Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation versus Permanent Pacemaker Implantation in Patients with Tachycardia-Bradycardia Syndrome

Background and Objectives@#Pacemaker (PM) implantation is a well-accepted treatment option for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and related tachycardiabradycardia syndrome (TBS). Data on the long-term clinical outcomes after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) or PM implantation are sparse. @*Methods@#The medical records of 217 patients with TBS were retrospectively assessed.Outcomes in patients who underwent RFCA (n=108, 49.8%) were compared to those with PM implantation (n=109, 50.2%). The clinical outcomes were sinus rhythm maintenance, conversion to persistent AF, additional procedure or crossover, and the composite of cardiovascular hospitalization and death. @*Results@#During the follow-up period (mean 3.5±2.0 years), the RFCA group, compared to the PM group, showed better sinus rhythm maintenance (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.27;95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15–0.46; p=0.002) and less progression to persistent AF (aHR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.06–0.63; p=0.006). Additional procedure or crossover did not differ significantly between the groups (aHR, 2.07; 95% CI, 0.71–6.06; p=0.185 and aHR, 0.69; 95% CI, 10.8–2.67; p=0.590, respectively). Most RFCA patients (92.6%) did not require pacemaker implantation during long term follow-up period (>3.5 years). The composite endpoint of cardiovascular rehospitalization and death was not significantly different between the groups (aHR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.50–1.66; p=0.769).Background and Objectives: Pacemaker (PM) implantation is a well-accepted treatment option for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and related tachycardiabradycardia syndrome (TBS). Data on the long-term clinical outcomes after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) or PM implantation are sparse. @*Methods@#The medical records of 217 patients with TBS were retrospectively assessed.Outcomes in patients who underwent RFCA (n=108, 49.8%) were compared to those with PM implantation (n=109, 50.2%). The clinical outcomes were sinus rhythm maintenance, conversion to persistent AF, additional procedure or crossover, and the composite of cardiovascular hospitalization and death. @*Results@#During the follow-up period (mean 3.5±2.0 years), the RFCA group, compared to the PM group, showed better sinus rhythm maintenance (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.27;95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15–0.46; p=0.002) and less progression to persistent AF (aHR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.06–0.63; p=0.006). Additional procedure or crossover did not differ significantly between the groups (aHR, 2.07; 95% CI, 0.71–6.06; p=0.185 and aHR, 0.69; 95% CI, 10.8–2.67; p=0.590, respectively). Most RFCA patients (92.6%) did not require pacemaker implantation during long term follow-up period (>3.5 years). The composite endpoint of cardiovascular rehospitalization and death was not significantly different between the groups (aHR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.50–1.66; p=0.769). @*Conclusions@#RFCA is an effective alternative to PM implantation in patients with TBS.In these patients, successful RF ablation of AF is related to a higher rate of sinus rhythm maintenance compared to PM implantation, and the composite outcome of cardiovascular rehospitalization and death is similar.

Transcatheter Closures for Fistula Tract and Paravalvular Leak after Mitral Valve Replacement and Tricuspid Annuloplasty

Paravalvular leaks (PVLs) often occur after surgical valve replacement. Surgical reoperation has been the gold standard of therapy for PVLs, but it carries a higher operative risk and an increased incidence of re-leaks compared to the initial surgery. In high surgical risk patients with appropriate geometries, transcatheter closure of PVLs could be an alternative to redo-surgery. Here, we report a case of successful staged transcatheter closures of a fistula tract between the aorta and right atrium, and mitral PVLs after mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty.

Case series of precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma

Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LBL) is an uncommon subtype of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for only 0.3% of NHL in adults and less than 10% of all LBL cases. Unlike T-cell LBL, it usually presents with extranodal involvement while sparing the bone marrow (BM). Among the 27 patients with LBL treated in the Asan Medical Center between January 2007 and March 2012, 3 had B-LBL. All had a good performance status and low International Prognostic Index. However, unlike most previously reported cases, the patients had lymphoma in their bone marrow and extranodal sites such as bone and lung. After intensive combination chemotherapy, one patient achieved a complete response and the other 2 patients, a partial response. Our experience suggests that multiple extranodal sites may be involved in B-LBL and BM involvement may not be as infrequent as previously thought. Furthermore, intensive chemotherapy seems to be effective.

Portal Vein Cannulation During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography / 대한내과학회지

A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with obstructive jaundice. Abdominal CT scan demonstrated a mass at the head of the pancreas. The patient was diagnosed as having obstructive jaundice caused by pancreatic cancer. We tried to relieve the bile duct obstruction by ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). After several cannulation attempts, we thought that we had achieved deep cannulation of the bile duct and tried to place a biliary plastic stent. During ERCP, however, we noticed massive air in the portal venous system, indicating possible cannulation of the portal vein. The procedure was terminated immediately and abdominal computed tomography revealed air in the portal venous system. Fortunately, there were no subsequent complications. The air in the portal vein had disappeared, ascertained by CT scan taken 5 days later. The patient underwent surgical resection for pancreatic cancer. Isolated portal vein cannulation per se does not usually result in mortality or serious morbidity.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Due to Hematoma as a Rare Complication after Femoral Arterial Catheterization / 영남의대학술지

Hematoma is quite a common complication of femoral arterial catheterization. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous studies regarding deep vein thrombosis (DVT) caused by compression of a vein due to a hematoma. We report a case of a hematoma developing after femoral arterial catheterization and causing extensive symptomatic DVT. A 59-year-old male was seen in our Emergency Department with right lower leg swelling 15 days after coronary stent implantation performed using right femoral artery access. Computed tomographic (CT) scanning revealed a large hematoma (45 mm in its longest diameter) compressing the common femoral vein and with DVT from the right external iliac vein to the popliteal vein. Due to the extensive DVT involvement, we decided to release the compressed common femoral vein by surgical evacuation of the large hematoma. However, even following evacuation of the hematoma, as the DVT did not resolve soon, further mechanical thrombectomy and catheter-directed thrombolysis were performed. Angiography then showed nearly resolved DVT, and the leg swelling was improved. The patient was discharged with the anticoagulation medication, warfarin.

A Case of Synovial Sarcoma in Mediastinum / 영남의대학술지

Synovial sarcoma is a rare malignancy in the thoracic cavity, especially in the mediastinum. In this paper, a case of primary mediastinal synovial sarcoma is reported. A 34-year-old woman was hospitalized with dyspnea. Her chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed a 16x13x11 cm mass in her anterior mediastinal space. Surgical resection was performed but was incomplete. The pathological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis of monophasic spindle cell synovial sarcoma. The patient underwent adjuvant radiotherapy for two months, but local recurrence and metastasis occurred in her pleural cavity. She eventually underwent chemotherapy for one year and died 18 months after her operation.

Anaphylaxis due to fentanyl during radiofrequency ablation

This case report describes a life-threatening anaphylaxis to fentanyl during radiofrequency ablation (RFA). A 50-year-old woman with hepatocellular carcinoma was admitted for RFA. She denied any history of adverse drug reactions or past adverse anesthetic reaction. Physical examination, vital signs, any laboratory findings were all within normal limits. Ten minutes after intravenous administration of 50 mcg of fentanyl before starting RFA, she developed generalized erythema and sudden onset of bronchospasm followed by respiratory arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) commenced with 100% oxygen and intravenous administration of epinephrine 1 mg. After 5 minutes of CPR, she had the return of spontaneous circulation. Chest X-ray revealed pulmonary edema which resolved over two days. She recovered completely and was discharged home. After six weeks, intradermal tests performed with fentanyl, remifentanyl, midazolam, and profopol. Among those, only fentanyl induced positive skin response. Fentanyl induced anaphylaxis was diagnosed for this case, and fentanyl was avoided in the subsequent general anesthesia for liver transplantation. This case suggested that fentanyl could induce anaphylaxis combined with uncommon comorbidities like pulmonary edema.