Benefits of effective multidisciplinary teamwork: catheter ablation of premature ventricular ectopics.

The case concerns a difficult but successful right ventricular outflow tract ectopy catheter ablation in a fit and well 33-year-old man with a 16-year history of symptomatic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Beta blockade medication had become ineffective in suppressing the PVCs, and a 24-hour Holter monitor revealed a high burden of ectopy (10%). An echocardiogram and cardiac MRI showed a structurally normal heart. During the procedure, it became impossible to uncurve the catheter, and it lodged in the patient's right femoral artery. Immediate collaboration with interventional cardiology and interventional radiology was required to resolve the issue. The case demonstrates that excellent teamwork and calling rapidly on input from subspecialties are integral to overcoming unexpected events and to achieve a safe and successful outcome. The patient involved was a medical student at the time and as one of the coauthors offers a unique insight.

Unrecognized bipolar disorder in patients with depression managed in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Bipolar disorder is a common, severe mental health condition and a major financial burden for healthcare systems across the globe. There is some evidence that unrecognized bipolar disorder is prevalent amongst patients with depression in primary care which can lead to non-optimal treatment. However, a systematic synthesis of this literature is lacking. We aimed to determine the percentage of primary care patients who are diagnosed with depression that have unrecognized bipolar disorder. METHODS: Medline, Embase, Cochrane and PsycINFO were searched to January 2019. We included quantitative observational studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa cohort scale. Analyses were performed using random-effects models, heterogeneity was quantified using I2 and formal tests of publication bias were undertaken. RESULTS: Ten studies with 3803 participants with depression in primary care were included. The pooled prevalence of bipolar disorder in those with depression was 17% (95% CI = 12 to 22). The prevalence of unrecognized bipolar depression was higher in studies which used questionnaires as assessment tools for bipolar disorder compared to studies which used clinical interviews but this difference was not significant (14%, 95% CI = 8 to 20 versus 22%, 95% CI = 16 to 28, Q = 1.27, p = 0.12). The prevalence of unrecognized bipolar disorder was not significantly affected by study-level variations in the risk of bias and we found no evidence for publication bias. CONCLUSION: Over 3 in 20 patients with depression have unrecognized bipolar disorder in primary care which can lead to harmful patient outcomes. Increased awareness of unrecognition of bipolar disorder in primary care patients with depression and efficient assessment strategies in primary care are warranted.