Heart : official journal of the British Cardiac Society
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Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare and potentially lethal cause of myocardial infarction (MI). The purpose of our study was to estimate the prevalence and maternal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by SCAD. ⋯ SCAD is a rare aetiology of MI; risk factors and outcomes are illustrated in the current study. The puerperium is an important period for the development of pregnancy-related SCAD. Careful evaluation of pregnant and postpartum women with chest pain is warranted, especially if these risk factors are identified.
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A 75-year-old patient with hypertension and severe aortic stenosis underwent elective coronary angiography that showed mild non-obstructive disease in the mid left anterior descending artery (LAD). A left ventriculogram, however, demonstrated segmental systolic dysfunction with dilated akinetic apex (figure 1A, see online supplementary video 1). There was no history of prior myocardial infarction and the patient had not experienced any chest pain recently. A 12-lead ECG showed widespread deep symmetrical inverted T-waves with the exception of leads I, aVL and V1 (see online supplementary figure S1). Cardiac MRI (CMR) was performed to further delineate the morphology of the left ventricle (LV) and a representative frame in late gadolinium phase is shown (figure 1B). ⋯ Above information is most likely consistent with: Takotsubo cardiomyopathyLeft ventricular pseudoaneurysmApical variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with aneurysm formationA sequel of prior myocardial infarction in the setting of aortic stenosisLeft ventricular non-compaction.
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Observational Study
Perioperative outcomes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy undergoing non-cardiac surgery.
Due to their unique pathophysiological profile, patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) undergoing non-cardiac surgery require additional attention to perioperative management. We sought to compare perioperative outcomes of patients with HCM undergoing non-cardiac surgery with a matched group patients without HCM. ⋯ Patients with HCM undergoing high-risk and intermediate-risk non-cardiac surgeries have a low perioperative event rate, at an experienced centre. However, they have a higher risk of composite events versus matched patients without HCM.
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Case Reports Multicenter Study
ECG features and proarrhythmic potentials of therapeutic hypothermia.
Hypothermia can induce ECG J waves. Recent studies suggest that J waves may be associated with ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with structurally normal hearts. However, little is known about the ECG features, clinical significance or arrhythmogenic potentials of therapeutic hypothermia (TH)-induced J waves. ⋯ J waves were recorded in about 40% of the patients who received TH. They were most frequently observed in the inferior limb leads or lateral precordial leads. Life-threatening VF occurred only rarely (1.7%) during TH and were mainly observed in patients with primary arrhythmic disorder. Although a causal relationship between TH-induced J waves and VF remains unknown, administering TH to this potentially susceptible, high-risk population may require careful attention.