Submammary placement of implantable cardioverter defibrillators: a Singapore plastic surgeon experience

The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in young women has been increasing in recent years owing to greater awareness about inherited cardiac conditions that increase the risk of sudden death. Traditional placement of ICDs in the infraclavicular region among young women often leads to visible scars, a constant prominence that causes irritation from purse or bra straps and can result in body image concerns and device-related emotional distress. In this case series, two women with long QT syndrome required placement of ICDs for prevention of sudden cardiac death. Submammary placement of ICDs was performed in collaboration with electrophysiologists. We describe our local experience and technique in submammary placement of ICDs as well as the challenges faced.

Electrocardiographic findings in pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) poses a challenge to physicians, as it can be difficult to diagnose but results in significant mortality and morbidity in patients. Diagnosing PE requires an integrated approach using clinical findings, electrocardiography (ECG), blood investigations and imaging modalities. Abnormalities in ECG are common among patients with massive acute PE and can serve as a prognostic indicator. In this article, we describe the ECG presentations of two patients diagnosed with PE, and review the literature on the various types of ECG presentations and their role in predicting the prognosis of PE.