Shaun Cardozo

Impella induced massive hemolysis: reemphasizing echocardiographic guidance for correct placement.

The Impella LP 2.5 (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) has been a tool of use for high risk coronary procedures and for cardiogenic shock. As with any invasive or intracardiac device, improper placement can result in disastrous complications. Hemolytic anemia secondary to Impella implantation is one of the documented complications. However, cases of severe hemolytic anemia are rare in the literature. Proven imaging modalities like ultrasound need to be used to guide proper placement. We present a case of device induced severe hemolysis due to Impella insertion and the need to use ultrasound guidance to avoid such an unnecessary complication.

A Shocking Complication of a Pneumothorax: Chest Tube-Induced Arrhythmias and Review of the Literature

We describe a patient with a recent chest tube insertion leading to atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate that led to multiple inappropriate internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD) shocks. This is the first reported case of this occurring in a patient with an ICD leading to inappropriate shocks. Our elderly patient with emphysema presented with a spontaneous pneumothorax and developed rapid atrial fibrillation following emergency tube thoracostomy. The patient had a single lead ICD and received multiple inappropriate shocks for the rapid ventricular rate in the therapy zone. Although medical treatment helped stabilize the patient, resolution of the atrial fibrillation occurred only after the chest tube was removed. In a patient with a chest tube or other intrathoracic catheters, maintaining a high index of suspicion that chest tube insertions can cause secondary life threatening cardiovascular complications needs to be considered. In such patients, removal of the device proves to be the most prudent treatment action.

Thrombus Formation on Amplatzer Septal Occluder Device: Pinning Down the Cause

The use of interatrial septal occluder devices is an efficacious and less invasive alternative to open heart surgery for the repair of atrial septal defects. These devices present significant risks including thrombus formation on the device and subsequent thromboembolic events. We present a case of a woman who presented with stroke-like symptoms five years after PFO closure. The patient was subsequently found to have a thrombus on the occluder device. Our case highlights the risk of such thrombolic phenomenon and the risk associated with the device structure as a nidus for such a complication.

Incremental Value of Two Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in the Functional Assessment and Characterization of Subclinical Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction refers to subtle abnormalities in LV function which typically precede a reduction in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The assessment of myocardial function using LVEF, a radial metric of systolic function, is subject to load dependence, intra-observer and inter-observer variability. Reductions in LVEF typically manifest late in the disease process thus compromising the ability to intervene before irreversible impairment of systolic perfor-mance sets in. 2-Dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE), a novel strain imaging modality has shown promise as a sensitive indicator of myocardial contractility. It arms the clinician with a powerful and practical tool to rapidly quantify cardiac mechanics, circumventing several inherent limitations of conventional echocardiography. This article highlights the incremental utility of 2D-STE in the detection of subclinical LV dysfunction.

Guide Wire Induced Cardiac Tamponade: The Soft J Tip Is Not So Benign

Central venous catheter (CVC) insertion rarely causes cardiac tamponade due to perforation. Although it is a rare complication, it can be lethal if not identified early. We report a case of cardiac tamponade caused by internal jugular (IJ) central venous catheter (CVC) insertion using a soft J-tipped guide wire which is considered safe and rarely implicated with cardiac tamponade. A bedside transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed a pericardial effusion with tamponade. An emergent bedside pericardiocentesis was done revealing bloody fluid and resulted in clinical stabilization.

HOSPITALIZATION BURDEN OF DIASTOLIC HEART FAILURE IN THE UNITED STATES: 2007-2012

Introduction: Diastolic heart failure is a major cause of morbidity, mortality and financial burden in the United States. However, recent nationwide trends in healthcare resource utilization and in-hospital outcomes are sparse. Methods: National Inpatient Sample database 2007-2012, from Healthcare

ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF LATE DISCHARGE AFTER TRANSCATHETER AORTIC CATHETER IMPLANTATION

Background: Early discharge after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been found to be safe and feasible in selected patients, yet majority patients are discharged late (>3 days post-TAVI) during hospitalization. Studies on correlation of hospitalization costs and length of stay post-

Atrial septal defect repair gone wrong.

Isolated atrial septal defect (ASD) accounts for 13% of congenital heart disorders. The anatomic location, size, and coexistence of other cardiac anomalies determine outcomes of repair. Surgical closure was the first‐choice treatment until the 1990s and remains the only treatment for large defects. We describe a case of a 64‐year‐old woman who underwent surgical repair for an ASD as a child in 1959. She presented with dyspnea to the hospital almost 53 years after the surgery. Diagnostic cardiac imaging revealed interesting anatomy of the repair surgery. Transthoracic echocardiography showed areas of flow signal across the patch consistent with surgical perforation of the patch to reduce symptoms of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Despite intervention, severe dilation of the SVC along with a thrombus is seen. CT angiography of the heart showed the ASD patch occluding the ostium of the SVC instead of patching the ASD. Transesophageal echocardiography showed malpositioned patch allowing the sinus venosus ASD to remain patent.

Fibrin sheath-associated endovascular infection of the heart: the Trojan horse of indwelling central venous catheters.

Chronic indwelling central venous catheters can result in formation of fibrin sheaths increasing risk of occlusion, thrombosis and infection. Endovascular infection of right-sided heart structures induced by such sheaths is very rare. A 48-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease initially treated for diabetic ketoacidosis developed persistent Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteraemia without an identifiable source. Although transthoracic echocardiography was unremarkable, transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a fibrin sheath and vegetations in superior vena cava–right atrium junction, which was the site of the tip of a central catheter that had been removed 2 months prior, consistent with fibrin sheath-associated endovascular infection. The bacteraemia cleared and clinical improvement was seen with prolonged intravenous vancomycin. In patients with unexplained bacteraemia and history of a central catheter, rare causes of endovascular infections of right-sided heart structures like fibrin sheaths should be considered. These can persist months after catheter removal. Transoesophageal echocardiogram should be used for earlier detection.

RECENT TRENDS IN HOSPITALIZATION FOR CORONARY ARTERY DISSECTION (NATIONWIDE INPATIENT SAMPLE, 2007-2012)

There is little information available regarding hospitalizations for coronary artery dissection (CoAD). We identified hospitalizations with principal discharge diagnosis of CoAD using ICD-9CM code 414.12 in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (