Incidental Findings of Asystole in a Patient With Complaints of Near Syncope: A Case Report on Paroxysmal Ventricular Standstill.

Paroxysmal ventricular standstill (PVS) is an unusual cardiac phenomenon in which the heart experiences episodes of absent ventricular activity despite normal atrial functioning, often leading to cardiac arrest and syncope. In this case, we report the hospital stay of a 70-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital following an episode of near syncope at home. On admission, the patient's initial electrocardiogram (ECG) showed sinus rhythm at 60 beats per minute without atrioventricular (AV) block. However, as orthostatic vitals were obtained, the patient became lightheaded for several seconds upon standing, which was noted to correspond with a nine second episode of asystole on telemetry and spontaneous return to sinus bradycardia afterward. Cardiology was immediately consulted and confirmed the diagnosis of paroxysmal ventricular standstill (PVS). Given continued episodes of PVS, the patient underwent successful urgent dual-chamber pacemaker placement, following which he became asymptomatic with resolution of bradycardia. Given the high mortality risk associated with PVS, this condition is an important differential to consider in any patient presenting with syncope or near syncope of unclear etiology.

A Rare Case of Subacute Painful Thyroiditis Causing Thyroid Storm and a Successful Trial of Propylthiouracil.

Thyroid storm is a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by severe or exaggerated clinical manifestations of thyrotoxicosis, commonly occurring in patients with longstanding, untreated hyperthyroidism such as Graves' disease and toxic nodular goiter. Subacute painful thyroiditis, also known as de Quervain thyroiditis, is a self-limited inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland that is characterized by neck pain, a tender diffuse thyroid goiter, elevated inflammatory markers, and a predictable course of thyroid function evolution. Rarely, it can cause thyroid storm. Herein, we report a rare case of a 25-year-old woman who was admitted for sepsis and acute painful thyroiditis who then developed thyroid storm. The patient was treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and responded very well to steroids, propranolol, a seven-day trial of propylthiouracil, and ultimately achieved a euthyroid state on discharge.

Choked Vein: Unusual Etiology of Extensive Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a commonly encountered diagnosis in clinical practice with a variety of established risk factors. Inferior vena cava atresia (IVCA) is a rare vascular anomaly, but an established risk factor, associated with DVT, found in approximately 5% of cases of unprovoked lower extremity DVT in young adults. Patients who develop DVT are at high risk of long-term complications, including DVT recurrence and post-thrombotic syndrome. Thirty percent of inferior vena cava (IVC) anomalies are associated with hypercoagulable conditions in the younger population, Therefore, a hypercoagulable workup is beneficial in this population. We report a rare case of a 31-year-old male who presented with an extensive DVT of bilateral lower extremities secondary to IVC atresia. The treatment of choice for IVC atresia associated with extensive DVT is catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), endovascular IVC reconstruction with nitinol stent, and long-term anticoagulation.