Improved paradoxical splitting of the second heart sound after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

The outcome of paradox splitting of the second heart sound (S2) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has not been well defined. We present a case of right ventricular pacing induced heart failure with prominent paradox splitting of S2 which markedly improved after upgrading to CRT.

Serial Electrocardiographic Changes in Early Post-myocardial Infarction Pericarditis.

A 72-year-old man developed fever and chest pain, accompanied by an increase in C-reactive protein, four days after successful emergency catheter intervention for an acute wide anterior myocardial infarction (MI). A twelve-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showed marked ST elevation in leads V1-6, I, and aVL, with reciprocal ST depression in leads II, III, and aVF. Although these ECG changes improved by day three, he developed fever and chest pain on day four, and an ECG at this timepoint showed ST elevation in leads II, III, aVF, and mild worsening of the ST elevation in the anterolateral leads, indicating diffuse ST-segment elevation consistent with acute pericarditis. Despite the presence of a typical friction rub, there was no pericardial effusion on an echocardiogram. No elevation of cardiac enzymes was noted. A diagnosis of early post-infarction pericarditis was made, and the patient was successfully treated with acetaminophen and colchicine. Early post-infarction pericarditis (EPIP), albeit rare in the era of emergency catheter treatment, is important because it may indicate a large transmural infarction and must be differentiated from re-infarction. Fever, chest pain, friction rub, ST elevation in the leads distant from the infarct area, recurrence of ST-segment elevation in the infarct area, and increase in inflammatory markers but not cardiac enzymes were crucial for establishing a diagnosis of EPIP.

Comparative evaluation of standard maintenance-dose clopidogrel versus low-dose prasugrel in patients with stable coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with low-dose prasugrel might be more beneficial even in chronic stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients treated with clopidogrel. We compared platelet reactivity between standard maintenance-dose and low-dose prasugrel in stable CAD patients. METHODS: This multicenter study enrolled 164 stable CAD patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel. Patients were randomly assigned to continue treatment with 75-mg clopidogrel daily (n = 80) or switch to 3.75-mg prasugrel daily (n = 84). Platelet reactivity was evaluated by measuring P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) before randomization and at 5 and 30 days thereafter using the VerifyNow® assay. Patients were classified into three groups according to CYP2C19-clopidogrel metabolic phenotype: extensive (without a *2 or *3 allele), intermediate (one *2 or *3 alleles), or poor (two *2 or *3 alleles) metabolizers. RESULTS: The PRU level was comparable between the two groups at baseline but was significantly lower in the prasugrel group than in the clopidogrel group on days 5 (133.0 vs. 156.8 PRU, P = 0.005) and 30 (124.3 vs. 158.0 PRU, P < 0.001). On day 30, the PRU level was lower in the prasugrel group among patients categorized as poor and intermediate metabolizers but not among extensive metabolizers. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose prasugrel achieves more consistent antiplatelet effects than clopidogrel irrespective of the metabolic phenotype in Japanese patients with stable CAD. Low-dose prasugrel might be also beneficial in the chronic phase without increasing the bleeding risk among stable CAD patients in other countries.

Blood pressure, frailty status, and all-cause mortality in elderly hypertensives; The Nambu Cohort Study.

Antihypertensive therapy is pivotal for reducing cardiovascular events. The 2019 Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension set a target blood pressure (BP) of <140/90 mmHg for persons older than 75 years of age. Optimal BP levels for older persons with frailty, however, are controversial because evidence for the relationship between BP level and prognosis by frailty status is limited. Here, we evaluated the relationship between systolic BP and frailty status with all-cause mortality in ambulatory older hypertensive patients using data from the Nambu Cohort study. A total of 535 patients (age 78 [70-84] years, 51% men, 37% with frailty) were prospectively followed for a mean duration of 41 (34-43) months. During the follow-up period, 49 patients died. Mortality rates stratified by systolic BP and frailty status were lowest in patients with systolic BP < 140 mmHg and non-frailty, followed by those with systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and non-frailty. Patients with frailty had the highest mortality regardless of the BP level. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of each category for all-cause mortality were as follows: ≥140 mmHg/Non-frailty 3.19 (1.12-11.40), <140 mmHg/Frailty 4.72 (1.67-16.90), and ≥140 mmHg/Frailty 3.56 (1.16-13.40) compared with <140 mmHg/Non-frailty as a reference. These results indicated that frail patients have a poor prognosis regardless of their BP levels. Non-frail patients, however, with systolic BP levels <140 mmHg had a better prognosis. Frailty may be a marker to differentiate patients who are likely to gain benefit from antihypertensive medication among older hypertensives.

Effectiveness of continuous low-dose fasudil on refractory coronary vasospasm subsequent to cardiopulmonary arrest.

Refractory coronary vasospasm subsequent to reperfusion, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or revascularization, for myocardial infarction may respond to fasudil in the superacute phase. Continuous low-dose fasudil administration should be an option for refractory coronary vasospastic angina (VSA).

[Cardiac Rehabilitation in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting].

OBJECTIVES: A purpose is to compare the in-hospital rehabilitation progress after minimally invasive cardiac surgery coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) with that after off pump coronary artery bypass grafting( OPCAB). METHODS: We analyzed 60 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery from January 2015 to December 2016. Fourteen patients underwent MICS CABG (MICS CABG group) and 46 patients underwent OPCAB (OPCAB group). The post-operative days to start standing position and independent walking, and hospitalization duration were analyzed between the 2 groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups:standing position(1.2 vs 1.2 days) and independent walking(4.8 vs 4.9 days). Hospitalization duration was shorter in MICS CABG group(14.3 vs 17.5 days). CONCLUSION: MICS CABG may shorten hospitalization length compared with OPCAB, however, further research will be needed.

Intestinal cholesterol embolism resulting from intra-aortic balloon pumping: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-aortic balloon pumping is used in elective percutaneous coronary intervention for increasing coronary blood flow. However, intra-aortic balloon pumping may decrease visceral blood flow and cause mesenteric ischemia by visceral artery obstruction. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 79-year-old Asian man in whom elective percutaneous coronary intervention was performed with intra-aortic balloon pumping. He died from mesenteric ischemia 25 hours after the procedure. Microscopic findings showed that intra-aortic balloon pumping had detached the aortic plaque, breaking it into systemic emboli, leading to subsequent intestinal ischemia and necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that intra-aortic balloon pumping can cause an intestinal cholesterol embolism.

Single-incision laparoscopic adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism: report of a case.

We herein report the first case of a single-incision laparoscopic access (SILA) adrenalectomy in Japan. A 74-year-old woman who was a hepatitis B virus carrier was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal screening result during a routine health checkup. Abdominal computed tomography and an endocrinologic workup revealed a 2-cm left adrenal tumor with primary aldosteronism. We prioritized the safety of the SILA adrenalectomy by choosing a left lower abdominal approach. A SILS port was inserted through a 2.5-cm incision. An ultrasonic coagulator was the main tool used during the surgical procedure. The duration of the surgery was 105 min and the blood loss was 1 ml. This result was comparable to that of a conventional laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Based on our experience, an SILA adrenalectomy is thus considered to be feasible and safe, with better cosmetic results and a greater overall patient satisfaction than that of a conventional laparoscopic adrenalectomy. However, further studies will be necessary before the universal adoption of this new technique can be considered.