Embolismo por cristales de colesterol con síndrome de disfunción multiorgánica / Cholesterol crystal embolism with multiorgan dysfunction syndrome

Resumen: La embolia por cristales de colesterol es una enfermedad sistémica caracterizada por la oclusión de pequeñas arterias debido al desprendimiento de los mismos desde las placas de ateroma formadas en las paredes de arterias principales. Este caso clínico corresponde a un paciente masculino de 77 años de edad con factores de riesgo de enfermedad vascular que ingresó al servicio de urgencias por disnea y ortopnea. Se diagnosticó un cuadro clínico de insuficiencia cardiaca aguda y recibió tratamiento médico con buena respuesta. Se realizó una cinecoronariografía que evidenció severa ateroesclerosis coronaria con enfermedad de tres vasos, recibió tratamiento endovascular con colocación de endoprótesis vasculares. Luego de 20 días el paciente evolucionó con deposiciones melénicas, oligoanuria y claudicación intermitente progresiva en ambos miembros inferiores. Se observó obstrucción del flujo arterial en ambas arterias pedias por ecografía doppler; las biopsias de la piel de los pies revelaron signos vasculares correspondientes a depósitos de cristales de colesterol. Se interpretó enfermedad por embolia de cristales de colesterol secundario a las maniobras de cateterización previa, que provocaron alteraciones multiorgánicas isquémicas y persistentes. Resulta interesante este padecimiento porque es un proceso grave que demanda alto grado de sospecha clínica, el diagnóstico definitivo se establece mediante biopsia de las lesiones cutáneas, el pronóstico depende de la extensión de la enfermedad y en la actualidad no existe un tratamiento específico.

Abstract: The cholesterol crystal embolism is a systemic disease characterized by the occlusion of small arteries due these crystals, which come from the atheroma plaques of the walls of major arteries. This clinical case corresponds to a 77-year-old male patient with risk factors for cardiovascular disease who entered at the emergency service due dyspnea and orthopnea. In the Coronary Unit, a clinical status of acute heart failure was diagnosed, receiving medical treatment with good response. It was decided to perform a coronary angiography which showed a severe coronary atherosclerosis with 3-vessel compromised and endovascular treatment was performed with stent placement. After 20 days, the patient evolved with melenic depositions oligoanuria and progressive intermittent claudication in both lower limbs. Obstruction of arterial flow was observed in both pedia arteries by doppler ultrasound. Skin biopsies of lower limbs revealed vascular signs of deposits of cholesterol crystals. It was recognized as a cholesterol crystal disease secondary to previous medical catheterization procedures, causing ischemia and persistent alterations in the digestive and renal systems as well as in the skin of the lower limbs. This is an important affection because it is a serious process that demands a high level of clinical suspicion, the definitive diagnosis is established through the biopsy of the cutaneous lesions and the prognosis depends on the extension of the disease. Nowadays, there is no specific medical treatment of this disease.

Síndrome de embolia grasa con predominio de síntomas neurológicos / Fat embolism syndrome with predominant neurological symptoms / Síndrome de embolia gordurosa com predomínio de sintomas neurológicos

Introducción. La embolia grasa es la obstrucción de los vasos sanguíneos de pequeño calibre por lípidos producidos durante la degradación tisular. Se presenta en individuos con fracturas de huesos largos, y es asintomático en más del 90 % de los casos. El síndrome de embolia grasa corresponde a un proceso grave poco frecuente en la práctica clínica, caracterizado por la aparición de petequias, dificultad respiratoria y alteraciones neurológicas. Reporte de caso. Se trata de una mujer adulta joven con trauma cerrado de tórax y fracturas múltiples de huesos largos de las extremidades superiores e inferiores por politraumatismo de alta energía, que fue sometida a reducción bajo anestesia de las fracturas. A las 48 horas, comenzó a presentar dificultad respiratoria, exantema petequial de predominio en la pared anterior del tórax y deterioro neurológico con convulsiones tónico-clónicas focales y bilaterales, que cedieron con un medicamento anticonvulsivo intravenoso. Se le diagnosticó síndrome de embolia grasa debido al antecedente de trauma y a las lesiones evidenciadas en la resonancia magnética. Se le brindó soporte respiratorio y terapia anticoagulante, con lo cual el cuadro clínico mejoró. Discusión. El tejido graso ingresa a la circulación cuando la presión en el lecho del drenaje venoso es superada por la presión en la médula ósea. Los ácidos grasos libres tóxicos causan edema vasogénico y citotóxico, así como hemorragia por destrucción celular. Conclusión. Es importante considerar la presencia de esta complicación en pacientes con múltiples fracturas y brindar un tratamiento oportuno con la intención de disminuir las secuelas asociadas con esta condición

Introduction: Fatty embolism is the obstruction of small blood vessels by lipid product of tissue degradation. It occurs in individuals with long bone fractures, being asymptomatic in more than 90% of cases. The fat embolism syndrome corresponds to a severe and rare process in clinical practice, characterized by the appearance of petechiae, respiratory stress and neurological disorders. Case report: Young adult with high energy-polytrauma and closed chest trauma with multiple fractures of long bones of the upper and lower extremities who was taken to operating theater for redu-cing them under anesthesia. Forty-eight hours after, she began to present with respiratory distress, petechial rash predominantly in the anterior thorax and neurological deterioration with focal seizure activity to bilateral tonic-clonic, which yielded with intravenous anticonvulsant. A fat embolism syndrome was diagnosed due to the history of trauma and the lesions evidenced in the magnetic resonance. She was given respiratory support and anticoagulant therapy, with which the clinical picture improved. Discussion: The fatty tissue enters the circulation when the venous drainage bed pressure is overcome by the pressure inside the bone marrow. The toxic free fatty acids cause vasogenic and cytotoxic edema, as well as hemorrhage by cell destruction. Conclusion: It is important to consider the presence of this complication in patients with multiple fractures and to offer timely treatment with the intention of reducing the sequelae associated with this condition.

Introdução. Embolia gordurosa é a obstrução dos vasos sanguíneos de diâmetro reduzido pelos lipídios produzidos durante a degradação tecidual. Ocorre em indivíduos com fraturas de ossos longos e é assintomática em mais de 90% dos casos. A síndrome da embolia gordurosa corresponde a um processo grave, pouco frequente na prática clínica, caracterizado pelo aparecimento de petéquias, dificuldade respiratória e alterações neurológicas. Relato de caso. Trata-se de uma mulher adulta jovem, com trauma de tórax fechado e múltiplas fraturas de ossos longos dos membros superiores e inferiores por politraumatismos de alta energia, que foi submetida a redução sob anestesia. Às 48 horas, ela começou a ter dificuldade em respirar, exantema petequial predominantemente sobre a parede torácica anterior e dano neurológico com convulsões tónico-clónicas e bilateral focal, que cedeu com uma medicação anticonvulsivante intra-venosa. Ela foi diagnosticada com síndrome de embolia gordurosa devido a uma história de trauma e às lesões evidenciadas na ressonância magnética. Ela recebeu suporte respiratório e terapia anticoa-gulante, com o qual o quadro clínico melhorou. Discussão. O tecido adiposo entra na circulação quando a pressão no leito da drenagem venosa é superada pela pressão na medula óssea. Os ácidos graxos livres tóxicos causam edema vasogênico e citotóxico, além de hemorragia por destruição celular. Conclusão. É importante considerar a presença dessa complicação em pacientes com múltiplas fraturas e fornecer tratamento oportuno com a intenção de reduzir as sequelas associadas a essa condição

Clinical research of interventional treatment by inlying thrombolytic catheter for patients with acute lower limb arterial thrombosis or embolism / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To study the methods and effects by using thrombolytic catheter in interventional treatment for patients with acute lower limb arterial thrombosis or embolism. Methods One hundred and twelve patients suffered acute lower limb arterial thrombosis or embolism. There were 85 cases of acute lower limb arterial embolism induced by atrial fibrillation in coronary or rheumatic heart disease,other 27 cases of arterial thrombosis caused by different reasons. Interventional treatment by inlying thrombolytic catheter was applied and continuous perfusion was received locally in all patients. Results Complete recanalization was got in 77 cases (68.8%) of 112 cases. Partial re canalization was got in 23 cases (20.5%), and ischemia limbs were saved in spite of chronic limb ischemia(chronic spasmodic limb) occurring in the later follow-up. Nine cases (8.0%) were amputated as a result of irreversible limbs necrosis, 3 cases (2.7%) died from acute renal failure resulting from reperfusion injury or recurrent cerebral embolism.Conclusion Interventional treatment by inlying thrombolytic catheter is a safe and effective method with lower amputation rate for acute lower limb arterial thrombosis or embolism in patients.

Detection of fat emboli by transesophageal echocardiography:experimental and clinical study / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To observe the characterization of fat emboli in cardiac chamber in pig model and the patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty(THA) by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE). Methods Different dose of fatty liquid was injected slowly via the internal jugular vein. The changes of the image were observed by continuous TEE. The lethal dose of fat embolism was recorded. Twenty-two patients underwent TEE during THA. Gray scale and echo intensity of fat embolism in right atrium were studied quantitatively in varied periods of the operation. Results With the increase of fat liquid injected in pig model, the strong- echo particles in right atrium and ventricle became more and more, the imaging of the particles was from “moving star”, “shower-like” to “snow fluffy”, at last paradoxical fat embolism occurred when the dose of fat liquid was over 4 ml. The accumulated lethal dose of fat embolism was 15.8 ～ 27.8 ml.②Fat emboli appeared as strong- echo particles in right atrium were found in different period of THA. Average gray scale and echo intensity of emboli in right atrium were significantly higher in period B than in other periods during THA. Conclusions Fat emboli in cardiac chamber can be found sensitively by TEE. Intra-operative monitoring and quantitative analysis is helpful to identifying fat embolism syndrome.Paradoxical embolism is a reliable evidence of fat embolism syndrome.

THE EXPERIENCE OF PERIOPERATIVE NURSING CARE PATIENTS WITH ACUTE AORTIC SADDLE EMBOLISM / 解放军医学杂志

To explore the rational nursing care in patients with acute aortic saddle embolism perioperatively.Emergency operations of retrograde catheter or transaortic embolectomy were done on 36 cases,and intensive care was given simultaneously.The results showed the normal blood flow was restored right after operation.3 patients died of myonephropathic metabolic syndrome or heart failure.30 cases were followed up from 1 to 4 years.A good result was obtained in 20 cases.The results indicated that a higher cure rate, with less complications and lower mortality rate,could be obtained if operative measures were untaken early and perioperafive nursing care were stressed,in acute aortic saddle embolism.

Cholesterol crystal embolism after coronary intervention / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) after percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods Six patients with atherosclerosis presenting with simultaneous occurrence of acute renal failure and peripheral ischemic changes were diagnosed as cholesterol crystal embolism and their clinical data were analyzed. Results The patients, 5 men and 1 woman, had an average age of 72 years. Most of them had risk factors of atherosclerosis such as hypertension, diabetes and smoking. The levels of serum creatinine increased progressively after coronary angiography. All patients had concomitant skin lesions, including blue toes. Cutaneous biopsy of 1 patient found cholesterol emboli in arterioles. All patients received statins, and 2 received dialysis. Three patients died, and 3 patients remained chronic renal failure. Conclusion Since the morbidity of CCE is growing and the disease is iatrogenic in origin, special attention should be paid to this disease.