Texas Heart Institute journal
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Case Reports
Direct cannulation of the infrahepatic vena cava for emergent cardiopulmonary bypass support.
Cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass, although seemingly routine, can pose technical challenges. In patients undergoing repeat sternotomy, for example, peripherally established cardiopulmonary bypass may be necessary to ensure safe entry into the chest; however, establishing bypass in this way can sometimes be complicated by patients' body habitus. We describe a technique for direct cannulation of the infrahepatic abdominal vena cava that was required for emergent cardiopulmonary bypass. ⋯ The rest of the operation was uneventful. Our technique for direct cannulation of the infrahepatic abdominal vena cava may be used in exceptional circumstances. Necessary precautions and potential pitfalls are also presented.
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Acquired left ventricular-to-right atrial communication is encountered periodically. This condition is chiefly attributable to surgical mishaps, trauma, endocarditis, or endomyocardial biopsy. In a few instances, a Gerbode-like defect develops after the repair of an atrioventricular septal defect. ⋯ After surgical correction of the shunt and the associated mitral incompetence, the patient experienced a good outcome. Echocardiographic and intraoperative findings are presented, along with a plausible explanation for the mechanism and presentation of the condition in our patient. To our knowledge, this is only the 2nd report of an acquired shunt between the left atrium and the right ventricle, and the 1st such case to be accompanied by severe mitral valve incompetence.
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Diagnostic evaluation of embolic neurologic events requires the consideration of cardiac causes. We recently encountered a case that emphasizes the importance of cardiac tumor as a source of embolic events. We present herein the case of a 42-year-old woman who suffered a transient ischemic attack caused by a papillary fibroelastoma that originated from the aortic valve.
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We describe the initial--and successful--use of the TandemHeart System's catheters to provide extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), in 2 patients. In 1 patient, who was experiencing severe primary respiratory failure, the catheters provided a standard venovenous ECMO circuit. In the other patient, who had severe, acute pulmonary hypertension and right-heart failure, the catheters enabled a novel right atrial-to-left atrial circuit for ECMO. We discuss the potential of the TandemHeart System's catheters to provide novel and possibly superior vascular routes for the delivery of ECMO in different types of cardiopulmonary failure.
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The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of electrical storm in 227 patients who had received implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and had been monitored for 31.7 +/- 15.6 months. Of these, 174 (77%) were men. The mean age was 55.8 +/- 15.5 years (range, 20-85 yr), and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 0.30 +/- 0.14. ⋯ Clinical variables with the most significant association with electrical storm were low LVEF (P = 0.04; hazard ratio of 0.261, and 95% confidence interval of 0.08-0.86) and higher use of class IA antiarrhythmic drugs (P = 0.018, hazard ratio of 3.84, and 95% confidence interval of 1.47-10.05). Amiodarone treatment and use of beta-blockers were not significant predictors when subjected to multivariate analysis. We conclude that electrical storm is most likely to occur in patients with lower LVEF and that the use of Class IA antiarrhythmic drugs is a risk factor.