Clinical significance of 12 lead ECG changes in patients undergoing pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade.

INTRODUCTION: The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the initial tests done in patients suspected of having a cardiac Tamponade. Historically the emphasis has been on low QRS voltage and electrical alternans, which lacks specificity and sensitivity respectively. Majority of these studies included patients with pericardial effusions without tamponade. Moreover, the influence of different therapeutic interventions such as pericardiocentesis on ECG variables has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical significance of 12 lead ECG changes in patients undergoing pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade. METHODS: 144 patients underwent Echo guided pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade at a tertiary care hospital over a period of 7 years. We compared 19 EKG variables pre and post procedure. RESULTS: Low voltage was detected in only 31 patients (29%) with 19 (18%) patients having persistent low voltage (p value = 0.0047) after the pericardiocentesis. Electrical alternans was only observed in 25 patients (23%), and persisted in 10 patients (10%) following pericardiocentesis. None of the other EKG variables measured changed reliably post procedure. CONCLUSION: We found that although electrical alternans and low voltage were associated with cardiac tamponade, none of the ECG variables were highly sensitive or specific for the diagnosis, reproducibly changed after drainage or predicted recurrent effusion post-pericardiocentesis.

Very High-Dose Furosemide Continuous Infusions: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of data evaluating the efficacy and safety of very high-dose furosemide continuous infusions (≥40 mg/h) for volume removal. This infusion is a novel strategy of loop diuretic administration that may add valuable data to current literature. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a retrospective chart review. Patients were eligible for inclusion if prescribed a very high-dose furosemide infusion (defined as ≥40 mg/h, up to 240 mg/h) from April 1, 2017, to January 1, 2019, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Data collected included the change in cumulative urine output, net urine output, incidence of acute kidney injury, occurrences of hypotension, electrolyte abnormalities, body weight, and ototoxicity. Twenty-two patients were included in this analysis. The median change in 24-hour urine output from before to after very high-dose continuous furosemide infusion increased from 1193 mL at 24 hours before infusion initiation to 3518 mL at 24 hours after infusion initiation (P < .01). Serum creatinine increased 24 hours after infusion initiation but decreased within 48 hours. There were no electrolyte abnormalities. Out of 22 patients, only 2 had an occurrence of hypotension. No patients were reported to have ototoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Very high-dose furosemide continuous infusions provide a significant increase in diuresis without worsening renal function, disturbing electrolytes, or increasing the risk of ototoxicity. Further studies are necessary to examine the efficacy and safety of this novel strategy.

Patient characteristics and predictors of mortality associated with pericardial decompression syndrome: a comprehensive analysis of published cases.

BACKGROUND: Pericardial decompression syndrome (PDS) is a rare and potentially fatal complication of pericardial drainage, either by needle pericardiocentesis or surgical pericardiostomy. It manifests with paradoxical hemodynamic deterioration and/or pulmonary edema, commonly associated with ventricular dysfunction. We sought to elucidate factors associated with mortality in PDS. METHODS: MEDLINE was systematically searched for PDS case reports and case series published between 1983 and 2013. For this analysis, clinical variables, echocardiographic and hemodynamic variables, details of drainage procedure and clinical outcomes were collected for each case. RESULTS: A total of 35 cases (12 male, 23 female) were identified. PDS developed after pericardiocentesis, pericardiostomy, or both, in 18, 16, and one patients, respectively. Cardiac tamponade was the indication in 33 cases (94%). The mean age was 47 ± 17 years. The mean amount of effusion drained was 888 mL. The minimum amount of effusion drained was 450 mL. The onset of PDS after the procedure varied widely, ranging from 'immediate' to 48 hours. Presentations included 10 (29%) with cardiogenic pulmonary edema without shock, 14 (40%) with left ventricular failure, three (9%) with right ventricular failure, seven (20%) with biventricular failure, and one (3%) with non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Ten patients (29%) died of PDS. Mortality was associated only with surgical drainage (p<0.001). Severe LV dysfunction normalized in PDS survivors. CONCLUSIONS: PDS is a rare complication of pericardial drainage with a high mortality rate. Surgical pericardiostomy was associated with mortality in PDS.

Evidence-based treatment of chronic heart failure.

The past two decades have seen a knowledge explosion in the field of cardiovascular diseases, in general, and in the understanding of chronic heart failure (HF) as a complex neurohumoral syndrome in particular. A new staging system for chronic HF has been developed within the last decade to facilitate the evidence-based prescription of medications and medical devices for each of its four stages. The burden of care for patients with chronic HF is substantially provided in primary care settings. Primary care physicians need to understand the underlying pathophysiology of chronic HF, the elements of its evaluation and treatment by stage, and when referral is necessary.

The changing face of postoperative atrial fibrillation prevention: a review of current medical therapy.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common postoperative arrhythmia with significant consequences on patient health. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) complicates up to 8% of all noncardiac surgeries, between 3% and 30% of noncardiac thoracic surgeries, and between 16% and 46% of cardiac surgeries. POAF has been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and longer, more costly hospital stays. The risk of POAF after cardiac and noncardiac surgery may be affected by several epidemiologic and intraoperative factors, as well as by the presence of preexisting cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. POAF is typically a transient, reversible phenomenon that may develop in patients who possess an electrophysiologic substrate for the arrhythmia that is present before or as a result of surgery. Numerous studies support the efficacy of beta-blockers in POAF prevention; they are currently the most common medication used in POAF prophylaxis. Perioperative amiodarone, sotalol, nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, and magnesium sulfate have been associated with a reduction in the occurrence of POAF. Biatrial pacing is a nonpharmacologic method that has been associated with a reduced risk of POAF. Additionally, recent studies have demonstrated that hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors may decrease the risk of POAF. Finally, based on recent evidence that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers reduce the risk of permanent atrial fibrillation, these medications may also hold promise in POAF prophylaxis. However, there is a need for further large-scale investigations that incorporate standard methodologies and diagnostic criteria, which have been lacking in past trials.