Postinfarction posterobasal ventricular septal defect closure with a triple-layer patch

We present the case of a 65-year-old patient who developed a large posterobasal ventricular septal defect resulting from an extensive acute myocardial infarction involving the inferior and basal septum and wall. We repaired the interventricular lesion by verticalizing the cardiac apex to perform a left posterobasal ventriculotomy. We removed a great part of the residual infarcted tissue, leaving the residual scar in place. Our technique first involved creating a double-layer patch comprising heterologous pericardium and a non-collagen-impregnated Sauvage Dacron patch, fixed with single pledgeted U-stitches from the right side of the anterior septum; then we applied a third layer of heterologous pericardium on the left side of the septum in order to have only a pericardial surface in contact with blood on both ventricular sides. A running suture was used to complete the procedure from the middle to the posterior rim of the ventricular septal defect.

Recognition of the anatomical structure of the atrioventricular node: Connection between the retroaortic node and the compact node

Introduction: The complex electrophysiological phenomena related to the atrioventricular node (AVN) are due to its complex anatomical structures. Aside from the inferior nodal extension (INE), other node-like tissues, such as the retroaortic node (RN), have been less described and may also share the mechanism of normal conduction and abnormal conduction in AVN re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Methods: High-density sections of the entire AVN were obtained from rats and rabbits. Fibrosis was analyzed by Masson’s trichrome staining. Connexin (Cx43, Cx40, and Cx45) and ion channel (Nav1.5, Cav3.1, and HCN4) proteins were immunohistochemically labeled for the analysis of tissue features. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the AV junction was performed to clarify the relationships among different structures. Results: The RN expressed the same connexin isoforms as the compact node (CN) and INE. Nav1.5 labeling was present at a low level in the CN, RN and INE, where Cav3.1 and HCN4 were expressed. The CN connected with the RN in a narrow strip pattern at the level of the start of the CN. The RN presented as a shuttle shape and was the only tissue directly connected with the atrium in the anterior septum. Conclusion: The RN connects with the AVN anatomically, suggesting that there is direct electrical conduction between them. The entrance of the atria into the AVN is the distal part of the RN, which may form the fast pathway of the AVN.

P178 Dissecting ventricular septal hematoma; a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction

Ischemic heart disease is the single most common cause of mortality worldwide despite the widespread use of reperfusion. The in-hospital mortality rates of unselected patients with STEMI in national European registries vary between 4–12%.Although the incidence of mechanical complications has declined, these adverse events are still inevitable and constitute one of the major causes of death in the early phase after myocardial infarction. Dissecting interventricular hematoma is a rare life threatening mechanical complication following myocardial infarction. The resultant bleeding dissects along a plane beneath the endocardium. Case presentation A 57 year old male patient presented to the emergency room complaining of acute stabbing retrosternal chest pain radiating to both shoulders associated with nausea and vomiting that started 2 hours before presentation. He was known to be smoker and diabetic and had uncontrolled hypertension. Vital signs were stable and physical examination was unremarkable . Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed normal sinus rhythm at 80 bpm, 5 mm ST elevation in leads I, aVL, V1-V6, reciprocal ST depression in leads II, III,aVF. The patient received thrombolytic therapy within 15 minutes of presentation and it was uneventful. Follow up electrocardiography was done showing failed thrombolytic therapy. The patient was managed conservatively using dual antiplatelets, high dose atorvastatin, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors. The patient remained hemodynamically stable for 5 days after which he developed respiratory distress , heart rate was 110 bpm, blood pressure was 100/60 mmHg. Physical examination revealed clear chest ,S3 gallop. 2D/ 3D transthoracic echocardiography revealed akinesis of the apical segments and mid segment of the anterior septum. There was a dissecting hematoma seen starting at mid anterior septum and extending to the apical segment.Severe mitral valve regurgitation was seen. Conclusion Dissecting interventricular hematoma(DIH) is a rare yet underrecognized mechanical complication following STEMI. Transthoracic echocardiography is considered to be an important imaging modality for the bedside diagnosis. Treatment depends upon the rate of expansion of hematoma. Accordingly, stable patients with hematoma regressing gradually does not require any intervention .However, cases with rapidly expanding hematoma with hemodynamic instability will require urgent surgical intervention. Abstract P178 Figure. Dissecting interventricular hematoma

P1482 Surviving free wall rupture

Introduction Free wall cardiac rupture (CR) is a rare event accounting for 0.1–0.3% of the patients suffering acute myocardial infarction. Its outcome is very poor and it is the third most common cause of early mortality after hospitalization for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Purpose We report a case of a 63 years-old woman surviving a free wall rupture after ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Methods The patient was referred to our cath-lab to undergo primary PCI in ST elevation myocardial infarction. Results Coronary angiography showed long thrombotic occlusion of left anterior descendent (LAD) artery and critical stenosis of posterior descending artery. The CULPRIT lesion on the anterior descending artery was treated with angioplasty and implantation of three drug eluting stents (3.0x31 mm; 2.75x15 mm; 2.5x30 mm). Twenty four hours later the patient developed a double cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity, which were immediately managed with ALS protocol. The patient recovered both time within a couple of minutes and point-of-care transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed a newly developed circumferential pericardial effusion (maximum diastolic diameter 9 mm), associated to a significant thinning of the anterior interventricular septum. A fibrin clot was tamponating a suspected free wall rupture. Emergent coronary angiography showed an in-stent thrombosis but failed to restore adequate blood flow in the LAD artery. In the following days, the patients developed cardiogenic shock handled with i.v. dobutamine and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Only after day 10 hemodynamic parameters started to improve gradually, allowing IABP removal and finally discharge on day 30. A second TTE, performed on day 7, confirmed massive necrosis of the anterior wall with severely reduced ejection fraction (EF 22%), pericardial thrombus and aneurismatic evolution of the apex and the mid-anterior septum. To support our finding we performed a cardiac magnetic resonance which confirmed missing ventricular wall at the anterior apex. It also showed transmural late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) of the anterior mid-apical septum and of the apex and a huge pericardial thrombus encompassing the whole mid-anterior septum (Figure 1, a-f). Before discharge the patient underwent two cardiac surgery visits which contraindicated surgical treatment in the acute phase. Therefore she was sent to cardiac rehabilitation program. Six months later, the patient finally underwent cardiac surgery and the covered free wall rupture was confirmed in the operating theatre. Conclusion This is a very rare case of covered free wall rupture, treated 6 months after the acute event. Multimodality imaging was essential to confirm the diagnosis and to guide the following management. Abstract P1482 Figure 1

The distribution of bleeding sites in idiopathic hidden arterial epistaxis

ObjectiveTo determine the frequency distribution of bleeding sites in idiopathic hidden arterial epistaxis.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, 107 patients with hidden arterial epistaxis were endoscopically examined for sites of bleeding.ResultsAll sites of hidden arterial epistaxis were identified by endoscopic examination. Bleeding sites were identified at initial surgery in 103 patients and during the second surgery in 4. The bleeding sites included: the olfactory cleft region in 47 patients, the inferior meatus region in 29, the middle meatus region in 11, multiple bleeding sites (olfactory cleft and anterior septum) in 3, the anterior roof of the nasal cavity in 4, the nasal floor in 11 and the nasopharynx in 2. The bleeding points showed a white or red volcano-like bump in 75 patients, isolated prominent telangiectasia in 21 and mucosal ulceration in 11.ConclusionCommon sites of hidden arterial epistaxis include the olfactory cleft, inferior meatus and middle meatus. However, there should be awareness of some uncommon bleeding sites (including the anterior roof of the nasal cavity, the nasal floor and the nasopharynx) and of multiple bleeding sites.

Left Ventricular Strain and Dyssynchrony in Young and Middle-Aged Peritoneal Dialysis Patients and Healthy Controls: A Case-Matched Study

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the role of two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging (2D-STI) and myocardial layer-specific analysis in evaluating early left ventricular (LV) myocardial function and systolic dyssynchrony in young and middle-aged uremic patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: We enrolled 31 PD patients aged ≤65 years with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF, ≥54%) as the PD group and 49 age-matched healthy people as the control group. Echocardiography was used to assess the left atrial diameter index (LADI, LAD/BSA), LV mass index (LVMI), LVEF, peak early diastolic velocity/late diastolic velocity (E/A) (measured by pulsed Doppler), and peak early diastolic velocity (by pulsed Doppler)/peak velocity of the early diastolic wave (by pulsed-wave tissue Doppler) (E/e′). Next, we used 2D-STI and myocardial layer-specific analysis to obtain longitudinal strains (LS) of the endocardium (LSendo), the myocardium (LSmyo), the epicardium (LSepi), and the global myocardium (GLS). Then, we measured the postsystolic index (PSI) to evaluate LV myocardial function. Time to peak LS (TTP) and peak strain dispersion (PSD) from 17 consecutive segments were assessed to quantify LV dyssynchrony. Results: Compared with the controls, PD patients had significantly increased LADI (p = 0.041), LVMI (p = 0.000), and E/e′ (p = 0.009), but reduced LVEF (p = 0.000) and E/A (p = 0.000). The average values of GLS (GLS avg) (p = 0.01) and GLS of the apical 2-chamber view (p = 0.003), including the LSendo (p = 0.024), LSmyo (p = 0.024), and LSepi (p = 0.032), were significantly decreased in patients with PD compared with controls. In PSI, segments of LS were markedly delayed in the anterior septum (p = 0.047), anterior (p = 0.000) and septum wall (p = 0.024) from basal segments, anterior wall (p = 0.001) from middle segments, and anterior (p = 0.024) and inferior (p = 0.024) wall from apical segments. Moreover, PSD was significantly increased in PD patients (p = 0.015), while TTP was evidently delayed in the anterior septum (p = 0.004), anterior (p = 0.000) and posterior (p = 0.042) wall from basal segments, and inferior wall (p = 0.048) from apical segments. Conclusions: Despite preserved LVEF, young and middle-aged PD patients developed LV dysfunction and myocardial systolic dyssynchrony earlier compared with controls.

The Doyle–Saleh blink reflex

Objectives:When performing septoplasty or septorhinoplasty, we have observed that patients blink on injection of local anaesthetic (lidocaine 1 per cent with adrenaline 1:80 000) into the nasal mucosa of the anterior septum or vestibular skin, despite appropriate general anaesthesia. This study sought to quantify this phenomenon by conducting a prospective audit of all patients undergoing septoplasty or septorhinoplasty.Methods:Patients were observed for a blink reflex at the time of local anaesthetic infiltration into the nasal vestibule. Also measured at this point were propofol target-controlled infusion levels, remifentanil rate, bispectral index, blood pressure, heart rate, pupil size and position, and patient movement.Results:There were 15 blink reflexes in the 30 patients observed. The average bispectral index value was 32.75 (range, 22–50) in the blink group and 26.77 (range, 18–49) in the non-blink group. No patients moved on local anaesthetic injection.Conclusion:The blink reflex appears to occur in 50 per cent of patients, despite a deep level of anaesthesia. Without an understanding and appreciation of the blink reflex, this event may result in a request to deepen anaesthesia, but this is not necessary and surgery can proceed safely.

Immunoglobulin G4 related disease isolated to the nasal cavity: a rare cause of nasal obstruction

Background:Immunoglobulin G4 related disease is a rare condition. Cases involving the sinonasal region are exceptionally uncommon. This paper describes a case of immunoglobulin G4 related disease isolated solely to the nasal cavity.Methods:Case report and literature review.Results:A 34-year-old man presented with painless, progressive bilateral nasal obstruction. Clinical examination and imaging findings demonstrated bilateral submucosal swelling of the anterior septum and right external nasal wall. Biopsy revealed immunoglobulin G4 related disease. The patient responded to oral corticosteroids initially, followed by long-term methotrexate.Conclusion:To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the first report in the literature of immunoglobulin G4 related disease isolated solely to the nasal cavity.