Pulmonary Infarction: In the Beginning: The Natural History of Pulmonary Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Massive pulmonary emboli can cause an abrupt onset of symptoms simultaneous with large pulmonary artery occlusions. In contrast, the temporal relationship between pulmonary vascular occlusion by smaller emboli and the development of symptoms of pulmonary infarction is unknown. We describe the time interval between embolization and the onset of clinical symptoms and signs compatible with pulmonary infarction. METHODS: We examined the records of 56 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) who underwent therapeutic balloon embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) in a single center after noting that some of them experienced symptoms and signs compatible with pulmonary infarction. Because both the times of embolization and the onset of clinical symptoms were documented in medical records, we were able to calculate the time interval between embolic occlusion of vessels and the onset of symptoms. RESULTS: The records of 56 patients who underwent therapeutic embolization for HHT were examined. Five patients experienced a single episode of pleuritic pain postembolization, and one patient experienced episodes of pleuritic pain after each of two separate embolization procedures. Four of these pleuritic pain events evolved into a complex compatible with pulmonary infarction. The time intervals between embolization and the onset of pleuritic pain in those experiencing the infarction symptoms and signs were 24 hours, 48 ± 4 hours, 65 hours, and 67 hours, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The clinically silent time interval between embolization of a pulmonary artery and the onset of symptoms and signs compatible with lung infarction is 24 hours or greater.

A case of apical ballooning syndrome in a male with status asthmaticus; highlighting the role of B2 agonists in the pathophysiology of a reversible cardiomyopathy.

Apical ballooning syndrome (ABS), also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, was first reported by Dote and colleagues in Japanese literature in 1991 in a review of five cases. Case series have highlighted the association of severe psychological stressors as the major precipitating factors of this syndrome. Status Epilepticus and Sub-Arachnoid hemorrhage are also now established independent etiologies for this phenomenon in patients without coronary artery disease. We report a case of reversible apical ventricular dysfunction in a 50-year-old male presenting with status asthmaticus who quickly underwent intubation. Following this, he had ST elevations in precordial leads with mild cardiac enzyme leak. Subsequent cardiac catheterization revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 25-30% with apical aneurismal segment. No obstructive disease was observed. Three days later there was marked clinical improvement; the patient was extubated and repeat echocardiography revealed a remarkable return to normal ventricular size and systolic function. Our case demonstrates that excess use of beta-agonists may be a potential risk factor for ABS and raises the possibility of cathecholamine cardiotoxicity being mediated via beta-receptors. Furthermore, it also negates the propensity of apical ballooning so far reported only in women with respiratory distress without confounding emotional stressors.

Effects of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting on patient outcome.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with postoperative myocardial stunning, hypothermia, formation of microemboli, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome, all of which may prolong recovery from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. This study sought to compare outcomes in patients undergoing CABG off pump versus on pump. METHODS: Outcomes, including mortality and several morbidities, were reviewed in 1,623 on-pump patients and 683 off-pump patients. Morbidities assessed included postoperative bleeding, incidence of multiorgan dysfunction, and neurologic complications. Chi-square and t-test analysis were used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Mortality was 42% lower in the off-pump group than the on-pump group. Both critical care and total hospital length of stay were significantly shorter in the off-pump group. The incidence of postoperative bleeding requiring transfusion or a return to the operating room was reduced by 29% in the off-pump group and the incidence of multiorgan dysfunction was reduced by 31%. The off-pump patients also presented a significantly lower incidence of cerebral vascular accidents and seizures than on-pump patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there is an association between improved patient outcome and off-pump CABG surgery. The outcomes of this study show a statistically significant decrease in mortality, critical care length of stay, total hospital stay, incidence of bleeding requiring transfusion or return to the operating room, amount of blood transfused, incidence of multiorgan dysfunction, cerebral vascular accidents, and seizures in off-pump patients when compared with on-pump patients. Such results support the use of myocardial revascularization off pump as an alternative to CABG surgery on pump. CABG surgery off pump may allow a better postoperative clinical course in patients who are candidates for the procedure.