Chronic cough causing unexpected diaphragmatic hernia and chest wall rupture.

Cough is a defense mechanism for airway protection and is associated with multiple systemic complications such as ribs fracture. Diaphragmatic rupture is commonly caused by blunt or penetrating trauma. We presented a case of a 72-year-old female with a 1-year history of chronic cough, not responding to medical management. Imaging showing abdominal herniation into the thoracic cavity and rib fracture due to diaphragmatic and chest wall rupture. Abdominal herniation and diaphragmatic rupture were repaired through surgery allowing resolution of symptoms. This is a life-threatening condition with a high-mortality rate in which early diagnosis and repair are desirable. Therefore, awareness of this uncommon complication of cough should be acknowledged.

Basiliximab and heart transplantation in Hispanics: the experience in Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND: Induction immunotherapy in addition to standard triple therapy at the time of cardiac transplantation with cytolytic antibodies has been used in recipients with pre transplant renal impairment, and to prevent rejection. Recently, anti-interlukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies have been used for these purposes. A retrospective study of 58 heart transplant recipients was conducted to assess the effect of basiliximab, a chimeric anti-interlukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody on biopsy proven acute rejection, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, hospitalizations due to infection and mortality one year after transplantation. METHODS: A total of 58 heart transplant patient's charts were reviewed. All patients received triple immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine or tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone post transplant. Basiliximab 20 mg on day 0 and day 4 was administered as induction therapy in a subgroup of patients. Both groups had similar pre transplant characteristics. Analysis was performed at intervals of 0-17 weeks, 18-34 weeks, 35-52 weeks, and one year overall. The incidence of acute rejection episodes, post-transplant renal function, patient survival and hospitalizations due to infection was analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients received induction therapy with basiliximab and 31 patients did not. Basiliximab induction helped reduce acute rejection overall during the first year, with 22 episodes of rejection in the induction group, and 67 episodes in the no induction group. In the 0-17 weeks following transplantation there were 20 reported rejection episodes in the induction group versus 58 rejection episodes in the no-induction group, demonstrating also reduction of rejection by induction in this group. Basiliximab induction group had preserved renal function, with higher creatinine clearance at 1 year when compared to the no induction group. There were no differences between groups in terms of hospitalizations due to infections or mortality. CONCLUSION: Induction therapy with basiliximab significantly reduced the number of acute rejection within the first year after heart transplantation, without a negative impact on patient's renal function, risk of infection or mortality.

Heart failure in rupture of a sinus of valsalva aneurysm.

We report a 22-year-old man who developed shortness of breath after lifting weights and then developed acute heart failure due to rupture of an aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva into the right ventricle. The patient developed dyspnea, and clinical findings included tachycardia, wide pulse pressure, bounding carotid and peripheral pulses, pulmonary crackles, and prominent continuous precordial murmur with thrill. Transesophageal echocardiogram with Doppler examination confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent surgery with cardioplegia directly infused into the coronary arteries with excision of redundant tissue and closure of the defect with a Dacron patch. He has been asymptomatic since surgery. This condition must to be included in the differential diagnosis for young patients with heart failure.

Coexistent congenital aortic defects, aneurysm of sinus of valsalva, atrial septal defect and infective endocarditis: a case report.

Coarctation of the Aorta is frequently associated with bicuspid aortic valve. This is a risk factor for infective endocarditis. Aneurysm of a sinus of Valsalva is a rare defect with a prevalence of 0.09%. They are associated in 10% of cases with a bicuspid aortic valve and less frequently with coarctation of the aorta and atrial septal defect. It is extremely rare the association of coarctation of the aorta with an atrial septal defect. This is one of the first cases reported in Puerto Rico of an adult patient with coarctation of the aorta in association with a bicuspid aortic valve, a ruptured aneurysm of a sinus of Valsalva and an atrial septal defect. The patient is a 22 year old male with coarctation of the aorta diagnosed since childhood who was admitted at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico with signs of heart failure due to infective endocarditis secondary to a teeth infection. Upon evaluation with transthoracic and transesophageal echos, he was found to have a coarctation at the aortic isthmus, aortic root dilatation, bicuspid aortic valve with vegetation, severe aortic and tricuspid regurgitation, aneurysm of the non coronary sinus of Valsalva with perforation to the right atrium, biatrial enlargement and a dilated right ventricle. Successful antibiotic treatment of endocarditis was achieved followed by surgical replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta with closure of the non coronary sinus of Valsalva was done. An secundum atrial septal defect was found and was also closed. Surgical correction of the coarctation of the aorta was postponed for a future time. The patient had a successful postsurgical recovery and was discharged home with anticoagulation treatment.

Heart transplantation in females: the experience in Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation is the procedure of choice for a selected group of patients with end stage heart disease. Gender related differences have been observed in the heart transplant field: less women than men are recipients of heart transplants, more risk of rejection in female recipients, and a perception toward reduced survival in women. We report our experience of heart transplantation in females in Puerto Rico. METHODS: We studied the data bank of 69 heart transplant recipients in the Puerto Rico Heart Transplant Program from June 1999 to June 2005. Gender related differences in the number of recipients: males or females, incidence of rejection, survival, and other outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: 69 patients received an orthotopic heart transplant from June 1999 to June 2005, in a single center in Puerto Rico. The mean age of the patients was 47 (11-62) years. Fifty patients (72%) were men, and 19 patients (28%), were women. Survival in the female group at 3 months, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years was 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 90%, and 90% respectively. The survival in the male group at 3 months, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years was 97%, 97%, 97%, 94%, 86 and 79% respectively. There was an early, higher incidence of rejection in women during the first three months post transplant; 1.5 vs. 0.75, (P=0.04) episodes per patient in the female, and male group respectively. After the third month post transplant there was no significant difference in rejection incidence. The incidence of infectious episodes was significantly more frequent in female than in male recipients, 2.8 vs. 1 (P=0.02) per patient respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There were more male than female heart transplant recipients at a ratio of 3:1, without a significant gender difference in survival. The risk of rejection was higher in females in the early period post transplantation, but thereafter this risk showed no signinificant statistical difference. The incidence of infection was more frequent in female than in male recipients.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: successful bridge to pediatric heart transplantation.

Since the year 2000, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for cardiac failure has been employed in the post operative care of children at the Centro Cardiovascular de Puerto Rico y el Caribe. Our experience with the application of ECMO had been limited to circulatory support after repair of congenital cardiac lesions. We report the first case in Puerto Rico where ECMO was used successfully as bridge to pediatric heart transplantation.

Localization of parathyroid lesions: blind study for surgeons

Success in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism rest in the accurate localization and removal of the diseased gland or glands. Computerized tomography and nuclear imaging scans are being used to localize abnormal parathyroid tissue. In the present study, fifteen consecutive patients undergoing surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism were all subjected to these ancillary studies. Results were not revealed to the operating team. In all instances an adenoma was localized during neck exploration. CT Scan failed to localize 73% of the affected glands. Nuclear scans missed almost fifty percent of the parathyroid adenomas. The low yield of these ancillary localizing tests makes them unnecessary in the routine evaluation of patients undergoing surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism