Cardiac tamponade secondary to leptospirosis. A rare association: A case report.

Herein is described the case of a 39-year-old female agronomist who was admitted to hospital after a syncopal episode. She had had fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for the previous month. The patient showed signs of hypoperfusion, so a trans-thoracic echocardiography was done, demonstrating the presence of a cardiac tamponade. An emergency pericardiocentesis was performed, draining 500 ml of hematic content. Thoracic-abdominal computed tomography showed bilateral pleural effusion and also peritoneal effusion. Laboratory tests were compatible with an inflammatory situation with neutrophilic leukocytosis, alteration of hepatic function, and a plateau elevation of high-sensitivity troponin T. Colchicine was initiated but the evolution of the patient was torpid, making necessary the performance of a pericardial window due to an abrupt increase of pericardial effusion and echocardiographic signs of impending cardiac tamponade. Two chest tubes were inserted due to an increasing bilateral pleural effusion. Serology was positive for Leptospira spp. so doxycycline was initiated. She reported that she had inspected a rice-field the previous month. The patient presented a good response to the treatment, being discharged from hospital completely asymptomatic, with no pericardial effusion and practically resolved pleural effusions. She was evaluated again one month later, with no trace of effusions or symptoms. .

Permanent transfemoral pacemaker: a single-center series performed with an easier and safer surgical technique.

INTRODUCTION: When venous access via the upper venous tree is not possible, the usual approach is to proceed to epicardial lead placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This report presents a consecutive series of 12 permanent pacemaker systems utilizing the right femoral vein for venous access implanted between May 2001 and October 2004. RESULTS: A modification of the previously reported surgical technique was used with a mean implant time of 52 minutes. Five were dual-chamber systems and seven were VVIR. All the leads implanted were active fixation. There was a 0% dislodgment rate and a mean follow-up of 18 months. During this time, three patients required revision or treatment of a pocket complication. All systems remained in the pacing mode as originally programmed with stable low sensing and pacing thresholds. There was no clinical evidence for acute or chronic venous thrombosis and no evidence of asymptomatic venous obstruction in eight patients who underwent echo-duplex studies. CONCLUSION: We believe that the permanent femoral implant utilizing the technical modifications described in this article, offers an alternative to epicardial lead placement when the usual upper venous tree access is not available.