Flecainide toxicity with high pacemaker capture thresholds and associated takotsubo syndrome.

We describe a case of a woman in her 80s with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) despite being on flecainide who was admitted for AF with rapid ventricular response. Attempts with direct-current cardioversions were unsuccessful despite increased doses of the antiarrhythmic therapy. At atrioventricular (AV) nodal ablation, very high right ventricular capture thresholds resulted in abortion of the procedure as back-up ventricular pacing could not be assured with adequate margin for safety. Shortly following the electrophysiology (EP) study, the patient developed cardiogenic shock with new apical left ventricular regional wall motion abnormality suggestive of apical ballooning and a toxic-appearing wide QRS complex electrocardiogram (EKG). The patient was successfully treated with sodium bicarbonate infusion for presumed flecainide toxicity. The regional wall motion abnormality and EKG changes resolved along with normalisation of capture thresholds after 2 days of treatment. The patient underwent an uncomplicated successful AV nodal ablation several weeks later.

A Whole Food Plant-Based Diet With a Novel Potassium-Binding Resin in a Patient With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem with substantial morbidity and mortality. Plant-based diets decrease the incidence of CKD and progression of kidney disease and help prevent and treat the important comorbidities of obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. However, in patients with CKD, there is concern that a plant-based diet may contribute to life-threatening hyperkalemia. We present a patient with CKD secondary to hypertensive glomerulosclerosis that worsened despite standard of care treatment. Shared decision making was used to initiate a whole food plant-based diet along with a potassium-binding resin (Patiromer) to control the potassium levels. The patient was able to be maintained on the whole food plant-based diet and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor without the development of hyperkalemia. This case shows that patients with CKD may be able to enjoy the benefits of a whole food plant-based diet while decreasing the risk of hyperkalemia by using the new potassium binders.