion for transradial cardiac catheterization. METHODS: We conducted a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial of 698 patients undergoing transradial cardiac catheterization. Patients were randomized to needle insertion with either palpation or real-time US guidance (351 palpation, 347 US). Primary endpoints were the number of forward attempts required for access, first-pass success rate, and time to access. RESULTS: The number of attempts was reduced with US guidance [mean: 1.65 ± 1.2 vs. 3.05 ± 3.4, p < 0.0001; median: 1 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1 to 2) vs. 2 (1 to 3), p < 0.0001] and the first-pass success rate improved (64.8% vs. 43.9%, p < 0.0001). The time to access was reduced (88 ± 78 s vs. 108 ± 112 s, p = 0.006; median: 64 [IQR: 45 to 94] s vs. 74 [IQR: 49 to 120] s, p = 0.01). Ten patients in the control group required crossover to US guidance after 5 min of failed palpation attempts with 8 of 10 (80%) having successful sheath insertion with US. The number of difficult access procedures was decreased with US guidance (2.4% vs. 18.6% for ≥5 attempts, p < 0.001; 3.7% vs. 6.8% for ≥5min, p = 0.07). No significant differences were observed in the rate of operator-reported spasm, patient pain scores following the procedure, or bleeding complications. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound guidance improves the success and efficiency of radial artery cannulation in patients presenting for transradial catheterization. (Radial Artery Access With Ultrasound Trial [RAUST]; NCT01605292).

Prognostic significance of cerebrovascular and peripheral arterial disease in patients having percutaneous coronary interventions.

This study shows that cerebrovascular and peripheral arterial diseases frequently co-exist in patients with coronary artery disease who undergo percutaneous coronary interventions. These 2 conditions are associated with adverse in-hospital and 1-year outcomes and independently predict early and 1-year mortality.

Impact of chronic kidney disease on prognosis of patients with diabetes mellitus treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus. However, the role of CKD in outcomes of patients with diabetes who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been studied specifically. Therefore, we investigated the impact of CKD on prognosis of patients with diabetes who underwent PCI. Of 1,575 diabetic patients who underwent PCI, 1,046 (66%) had preserved renal function, 492 (31%) had CKD (baseline serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dl or estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) without dialysis, and 37 (2.3%) were dependent on dialysis. Patients with CKD versus those without CKD had more in-hospital complications, including mortality (2.6% vs 0.5%, respectively; p <0.0001), neurologic events (3.1% vs 0.6%, p = 0.0001), and gastrointestinal bleeding (2.9% vs 0.9%, p = 0.01). Contrast-induced nephropathy after PCI (increase > or =25% and/or > or =0.5 mg/dl of serum creatinine before PCI vs 48 hours after PCI) was found in 15% of patients without CKD versus 27% of those with CKD, and de novo dialysis was instituted in 0.1% versus 3.1%, respectively. Contrast-induced nephropathy was independently predicted (all p <0.0001) by peri-PCI hypotension (odds ratio [OR] 2.62), insulin treatment (OR 1.84), and volume of contrast medium (OR 1.30). The 1-year mortality rate was strikingly higher (all p <0.0001) in patients with CKD who did not receive dialysis (16%) and those on dialysis (44%) compared with the group with preserved renal function (5%). Contrast-induced nephropathy was among the independent predictors of a 1-year mortality rate (OR 2.75, p <0.001).

Impact of anemia on outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions.

Of 6,929 consecutive patients who were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention, 1,708 (24.6%) had anemia according to criteria of the World Health Organization. Compared with patients who did not have anemia, those who did have anemia were older, more frequently women and African-American, had a smaller body mass index, and higher frequencies of cardiovascular risk factors and co-morbid conditions. Patients who had anemia compared with those who did not have anemia had significantly (p <0.0001) higher mortality rates during hospitalization (1.9% vs 0.4%) and at 1 year (12.8% vs 3.5%). After adjustment for potential confounders, baseline hematocrit remained a significant predictor of a 1-year mortality rate (hazard ratio 0.93 per 1% increase in hematocrit, 95% confidence interval 0.91 to 0.95).

Comparison of safety and efficacy between first and second generation of angio-seal closure devices in interventional patients.

Arterial closure devices are safe and effective in selected patients, with complication rates similar to or lower than manual compression. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of the first- and new-generation Angio-Seal devices in patients undergoing PCI. This study found that the new Angio-Seal STS Platform device can secure hemostasis after PCI in a safe and effective manner similar to the old device. The new platform is easier for the operator and for the patients.