Idarucizumab for dabigatran reversal in cardiac tamponade complicating percutaneous intervention in ST elevation myocardial infarction.

An 83-year-old man with a history of permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) anticoagulated by dabigatran 150 b.i.d., type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The patient was loaded with 300 mg of aspirin p.o., 5000 IU of unfractionated heparin i.v. and 600 mg of clopidogrel and was transferred to the catheterization laboratory. Coronary angiography demonstrated left anterior descending artery (LAD) occlusion. During the LAD angioplasty a dissection of a distal part of the LAD and the blood extravasation to the pericardium occurred (Figure 1 A). Idarucizumab 2 × 2.5 g i.v. was administered and the inflated balloon maintained at the site of coronary perforation. About 10 min after the end of idarucizumab infusion, the balloon was deflated and the patient presented with clinical symptoms of cardiac tamponade such as blood pressure decrease and tachycardia. The echocardiographic assessment revealed up to 16 mm accumulation of pericardial fluid (Figure 2 A). Immediately the covered stent was implanted (Papyrus, Biotronik) and the pericardiocentesis was carried out. 320 ml of blood was finally drained. Control contrast injection revealed a covered perforating zone with no contrast extravasation (Figure 1 B). The echocardiographic control revealed pericardial effusion less than 5 mm (Figure 2 B). The patient was stable with a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg, a heart rate of 100-130/min (AF), and without chest pain. No significant reduction in the red blood cell count was observed. Antiplatelet therapy was given consisting of aspirin and clopidogrel. In the following days enoxaparin was introduced and finally changed to dabigatran 110 mg b.i.d.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricle Dimensions and Function After Exposure to Extreme Altitude: Is an Expedition to 8000 m Hazardous for Right Ventricular Function?

Kurdziel, Marta, Jaroslaw Wasilewski, Karolina Gierszewska, Anna Kazik, Gracjan Pytel, Jacek Waclawski, Adam Krajewski, Anna Kurek, Lech Polonski, and Mariusz Gasior. Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricle dimensions and function after exposure to extreme altitude: Is an expedition to 8000 m hazardous for right ventricular function? High Alt Med Biol 18:330-337, 2017.-Although the right ventricle (RV) is under great hypoxic stress at altitude, still little is known what happens to the RV after descent. The aim of this study was to evaluate RV dimensions and function after exposure to extreme altitude. Therefore, echocardiographic examination was performed according to a protocol that focused on the RV in 11 healthy subjects participating in an expedition to K2 (8611 m) or Broad Peak (BP, 8051 m). In comparison to measurements before the expedition, after 7-8 weeks of sojourn above 2300 meters with the aim of climbing K2 and BP, the RV Tei index increased (0.5 ± 0.1 vs. 0.4 ± 0.1; p = 0.028), and RV free wall longitudinal systolic strain (RVFWLSS) decreased (-23.1% ± 2.7% vs. -25.9% ± 2.4%; p = 0.043). Decrease in peak systolic strain and strain rate was observed in the basal and mid segments of the RV free wall (respectively: -24.4% ± 4.4% vs. -30.9% ± 6.5%; -1.4 ± 0.3 s-1 vs. -1.8 ± 0.3 s-1; -28.7% ± 3.9% vs. -34% ± 3.3%; -1.5 ± 0.2 s-1 vs. -1.9 ± 0.3 s-1; p for all <0.05). The linear RV dimensions, the proximal and distal RV outflow tracks, increased (respectively: 31.3 ± 4 mm vs. 29.2 ± 3 mm, p = 0.025; 27 ± 2.7 mm vs. 24.8 ± 3 mm, p = 0.012). We found that exposure to extreme altitude may cause RV dilatation and a decrease in RV performance. The Tei index and RVFWLSS are sensitive performance indices to detect changes in RV function after the exposure to hypoxic stress. The observed alterations seem to be a manifestation of physiological adaptation to high-altitude condition in healthy individuals.

[Hybrid revascularisation in a patient with multivessel and left main coronary disease]. / Rewaskularyzacja hybrydowa u pacjenta z wielonaczyniowa choroba wiencowa z zajeciem pnia lewej tetnicy wiencowej.

According to current guidelines surgical revascularisation is a gold standard of treatment in patients with multivessel and left main coronary disease. Hybrid revascularisation, in two stages: first - minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting procedure with left internal mammary artery conduit to left anterior descending artery and second stage - percutaneus coronary intervention with drug eluting stent in non-left anterior descending vessels may be safe and effective alternative in patients with multivessel and left main coronary disease.

Management of diastolic heart failure.

Diastolic heart failure (HF) is also referred to as HF with preserved left ventricular systolic function. The distinction between systolic and diastolic HFs is a pathophysiological one and isolated forms of left ventricular dysfunction are rarely observed. In diastolic HF left ventricular systolic function is normal or only slightly impaired, and the typical manifestations of HF result from increased filling pressure caused by impaired relaxation and compliance of the left ventricle. The predisposing factors for diastolic dysfunction include elderly age, female sex, obesity, coronary artery disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Treatment of diastolic HF is aimed to stop the progression of the disease, relieve its symptoms, eliminate exacerbations and reduce the mortality. The management should include antihypertensive treatment, maintenance of the sinus rhythm, prevention of tachycardia, venous pressure reduction, prevention of myocardial ischemia and prevention of diabetes mellitus. The European Society of Cardiology specifies the type of therapy in diastolic HF based on: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, diuretics. In order to improve the currently poor prognosis in this group of patients the treatment of diastolic HF must be optimised.