Pectus excavatum with right ventricular compression-induced ventricular arrhythmias.

A 33-year-old woman, with palpitations since the age of 15, was referred to a cardiology consultation due to very frequent ventricular extrasystoles with morphology of left bundle branch block, inferior frontal axis, late precordial transition, rS in V1, R in V6 and rS in DI. She had pectus excavatum. The cardiac magnetic resonance showed severe pectus excavatum associated with exaggerated cardiac levoposition, compression and deformation of the right cardiac chambers. However, the patient became pregnant, and follow-up was delayed.

The Dilemma: Whether to Proceed or Postpone a Patient With Pyrexia at Induction of Anesthesia for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

Routine surgery may be postponed if a patient has high white blood cells (WBC) and/or pyrexia. However, postponement carries the risk of myocardial ischaemia or infarction in a patient having coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Our case raises this dilemma in a high-risk patient that was further compromised by acute right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. A 51-year-old diabetic with end-stage renal failure, chest pain, and a recent non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who had previously refused surgery now presented for urgent CABG. During central line insertion, he started shivering and stated that he felt cold. His temperature was not measured pre-intubation, but he felt warm to the touch with no chest pain. Blood pressure (BP) 190/80 mmHg and HR 110 bpm. Iv glyceryl nitrate (GTN) and fentanyl controlled the BP. Cerebral oximetry was used to measure brain regional saturation (rSO2) with probes placed on the forehead pre-induction. Post-intubation his temperature was 38.1°C, end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) 9.2 kPa, heart rate (HR) 120 bpm. His recent NSTEMI and surgical referral two years previously meant that his ischaemic risk was high, and we decided to proceed with the surgery. During the internal mammary artery (IMA) harvesting and use of a retractor (IMAR), there was a steady fall in the rSO2 readings along with hypotension and an increase in central venous pressure (CVP) becoming critical after 60 minutes. At this point, the patient went onto cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The patient required triple vasoactive support to wean off CPB. In the intensive care unit (ICU), he required immediate support for RV failure, including nitric oxide. The next day, the patient grew Gram-negative blood cultures. In hindsight, we should have checked his temperature before induction and postponed or postponed post-induction. Regarding the IMAR or any retractor, the operating team will pay much closer attention to any haemodynamic changes resulting from their use and act accordingly.

Pectus excavatum: Right ventricular compromise with orthostatic syndrome and Brugada phenocopy.

Pectus excavatum (PEXT) consists of an overgrowth of the chondral region with posterior displacement of the inferior part of the sternum, resulting in a concave chest deformity. Characteristic clinical and imaging findings may occur, depending on the compression that right cardiac chambers suffer, when squeezed between the sternum and the column vertebrae.

Right ventricular compression observed in echocardiography from pectus excavatum deformity.

Pectus excavatum exists as varying anatomic deformities and compression of the right heart by the chest wall can lead to patient symptoms including dyspnea and chest pain with exertion. Echocardiography can be difficult but is critical to the evaluation and diagnosis of this patient population. Modifying standard views such as biplane transthoracic and 3-D transesophageal views may be necessary in some patients due to limitations from the abnormal anatomy of the deformed anterior chest wall. Apical four-chamber views when seen clearly can usually visualize any extrinsic compression to the right ventricle of the heart.

Right Ventricular Compression Observed in Echocardiography from Pectus Excavatum Deformity

Pectus excavatum exists as varying anatomic deformities and compression of the right heart by the chest wall can lead to patient symptoms including dyspnea and chest pain with exertion. Echocardiography can be difficult but is critical to the evaluation and diagnosis of this patient population. Modifying standard views such as biplane transthoracic and 3-D transesophageal views may be necessary in some patients due to limitations from the abnormal anatomy of the deformed anterior chest wall. Apical four-chamber views when seen clearly can usually visualize any extrinsic compression to the right ventricle of the heart.