Case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy following Pacemaker Implantation

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also called apical ballooning syndrome or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is a unique reversible cardiomyopathy that is frequently precipitated by a stressful event, and is described as a typical form of acute transient left ventricular dysfunction. The classic situation is postmenopausal women presenting with chest pain or dyspnea. The overall prognosis is favorable. We report a case of a 75-year-old female patient who came to our hospital with dizziness, which was found to be caused by transient apical ballooning following permanent pacemaker implantation.

Effects of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Depressive Mood in Elderly Patients

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common comorbid condition in patients with coronary artery disease and a well-documented risk factor for recurrent cardiac events and mortality. We examined the impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on depressive mood in elderly patients with chronic stable angina. METHODS: Consecutive patients with chronic stable angina (n=171) who had undergone elective PCI from January 2010 to May 2010 were included in this study. Patients were divided into elderly (> or =65 years) and non-elderly groups (<65 years) and then completed the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory I (BDI-I) at baseline and prior to discharge to assess for depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Seventy-three (43%) patients were assigned to the elderly group and 98 (57%) to the non-elderly group. Using multivariate regression analysis, we found that the elderly group had a higher prevalence of joint, lung, and gastrointestinal diseases; were less religious and less likely to be employed; had lower rates of private health insurance; and were, less frequently, users of regular alcohol, current smokers, and regular exercisers compared to the non-elderly patients. The mean difference in BDI-I scores at baseline and pre-discharge was higher in elderly patients. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a correlation between the extent of depression and elective PCI, especially in elderly patients. This population should be assessed routinely for depressive symptoms and managed accordingly.

A Case of Primary Aortoduodenal Fistula / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Aortoenteric fistula is a rare and life-threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Fistulas may be classified as primary or secondary. Secondary aortoenteric fistulas usually occur at the suture line following arterial reconstruction with prosthetic material and developed in 0.5~2.4% of the patients. The incidence of primary fistulas was reported in 0.04~0.07% in a large autopsy series and is 0.69~2.36% in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. Atherosclerosis is now the dominant cause. The mortality rate of patients with primary aortoduodenal fistula (ADF) is extremely high, principally because the diagnosis is difficult and seldomly established before the massive bleeding results in emergency operation or death. This occurs predominantly in the third and fourth parts of the duodenum. Symptoms of ADF consist of flank pain or abdominal pain, hematemesis, melena, and an abdominal mass. ADF is curable, if diagnosed and treated with surgical intervention before the onset of lethal massive hemorrhage. We report a case of primary ADF with a review of the literatures.