A Rare Case of Congenital Left Ventricular Diverticulum With Apical Thrombus: Diagnostic Challenges and Management Insights.

A myocardial diverticulum is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by pouch-like protrusions within the myocardial wall, which can potentially lead to various cardiac complications. This case report describes a unique presentation of a left ventricular diverticulum (LVD) with an associated apical thrombus, highlighting the diagnostic and management challenges posed by this condition. A 58-year-old man presented to the emergency department with left arm weakness, wrist drop, and chest pain, initially raising concerns for a stroke. Diagnostic evaluations, including echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed a small focal outpouching at the left ventricular apex, consistent with a congenital LVD containing a thrombus. This diagnosis was supported by the patient's historical imaging dating back to 2007, which had similarly identified this outpouching. The patient was managed with anticoagulation therapy, transitioning from heparin to warfarin, alongside standard cardiac care. This case underscores the importance of considering myocardial diverticulum in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with cardiac symptoms that might initially suggest more common conditions, such as stroke. It also highlights the essential role of echocardiography and MRI in diagnosing and managing myocardial diverticula.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy prevalence and associated factors in patients presenting with a clinical picture of acute myocardial infarction in Palestine.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a transient cardiac syndrome that manifests with symptoms resembling acute myocardial infarction (MI). It is characterized by temporary wall-motion abnormalities predominantly affecting the apical and mid-portions of the left ventricle, despite the absence of significant obstructive coronary disease. TC poses diagnostic challenges due to its resemblance to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of TC and identify the factors associated with its occurrence in patients presenting with acute MI in Palestine. RESULTS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of patients diagnosed with TC at Al-Makassed hospital. Women accounted for 90.7% of TC cases (95% CI 88.2-93.2%). The mean age of affected individuals ranged from 62 to 76 years. The most common presenting symptoms were chest pain (83.4%, 95% CI 80.0-86.7%) and dyspnea (20.4%, 95% CI 16.3-24.5%), often following an emotionally or physically stressful event. Electrocardiography (ECG) on admission indicated ST-segment elevations in 71.1% of cases (95% CI 67.2-75.1%), accompanied by mild elevations of Troponins in 85.0% of cases (95% CI 80.8-89.1%). Despite the initial severity, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved from 20-49.9 to 59-76% within a mean time of 7-37 days. The in-hospital mortality rate was 1.7% (95% CI 0.5-2.8%), with complete recovery observed in 95.9% of cases (95% CI 93.8-98.1%) and rare recurrence. The underlying etiology is believed to involve exaggerated sympathetic stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: TC should be considered as a significant differential diagnosis in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) cases, particularly among postmenopausal women with a preceding stressful event. Our study provides insights into the prevalence and characteristics of TC in the Palestinian population. While stress has been recognized as a potential trigger for TC, further research is needed to explore if there are specific associations between occupation and other unique stressors in the Palestinian context and the prevalence of TC. The study's results can raise awareness among healthcare professionals in Palestine about the prevalence and characteristics of TC in their patient population.

Prevalence of Symptomatic Gallbladder Disease After Bariatric Surgery: A Literature Review.

Introduction Gallbladder disease (GBD) encompasses several medical conditions, including gallbladder stone formation, biliary colic, and cholecystitis. These conditions may arise following bariatric surgery, including bypass or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). The development of GBD after surgery may be attributed to various factors, including the formation of stones shortly after the procedure, the exacerbation of existing stones due to the surgery, or inflammation of the gallbladder. Rapid weight loss after surgery has also been proposed as a contributing factor. Methodology This observational study consisted of a review of retrospective hospital patient medical records of 350 adult participants who underwent LSG, with 177 participants included in the study after excluding those with cholecystectomy or GBD prior to surgery. The participants were followed for a median of two years, during which we recorded any hospitalizations, emergency department visits, clinic visits, and incidents of cholecystectomy or abdominal pain due to GBD. The participants were grouped into two: those with GBD and those without GBD after bariatric surgery, and quantitative data were summarized using mean and standard deviations. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. (IBM Corp. Released 2020. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp), with a statistical significance of P<0.05. Results In our retrospective study of 177 patients who underwent LSG, the incidence of GBD after bariatric surgery was 4.5%. Most patients with GBD after bariatric surgery were White, but this difference was not statistically significant. Patients with type 2 diabetes had a higher incidence of GBD after bariatric surgery than those without diabetes (8.3% vs. 3.6%, P=0.355). Patients with HTN had a lower incidence of GBD after bariatric surgery than those without HTN (1.1% vs. 8.2%, P=0.032). Anti-hyperglycemia medication use did not significantly increase the risk of GBD after bariatric surgery (7.5% vs. 3.8%, P=0.389). None of the patients on weight loss medication developed GBD after bariatric surgery, compared to 5% of patients who did not take weight loss medication. Our sub-data analysis showed that patients who developed GBD after bariatric surgery had a high BMI (above 40 kg/m2) before surgery, which decreased to 35 kg/m2 and below 30 kg/m2 at six months and 12 months post-surgery, respectively. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that the prevalence of GBD after LSG is low and comparable to the general population without LSG. Thus, LSG does not increase the risk of GBD. We found that rapid weight loss after LSG is a significant risk factor for GBD. These findings suggest that patients who undergo LSG should be informed of the risks of GBD and undergo careful screening before surgery to detect any pre-existing gallbladder issues. Overall, our study highlights the importance of continued research into the factors associated with GBD after bariatric surgery and the need for standardized prophylactic measures to prevent this potentially serious complication.

Cardiac Metastasis Presenting As Right Ventricular Outflow Obstruction.

Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) is characterized by an increased systolic pressure gradient between the right ventricle (RV) and the pulmonary artery. This rare condition can be diagnosed via echocardiography and may arise from various causes, including cardiac masses, pulmonary atresia with a ventricular septal defect, tricuspid valve thrombus, graft or wire calcification, or a cardiac tumor. We present the case of a 73-year-old male who was hospitalized after a syncope episode. Telemetry detected ventricular arrhythmia. Imaging identified a mass compressing the RV, causing RVOTO. A biopsy of the mass confirmed it as squamous cell carcinoma, which likely originated from the lung as a distant metastasis.

The Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a common bariatric procedure for weight loss. LSG is becoming prevalent worldwide because it is a relatively simple procedure with high efficacy. Reduced intraabdominal pressure may improve gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and reduce the GERD medication needed following LSG. However, the main long-term drawback of LSG is the development of de novo GERD. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the relationship between GERD symptoms and LSG. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review involving 390 patients who underwent LSG. Study participants were evaluated for GERD symptoms six months before and three, six, and nine months after the procedure, and proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) were used to control the symptoms. Participants were distributed into two groups: one group for patients with GERD symptoms (36.1%) and one group for asymptomatic patients (62.8%). We collected demographic data and assessed PPI use in both groups after three, six, and nine months postoperatively. Data were collected using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). We compared data using the student's t-test for independent groups. The quantitative data were summarized using mean and standard deviation (SD), and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Of the 390 participants who underwent LSG, 83.8% were women (n=327) and 16.2% were men (n=63), with a median age of 42 ± 11.9 years. PPI use was statistically significantly greater after LSG (34.1%) than before LSG (24.6%, p=0.019). The difference in PPI use between symptomatic and asymptomatic groups was not statistically significant three months after LSG. Conclusions Our study focuses on using PPI after LSG due to GERD symptoms. We found GERD symptoms improved three months following LSG, but de novo GERD symptoms occurred nine months after the surgery. Health providers need to discuss with their patients the potential outcomes of the surgery and manage patient expectations. Physicians should work with their patients to assess whether the benefits of bariatric surgery in controlling overweight-associated conditions, such as blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and weight loss, outweigh the risk of GERD symptoms and PPI use.

The Effect of COVID-19 on QTc Prolongation.

Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptors on host cells to enter the cells. These receptors are expressed on heart muscle tissue and the tissues of other major organs, which supports the primary accepted theory for the direct cardiac cell injury of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the associated cardiorespiratory manifestations. The SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to unstable myocardial cell membranes due to hypoxia, myocarditis, myocardial ischemia, and abnormal host immune response. This is the main reason behind arrhythmia and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes during COVID-19. However, the specific effect on QTc has not been studied well. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between COVID-19 and QTc changes. Methodology We conducted an observational, retrospective review of hospital medical records of 320 adult participants diagnosed with COVID-19 at our facility. After applying the exclusion criteria, 130 participants were included and distributed into two groups. One group had long QTc, and one group had normal QTc. Data were collected and recorded using Microsoft Excel. We used SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) to analyze the data. Student's t-tests were performed for independent groups. Quantitative data were summarized using mean and standard deviation. Statistical significance was taken as p < 0.05. Results A total of 63 (48.4%) participants met the criteria for long QTc, and 67 (51.5%) participants had normal QTc (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality outcomes between long QTc and normal QTc (0.8% vs. 3.8%, respectively; p = 0.21). Conclusions This study aimed to examine the association between COVID-19 and QTc changes. Nearly half of the participants had an increased QTc with COVID-19, and QTc length was not associated with mortality outcomes. Our results indicate that COVID-19 is an independent risk factor for QTc prolongation on ECG. Identifying COVID-19 as an independent risk factor for QTc prolongation is a clinically significant finding, and physicians should consider this when treating cardiac patients and possible COVID-19-positive patients.

A Puzzling Diagnosis of Cerebral Vein Thrombosis in a COVID-19-Vaccinated Patient.

Cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) is a rare condition equivalent to deep vein thrombosis of the intracranial veins. Delayed diagnosis will result in severe and disabling complications. We report a case of a 59-year-old man with CVT with no significant past medical or surgical history. On admission, he reported right-sided numbness and weakness concerns, preceded by the sudden onset of bilateral vision loss and dysarthria. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans confirmed the diagnosis of CVT. The most interesting relative risk factor was flying overseas twice a month for the last 10 years; each flight was longer than eight hours. Another possible contributing factor to our patient's condition was polycythemia, with a hemoglobin level of 19, but the most questionable and puzzling is the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination two months, eight months, and one year prior to admission. Our case highlights a rare COVID-19 vaccine-related CVT diagnosis and that close monitoring for new symptoms and signs is vital to prevent life-threatening complications, herniation, and hemorrhagic transformation.

Pyogenic Hepatic Abscess: A Case Report and Literature Review on a Rare Complication of Gastric Sleeve Surgery.

Gastric sleeve surgery is a frequently performed procedure. Although it is one of the safest bariatric procedures, it is like any other operation that carries significant risks and complications. Moreover, the hepatic abscess is an infrequent complication of laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery, the infected late gastric leakage is a rare etiology of the hepatic abscess. We present a case of liver abscess developed one month after sleeve gastrectomy secondary to infected walled-off late-gastric leak. The case highlights this rare complication of gastric sleeve surgery. Moreover, early treatment of liver abscesses with imaging-guided drainage and intravenous antibiotics can prevent life-threatening outcomes.

An Unusual Presentation of Spontaneous Rupture of Dermoid Cyst.

Intracranial dermoid cysts are exceptionally rare tumors. Interestingly, this condition has a low mortality rate but a high morbidity rate due to its numerous complications. We report a case of a 62-year-old man who presented with a headache and was found to have a ruptured dermoid cyst, complicated with the dissemination of lipid droplets within the subarachnoid space.

A Case of Neurosyphilis With Penicillin Failure.

Neurosyphilis is any involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) by Treponema pallidum. The CNS may be involved at any stage of infection. A 54-year-old previously healthy African American male was hospitalized due to a two-year history of progressive cognitive decline. One year after symptoms began, he developed, over a four-month period, gait disturbance resulting in frequent falls, speech impairment, worsening memory loss, psychosis, and an inability to perform activities of daily living. A diagnosis of neurosyphilis was established upon cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) positive results and new changes in his mental status. The CSF showed predominant lymphocytic pleocytosis (17), elevated protein (111), and IgG index (4.25). Other viral and bacterial panels were negative. Intravenous penicillin G, 24 million units daily for 14 days, was given. Two months later, the patient was transferred to the hospital for altered behavior and mental status changes from the cognitive baseline. The repeat CSF rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titer (1:4) was the same as at initial diagnosis, despite appropriate treatment. Brain MRI showed progressive volume loss in both temporal lobes, thalamus, and cerebellum, consistent with evolving encephalitis. Treatment with intravenous penicillin G, 24 million units, was repeated. The patient improved clinically. Hence, in emerging cases of syphilis, this patient has been diagnosed with a neurosyphilis flare, unresponsive to the usual dose and duration of penicillin. We recommended a repeat CSF examination every six months and having a lower threshold for CSF examination for possible flare or resistance. Our case showed a failure to respond to the usual course of penicillin, requiring a second course of IV Penicillin G, although no resistance to penicillin has been reported.