Mural Endocarditis and Embolic Pneumonia Due to Trueperella pyogenes in an Adult Cow with Ventricular Septal Defect

Bacterial endocarditis represents one of the most frequently acquired cardiac diseases in adult cattle. Congenital heart diseases as a ventricular septal defect can facilitate bacterial endocarditis as a consequence of turbulent blood flow through the defect, causing damage to the endocardium. We describe a case of mural endocarditis associated with a ventricular septal defect in an eight-year-old female Holstein Friesian cow. The cow’s history revealed that she had presented dysorexia and a sudden decrease of milk production in the last 10 days prior to the examination. On clinical examination, jugular pulses, tachycardia with irregular heart rate and tachypnea with harsh bronchovesicular sounds were evident. Electrocardiographic examination allowed the diagnosis of an atrial fibrillation with high ventricular response rate. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large vegetation originating from the endocardium between the tricuspid and pulmonic valves in the right ventricle outflow. On post-mortem examination, a small muscular septal defect under the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve and a mural vegetative endocarditis were found. An abscess in the chondro-costal junction of the third right rib and metastatic pneumonia were also observed. This case report describes a rare consequence of a small ventricular septal defect that had not been previously diagnosed in an adult cow.

Diagnosis difficulties in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation and complete atrioventricular block

The association of atrial fibrillation (AF) with complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) is a common clinical feature in elderly patients. It is characterized by the loss of specific symptoms of AF (palpitations, intermissions); in the first place may come CAVB symptoms: dizziness, Morgagni–Adams–Stokes (MAS) attacks. Aim. The article objective is to illustrate the dynamic changes in the course of AF with the development of CAVB on the example of a clinical case and to discuss the difficulties in timely diagnosis and therapy correction. Case presentation. A 75-year-old male was diagnosed with a rapid ventricular response form of AF. The onset of CAVB caused the transition from rapid ventricular response form of AF to slow ventricular response form, which was initially accompanied by a subjective improvement in the patient’s condition. As the disease progressed, the patient’s condition worsened due to the development of MAS attacks. The elderly patients with a permanent form of AF require constant cardiac monitoring by an experienced specialist who has appropriate vigilance in management of patients with arrhythmias, awareness about possible concomitant conduction disorders. This provides comprehensive cardiac support, including timely pacemaker implantation which gives more options for AF symptoms monitoring and heart rate control, has a positive modifying effect on drug therapy. Conclusions. Changes in the clinical picture of AF after development of CAVB can lead to late diagnosis of CAVB, inadequate therapy and untimely pacemaker implantation, as a consequence, to progression of concomitant pathology and the development of life-threatening complications, as in our clinical case.

Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction Due to Atrial Fibrillation: Clinical and Echocardiographic Predictors

Background: Diagnosis of AF-induced cardiomyopathy can be challenging and relies on ruling out other causes of cardiomyopathy and, after restoration of sinus rhythm, recovery of left ventricular (LV) function. The aim of this study was to identify clinical and echocardiographic predictors for developing cardiomyopathy with systolic dysfunction in patients with atrial tachyarrhythmia. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a large tertiary care centre and compared patients who experienced deterioration of LV ejection fraction (EF) during paroxysmal AF, demonstrated by precardioversion transoesophageal echocardiography with patients with preserved LV function during AF. All patients had documented preserved LVEF at baseline (EF >50%) while in sinus rhythm. Results: Of 482 patients included in the final analysis, 80 (17%) had reduced and 402 (83%) had preserved LV function during the precardioversion transoesophageal echocardiography. Patients with reduced LVEF were more likely to be men and to have a more rapid ventricular response during AF or atrial flutter (AFL). A history of prosthetic valves was also identified as a risk factor for reduced LVEF. Patients with reduced LVEF also had higher incidence of tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular dysfunction. Conclusion: In ‘real-world’ experience, male patients with rapid ventricular response during paroxysmal AF or AFL are more prone to LVEF reduction. Patients with prosthetic valves are also at risk for LVEF reduction during AF/AFL. Finally, tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular dysfunction may indicate relatively long-standing AF with an associated reduction in LVEF.

Anaesthesia Concern in High-Risk Cases Under-Going Ambulatory Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Objective:To evaluate pre-operative implications, anesthetic management and post-operative anesthetic concerns in patientswith co-morbid diseases undergoing ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Study Design and setting:Retrospective study was conducted at Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad from 8thOct 2017 to 5th Nov 2018. Methodology:Total one hundred and twelve patients were placed in American society of Anaesthesiologist (ASA) classII, III & IV (medically optimized) on pre-operative evaluation for ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Generalanesthesia was administered with co-induction (nalbuphine 0.1mg/kg plus midazolam 0.01mg/kg) tracheal intubationfacilitated by 0.15mg/kg cis-atracurium. Post-operatively on clinical status evaluation and Post Anesthesia Discharge score,patients were shifted to respective ward /intensive care. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS v.21. Results:Pre-operatively medical and cardiologist evaluation was taken in 34(30.35%) and 42(37.5%) cases respectivelywhereas consultant anesthesiologist reviewed all cases. In study single case was converted to open method due to mirrizisyndrome and adhesions creating difficult laparoscopic dissection in 9(8.03%) of cases. Post-operatively in single caseatrial fibrillation with fast ventricular response noted followed by sudden bradycardia, managed and sinus rhythm restored,whereas in other case of ischemic heart disease with viral respiratory infection, needed ventilatory support after 2 hoursdue to respiratory distress and weaned off after 24hrs. In the study 76(67.9%) cases were shifted post-operatively to surgical ward and 36 cases (32.1%) needed intensive care treatment. Conclusion:Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with co-morbid states requires balanced anesthetic technique considering consequences of pneumoperitoneum to decrease morbidity.

Acute heart failure and bradyarrhythmia in a young male—what hides beneath the surface?: a case report

Background Muscular dystrophies are characterized by early onset muscular atrophy and weakness, with frequent cardiac involvement. Myocardial dysfunction and conduction system involvement are often rapidly progressive despite medical and device therapy, and may even precede muscular symptoms, posing a challenge to diagnosis. Case summary We report a case of a young male admitted to a cardiac intensive care unit due to “de novo” acute heart failure and atrial flutter with a slow ventricular response. Careful evaluation of past medical history revealed presence of neuromuscular symptoms since childhood, disregarded throughout adult age. Diagnostic workup allowed to establish a diagnosis of non-dilated hypokinetic cardiomyopathy secondary to Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, due to Lamin A/C gene mutation. Our patient was treated with neurohormonal modulation therapy and a CRT-D was implanted, but due to worsening advanced heart failure, cardiac transplantation was needed. Discussion Association of skeletal muscle and cardiac symptoms should always raise the suspicion for an underlying muscular dystrophy, since the consequences of a missed diagnosis are often dramatic. A timely diagnosis is crucial to prevent sudden death due to arrythmias in these patients and to delay the progressive course of cardiomyopathy.

Management strategies for atrial fibrillation and flutter in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) and flutter (AFL) are common in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM). Ventricular rate control drugs in ATTR-CM are poorly tolerated but data addressing tolerability and efficacy of rhythm control strategies is limited. Purpose We report characteristics and outcomes of AF/AFL in a cohort with ATTR-CM. Methods A single center observational study of patients seen at our Amyloidosis Center with wild-type or hereditary ATTR-CM diagnosed between 2005–2019. Treatment was prescribed as per treating cardiologists. Results Eighty-four patients with ATTR-CM (average age 74±10 years, 94% male) had mean follow-up of 27.6±22.8 months. AF/AFL occurred in 61 patients (73%). Clinically significant rapid ventricular response (RVR) was common as well attempted rate control with AV node blockers (Table 1). However, discontinuation was frequent (80%), often for adverse effects of hypotension (33%), bradycardia (15%), or presyncope/syncope (10%). Rhythm control was initiated in 64%, most often with cardioversion (DCCV) or ablation (Table 2). Post-DCCV recurrence was common (91%) and time to recurrence did not differ with use of anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD; 5.8 months (IQR 1.9–12.5) vs without AAD 6.2 months (IQR 1.9–12.5) p=0.83). TEE was performed for 33% of DCCV with thrombus seen in 11% of cases – all patients who were not anticoagulated at the time. TEE was otherwise deferred due to known AF/AFL duration <48 hours (13%) or adequate anticoagulation (54%). Ablation was performed in 23% of patients with AFL (all for typical AFL) with 2 patients (14%) having recurrence after mean of 60.9 months. Pulmonary vein isolation for AF was performed in 12% (86% for persistent AF) with 86% recurrence after median of 6.2 months (IQR 5.6–12.3). Most patients (62%) with rhythm control had subjective improvement (≥1 NYHA class or resolved palpitations). Among AAD, amiodarone was most well tolerated with only 8% of patient discontinuing due to side effects. DCCV and ablation resulted in no direct complications although one patient had a perforation of a previously unknown Zenker diverticulum during TEE pre-DCCV. Conclusions In our ATTR-CM cohort, AF/AFL was common. Rate control was poorly tolerated and often abandoned. While rhythm control of AF/AFL had a favorable safety profile and successful conversion to sinus rhythm led to symptomatic improvement in a majority of cases, durable success with rhythm control was limited, often requiring multiple therapies. DCCV is only modestly successful and not significant improved with AAD. Ablation was successful in cases of cavo-tricuspid isthmus dependent AFL but had limited success in AF. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Cranial nerve palsies, SIADH and atrial fibrillation: a diagnostic challenge

We recently encountered a 79-year-old Caucasian man who presented with blurring of vision and facial muscle weakness. The patient also had hyponatraemia, atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response and underlying Brugada type II pattern. Urine and serum osmolality were consistent with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). It was only after extensive imaging and workup that we were able to tie together these three different presentations of Lyme disease—cranial nerve palsies, SIADH and atrial fibrillation and treat them accordingly. To the best of our knowledge, only eight cases of SIADH in patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis have been reported in the literature. Although our patient did not have a history of arrhythmias, case findings suggest that underlying Brugada type II morphology could have been the predisposing factor, and Lyme disease the trigger.