[Regional Vascular Center in a COVID-19 pandemic: what changed in 2020 compared to 2019 in patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction?]

AIM: To assess the effect of pandemic COVID-19 on the course of STEMI patients of the Regional Vascular Center in 2020, compared with the previous year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with acute coronary syndrome and, in particular, STEMI hospitalized at Regional Vascular Center in 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: In 2019, 981 patients with STEMI were admitted; in 2020 - 728 patients. The baseline clinical and demographic patients characteristics did not differ significantly. In 2020, the number of pneumonia has doubled, the number of mechanical ventilator support has increased by 20%; sepsis was diagnosed 5 times more often. However, patients in 2020 were less likely to develop delirium, minor and major bleeding. There were more patients admitted in the 1st day of the disease, and they were more frequently performed both primary angioplasty and angioplasty in general. Patients with STEMI in 2020 had more frequently registered pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock and re-infarction. Lethality in the group of patients without angioplasty tended to be higher in 2020 compared with the previous year. None of 30 patients with COVID-19 died in our department, they were timely transferred either to COVID-hospital or to outpatient follow-up care. When analyzing various parameters during the spring and autumn periods, which were the peak periods for pneumonias in 2020, only mortality had a clear upward trend. CONCLUSION: The patient portrait of myocardial infarction in 2020 was dominated by pneumonia, sepsis, and re-infarction compared with the previous year. An upward trend in mortality was detected in those without angioplasty and those hospitalized in the spring and autumn wave of COVID-19. We believe that there are hidden mechanisms of pandemic effect on mortality in STEMI.

In-hospital outcomes of COVID-19 ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess clinical and prognosis differences in patients with COVID-19 and STEMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a nationwide registry of consecutive patients managed within 42 specific STEMI care networks, we compared patient and procedure characteristics and in-hospital outcomes in two different cohorts, according to whether or not they had COVID-19. Among 1,010 consecutive STEMI patients, 91 were identified as having COVID-19 (9.0%). With the exception of smoking status (more frequent in non-COVID-19 patients) and previous coronary artery disease (more frequent in COVID-19 patients), clinical characteristics were similar between the groups, but COVID-19 patients had more heart failure on arrival (31.9% vs 18.4%, p=0.002). Mechanical thrombectomy (44% vs 33.5%, p=0.046) and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor administration (20.9% vs 11.2%, p=0.007) were more frequent in COVID-19 patients, who had an increased in-hospital mortality (23.1% vs 5.7%, p<0.0001), that remained consistent after adjustment for age, sex, Killip class and ischaemic time (OR 4.85, 95% CI: 2.04-11.51; p<0.001). COVID-19 patients had an increase of stent thrombosis (3.3% vs 0.8%, p=0.020) and cardiogenic shock development after PCI (9.9% vs 3.8%, p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a significant increase in in-hospital mortality, stent thrombosis and cardiogenic shock development after PCI in patients with STEMI and COVID-19 in comparison with contemporaneous non-COVID-19 STEMI patients.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute coronary syndromes.

AIM: To assess the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute coronary syndromes and on the delay from symptom onset to first medical contact among patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), as well as to investigate whether there were patient-related reasons related to COVID-19 for delaying first medical contact. METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the Geneva University Hospitals for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) during the first COVID-19 wave were compared with a control group consisting of all ACS patients who underwent PCI during the same period in 2019 and those treated in the period immediately preceding the pandemic. The primary outcome measure was the difference in the delay from symptom onset to first medical contact in the setting of STEMI between the COVID-19 period and the control period. Secondary outcome measures were the difference in ACS incidence and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients’ decisions to call the emergency services, assessed using a questionnaire. Delay from symptom onset to first medical contact was longer among patients suffering from STEMI in the COVID-19 period compared with the control period (112 min vs 60 min, p = 0.049). The incidence rate of ACS was lower during the COVID-19 period (incidence rate ratio 0.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.449–0.905). ACS patients delayed their call to the emergency services mainly because of fear of contracting or spreading COVID-19 following hospital admission, as well as of adding burden to the healthcare system. CONCLUSION: We observed prolonged delays from symptom onset to first medical contact and a decline in overall ACS incidence during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a higher threshold to call for help among ACS patients.

Impact of COVID-19 on percutaneous coronary intervention utilization and mortality in New York.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has disrupted the care of all patients, and little is known about its impact on the utilization and short-term mortality of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients, particularly nonemergency patients. METHODS: New York State's PCI registry was used to study the utilization of PCI and the presence of COVID-19 in four patient subgroups ranging in severity from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to elective patients before (December 01, 2018-February 29, 2020) and during the COVID-19 era (March 01, 2020-May 31, 2021), as well as to examine the impact of different COVID severity levels on the mortality of different types of PCI patients. RESULTS: Decreases in the mean quarterly PCI volume from the prepandemic period to the first quarter of the pandemic ranged from 20% for STEMI patients to 61% for elective patients, with the other two subgroups having decreases in between these values. PCI quarterly volume rebounds from the prepandemic period to the second quarter of 2021 were in excess of 90% for all patient subgroups, and 99.7% for elective patients. Existing COVID-19 was rare among PCI patients, ranging from 1.74% for STEMI patients to 3.66% for elective patients. PCI patients with COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who were not intubated, and PCI patients with COVID-19 and ARDS who were either intubated or were not intubated because of Do Not Resuscitate//Do Not Intubate status had higher risk-adjusted mortality ([adjusted ORs = 10.81 [4.39, 26.63] and 24.53 [12.06, 49.88], respectively]) than patients who never had COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: There were large decreases in the utilization of PCI during COVID-19, with the percentage of decrease being highly sensitive to patient acuity. By the second quarter of 2021, prepandemic volumes were nearly restored for all patient subgroups. Very few PCI patients had current COVID-19 throughout the pandemic period, but the number of PCI patients with a COVID-19 history increased steadily during the pandemic. PCI patients with COVID-19 accompanied by ARDS were at much higher risk of short-term mortality than patients who never had COVID-19. COVID-19 without ARDS and history of COVID-19 were not associated with higher mortality for PCI patients as of the second quarter of 2021.

Impact of COVID-19 on Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized With STEMI: A Nationwide Propensity-matched Analysis.

Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and concurrent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported to have poor outcomes. However, previous studies are small and limited. The National Inpatient Sample database for the year 2020 was queried to identify all adult hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of STEMI, with and without concurrent COVID-19. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed. A total of 159,890 hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of STEMI were identified. Of these, 2210 (1.38%) had concurrent COVID-19. After propensity matching, STEMI patients with concurrent COVID-19 had a significantly higher mortality (17.8% vs 9.1%, OR 1.96, P< 0.001), lower likelihood to receive same-day percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (63.6% vs 70.6%, P = 0.019), with a trend towards lower overall PCI (74.9% vs 80.2%, P = 0.057) and significantly lower coronary artery bypass grafting) (3.0% vs 6.8%, P = 0.008) prior to discharge, compared with STEMI patients without COVID-19. The prevalence of cardiogenic shock, need for mechanical circulatory support, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, cardiac arrest, acute kidney injury (AKI), dialysis, major bleeding and stroke were not significantly different between the groups. COVID-19-positive STEMI patients who received same-day PCI had significantly lower odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.20-0.85, P = 0.017). STEMI patients with concurrent COVID-19 infection had a significantly higher (almost 2 times) in-hospital mortality, and lower likelihood of receiving same-day PCI, overall (any-day) PCI, and CABG during their admission, compared with STEMI patients without COVID-19.

A Review of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients with COVID-19.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a significant increase in worldwide morbidity and mortality. Patients with COVID-19 are at risk for developing a variety of cardiovascular conditions including acute coronary syndromes, stress-induced cardiomyopathy, and myocarditis. Patients with COVID-19 who develop ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are at a higher risk of morbidity and mortality when compared with their age- and sex-matched STEMI patients without COVID-19. We review current knowledge on the pathophysiology of STEMI in patients with COVID-19, clinical presentation, outcomes, and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall STEMI care.

Effect of Routine Invasive vs Conservative Strategy in Older Adults With Frailty and Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: To our knowledge, no randomized clinical trial has compared the invasive and conservative strategies in frail, older patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Objective: To compare outcomes of invasive and conservative strategies in frail, older patients with NSTEMI at 1 year. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted at 13 Spanish hospitals between July 7, 2017, and January 9, 2021, and included 167 older adult (≥70 years) patients with frailty (Clinical Frailty Scale score ≥4) and NSTEMI. Data analysis was performed from April 2022 to June 2022. Interventions: Patients were randomized to routine invasive (coronary angiography and revascularization if feasible; n = 84) or conservative (medical treatment with coronary angiography for recurrent ischemia; n = 83) strategy. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was the number of days alive and out of the hospital (DAOH) from discharge to 1 year. The coprimary end point was the composite of cardiac death, reinfarction, or postdischarge revascularization. Results: The study was prematurely stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic when 95% of the calculated sample size had been enrolled. Among the 167 patients included, the mean (SD) age was 86 (5) years, and mean (SD) Clinical Frailty Scale score was 5 (1). While not statistically different, DAOH were about 1 month (28 days; 95% CI, -7 to 62) greater for patients managed conservatively (312 days; 95% CI, 289 to 335) vs patients managed invasively (284 days; 95% CI, 255 to 311; P = .12). A sensitivity analysis stratified by sex did not show differences. In addition, we found no differences in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 0.74-2.85; P = .28). There was a 28-day shorter survival in the invasive vs conservatively managed group (95% CI, -63 to 7 days; restricted mean survival time analysis). Noncardiac reasons accounted for 56% of the readmissions. There were no differences in the number of readmissions or days spent in the hospital after discharge between groups. Neither were there differences in the coprimary end point of ischemic cardiac events (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.54-1.57; P = .78). Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial of NSTEMI in frail older patients, there was no benefit to a routine invasive strategy in DAOH during the first year. Based on these findings, a policy of medical management and watchful observation is recommended for older patients with frailty and NSTEMI. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03208153.

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction as a COVID-19 manifestation in a recent heart transplant recipient.

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Recovery From the Impact of COVID-19 on Treatment Times and Clinical Outcomes of Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: An Interim Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have documented a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergent percutaneous treatment of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but few have examined recovery of healthcare systems in restoring prepandemic STEMI care. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed of data from 789 patients with STEMI from a large tertiary medical center treated with percutaneous coronary intervention between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. RESULTS: For patients with STEMI presenting to the emergency department, median time from door to balloon was 37 minutes in 2019, 53 minutes in 2020, and 48 minutes in 2021 (P < .001), whereas median time from first medical contact to device changed from 70 to 82 to 75 minutes, respectively (P = .002). Treatment time changes in 2020 and 2021 correlated with median emergency department evaluation time (30 to 41 to 22 minutes, respectively; P = .001) but not median catheterization laboratory revascularization time. For transfer patients, median time from first medical contact to device changed from 110 to 133 to 118 minutes, respectively (P = .005). In 2020 and 2021, patients with STEMI had greater late presentation (P = .028) and late mechanical complications (P = .021), with nonsignificant increases in yearly in-hospital mortality (3.6% to 5.2% to 6.4%; P = .352). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 was associated with worsening STEMI treatment times and outcomes in 2020. Despite improving treatment times in 2021, in-hospital mortality had not decreased in the setting of a persistent increase in late patient presentation and associated STEMI complications.

Discussion on the causes of thrombolysis failure in a patient with STEMI: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has emerged as an increasingly diagnosed cause of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which is easily missed or delayed. The effective use of coronary angiography (CAG) and advanced intracoronary imaging examinations in STEMI patients has led to increased detection of SCAD. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old woman with acute angina pectoris was diagnosed with STEMI detected by electrocardiography combined with measurement of myocardial enzymes. Due to the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, she was first given thrombolytic therapy after excluding contraindications according to the requirements of the current consensus statement; however, subsequently, both the symptoms of ongoing chest pain and the electrocardiographic results indicated the failure of thrombolytic therapy, so the intervention team administered rescue percutaneous coronary intervention treatment under third-grade protection. CAG confirmed total occlusion in the distal left anterior descending (LAD) artery, with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 0 flow, whereas the left circumflex and right coronary arteries appeared normal, with TIMI 3 flow. Intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) was further performed to investigate the causes of occlusion, which verified the absence of atherosclerosis but detected SCAD with intramural haematoma. During the operation, the guidewire reached the distal end of the LAD artery smoothly, the balloon was dilated slightly, and the reflow of TIMI blood could be seen by repeated CAG. During the follow-up period of one and a half years, the patient complained of occasional, slight chest tightness. The repeated CAG showed that the spontaneous dissection in the LAD artery had healed well, with TIMI 3 flow. The repeated IVUS confirmed that the SCAD and intramural haematoma had been mostly resorbed and repaired. CONCLUSION: This was a case of failed STEMI thrombolysis in our hospital during the outbreak of COVID-19. This case indicates that doctors need to consider the cause of the disease when treating STEMI patients, especially patients without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Moreover, CAG and intracoronary imaging examinations should be actively performed to identify the aetiology and improve the treatment success rate.

[Features of the course of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in patients with a history of COVID-19].

Aim      To study the clinical course of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in hospitalized patients after COVID-19 and to evaluate the effect of baseline characteristics of patients on the risk of complications.Material and methods  The study included 209 patients with NSTEMI; 104 of them had had COVID-19. The course of myocardial infarction (MI) was analyzed at the hospital stage, including evaluation of the incidence rate of complications (fatal outcome, recurrent MI, life-threatening arrhythmias and conduction disorders, pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, ischemic stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding).Results Mean age of patients after COVID-19 was 61.8±12.2 years vs. 69.0±13.0 in the comparison group (p<0.0001). The groups were comparable by risk factors, clinical data, and severity of coronary damage. Among those who have had СOVID-19, there were fewer patients of the GRACE high risk group (55.8 % vs. 74.3 %; p<0.05). Convalescent COVID-19 patients had higher levels of C-reactive protein and troponin I (p<0.05). The groups did not significantly differ in the incidence of unfavorable NSTEMI course (p>0.05). However, effects of individual factors (postinfarction cardiosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, decreased SpO2, red blood cell concentration, increased plasma glucose) on the risk of complications were significantly greater for patients after COVID-19 than for the control group (p<0.05).Conclusion      Patients with NSTEMI, despite differences in clinical history and laboratory data, are characterized by a similar risk of death at the hospital stage, regardless of the past COVID-19. Despite the absence of statistically significant differences in the incidence of in-hospital complications, in general, post-COVID-19 patients showed a higher risk of complicated course of NSTEMI compared to patients who had not have COVID-19. In addition, for this category of patients, new factors were identified that previously did not exert a clinically significant effect on the incidence of complications: female gender, concentration of IgG to SARS-CoV-2 ≥200.0 U/l, concentration of С-reactive protein ≥40.0 mg/l, total protein <65 g/l. These results can be used for additional stratification of risk for cardiovascular complications in patients with MI and also for development of individual protocols for evaluation and management of NSTEMI patients with a history of COVID-19.

Clinical and Cardiovascular Characteristics of Patients Suffering ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction After Covid-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is one of the fatal complications following Covid-19. We aimed to systematically assess the clinical sequels as well as cardiovascular findings in patients suffering STEMI following Covid-19.The manuscripts databases including PubMed, Web of knowledge (ISI), SCOPUS, Embase, and Google Scholar were deeply searched by the two reviewers using the relevant keywords related to the issue considered in the current review. Of 88 studies initially reviewed, 9 articles were included in final assessment. Nine articles including 447 patients with Covid-19 were included in the study. In terms of electrocardiographic findings, anterior lead involvement was reported in 12% - 61.6% of cases, inferior lead in 28.2% - 75% and lateral involvement in 7.7% - 100% of cases. The prevalence of LBBB was in the range of 10.7% - 61.6% of cases. In terms of echocardiographic findings, a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction was reported in 60% - 88% of patients. Wall motion abnormality was also observed in 60% - 82.1% of patients. In terms of angiographic findings, the multi-vessel disease was reported in 17.9% - 69% of cases. Also, 24% - 83% of cases needed to revascularization procedures. Cardiac arrest was also reported in 3.1% - 28.2% of cases. Based on the meta-analysis performed on the mortality of patients with STEMI in the field of Covid-19, the pooled prevalence of mortality was estimated at 25.2% (95%CI:17.5%-34.8%). Mortality and adverse consequences of STEMI in patients with Covid-19 are far higher than in the general population. Therefore, in-hospital cardiovascular tracking and monitoring of Covid-19 patients with potential cardiovascular disorders is necessary to achieve a more favorable outcome.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome.

During the pandemic, health care resources were primarily focused on treating COVID-19 infections and its related complications, with various Clinical units were converted to COVID-19 units, This study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical course of patients who had developed acute coronary syndrome (ACS) including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In this large nationwide observational study utilizing National Inpatient Sample 2019 and 2020.The primary outcomes of our study were in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), total hospital charges and time from admission to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Using the National Inpatient Sample 2020 database we found 32,355,827 hospitalizations in 2020 and 521,484 of which had a primary diagnosis of STEMI that met our criteria. Patients with COVID-19 infection were similar in mean age, more likely to be men, were treated in the same hospital settings as those without COVID-19 and had higher rates of diabetes with chronic complications. These patients had a similar prevalence of traditional coronary artery disease risk factors including hypertension, peripheral vascular disease and obesity. There was higher inpatient mortality (adjusted odds ratios 3.10; 95% CI, 2.40-4.02; P < 0.01) and LOS (95% CI 1.07-2.25; P < 0.01) in STEMI patient with concurrent COVID-19 infection. The average time from admission to PCI was significantly higher among unstable angina (UA) and None ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in patients with a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 infection compared to patients without: 0.45 days (95% CI: .155-758; P < 0.01). The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the treatment of patients with ACS, resulting in increased inpatient mortality, higher costs, and longer lengths of stay. During the pandemic, for patients with UA and NSTEMI the time from admission to PCI was significantly longer in patients with a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 compared to patients without. When comparing ACS outcomes between pre-pandemic to pandemic periods (2019 versus 2020), the 2020 data showed higher mortality, higher hospital costs, and a decrease in LOS. Finally, the time from admission to PCI was longer for UA and NSTEMI in 2020 but not for patients with STEMI.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated during the COVID-19 pandemic might experience prolonged time to reperfusion. The delayed reperfusion may potentially aggravate the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in those patients. Limited access to healthcare, more reluctant health-seeking behaviors, and bystander readiness to render life-saving interventions might additionally contribute to the suggested change in the risk of OHCA in STEMI. Thus, we sought to explore the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on treatment delay and clinical outcomes of patients with STEMI with OHCA. Overall, 5,501 consecutive patients with STEMI complicated by OHCA and treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation were enrolled. A propensity score matching was used to obviate the possible impact of non-randomized design. A total of 740 matched pairs of patients with STEMI and OHCA treated before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were compared. A similar mortality and prevalence of periprocedural complications were observed in both groups. However, patients treated during the COVID-19 outbreak experienced longer delays from first medical contact to angiography (88.8 (±61.5) vs. 101.4 (±109.8) [minutes]; p = 0.006). There was also a trend toward prolonged time from pain onset to angiography in patients admitted to the hospital in the pandemic era (207.3 (±192.8) vs. 227.9 (±231.4) [minutes]; p = 0.06). In conclusion, the periprocedural outcomes in STEMI complicated by OHCA were comparable before and during the COVID-19 era. However, treatment in the COVID-19 outbreak was associated with a longer time from first medical contact to reperfusion.

Effect of Austrian COVID-19 lockdowns on acute myocardial infarction frequency and long-term mortality: a multicentre observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to find out if the decrease in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admissions during the first COVID-19 lockdowns (LD), which was described by previous studies, occurred equally in all LD periods (LD1, LD2, LD2021), which had identical restrictions. Further, we wanted to analyse if the decrease of AMI admission had any association with the 1-year mortality rate. DESIGN AND SETTING: This study is a prospective observational study of two centres that are participating in the Vienna ST-elevation myocardial infarction network. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1732 patients who presented with AMI according to the 4th universal definition of myocardial infarction in 2019, 2020 and the LD period of 2021 were included in our study. Patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries were excluded from our study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome of this study was the frequency of AMI during the LD periods and the all-cause and cardiac-cause 1-year mortality rate of 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and 2020. RESULTS: Out of 1732 patients, 70% (n=1205) were male and median age was 64 years. There was a decrease in AMI admissions of 55% in LD1, 28% in LD2 and 17% in LD2021 compared with 2019.There were no differences in all-cause 1-year mortality between the year 2019 (11%; n=110) and 2020 (11%; n=79; p=0.92) or death by cardiac causes [10% (n=97) 2019 vs 10% (n=71) 2020; p=0.983]. CONCLUSION: All LDs showed a decrease in AMI admissions, though not to the same extent, even though the regulatory measures were equal. Admission in an LD period was not associated with cardiac or all-cause 1-year mortality rate in AMI patients in our study.

Delayed Presentation of Inferior STEMI Complicated by Ventricular Septal Rupture: An Indirect Consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted healthcare delivery. An indirect consequence of the rational fear of contracting the virus is delayed medical attention for life threatening conditions. We present the case of inferior ST elevation myocardial infarction leading to the rare complication of a ventricular septal rupture reflecting transmural infarction. COVID hesitancy caused a 48-hour delay in seeking medical attention after symptom onset. We also discuss the use of MRI to guide decision for timing of VSD repair in an otherwise asymptomatic patient post-revascularization.

Synthetic cannabinoids and ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Synthetic cannabinoids cannot be detected on a standard urine drug screen (UDS), making them a convenient drug of abuse. We report the first case of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a young patient due to coronary artery thrombosis secondary to synthetic cannabinoid use and concurrent COVID-19 infection. A 38-year-old previously healthy male developed severe chest pain and was found to have anterior STEMI and COVID-19 infection. Coronary angiography showed acute thrombotic occlusion of the mid-left anterior descending artery that was managed with thrombectomy and stent placement. He only required supportive care for COVID-19. A comprehensive literature search revealed 34 additional cases of STEMI with synthetic cannabinoid use; majority were males (97%) with mean age of 29 years. 29 patients (85.3%) underwent coronary angiography and majority had left anterior descending artery (LAD) involvement (55%), with 13 (44.8%) undergoing stent placement. We highlight STEMI as a potentially lethal complication of synthetic cannabinoids; prompt angiography may be lifesaving.