scholarly journals Fulminant myocarditis in a COVID-19 positive patient treated with mechanical circulatory support – a case report

Author(s):  
Joanna-Maria Papageorgiou ◽  
Henrik Almroth ◽  
Mattias Törnudd ◽  
Henriëtte van der Wal ◽  
Georgia Varelogianni ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreading from Wuhan, Hubei province in China, is an expanding global pandemic with significant morbidity and mortality. Even though respiratory failure is the cardinal form of severe COVID-19, concomitant cardiac involvement is common. Myocarditis is a challenging diagnosis due to heterogeneity of clinical presentation, ranging from mild symptoms to fatal arrhythmia and cardiogenic shock (CS). The aetiology is often viral and endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is the gold standard for definite myocarditis. However, the diagnosis is often made on medical history, clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging, and blood tests. Case summary We present a 43-year-old man with mixed connective tissue disease treated with hydroxychloroquine who rapidly developed CS 4 days from symptom onset with fever and cough, showing positive polymerase chain reaction nasopharyngeal swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA. While computed tomography of the thorax was normal, high-sensitivity troponin T was elevated and electrocardiogram showed diffuse ST elevation and low voltage as signs of myocardial oedema. Echocardiography showed severe depression of left ventricular function. The myocardium recovered completely after a week with mechanical circulatory support (MCS). EMB was performed but could neither identify the virus in the cardiomyocytes, nor signs of inflammation. Still the most probable aetiology of CS in this case is myocarditis as a sole symptom of COVID-19. Discussion COVID-19 patients in need of hospitalization present commonly with respiratory manifestations. We present the first case of fulminant myocarditis rapidly progressing to CS in a COVID-19 patient without respiratory failure, successfully treated with inotropes and MCS.

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Toru Kondo ◽  
Naoki Shibata ◽  
shingo kazama ◽  
Yuki Kimura ◽  
Hideo Oishi ◽  
...  

Background: Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is a fatal disease that causes rapid-onset severe heart failure requiring inotropes or mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Because insufficient myocardial recovery requires durable left ventricular assist device or heart transplantation, the course of myocardial recovery should be predicted. Hypothesis: Cardiac troponins, which elevates due to myocardial damage, may associate with myocardial recovery in FM. Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relationship between cardiac troponin T (TnT) levels and myocardial recovery course in patients with FM. Method: We performed a retrospective medical record review of 19 patients with FM requiring MCS from May 2012 to January 2020. The serial changes of one-week left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after MCS implantation according to TnT levels were evaluated. Results: Median age was 50 years and 10 patients were male. As for initial MCS, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) with intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) were used in 13 patients, IABP in 4 patients, VA-ECMO in one patient, and impella 2.5 in one patient. Median peak TnT level within one week after MCS implantation were 4.43 (2.47 - 34.6) ng/mL. The patients were divided into High-TnT group and Low-TnT group according to median peak TnT level. All patients in both groups were alive until 7 days after MCS implantation, and LVEF on day 7 was significantly lower in the High-TnT group (Fig). TnT level was highest on day 1 and gradually decreased in the High-TnT group (Fig). Six patients died during hospitalization in the High-TnT group, in contrast, only one patient died in the Low-TnT group (p=0.020). Peak TnT level in patients with LVEF ≥30% (n=8) on day 7 was significantly lower than in patients with LVEF <30% (2.40 vs 13.5 ng/mL, p=0.012), however, other laboratory parameters showed no significant differences. Conclusion: Higher TnT level showed impaired myocardial recovery in patients with FM.


Author(s):  
Tim Balthazar ◽  
Tom Adriaenssens ◽  
Walter Droogne ◽  
Christophe Vandenbriele

Abstract Background Eosinophilic myocarditis is a rare form of myocardial inflammatory disease. Eosinophilic infiltration of the myocardium is often the consequence of a systemic disorder but can remain unexplained in up to a third of patients. The disease course can range from mild to fulminant myocarditis and mortality remains high for fulminant cases. Case summary A 42-year-old male was admitted for cardiogenic shock. He presented in another hospital with fever, low blood pressure, diffuse electrocardiogram-abnormalities, and elevated troponin T (4.5 µg/L; reference &lt;0.013 µg/L) levels. Coronary angiography was unremarkable. Mechanical circulatory support with the ImpellaTM CP device was initiated. Since fulminant myocarditis was suspected and magnetic resonance imaging was not feasible in urgency, an endomyocardial biopsy was performed. He transiently developed right ventricular failure after ImpellaTM implantation, requiring the re-institution of an inotropic agent. Biopsy showed eosinophilic myocarditis, even though there was no increase in the peripheral blood eosinophil count. Methylprednisone and Ramipril were initiated to which he responded well. No systemic disease or parasitic infection was found during further work-up. Left ventricular ejection fraction rapidly improved and was completely normalized at discharge. Discussion This case demonstrates the usefulness of myocardial biopsy in fulminant myocarditis since the only histopathology guided us towards the diagnosis of eosinophilic myocarditis. Treatment with methylprednisone and an angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitor resulted in rapid improvement. Awake mechanical circulatory support with the ImpellaTM device proved feasible and might have helped by unloading the left ventricle, as was reflected in an immediate decrease in troponin levels, even before methylprednisone initiation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Paola Dolader ◽  
Joan Balcells ◽  
Ferran Gran

Abstract Acute myocarditis is a rare but potentially fatal disease. Endomyocardial biopsy and histologic examination are key to an accurate diagnosis. Despite being an uncommon cause, Influenza A and B viruses are a well-documented aetiology. Myocarditis may complicate about 0 to 10% of influenza virus infections (0.4 to 5% in paediatric cases). The clinical presentation varies widely, from ischemic-like chest pain to fulminant myocarditis with acute hemodynamic compromise, requiring mechanical circulatory support, with high mortality in the acute phase. We report a series of paediatric patients with myocarditis due to Influenza virus, to emphasize the importance of considering this uncommon aetiology.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Briceño ◽  
Rajeev R. Fernando ◽  
Sriram Nathan ◽  
Pranav Loyalka ◽  
Biswajit Kar ◽  
...  

Legionnaires' disease is the designation for pneumonia caused by the Legionella species. Among the rare extrapulmonary manifestations, cardiac involvement is most prevalent, in the forms of myocarditis, pericarditis, postcardiotomy syndrome, and prosthetic valve endocarditis. Mechanical circulatory support has proved to be a safe and effective bridge to myocardial recovery in patients with acute fulminant myocarditis; however, to our knowledge, this support has not been used in infectious myocarditis specifically related to Legionellosis. We describe a case of Legionella myocarditis associated with acute left ventricular dysfunction and repolarization abnormalities in a 48-year-old man. The patient fully recovered after left ventricular unloading with use of a TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device. In addition, we review the English-language medical literature on Legionella myocarditis and focus on cardiac outcomes.


Perfusion ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 026765912110339
Author(s):  
Shek-yin Au ◽  
Ka-man Fong ◽  
Chun-Fung Sunny Tsang ◽  
Ka-Chun Alan Chan ◽  
Chi Yuen Wong ◽  
...  

Introduction: The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and Impella are left ventricular unloading devices with peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in place and later serve as bridging therapy when VA-ECMO is terminated. We aimed to determine the potential differences in clinical outcomes and rate of complications between the two combinations of mechanical circulatory support. Methods: This was a retrospective, single institutional cohort study conducted in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong. Inclusion criteria included all patients aged ⩾18 years, who had VA-ECMO support, and who had left ventricular unloading by either IABP or Impella between January 1, 2018 and October 31, 2020. Patients <18 years old, with central VA-ECMO, who did not require left ventricular unloading, or who underwent surgical venting procedures were excluded. The primary outcome was ECMO duration. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS) in the ICU, hospital LOS, mortality, and complication rate. Results: Fifty-two patients with ECMO + IABP and 14 patients with ECMO + Impella were recruited. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of ECMO duration (2.5 vs 4.6 days, p = 0.147), ICU LOS (7.7 vs 10.8 days, p = 0.367), and hospital LOS (14.8 vs 16.5 days, p = 0.556) between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was observed in the ECMO, ICU, and hospital mortalities between the two groups. Specific complications related to the ECMO and Impella combination were also noted. Conclusions: Impella was not shown to offer a statistically significant clinical benefit compared with IABP in conjunction with ECMO. Clinicians should be aware of the specific complications of using Impella.


Critical Care ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Ruiyang Ling ◽  
Kollengode Ramanathan ◽  
Wynne Hsing Poon ◽  
Chuen Seng Tan ◽  
Nicolas Brechot ◽  
...  

Abstract Background While recommended by international societal guidelines in the paediatric population, the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) as mechanical circulatory support for refractory septic shock in adults is controversial. We aimed to characterise the outcomes of adults with septic shock requiring VA ECMO, and identify factors associated with survival. Methods We searched Pubmed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane databases from inception until 1st June 2021, and included all relevant publications reporting on > 5 adult patients requiring VA ECMO for septic shock. Study quality and certainty in evidence were assessed using the appropriate Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach, respectively. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge, and secondary outcomes included intensive care unit length of stay, duration of ECMO support, complications while on ECMO, and sources of sepsis. Random-effects meta-analysis (DerSimonian and Laird) were conducted. Data synthesis We included 14 observational studies with 468 patients in the meta-analysis. Pooled survival was 36.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 23.6%–50.1%). Survival among patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 20% (62.0%, 95%-CI: 51.6%–72.0%) was significantly higher than those with LVEF > 35% (32.1%, 95%-CI: 8.69%–60.7%, p = 0.05). Survival reported in studies from Asia (19.5%, 95%-CI: 13.0%–26.8%) was notably lower than those from Europe (61.0%, 95%-CI: 48.4%–73.0%) and North America (45.5%, 95%-CI: 16.7%–75.8%). GRADE assessment indicated high certainty of evidence for pooled survival. Conclusions When treated with VA ECMO, the majority of patients with septic shock and severe sepsis-induced myocardial depression survive. However, VA ECMO has poor outcomes in adults with septic shock without severe left ventricular depression. VA ECMO may be a viable treatment option in carefully selected adult patients with refractory septic shock.


Author(s):  
Einar Gude ◽  
Arnt E. Fiane

AbstractHeart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasing in prevalence and represents approximately 50% of all heart failure (HF) patients. Patients with this complex clinical scenario, characterized by high filling pressures, and reduced cardiac output (CO) associated with progressive multi-organ involvement, have so far not experienced any significant improvement in quality of life or survival with traditional HF treatment. Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have offered a new treatment alternative in terminal heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), providing a unique combination of significant pressure and volume unloading together with an increase in CO. The small left ventricular cavity in HFpEF patients challenges left-sided pressure unloading, and new anatomical entry points need to be explored for mechanical pressure and volume unloading. Optimized and pressure/volume-adjusted mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices for HFrEF patients may conceivably be customized for HFpEF anatomy and hemodynamics. We have developed a long-term MCS device for HFpEF patients with atrial unloading in a pulsed algorithm, leading to a significant reduction of filling pressure, maintenance of pulse pressure, and increase in CO demonstrated in animal testing. In this article, we will discuss HFpEF pathology, hemodynamics, and the principles behind our novel MCS device that may improve symptoms and prognosis in HFpEF patients. Data from mock-loop hemolysis studies, acute, and chronic animal studies will be presented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Nix ◽  
Rashad Zayat ◽  
Andreas Ebeling ◽  
Andreas Goetzenich ◽  
Uma Chandrasekaran ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Resuscitation using a percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device (iCPR) improves survival after cardiac arrest (CA). We hypothesized that the addition of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) during iCPR might prove synergistic, leading to improved myocardial performance due to lowering of right ventricular (RV) afterload, left ventricular (LV) preload, and myocardial energetics. This study aimed to characterize the changes in LV and RV function and global myocardial work indices (GWI) following iCPR, both with and without iNO, using 2-D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and GWI evaluation as a novel non-invasive measurement. Methods In 10 pigs, iCPR was initiated following electrically-induced CA and 10 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation (VF). Pigs were randomized to either 20 ppm (20 ppm, n = 5) or 0 ppm (0 ppm, n = 5) of iNO in addition to therapeutic hypothermia for 5 h following ROSC. All animals received TEE at five pre-specified time-points and invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Results LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) increased significantly in both groups following CA. iCPR alone led to significant LV unloading at 5 h post-ROSC with LVEDV values reaching baseline values in both groups (20 ppm: 68.2 ± 2.7 vs. 70.8 ± 6.1 mL, p = 0.486; 0 ppm: 70.8 ± 1.3 vs. 72.3 ± 4.2 mL, p = 0.813, respectively). LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) increased in both groups following CA. LV-GLS recovered significantly better in the 20 ppm group at 5 h post-ROSC (20 ppm: − 18 ± 3% vs. 0 ppm: − 13 ± 2%, p = 0.025). LV-GWI decreased in both groups after CA with no difference between the groups. Within 0 ppm group, LV-GWI decreased significantly at 5 h post-ROSC compared to baseline (1,125 ± 214 vs. 1,835 ± 305 mmHg%, p = 0.011). RV-GWI was higher in the 20 ppm group at 3 h and 5 h post-ROSC (20 ppm: 189 ± 43 vs. 0 ppm: 108 ± 22 mmHg%, p = 0.049 and 20 ppm: 261 ± 54 vs. 0 ppm: 152 ± 42 mmHg%, p = 0.041). The blood flow calculated by the Impella controller following iCPR initiation correlated well with the pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD) derived pulmonary flow (PWD vs. controller: 1.8 ± 0.2 vs. 1.9 ± 0.2L/min, r = 0.85, p = 0.012). Conclusions iCPR after CA provided sufficient unloading and preservation of the LV systolic function by improving LV-GWI recovery. The addition of iNO to iCPR enabled better preservation of the RV-function as determined by better RV-GWI. Additionally, Impella-derived flow provided an accurate measure of total flow during iCPR.


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