Efecto del cilostazol en la enfermedad del nodo sinusal / Cilostazol and sick sinus syndrome

Resumen Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 60 años con enfermedad del nodo sinusal (ENS), sintomática con mareos y ángor, con electrocardiograma que evidenciaba episodios de pausas sinusales con escapes nodales. Durante la internación, a la espera de colocación de marcapaso definitivo, se indicó cilostazol (100 mg cada 12 h vía oral), observando a las 48 horas del inicio un incremento en la frecuencia cardíaca y la desaparición de las pausas sinusales en Holter de 24 horas. Nuestro objetivo ha sido demostrar que el cilostazol puede ser útil en pacientes con ENS, aunque es necesario evaluar los efectos cronotrópicos a largo plazo de este tratamiento.

Abstract Here we present the case of a 60-year-old patient with sinus node disease (NSS), symptomatic with dizziness and angor. The electrocardiogram showed episodes of sinus pauses with nodal escapes. During hospitalization, pending the placement of a definitive pacemaker, cilostazol (100 mg every 12 hours orally) was indicated, observing an increase in heart rate 48 hours after starting the medication, and the disappearance of sinus pauses in the 24 hours Holter. Our objective has been to show that cilostazol can be useful in patients with SNN, although long-term chronotropic effects of this treatment has yet to be evaluated.

Ventricular tachycardia an atypical presentation of Ebstein's disease.

Ebstein's anomaly (EA) is a rare congenital malformation, characterized by an apical displacement and dysplasia of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve with a right ventricular atrialization compromising its function. This malformation includes electrical conduction abnormalities, and very rarely ventricular arrhythmias. We report the case of a 22-year-old male, presenting with dizziness and palpitations. The electrocardiogram showed a sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT). The presentation of the disease with ventricular tachycardia associated with hemodynamic instability is extremely rare. We placed a surgical implantable cardiac defibrillator when the diagnosis of EA, SMVT, and right ventricular systolic impairment was confirmed. 

[Aortic intramural hematoma type B: images of an entity with different evolution pathways]. / Hematoma aórtico intramural tipo B: imágenes de una entidad con diferentes caminos evolutivos.

The progress in noninvasive imaging techniques for aortic pathology, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MRI) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) have facilitated the diagnosis and management of patients with aortic intramural hematoma (IMH). Despite incomplete understanding of their natural history, it is known there is no significant difference between the IMH and classic aortic dissection (AD) on the incidence of major complication or death. In this article, we present images of patient with type B aortic hematoma and different outcomes in their natural evolution.

Transvenous extraction of pacemaker leads in infective endocarditis with vegetations ≥20 mm: our experience.

BACKGROUND: According to published evidence, treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) associated with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) should include complete removal of the system. Several publications have shown that transvenous removal is an effective and safe nonthoracotomy approach in patients with large vegetations, but experiences with vegetations larger than 20 mm have rarely been reported. HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to describe our experience in percutaneous removal of CIEDs in patients with IE with large vegetations. METHODS: The data were collected retrospectively and analyzed prospectively. We evaluated in-hospital morbidity and mortality related to percutaneous removal of vegetations ≥20 mm. This included 8 cases with a follow-up period of 20 months. We removed 100% of leads in the study population. RESULTS: Two patients experienced minor complications. No patient experienced subclavian vein laceration, hemothorax and lead fracture, or severe tricuspid regurgitation. After the removal procedure, 2 patients had symptoms compatible with pulmonary embolism. Both in-hospital mortality and mortality at follow-up were zero. CONCLUSIONS: Transvenous extraction of pacing leads with larger vegetations is a feasible technique. There was a tendency toward symptomatic pulmonary embolism in patients with vegetations larger than 20 mm; however, morbidity and mortality were not influenced. We agree with the consensus that this procedure is highly useful and that the selection of the removal techniques will depend not only on the size of vegetation but also on prior cardiopulmonary conditions, concomitant cardiac surgery, atrial septal defect with risk of paradoxical embolism, center experience, and the possibility of complete removal of the device.