scholarly journals Electrocardiographic manifestations in a large right-sided pneumothorax

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Yamamoto ◽  
Kazuhiro Satomi ◽  
Yoshiyasu Aizawa

Abstract Background Pneumothorax is an extrapulmonary air accumulation within the pleural space between the lung and chest wall. Once pneumothorax acquires tension physiology, it turns into a potentially lethal condition requiring prompt surgical intervention. Common symptoms are chest pain and dyspnea; hence an electrocardiogram (ECG) is often performed in emergent settings. However, early diagnosis of pneumothorax remains challenging since chest pain and dyspnea are common symptomatology in various life-threatening emergencies, often leading to overlooked or delayed diagnosis. While the majority of left-sided pneumothorax-related ECG abnormalities have been reported, right-sided pneumothorax-related ECG abnormalities remain elucidated. Case presentation A 51-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute-onset chest pain and dyspnea. Upon initial examination, the patient had a blood pressure of 98/68 mmHg, tachycardia of 100 beats/min, tachypnea of 28 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation of 94% on ambient air. Chest auscultation revealed decreased breath sounds on the right side. ECG revealed sinus tachycardia, phasic voltage variation of QRS complexes in V4–6, P-pulmonale, and vertical P-wave axis. Chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans confirmed a large right-sided pneumothorax. The patient’s symptoms, all the ECG abnormalities, and increased heart rate on the initial presentation resolved following an emergent tube thoracostomy. Moreover, we found that these ECG abnormalities consisted of two independent factors: respiratory components and the diaphragm level. Besides, CT scans demonstrated the large bullae with a maximum diameter of 46 × 49 mm in the right lung apex. Finally, the patient showed complete recovery with a thoracoscopic bullectomy. Conclusions Herein, we describe a case of a large right-sided primary spontaneous pneumothorax with characteristic ECG findings that resolved following re-expansion of the lung. Our case may shed new light on the mechanisms underlying ECG abnormalities associated with a large right-sided pneumothorax. Moreover, ECG manifestations may provide useful information to suspect a large pneumothorax or tension pneumothorax in emergent settings where ECGs are performed on patients with acute chest pain and dyspnea.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Rachow ◽  
Tim Sandhaus ◽  
Thomas Ernst ◽  
Helmut Schiffl ◽  
Susanne M. Lang

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancer types, frequently metastasizing into the lungs. Treatment options have been vastly improved over the last years. With the increasing use of targeted therapies novel and rare adverse effects can be seen. In this report, we present the case of recurrent spontaneous bilateral pneumothorax due to fulminant tumor necrosis during the administration of regorafenib in a heavily pretreated patient with multiple lung metastases from colorectal cancer. Case presentation: A 43-year-old woman presented in our oncology department with chest pain and dyspnea. The patient was diagnosed with colorectal cancer seven years earlier and had received chemoradiation, surgery and multiple chemotherapies, before she was started on regorafenib because of progressive pulmonary metastases. Clinical examination revealed no breath sounds in the right hemithorax. The patient was tachycardic and orthopneic. Computed tomography scans demonstrated cavitation of former nodular bilateral pulmonary metastases. After drainage and resolution of the right-sided pneumothorax the patient returned eleven days later with recurrent dyspnea, chest pain and subcutaneous emphysema. Bilateral pneumothoraces were treated with chest tubes. Due to left-sided tension pneumothorax video-assisted thoracoscopy and bilateral pleurodeses were performed. Persistent air leaks with severe pain and pulmonary infiltrates led to the death of the patient. Conclusions: Our case illustrates the effectiveness of regorafenib in a highly pretreated patient. However, in our patient the ensuing cavitation of the multiple nodes led to recurrent pneumothoraces and associated infectious complications. Therefore, special surveillance should be implemented to detect potential transformation of solid pulmonary metastases during treatment with this multi-kinase inhibitor.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. e235281
Author(s):  
Sanjan Asanaru Kunju ◽  
Prithvishree Ravindra ◽  
Ramya Kumar Madabushi Vijay ◽  
Priya Pattath Sankaran

A 20-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and shortness of breath. She was in obstructive shock with absent breath sounds on the left haemithorax. Chest X-ray showed a large radiolucent shadow with absent lung markings and mediastinal shift to the right side with concerns for tension pneumothorax. Though tube thoracostomy was done on the left side of the chest, column movement was absent. To confirm the diagnosis CT with contrast was done that revealed a huge left side diaphragmatic defect with abdominal contents in the thorax and mediastinal structures are shifted to left. She underwent emergency laparotomy and postoperative period was uneventful.


2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 535-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianne Melo Machado ◽  
Gláucia Zanetti ◽  
Cesar Augusto Araujo Neto ◽  
Luiz Felipe Nobre ◽  
Gustavo de Souza Portes Meirelles ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze chest CT scans of patients with thoracic textiloma. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 16 patients (11 men and 5 women) with surgically confirmed thoracic textiloma. The chest CT scans of those patients were evaluated by two independent observers, and discordant results were resolved by consensus. RESULTS: The majority (62.5%) of the textilomas were caused by previous heart surgery. The most common symptoms were chest pain (in 68.75%) and cough (in 56.25%). In all cases, the main tomographic finding was a mass with regular contours and borders that were well-defined or partially defined. Half of the textilomas occurred in the right hemithorax and half occurred in the left. The majority (56.25%) were located in the lower third of the lung. The diameter of the mass was ≤ 10 cm in 10 cases (62.5%) and > 10 cm in the remaining 6 cases (37.5%). Most (81.25%) of the textilomas were heterogeneous in density, with signs of calcification, gas, radiopaque marker, or sponge-like material. Peripheral expansion of the mass was observed in 12 (92.3%) of the 13 patients in whom a contrast agent was used. Intraoperatively, pleural involvement was observed in 14 cases (87.5%) and pericardial involvement was observed in 2 (12.5%). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to recognize the main tomographic aspects of thoracic textilomas in order to include this possibility in the differential diagnosis of chest pain and cough in patients with a history of heart or thoracic surgery, thus promoting the early identification and treatment of this postoperative complication.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 757-759
Author(s):  
Sira laohathai

We report a case of isolated traumatic rupture of the azygous vein. A 33-year-old female suffered blunt chest injury from the airbag explosion in a car accident. Initial examination revealed decreased breath sounds in the right chest. Computed tomography showed a massive right hemothorax without evidence of rib fracture or great vessel injury. An emergency exploratory thoracotomy was performed due to massive hemothorax with unstable vital signs. A laceration in the anterior wall of the azygos vein was identified. Bleeding was controlled by double ligation at the injury site. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7 without any sequelae.


2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 203-206
Author(s):  
Vanja Kostovski ◽  
Aleksandar Ristanovic ◽  
Nebojsa Maric ◽  
Natasa Vesovic ◽  
Ljubinko Djenic

Introduction. Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax (SBSP) is a potentially life-threatening state that may imitate many lung diseases. The aim of this report was to describe the presentation and highlights the potential difficulties in diagnosis and management of patients with SBSP. Case outline. A 23-year-old female was urgently assessed because of a progressive dyspnoea of 2-day's duration with associated bilateral chest pain. Lung auscultation revealed equally diminished breath sounds on both sides. During initial examination, there was the evidence of symptomatic deterioration with bilateral pleuritic chest pain, increased dyspnoea and agitation. She was found to have type II respiratory failure with the following biochemical parameters: pH=7.34, PaCO2=6.3 kPa and PaO2=7.9 kPa. The chest radiograph confirmed bilateral partial pneumothoraces of approximately 30%. Both left and right-sided thoracostomies with large-bore chest drain insertions were performed emergently, followed by partial resolutions of pneumothoraces. CT of the chest demonstrated residual pneumothoraces bilaterally with multiple apical bullae. In the further course, she subsequently underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with bilateral apicoectomies, bullectomies and pleural abrasion. Her chest drains were removed 3 days after surgery and a chest radiograph post-treatment demonstrated resolution of the pneumothoraces. She was discharged home without complications. Conclusion. Using clinical presentation, diagnostic algorithm and therapeutic management applied in the case of our patient, we emphasized a few mandatory steps in establishing the diagnosis of SBSP and further treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterini Amaniti ◽  
Chrysoula Provitsaki ◽  
Panagiota Papakonstantinou ◽  
George Tagarakis ◽  
Konstantinos Sapalidis ◽  
...  

Tension pneumothorax during general anaesthesia is a rare but possibly deleterious event, especially where predisposing factors are absent or unknown, making diagnosis even challenging. We describe a case of a healthy middle-aged woman, who was planned to receive general anaesthesia for total thyroidectomy. After intubation, the patient experienced marked hypoxemia (SpO2=75%), hypotension, and tachycardia. Manual positive pressure ventilation seemed to worsen hypoxemia and tachycardia, while apnoeic oxygenation through circle system with valve open slightly improved cardiorespiratory collapse. The effect of positive ventilation, along with the absence of breath sounds in the right hemithorax and cardiorespiratory collapse, established the diagnosis of tension pneumothorax, managed immediately with emergency thoracentesis and placement of a thoracostomy tube. The patient was improved and pneumothorax was confirmed with chest X-ray and CT. The latter also confirmed the presence of bilateral multiple bullae. The operation was postponed and the patient was extubated a few hours later, in good condition. After thorough evaluation for any systemic disease, which was negative, the patient underwent two-stage thoracotomy for bullectomy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 161 (47) ◽  
pp. 1995-1999
Author(s):  
László Barna ◽  
Zsuzsanna Takács-Szabó ◽  
László Kostyál

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: Congenitalis coronariaanomáliának tekintik azokat a coronariamorfológiai rendellenességeket, melyek 1%-nál kisebb gyakorisággal fordulnak elő. Többségük nem jár tünettel, olykor azonban okozhatnak mellkasi fájdalmat, eszméletvesztést, és hirtelen halálhoz is vezethetnek. A coronariaanomáliák gyakoriságáról Magyarországon eddig csak invazív koronarográfiás adatok alapján jelent meg közlemény. Célkitűzés: Jelen vizsgálatunkban a coronariák eredési rendellenességeinek gyakoriságát mértük fel intézetünk coronaria-komputertomográfiás angiográfián átesett betegeinél. Módszer: A coronaria-komputertomográfiás vizsgálatra került betegek felvételeinek értékelésekor rögzítettük a coronariaanomália jelenlétét. A vizsgálat indikációja általában mellkasi fájdalom volt. 128 szeletes berendezést használtunk, a vizsgálatok során részben retrospektív, részben prospektív EKG-kapuzást alkalmaztunk. Eredmények: 1751 beteg komputertomográfiás angiográfiás felvételeit elemeztük. A betegek között a férfiak aránya 38,4%, a vizsgálatra kerülők életkorának átlaga pedig 58,07 ± 11,07 év volt. Eredési anomáliát 1,83%-ban találtunk, ezen belül a leggyakoribb volt a körbefutó ág (ramus circumflexus) és az elülső leszálló ág különálló eredése a bal Valsalva-sinusból (1%). A további rendellenességek a következők voltak: a jobb coronaria eredése magasan az aortából (0,34%), ramus circumflexus a jobb sinusból vagy a jobb coronariából (0,34%), jobb coronaria a bal Valsalva-sinusból (0,057%), elülső leszálló ág részben a bal Valsalva-sinusból a circumflexustól külön, részben a jobb coronariából (kettős elülső leszálló ág, 0,057%). Következtetés: Mindössze 0,057%-ban fordult elő potenciálisan tünetet okozó coronariaeredési rendellenesség (a bal sinusból eredő jobb coronaria). A komputertomográfiás angiográfia segítségével a coronariaeredés helye pontosan megállapítható, tisztázható az ér lefutása és ennek során viszonya a környező struktúrákhoz. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(47): 1995–1999. Summary. Introduction: Congenital coronary artery anomaly is defined as a coronary morphology which occurs in less than 1% of the cases. Usually these anomalies do not result in symptoms but sometimes they can cause chest pain, syncope and sudden death. In Hungary, the prevalence of these abnormalities was published only from data of invasive coronary angiography. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of the anomalies of coronary origin in the patients of our institution undergoing coronary computed tomography. Method: While reading the computed tomography angiograms of our patients, we registered the presence of coronary anomalies. In most of the cases, the indication of the coronary computed tomography was chest pain. A scanner with 128 detectors was used, scans were performed partly with prospective, partly with retrospective ECG gating. Results: We assessed 1751 patients. The ratio of males was 38.4%, while the average age of patients 58.07 ± 11.07 years. Anomaly of coronary origin was present in 1.83% of our patients, with the separate origin of left anterior descending and left circumflex artery being the most frequent (1%) among them. Other anomalies were as follows: high take-off of the right coronary artery from the ascending aorta (0.34%), left circumflex arising from the right sinus of Valsalva or from the right coronary (0.34%), right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva (0.057%), left anterior descending arising partly from the left sinus of Valsalva, apart from the left circumflex, partly from the right coronary (dual left anterior descending artery, 0.057%). Conclusion: The prevalence of potentially symptomatic coronary anomalies was only 0.057% in our series (right coronary from the left sinus of Valsalva). The computed tomography angiography can precisely define the origin of the coronary artery, depict its run-off and its relationship to the neighbouring structures. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(47): 1995–1999.


Author(s):  
Reina Tonegawa-Kuji ◽  
Kenichiro Yamagata ◽  
Kengo Kusano

Abstract Background  Cough-induced atrial tachycardia (AT) is extremely rare and its electrical origin remains largely unknown. Atrial tachycardias triggered by pharyngeal stimulation, such as swallowing or speech, appears to be more common and the majority of them originate from the superior vena cava or right superior pulmonary vein (PV). Only one case of swallow-triggered AT with right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) origin has been reported to date. Case summary  We present a case of a 41-year-old man with recurring episodes of AT in the daytime. He underwent electrophysiology study without sedation. Atrial tachycardia was not observed when the patient entered the examination room and could not be induced with conventional induction procedures. By having the patient cough periodically on purpose, transient AT with P-wave morphology similar to the clinical AT was consistently induced. Activation mapping of the AT revealed a centrifugal pattern with the earliest activity localized inside the RIPV. After successful radiofrequency isolation of the right PV, AT was no longer inducible. Discussion  In the rare case of cough-induced AT originating from the RIPV, the proximity of the inferior right ganglionated plexi (GP) suggests the role of GP in triggering tachycardia. This is the first report that demonstrates voluntary cough was used to induce AT. In such cases that induction of AT is difficult using conventional methods, having the patient cough may be an effective induction method that is easy to attempt.


Author(s):  
Rin Hoshina ◽  
Hideyuki Kishima ◽  
Takanao Mine ◽  
Masaharu Ishihara

Abstract Background Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is a safe and useful tool. In our case, we are presenting a rare case of a patient with aortic dissection during TOE procedure. Case summary A 79-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) with palpitation. Pre-procedural cardiac computed tomography (CT) showed slight dilated ascending aorta (maximum diameter: 40 mm). We decided to perform catheter ablation (CA) for AF, and recommended TOE before the CA because she had a CHADS2 score of 4. On the day before the CA, TOE was performed. Her physical examinations at the time of TOE procedure were unremarkable. At 3 min after probe insertion, there was no abnormal finding of the ascending aorta. At 5 min after the insertion, TOE showed ascending aortic dissection without pericardial effusion. After waking, she had severe back pain and underwent a contrast-enhanced CT. Computed tomography demonstrated Stanford type A aortic dissection extending from the aortic root to the bifurcation of common iliac arteries, and tight stenosis in the right coronary artery (maximum diameter; 49 mm). The patient underwent a replacement of the ascending aorta, and a coronary artery bypass graft surgery for the right coronary artery. Discussion Transoesophageal echocardiography would have to be performed under sufficient sedation with continuous blood pressure monitoring in patients who have risk factors of aortic dissection. The risk–benefit of TOE must be considered before a decision is made. Depending on the situation, another modality instead of TOE might be required.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Swamad ◽  
M K Quraishi ◽  
S Ahmed

Abstract We present an interesting case of a 70-year-old female who presented with haematuria on the suspected cancer pathway. Renal ultrasound showed a vascular renal mass on her right kidney measuring 8x7cm with an unremarkable left kidney. She underwent a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy following confirmation of an 8cm renal mass in the right kidney on the contrasted staging CT scan with a repeat review at the multidisciplinary meeting. Post-operatively a subsequent review of the pre-operative CT and ultrasound scan, showed an incidental large left(contralateral) upper quadrant retroperitoneal fatty mass sized 15x10cm, displacing the stomach and spleen. Further investigation in the form of an MRI Abdomen excluded features of a liposarcoma, resulting in the diagnosis of a large retroperitoneal lipoma. This case highlights the significance of selective attention in imaging interpretation. We believe this to be a prime example of the level of meticulousness required as fat-rich tissues have low attenuation on CT-scans, which can be easily missed out. A cautious multi-clinician interpretation of scans should be performed to avoid missing potentially sinister pathology which would impact patient care dramatically. This case has led to more thorough review of future pre-operative imaging by the operating surgical team.


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