scholarly journals Traumatic Tension Pneumothorax as a Cause of ICD Failure: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Ehtesham Ul Haq ◽  
Bassam Omar

Background. Tension pneumothorax can infrequently cause ventricular arrhythmias and increase the threshold of defibrillation. It should be suspected whenever there is difficulty in defibrillation for a ventricular arrhythmia.Purpose. To report a case of traumatic tension pneumothorax leading to ventricular tachycardia and causing defibrillator failure.Case. A 65-year-old African-American female was brought in to our emergency department complaining of dyspnea after being forced down by cops. She had history of mitral valve replacement for severe mitral regurgitation and biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator inserted for nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Shortly after arrival, she developed sustained ventricular tachycardia, causing repetitive unsuccessful ICD shocks. She was intubated and ventricular tachycardia resolved with amiodarone. Chest radiograph revealed large left sided tension pneumothorax which was promptly drained. The patient was treated for congestive heart failure; she was extubated on the third day of admission, and the chest tube was removed.Conclusion. Prompt recognition of tension pneumothorax is essential, by maintaining a high index of suspicion in patients with an increased defibrillation threshold causing ineffective defibrillations.

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Chivulescu ◽  
Ø.H Lie ◽  
H Skulstad ◽  
B A Popescu ◽  
R O Jurcut ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) is an inheritable cardiomyopathy with incomplete penetrance, variable phenotype severity and poorly described disease progression. It is characterized by high risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in young individuals. Risk stratification and selection of patients presenting without history of life-threatening arrhythmic events for cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in primary prevention remains challenging. Purpose We aimed to assess the impact of disease progression on arrhythmic outcomes in AC patients. Methods We included consecutive AC probands and mutation-positive family members with at least one complete follow-up evaluation. Echocardiographic and electrical parameters were defined according to the 2010 Revised Task Force criteria at inclusion and at last follow-up. Structural progression was defined as development of new echocardiographic diagnostic criteria. Electrical progression was defined as the development of new diagnostic depolarization, repolarization and/or premature ventricular complex count criteria during follow-up. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia occurring during follow-up defined incident ventricular arrhythmic events. Results We included a total of 144 patients (48% female, 47% probands, 40±16 years old). At inclusion, 54 patients (37%) had a history of arrhythmic events, 30 patients (21%) had overt structural disease and 114 (79%) had no or minor structural disease. During 7.0 (IQR: 4.5 to 9.4) years of follow-up, 49 patients (43%) with no or minor structural disease at inclusion developed new structural criteria being defined as progressors. Among 80 participants with no or minor structural disease and no arrhythmic history at inclusion, a first arrhythmic event occurred in 14 (17%). The incidence of arrhythmic events was higher in progressors (11/27, 41%) than in non-progressors (3/53, 6%) (p<0.001) (Figure). Structural progression was associated with higher risk of first arrhythmic events during follow-up when adjusted for sex, age at inclusion and follow-up duration, independent of electrical progression (7.6, 95% CI [1.5, 37.2], P=0.01). Incident arrhythmic events distribution Conclusion Almost half of patients without overt structural cardiac disease at genetic diagnosis develop new structural criteria during 7 years follow-up and 17% experienced their first ventricular arrhythmic event. Structural progression was independently associated with ventricular arrhythmic events during follow-up. These findings highlight the increased risk of arrhythmias when structural abnormalities are detected. Their finding may initiate the evaluation for primary prevention cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.


1970 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-233
Author(s):  
M Mukhtar-yola ◽  
LI Audu ◽  
AT Otuneye ◽  
AB Mairami ◽  
EC Otubelu ◽  
...  

Hypomelanosis of Ito (HI) though said to be the third most common neurocutaneus disorder, is rarely reported in paediatric practice in Africa. A high index of suspicion must be maintained in children with cutaneous lesions as a seizure may be the first symptom that may bring the child to attention. A case of HI in a neonate is hereby reported to sensitize clinicians about this relatively uncommon disorder


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (FI1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianfranco Mitacchione ◽  
Marco Schiavone ◽  
Alessio Gasperetti ◽  
Giovanni B Forleo

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with myocardial involvement. Among cardiovascular manifestations, cardiac arrhythmias seem to be fairly common, although no specifics are reported in the literature. An increased risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and electrical storm (ES) has to be considered. Case summary We describe a 68-year-old patient with a previous history of coronary artery disease and severe left ventricular systolic disfunction, who presented to our emergency department describing cough, dizziness, fever, and shortness of breath. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia, confirmed after three nasopharyngeal swabs. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm with multiple implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks was the presenting manifestation of cardiac involvement during the COVID-19 clinical course. A substrate-based VT catheter ablation procedure was successfully accomplished using a remote navigation system. The patient recovered from COVID-19 and did not experience further ICD interventions. Discussion To date, COVID-19 pneumonia associated with a VT storm as the main manifestation of cardiac involvement has never been reported. This case highlights the role of COVID-19 in precipitating ventricular arrhythmias in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy who were previously stable.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 030006052097144
Author(s):  
Yanan Xie ◽  
Jingzhe Han ◽  
Jinming Liu ◽  
Jie Hao ◽  
Xiuguang Zu ◽  
...  

Background Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia (BVT) is a rare, but serious, arrhythmia. Hypokalemia is commonly found in clinical practice, but hypokalemia-induced BVT has rarely been reported. Case presentation A 74-year-old male patient with the symptoms of chest distress and palpitations was admitted owing to frequent discharge of his implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for 4 days. Before admission, the patient experienced diarrhea after intake of crabs, and felt frequent discharge of his ICD with a total of approximately 17 discharges in 4 days. He had no history of digitalis use. The serum potassium level after admission was 3.1 mmol/L and an electrocardiogram was consistent with BVT. The diagnosis was ventricular tachycardia, electrical storm, and hypokalemia. His ventricular tachycardia was completely relieved after correction of hypokalemia. Conclusions After correction of hypokalemia in this patient, the episode of BVT was terminated and no recurrence of BVT was observed during long-term follow-up. Our findings suggest the diagnosis of hypokalemia-induced BVT.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 243
Author(s):  
Tye Patchana ◽  
Hammad Ghanchi ◽  
Taha Taka ◽  
Mark Calayag

Background: Subgaleal hematoma (SGH) is generally documented within the neonatal period and is rarely reported as a result of trauma or hair braiding in children. While rare, complications of SGH can result in ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, visual deficit, and corneal ulceration secondary to hematoma extension into the orbit. Although conservative treatment is preferential, expanding SGH should be aspirated to reduce complications associated with further expansion. Case Description: A 12-year-old African-American female with no recent history of trauma presented with a chief complaint of headache along with a 2-day history of enlarging 2–3 cm ballotable bilateral frontal mass. Hematological workup was negative. The patient’s family confirmed a long history of hair braiding. The patient was initially prescribed a period of observation but returned 1-week later with enlarging SGH, necessitating surgical aspiration. Conclusion: SGH is rare past the neonatal period, but can be found in pediatric and adolescent patients secondary to trauma or hair pulling. Standard workup includes evaluation of the patient’s hematological profile for bleeding or coagulation deficits, as well as evaluation for child abuse. Although most cases of SGH resolve spontaneously over the course of several weeks, close follow-up is recommended. The authors present a case of a 12-year-old female presenting with enlarging subgaleal hemorrhages who underwent surgical aspiration and drainage without recurrence. A literature review was also conducted with 32 pediatric cases identified, 20 of which were related to hair pulling, combing, or braiding. We review the clinical course, imaging characteristics, surgical management, as well as a review of the literature involving subgaleal hemorrhage in pediatric patients and hair pulling.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Zakeri ◽  
Vahid Mohammadi ◽  
Gholamreza Bazmandegan ◽  
Maryam Zakeri

Medicinal herbs and some derivatives have been used in the treatment of heart disease which is rarely responsible for ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) increases the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, only a few reports are available about the cardiac ventricular arrhythmia followed by taking herbal medicines. We present two patients (a couple) without a history of heart disease who referred to the hospital with ventricular arrhythmia.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Balint Laczay ◽  
Venu Menon

Introduction: Flecainide is a class 1c antiarrhythmic commonly used for the treatment of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in the absence of underlying structural heart disease. The significant proarrhythmic effects of the drug warrant familiarity with the drug and its toxicity. Flecainide overdose, whether intentional or iatrogenic, is a life threatening emergency with mortality rates as high as 22.5%. We present a case of intentional flecainide overdose and its management. Case: A 78-year-old man with a history of heart failure, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation on flecainide, presented to a local ED after a suicide attempt. He was initially hemodynamically stable and a 12-lead EKG revealed a wide-QRS bradyarrhythmia (See figure 1). Electrolyte panel showed normal potassium and pH. During transport to our tertiary cardiac intensive care unit, the patient declined and was critically ill on arrival. The diagnosis of flecainide toxicity was suspected and therapy was initiated on arrival. Despite therapy with sodium bicarbonate and fat emulsion, the patient continued to decline. Renal replacement therapy was started and the patient was evaluated for mechanical circulatory support. Ultimately, the patient’s family elected for palliative extubation. The patient’s flecainide level returned more than four times above the therapeutic range. Discussion: This case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion when faced with a wide-QRS arrythmia in a patient with suspected antiarrhythmic overdose. The persistence of these rhythms after correction of acid-base abnormalities and electrolyte derangements should prompt aggressive, empiric treatment of potential overdose. The presence of electromechanical dyssynchrony in this context is an ominous sign and should prompt simultaneous evaluation for biventricular mechanical circulatory support concomitant with medical therapy for suspected overdose. Figure 1


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-160
Author(s):  
Erik Reinertsen ◽  
Stewart G. Neill ◽  
Kambiz Nael ◽  
Daniel J. Brat ◽  
Costas G. Hadjipanayis

We report a case of fibrous meningioma with tyrosine-rich crystalloid in the frontal lobe of a middle-aged woman. The patient presented with a history of several years of worsening headaches and blurry vision, which progressed to include syncopal episodes and right-sided weakness. Imaging demonstrated a dural-based extra-axial mass arising from the right orbital roof and extending superiorly along the right frontal convexity causing right-to-left midline shift. The patient underwent a craniotomy and operative resection. Tumor architecture and cytology was similar to that of a Schwannian neoplasm, with spindled cells arranged in a fascicular architecture and displaying focal nuclear palisading. Immunohistochemical stains confirmed a diagnosis of fibrous meningioma. Light microscopy demonstrated extracellular deposits of eosinophilic crystalline material parallel to the spindled tumor cells, reminiscent of “tyrosine-rich” crystals described in salivary gland neoplasms. This is the third meningioma featuring tyrosine-rich crystalloid reported in the literature; we also summarize the previous 2 reports.


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