Hospital performance in a large urban acute myocardial infarction emergency care system: Tokyo Cardiovascular Care Unit network.

BACKGROUND: An ideal urban network system for improving regional acute myocardial infarction (AMI) outcomes should be geographically balanced and uniform according to regional population in performance of participating hospitals. The objective of our study is to evaluate whether there is a major difference in risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality between the Tokyo Cardiovascular Care Unit (CCU) network hospitals, which cover the whole population of large cities. METHODS: The study subjects were all AMI patients without cardiac arrest on arrival admitted to the Tokyo CCU network hospitals from 2009 to 2017. Risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality rates (RAMRs) were compared between the categories of each hospital-level factor. A hospital-level multivariable linear regression was modeled to analyze the association between RAMRs and hospital-level factors. A funnel plot was constructed by plotting RAMRs against hospital volumes. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2017, there were 42,123 hospitalizations for AMI in Tokyo CCU network hospitals (n=72, as of December, 2017). There were no significant differences in RAMRs in the comparison of hospital backgrounds. Each hospital background was not significantly associated with the RAMR. Considering the 99% CI in funnel plots, only five hospitals (7.2%) were located outside the control limits. CONCLUSIONS: There was no major difference in the RAMRs between the participating hospitals within the Tokyo CCU network, despite the different hospital backgrounds.

Epicardial pacemaker implantation for sick sinus syndrome in a patient with supra vena cava obstructed by a primary cardiac lymphoma.

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) involves the heart and pericardium. Symptoms may vary according to the cardiac site involved. The most frequent cardiac manifestations associated with PCL are pericardial effusion, heart failure, and atrioventricular block. PCL can be diagnosed using transesophageal echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging. We herein discuss a 67-year-old male patient who presented with sick sinus syndrome. CT demonstrated a tumor in the right atrium obstructing the superior vena cava. The patient underwent a diagnostic lateral thoracotomy with concomitant epicardial pacemaker insertion. Histological examination revealed a diffuse large B cell lymphoma, and chemotherapy, including rituximab, was begun. A diagnostic thoracotomy is crucial for a definitive diagnosis of PCL, and the most effective treatment is chemotherapy. .

Transcoronary mapping and chemical ablation of ventricular tachycardia in no-entry left ventricle.

It is challenging to perform ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) from the left ventricle (LV) in patients without catheter access to the LV. A 50-year-old man was referred to our hospital for VT. He underwent mechanical aortic and mitral valve replacement for infective endocarditis and embolic myocardial infarction in the left ventricular inferior wall during a surgery. Anti-arrhythmia drugs (AADs) such as sotalol and bisoprolol were initiated and implantable cardioverter defibrillator was implanted. However, 2 months after discharge, he was admitted again for cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection and underwent complete CIED system removal. During hospitalization, VT easily occurred despite the use of AADs. We decided to perform transcoronary chemical ablation to treat this drug-refractory VT. A 0.014-inch guide-wire and a micro-catheter were advanced into coronary arteries. Pace map was conducted using a guide-wire and the micro artery branch feeding the VT exit area was detected. Ethanol infusion to this branch and the slightly basal side of the area eliminated the VT. We successfully treated VT in the no-entry LV by wire-guided mapping and ethanol ablation via coronary arteries. VT has not recurred during the follow-up period of 12 months. .

Atrial tachycardia originating from an incompletely isolated box lesion in a patient undergoing thoracoscopic left atrial appendectomy and surgical ablation for long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.

The efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation for persistent atrial fibrillation or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation is limited. Thoracoscopic surgical ablation was introduced as an alternative treatment, but additional catheter ablation is needed to treat postoperative atrial tachycardia in some cases. Little is known about electrophysiological characteristics or mapping techniques of recurrent tachycardia after total thoracoscopic surgical ablation and left atrial appendectomy. A 63-year-old man underwent catheter ablation of atrial tachycardia after total thoracoscopic left atrial appendectomy and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation lasting longer than 5 years. Catheter ablation was performed using a three-dimensional mapping system. Electroanatomical mapping outside the box lesion revealed a centrifugal activation pattern with the origin located at the gap of the roofline, and further activation mapping inside the box lesion was conducted again with the reference catheter positioned at the left atrial posterior wall, which revealed localized reentrant atrial tachycardia. Atrial tachycardia was smoothly treated with activation mappings. This case indicated the utility of activation mappings separating outside the box lesions from inside the box lesions. .

A Mass Filling the Right Atrium: Primary Cardiac Rhabdomyosarcoma.

A 43-year-old woman presented with worsening shortness of breath and lower-extremity edema. Echocardiography and computed tomography showed obstruction of blood flow due to a mass filling the right atrium. Emergency surgery was performed for circulatory failure. Primary cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma was diagnosed based on a histological examination. The patient died about two months after the diagnosis despite surgical excision and radiation therapy. The poor prognosis may have resulted from the grossly incomplete removal of the tumor and chemotherapy intolerance. We herein report a case of primary cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma filling the right atrium and offer possible reasons for the poor prognosis.

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings in muscular dystrophy patients with heart failure.

Cardiac involvement in muscular dystrophy (MD) is known to cause heart failure (HF). However, little is known about the differences in electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings between MD patients with and without the experience of hospitalization for HF. We retrospectively identified 95 MD patients (mean age at diagnosis of MD 41.1 ± 18.7 years; males 64.2%), including nine (9.4%) patients who were hospitalized for HF (the HF group) and 86 (90.6%) patients who were not (the non-HF group) during the follow-up period (16.7 ± 12.2 years). The HF group had a significantly wider QRS duration (126.0 ± 37.6 vs. 98.1 ± 16.7 ms, p < 0.001) and QTc interval (454.6 ± 50.5 vs. 409.5 ± 23.6 ms, p < 0.001) at the time of HF hospitalization than the non-HF group. The HF group also had a significantly lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (35.4 ± 19.2 vs. 62.5 ± 11.3%, p < 0.001) and significantly larger diastolic LV dimension (64 ± 2 vs. 45 ± 1 mm, p < 0.001) and left atrial diameter (38 ± 12 vs. 29 ± 6 mm, p = 0.003) at the time of HF hospitalization than the non-HF group. In the HF group, the QRS duration was significantly wider at the time of HF hospitalization than at the initial electrocardiogram before the development of HF (129.8 ± 30.7 vs. 119.0 ± 33.3 ms, p = 0.018). This study suggests that HF occurs in MD patients with electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities. Early recognition of abnormal findings during a regular electrocardiographic or echocardiographic follow-up may be useful for identifying cardiac involvement in MD.

Ventricular Septal Perforation: A Rare but Life-Threatening Complication Associated with Takotsubo Syndrome.

A 71-year-old woman was admitted with dyspnea. An electrocardiogram revealed ST-segment elevation, and echocardiography showed akinesis in the left ventricular apex with hyperkinesis of the base. Coronary angiography revealed no stenosis, and left ventriculography indicated ballooning of the left ventricular apex and apical ventricular septal perforation. We diagnosed the patient with Takotsubo syndrome complicated by ventricular septal perforation, which was surgically repaired. Although ventricular septal perforation is recognized as a life-threatening complication after acute myocardial infarction, it can also occur after Takotsubo syndrome. The early recognition and management of this condition can help prevent morbidity and mortality.

Outcomes of Brugada Syndrome Patients with Coronary Artery Vasospasm.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of patients with concomitant Brugada syndrome and coronary artery vasospasm. Methods Patients diagnosed with Brugada syndrome with an implantable cardiac defibrillator were retrospectively investigated, and the coexistence of vasospasm was evaluated. The clinical features and outcomes were evaluated, especially in patients with coexistent vasospasm. A provocation test using acetylcholine was performed in patients confirmed to have no organic stenosis on percutaneous coronary angiography to confirm the presence of vasospasm. Implantable cardiac defibrillator shock status was checked every three months. Statistical comparisons of the groups with and without vasospasm were performed. A univariate analysis was also performed, and the odds ratio for the risk of implantable cardiac defibrillator shock was calculated. Patients Thirty-five patients with Brugada syndrome, of whom six had coexistent vasospasm. Results There were no significant differences in the laboratory data, echocardiogram findings, disease, or the history of taking any drugs between patients with and without vasospasm. There were significant differences in the clinical features of Brugada syndrome, i.e. cardiac events such as resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation or appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator shock. Four patients with vasospasm had cardiac events such as resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation and/or appropriate defibrillator shock; three of them had no cardiac events with calcium channel blocker therapy to prevent vasospasm. The coexistence of vasospasm was a potential risk factor for an appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator shock (odds ratio: 13.5, confidence interval: 1.572-115.940, p value: 0.035) on a univariate analysis. Conclusion Coronary artery vasospasm could be a risk factor for cardiac events in patients with Brugada syndrome.

Prominent J-wave and T-wave alternans associated with mechanical alternans in a patient with takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

A 74-year-old woman with takotsubo cardiomyopathy developed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia during the acute phase. She exhibited prominent J-wave and T-wave alternans preceding ventricular tachycardia. These abnormalities disappeared after recovery from myocardial stunning.

A case of severe aortic valve stenosis including triple-vessel ischemic heart disease in which multidisciplinary percutaneous coronary intervention and balloon aortic valvuloplasty relieved low cardiac output syndrome.

The patient was an 80-year-old man with low cardiac output syndrome associated with triple-vessel ischemic heart disease and severe aortic stenosis (AS). Deeming the patient unprepared for surgery because of his deteriorated general condition, we decided to perform revascularization with a percutaneous coronary intervention associated with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and treat the severe AS with percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV). Complete revascularization was successfully achieved and BAV was performed, improving the aortic valve area from 0.58 to 0.92 cm(2) and the pressure gradient from 41 to 26 mmHg. Postoperative hemodynamics improved, and the IABP was successfully removed.

Clinical effectiveness of tolvaptan in patients with acute decompensated heart failure and renal failure: design and rationale of the AQUAMARINE study.

PURPOSE: Over half of all admitted acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients have renal failure. Although diuretics represent the mainstay of treatment strategy even in this population, there are unmet needs for safer and more effective treatment. Tolvaptan is a vasopressin-2 receptor antagonist, and we hypothesized that adding tolvaptan to standard diuretic therapy would be more effective in ADHF patients with renal function impairment. METHODS: The Answering question on tolvaptan's efficacy for patients with acute decompensated heart failure and renal failure (AQUAMARINE) is a multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial, which will enroll 220 patients from 17 hospitals in Japan. ADHF patients whose estimated glomerular filtration rate is above 15 and below 60 mL/min/1.72 m(2) will be randomly assigned within 6 h after admission to usual care with furosemide or tolvaptan add-on therapy. Primary endpoint is achieved urine output within 48 h. Secondary endpoints include dyspnea relief measured by 7-points Likert scale, incidence of worsening renal function, dose of furosemide used within 48 h, and changes of brain natriuretic peptide. CONCLUSION: This study is the first multicenter study in Japan to evaluate clinical effectiveness of tolvaptan add-on therapy in ADHF patients with renal failure. The results of this study address the treatment strategy of this high-risk population (UMIN Clinical Trial Registry Number: UMIN000007109).

Ablation of swallowing-induced atrial tachycardia affects heart rate variability: a case report.

A 47-year-old man underwent slow pathway ablation for slow-fast atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. Following the procedure, he felt palpitations while swallowing, and swallowing-induced atrial tachycardia was diagnosed. Swallowing-induced atrial tachycardia arose from the right atrium-superior vena cava junction and was cured by catheter ablation. After the procedure, the patient's heart rate variability changed significantly, indicating suppression of parasympathetic nerve activity. In this case, swallowing-induced atrial tachycardia was related to the vagal nerve reflex. Analysis of heart rate variability may be helpful in elucidating the mechanism of swallowing-induced atrial tachycardia.

Fragmented QRS predicts cardiovascular death of patients with structural heart disease and inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

BACKGROUND: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) can predict cardiac events, and inducible ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) is a known high-risk factor for arrhythmic death. However, whether fQRS is a predictor of cardiac events in patients with inducible VT/VF is unknown. We aimed to evaluate whether fQRS is a predictor of cardiac events in patients with structural heart disease and inducible VT/VF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively investigated 98 patients with structural heart disease who had a defibrillator device implanted. All patients underwent electrophysiological testing prior to or after device implantation and VT/VF was induced. fQRS was present in 30 patients. Appropriate defibrillator therapies were similar between the fQRS and non-fQRS groups (47% vs. 47%). In total, 25 patients (26%) died during a mean follow-up period of 87±43 months. All-cause mortality (12 [40%] vs. 13 [19%]) and cardiovascular deaths (9 [30%] vs. 4 [6%]) were significantly higher in the fQRS group than non-fQRS group, respectively; Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly lower event-free survival for all-cause mortality (P=0.012) and cardiovascular deaths (P=0.001) for fQRS patients. A multivariable Cox regression model revealed that fQRS was an independent predictor of cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 4.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-15.64; P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: fQRS is a predictor of cardiovascular death in patients with structural heart disease and inducible VT/VF.

Prevalence and electrophysiological characteristics of typical atrial flutter in patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

AIMS: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the important underlying diseases of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the prevalence and electrophysiological characteristics of typical atrial flutter (AFL) in patients with AF and COPD remain unknown. The purpose of the present study was to investigate those characteristics. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated 181 consecutive patients who underwent catheter ablation of AF. Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with COPD according to the Global Initiatives for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. Forty patients with no lung disease served as a control group. We analysed the electrophysiological characteristics in these groups. Typical AFL was more common in the COPD group (19/28, 68%) than in the non-COPD group (13/40, 33%; P = 0.006). The prevalence of AFL increased with the severity of COPD: 4 (50%) of 8 patients with GOLD1, 13 (72%) of 18 patients with GOLD2, and 2 (100%) of 2 patients with GOLD3. Atrial flutter cycle length and conduction time from the coronary sinus (CS) ostium to the low lateral right atrium (RA) during CS ostium pacing before and after the cavotricuspid isthmus ablation were significantly longer in the COPD group than in the non-COPD group (285 vs. 236, 71 vs. 53, 164 vs. 134 ms; P = 0.009, 0.03, 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: In COPD patients with AF, conduction time of RA was prolonged and typical AFL was commonly observed.

Prophylactic catheter ablation for induced monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators as primary prevention.

AIMS: Prophylactic catheter ablation (CA) has been established to reduce the incidence of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy (anti-tachycardia pacing or shock) in secondary prevention patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether prophylactic CA for induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) reduces the incidence of appropriate ICD therapy in primary prevention patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively investigated 66 consecutive patients with structural heart disease who had undergone ICD implantation as primary prevention and electrophysiological study. Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or no inducible monomorphic VT had been excluded, and the remaining 38 patients were divided into two groups; those who had undergone prophylactic CA for induced monomorphic VT (the CA group, n = 18), and those who had not undergone CA (the non-CA group, n = 20). During a mean follow-up of 50 ± 38 months, 1 patient (5%) received appropriate ICD therapy in the CA group and 13 (65%) in the non-CA group. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significantly higher event-free survival rates for appropriate ICD therapy in the CA group compared with the non-CA group (P = 0.003). Among the patients, one patient (5%) in the CA group and nine patients (45%) in the non-CA group suffered appropriate shock (P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic CA for induced monomorphic VT reduces the incidence of appropriate ICD therapy including shock in primary prevention patients. These results indicate that prophylactic CA may be considered for structural heart disease patients who are candidates for ICD implantation as primary prevention.

Macroreentrant atrial tachycardia in patients without previous atrial surgery or catheter ablation: clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of scar-related left atrial anterior wall reentry.

INTRODUCTION: Macroreentrant atrial tachycardia (MRAT) has been described most frequently in patients with prior cardiac surgery. Left atrial tachycardia and flutter are common in patients who undergo atrial fibrillation ablation; however, few reports describe left atrial MRAT involving the regions of spontaneous scarring. Here, we describe left atrial MRAT in patients without prior cardiac surgery or catheter ablation (CA) and discuss the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of tachycardia and outcome of CA. METHODS AND RESULTS: An electrophysiological study and CA were performed in 6 patients (3 men; age 76 ± 6 years) with MRAT originating from the left atrial anterior wall (LAAW). No patient had a history of cardiac surgery or CA in the left atrium. Spontaneous scars (areas with bipolar voltage ≤ 0.05 mV) were observed in all patients. The activation map showed a figure-eight circuit with loops around the mitral annulus (4 counterclockwise and 2 clockwise) and a low-voltage area with LAAW scarring. The mean tachycardia cycle length was 303 ± 49 milliseconds. The conduction velocity was significantly slower in the isthmus between the scar in the LAAW and the mitral annulus than in the lateral mitral annulus (0.17 ± 0.05 m/s vs 0.94 ± 0.35 m/s; P = 0.003). Successful ablation of the isthmus caused interruption of the tachycardia and rendered it noninducible in all patients. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous LAAW scarring is an unusual cause of MRAT, showing activation patterns with a figure-eight configuration. Radiofrequency CA is a feasible and effective treatment in such cases.

Coronary artery fistula with a giant aneurysm treated by percutaneous transradial embolization.

Coronary artery fistulas are rare anomalies that are very rarely accompanied by an aneurysm. The minimally invasive method of percutaneous transradial embolization, using a thin guiding catheter, was used to treat a coronary artery fistula with an associated giant aneurysm. This technique, not previously described for this type of application, is presented as a case report. The successful outcome of this procedure demonstrated that transradial coronary interventions are useful for treating coronary artery fistulas with an associated giant aneurysm, especially in patients at high risk for conventional surgery or transfemoral interventions.

Various morphologies of bidirectional ventricular tachycardia caused by aconite "Torikabuto" poisoning.

A 43-year-old man presented with nausea. The patient developed ventricular fibrillation (VF), which was refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs and defibrillation. A coronary angiogram showed no coronary artery stenosis. We recorded various fatal arrhythmias, including bidirectional ventricular tachycardia (BVT). The presence of multiple types of BVTs that were refractory to drugs such as adenosine triphosphate, isoproterenol, verapamil, propranolol, and pilsicainide, and easily recurred after defibrillation indicated aconite poisoning. After persisting for 24 h, VF spontaneously resolved and sinus rhythm was restored. Laboratory data revealed lethal concentrations of aconitine. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of aconite poisoning-induced BVTs manifesting with multiple morphologies on 12-lead electrocardiogram. The arrhythmogenic effects of aconitine are well recognized. In addition to causing VT and VF, aconitine also can cause BVT. Aconitine can lead to delayed afterdepolarization which has an important role in triggering and maintaining BVT. However, in this case, the concentration of aconitine was high enough to render these drugs ineffective. Prompt application of percutaneous cardio-pulmonary support, which was continued until the aconitine was metabolized, proved successful in this case and should be considered as a management approach in cases of severe aconite poisoning.