Journal of electrocardiology
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There are few reports of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) relating to the occlusion of the conus branch, most of which are iatrogenic in nature. So far as we are concerned, this is the first case of spontaneous AMI with isolated conus branch occlusion. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed mild elevation of ST segment in leads V(1) through V(3). ⋯ Right coronary angiography revealed an isolated occlusion of the conus branch. Penetration of the guidewire in the occluded lesion was attempted, and recanalization was successfully achieved. The patient was discharged without any adverse events.
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Myocarditis is an injury of the myocardium caused by a variety of agents. Conduction disturbances such as complete atrioventricular block (AV block) may occur as an infrequent but serious complication of myocarditis. ⋯ Because the AV block was persistent in both cases, permanent pacemaker implantation was necessary. Delayed enhancement in the septal area in myocarditis might be predictive of infra-Hisian AV block.
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A case of ventricular fibrillation due to butane toxicity after unintentional inhalation of air freshener is reported for its rarity and to create awareness among practitioners and the public. A 25-year-old woman collapsed in the supermarket after unintended exposure to air freshener sprayed into her nostrils. Her husband started cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately, and she was brought to the hospital. ⋯ The patient recovered completely without any sequelae and was discharged on the fifth hospital day. On thin layer chromatography, the chemical content of the spray was identified to be isobutane. Avoiding epinephrine and administering β-adrenergic blockers may protect the catecholamine-sensitized heart early during resuscitation in butane exposure cases.
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The J wave, a deflection that follows the QRS complex of the surface electrocardiogram, is usually partially buried in the R wave in humans, appearing as a J-point elevation. An early repolarization (ER) pattern characterized by J-point elevation, slurring of the terminal part of the QRS, and ST-segment elevation has long been recognized and considered to be totally benign. ⋯ Although Brugada syndrome and early repolarization syndrome differ with respect to the magnitude and lead location of abnormal J wave manifestation, they can be considered to represent a continuous spectrum of phenotypic expression, termed J-wave syndromes. Early repolarization syndrome has been proposed to be divided into 3 subtypes: type 1, displaying an ER pattern predominantly in the lateral precordial leads, is prevalent among healthy male athletes and rarely seen in ventricular fibrillation survivors; type 2, displaying an ER pattern predominantly in the inferior or inferolateral leads, is associated with a higher level of risk; whereas type 3, displaying an ER pattern globally in the inferior, lateral, and right precordial leads, is associated with the highest level of risk for development of malignant arrhythmias and is often associated with ventricular fibrillation storms.
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It is well accepted that early reperfusion is beneficial in patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting with ST elevation (STE). Earlier studies suggested lack of beneficial effects in patients presenting without STE and even with ST depression. Currently, time to reperfusion is considered to be a quality of care measure, and the latest American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for the treatment of STE acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) emphasize that the physician at the emergency department should make reperfusion decisions within 10 minutes of performing the initial electrocardiogram (ECG). ⋯ It should be remembered that patients presenting with chest pain and showing benign pattern of NISTE (eg, "early repolarization" or STE secondary to left ventricular hypertrophy) may have true ischemic pain and non-STE myocardial infarction or even STEMI on top of the baseline benign pattern. It seems that, in the "real world," the ability of physicians to differentiate NISTE from STEMI based on the presenting ECG pattern widely varies and depends on the prevalence of baseline NISTE in the patient population. Further studies are needed to assess the ability of various ECG criteria to accurately differentiate between STEMI and NISTE.