Amelanotic Melanoma Invading the Heart.

We present a case of a middle-aged woman who initially presented with shortness of breath but was ultimately found to have a large mass-like lesion in the right atrium of the heart with multi-modality imaging including cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiogram. Biopsy results were positive for amelanotic melanoma. The patient underwent extensive debridement surgery, and she was started on chemotherapy with a close follow-up with an oncologist. In the setting of an aggressive course of disease, unfortunately, the patient passed away secondary to sudden cardiac arrest.  Cardiac melanoma, also known as melanoma of the heart, is an extremely rare type of melanoma that originates in the heart. This case attributes to the professional growth and competency of healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with cardiac melanoma, ultimately aiming to optimize patient outcomes and quality of life. Due to its rarity and the challenges associated with its diagnosis and treatment, prognosis for cardiac melanoma is generally poor. However, advancement in cancer research and treatment may offer hope for improved outcomes in some cases.

Recurrent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome.

We present a case of a young woman having recurrent admissions secondary to cyclical vomiting syndrome complicated with stress-induced cardiomyopathy/takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). She not only had left ventricular dysfunction but also suffered from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder for which professional help was sought. TC is defined as reversible, transient ventricular dysfunction in the absence of coronary artery disease. Due to the similarity of TC to acute coronary syndrome, TC is often left as a diagnosis of exclusion as it relies heavily on diagnosis by history, physical examination, and ultrasound imaging. Extreme emotional or physical stress can act as a trigger and timely identification and management of triggers causing TC are important to improve the outcome. In addition to physiological impact, TC also puts a toll on psychological health. Although the mechanism is not completely understood, reportedly plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine were significantly elevated in patients with TC which might contribute to depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. Along with proper medical care, psychological care is equally important for patients with TC.

May-Thurner Syndrome: A Suspicion That Led to an Incidental Discovery.

May-Thurner syndrome (MTS)/Iliac vein compression syndrome is characterized by left iliac vein stenosis secondary to compression by the right common iliac artery against the fifth-lumbar vertebra. It increases the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). We had a 43-year-old female presenting with left leg swelling and was found to have extensive DVT provoked by a long history of travel. Because of the extension of her thrombus, a catheter-guided thrombectomy (CDT) was planned and findings of MTS were identified incidentally. She had an endovascular stent placed and was discharged on long-term anticoagulation.

Use of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Introduction ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a serious manifestation of coronary artery disease and remains a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide. To reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) recommend the use of five classes of medications after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether STEMI patients admitted to our community hospital were discharged on optimal medical therapy based on the latest AHA/ACC guidelines. Methods A retrospective, single-center electronic medical records review was conducted at our community hospital between July 2017 and December 2018. Patients included in the study were admitted to our hospital through the emergency department as STEMI alerts. We reviewed the discharge prescriptions and assessed compliance with the medication regimen endorsed by AHA/ACC, which includes aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitors, ß-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and statins. Results A total of 147 patients were included in our study. The mean age of our study population was 62 ± 12.48 years. 97.2% of all patients with STEMI underwent coronary angiography. Hypertension (65.9%) was the most common comorbidity followed by hyperlipidemia (54.42%), diabetes mellitus (29.25%), and history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (24.48%). Among patients with successful reperfusion, 87.4% of the patients received the combination of four guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) (comprising dual antiplatelet therapy, a ß-blocker, and a statin) and 57% were discharged on five guideline-directed medical treatment (the combination of dual antiplatelet therapy, a ß-blocker, an ACEIs or an ARB, and a statin). Conclusion Optimal secondary prevention medications are known to be effective in reducing the risk of repeat ischemic events in ACS. This study demonstrated that adherence to GDMT in our community-based hospital study is better compared to prior studies but remained suboptimal. Potential strategies to improve adherence to guidelines are necessary.

Atypical Presentation of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome, more common in young women without risk factors for, or a history of, coronary artery disease and usually occurs in the peripartum period. There are two types of SCAD: atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic coronary artery dissection. Management options include conservative management, percutaneous coronary intervention, or surgical intervention, depending on the presentation and extent of the dissection. We present reports of two cases of SCAD (one man and one woman) presenting to the emergency department of our community hospital in February 2020 with nonspecific symptoms.

The Deathly Hallows of the Austrian Triad.

We have a case vignette of a 67-year-old gentleman who presented in with altered mentation and sepsis. During his hospital course, he was diagnosed with meningitis, endocarditis, and pneumonia hence completing the Austrian triad. He had no identifiable risk factors, but because of the timely diagnosis, he was given optimum treatment. He improved clinically and was discharged to a rehabilitation facility. Austrian syndrome is a pathological diagnosis caused by disseminated Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, characterized by the triad of pneumonia, endocarditis, and meningitis. We present this successfully treated case of a patient with no identifiable risk factors presenting as disseminated streptococcal pneumoniae infection.

A Twisting Tale of Infective Endocarditis.

We present a case of a unique complication of enterococcus endocarditis in an elderly man with a cardiac pacemaker who presented with low-grade fever and cough. He had no history of IV drug use. Blood cultures were positive for Enterococcus faecalis, Both trans-thoracic echo and trans-esophageal echo showed vegetation on the aortic valve. He was discharged on adequate antibiotic coverage but later presented again with near syncope. On cardiac monitoring, he was found to have episodes of torsades. Unlike heart failure or peri-valvular abscess, torsades is a rare complication of endocarditis. We aim to present a case report of a rare complication of infective endocarditis (IE) which if not identified timely, can lead to lethal outcomes. Unfortunately, our patient did not survive, but we learnt that though rare, we should always anticipate rhythm problems such as torsades as complications of endocarditis and should promptly treat with magnesium and antiarrhythmic drugs such as lidocaine if needed.