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J Cardiol Cases 2022 May 22;25(5):255-258. Epub 2021 Nov 22.

Department of Pediatrics, Toyama Prefectural Central Hospital, 2-2-78 Nishinagae-cho, Toyama-shi, Toyama, 930-8550, Japan.

A 9-year-old boy, diagnosed with double outlet right ventricle after birth, suffered sinus node dysfunction and non-sustained junctional tachycardia after an extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). Spontaneous atrial tachycardia appeared 3 years after an extracardiac TCPC. Sotalol was administered but the bradycardia was obvious. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2022 May 17. Epub 2022 May 17.

Cardiothoracic Department, Humanitas Gavazzeni, Bergamo, Italy.

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is a rare disease induced by thrombosis and consequent occlusion of superior vena cava, negatively affecting morbidity and mortality. The incidence of SVC syndrome from central venous catheters and pacemaker or defibrillator leads is increasing. Optimal treatment of pacemaker or defibrillator-related SVC syndrome is not well defined. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2022 May 16;18(1):184. Epub 2022 May 16.

VCA Japan Shiraishi Animal Hospital, Saitama, 350-1304, Japan.

Background: Mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) has been widely recognized as a treatment option for myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). However, postoperative complications such as thromboembolism, arrhythmia, and pancreatitis in some cases have resulted in death. We treated a dog with severe MMVD complicated by impaired sinus function with MVP and pacemaker implantation. Read More

Front Physiol 2022 27;13:845634. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Each heartbeat is initiated by specialized pacemaker cells operating within the sinoatrial node (SAN). While individual cells within SAN tissue exhibit substantial heterogeneity of their electrophysiological parameters and Ca cycling, the role of this heterogeneity for cardiac pacemaker function remains mainly unknown. Here we investigated the problem numerically in a 25 × 25 square grid of connected coupled-clock Maltsev-Lakatta cell models. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2022 May 10. Epub 2022 May 10.

Division of Cardiology, Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.

Background: The reported success rate of His bundle pacing (HBP) in patients with infranodal atrioventricular (AV) conduction disease is only 52-76%. The success rate of left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) in this cohort is not well studied.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and electrophysiological characteristics of LBBAP in patients with AV conduction disease. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2022 May 11. Epub 2022 May 11.

Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the long-term survival and risk factors for morbidity and mortality in our cohort of patients after Extracardiac (EC) Fontan.

Methods: We collected and analyzed follow-up data until September 2020 for all patients who underwent EC Fontan operation at our institution from November 1988 to November 2015.

Results: Out of 406 patients treated with EC Fontan at a mean age of 5. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2022 May 10:e023333. Epub 2022 May 10.

Heart and Vascular Institute MetroHealth Medical Center Case Western Reserve University Cleveland OH.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with anatomical and electrical remodeling. Some patients with AF have concomitant sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and may need permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. Association between catheter ablation of AF (CA) timing and need for PPM in SSS has not been assessed. Read More

Cureus 2022 May 5;14(5):e24759. Epub 2022 May 5.

Cardiology, University of South Dakota, Sanford Heart Hospital, Sioux Falls, USA.

The association of complete atrioventricular (AV) block with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is well known, but the cause-and-effect relationship has not been determined. We present the case of a 91-year-old female with complete AV block who went untreated for over a year and later developed Takotsubo syndrome. Reversal of wall movement defects was seen after a permanent pacemaker was implanted, and routine follow-up showed that the implanted pacemaker worked normally. Read More

Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J 2022 18;18(1):14-16. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, Texas, US.

A left atrial ridge is an anomaly of irregular fusion between the septum primum and septum secundum.1 Aberrant fusion of the septa results in thickened and fibrotic tissue along the region of the fossa ovalis that will occasionally protrude into the left atrium.2 The presence of a left atrial ridge has multiple clinical implications due to its close proximity to the fossa ovalis. Read More

J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2022 May 6. Epub 2022 May 6.

Oncura Partners, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Objective: To describe the finding of the lung ultrasound (LUS) "wedge sign" in dogs with presumptive pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).

Case Series Summary: This case series describes 2 dogs with predisposing risk factors of (1) right transvenous pacemaker terminating in its right ventricle, severe protein-losing nephropathy, and glucocorticoid therapy, and (2) caval syndrome, each having the LUS "wedge sign" in upper lung regions, a sign consistent with pulmonary infarction and peripheral PTE.

New Or Unique Information Provided: Historically, the diagnosis of canine PTE has been made through supportive findings because the gold standard test, computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), poses limitations. Read More

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2022 24;35(3):357-358. Epub 2022 Feb 24.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Post-cardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is a well-established immune-mediated condition after cardiac injury, including myocardial infarction, direct chest trauma, or cardiac surgery. It commonly presents with unexplained fever and pericarditis, with or without recurrent pleural effusions. Here we present a case of PCIS that occurred after placement of a dual-chamber pacemaker. Read More

Cureus 2022 Apr 1;14(4):e23736. Epub 2022 Apr 1.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Health, Wyandotte, USA.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory tract syndrome capable of affecting a multitude of major organs in the human body. It is a known cause of severe vascular compromise, myocardial ischemia, myocarditis, and various cardiac dysrhythmias. Dysfunction of the sinoatrial (SA) node, the primary pacemaker of the heart, can arise from structural heart disease, medications, electrolyte abnormalities, and hypothyroidism. Read More

Eur J Heart Fail 2022 May 4. Epub 2022 May 4.

Cardiology Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.

Aims: An algorithm for non-invasive diagnosis of amyloid transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) and novel disease-modifying therapies have prompted an active search for CA. We examined the prevalence of CA in different settings based on literature data.

Methods And Results: We performed a systematic search for screening studies on CA, focusing on the prevalence, sex and age distribution in different clinical settings. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2022 Apr 26. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona.

This international multidisciplinary document is intended to guide electrophysiologists, cardiologists, other clinicians, and health care professionals in caring for patients with arrhythmic complications of neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). The document presents an overview of arrhythmias in NMDs followed by detailed sections on specific disorders: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2; myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2; Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1B; facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy; and mitochondrial myopathies, including Friedreich ataxia and Kearns-Sayre syndrome, with an emphasis on managing arrhythmic cardiac manifestations. End-of-life management of arrhythmias in patients with NMDs is also covered. Read More

Cureus 2022 Mar 29;14(3):e23631. Epub 2022 Mar 29.

Cardiology, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, USA.

Cardiac and neurological disorders are the main broad etiologies for loss of consciousness. Ictal bradycardia syndrome refers to epileptic discharges that profoundly disrupt normal cardiac rhythm, resulting in cardiogenic syncope during the ictal event. Convulsive syncope is a well-described phenomenon in both adults and children in which abrupt cerebral hypoperfusion leads to brief extensor stiffening and non-sustained myoclonus. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2022 Apr 29. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St. PUH B-535, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.

Scand Cardiovasc J 2022 12;56(1):48-55

Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in long QT syndrome (LQTS) patients is essential in high-risk patients. However, it is sometimes used in patients without high-risk profiles for whom the expected benefit may be lower than the risk of ICD harm. Here, we evaluated ICD benefit and harm by assessing risk according to risk scores and pre-ICD clinical characteristics. Read More

Heart Vessels 2022 Apr 25. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Hokkaido University Hospital, North-15 West-7, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan.

The risk factors and the appropriate interventions for perioperative junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) in congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery have not been sufficiently investigated despite the severity of this complication. This study aimed to examine the risk factors and interventions for perioperative JET. From 2013 to 2020, 1062 surgeries for CHD (median patient age: 4. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2022 Apr 23:e12949. Epub 2022 Apr 23.

Department of Cardiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.

A 54-year-old man had a dual-chamber pacemaker implantation 9 years ago because of sick sinus syndrome at a different facility. The patient did not undergo any evaluation of his pacemaker for a long time with cardiologist. The patient was admitted to another hospital manifesting dyspnea and palpitation with atrial fibrillation for 1 month, and he was diagnosed with ventricular lead perforation. Read More

World J Cardiol 2022 Mar;14(3):177-186

Department of Cardiology, Piedmont Heart Institute, Athens, GA 30606, United States.

Background: Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are implanted in an increasing number of patients each year, which has led to an increase in the risk of CIED infection. Antibacterial CIED envelopes locally deliver antibiotics to the implant site over a short-term period and have been shown to reduce the risk of implant site infection. These envelopes are derived from either biologic or non-biologic materials. Read More

Medicina (B Aires) 2022 ;82(2):300-303

Servicio de Clínica Médica, Instituto de investigaciones Médicas Alfredo Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

We present the case of a 75-year-old male with history of 5 months of right submaxillary tumor, with no clear etiology, who consulted for episodes of syncope preceded by dyspnea and sudden onset of profuse sweating. During his stay at the hospital, electrocardiographic records showed more than 3-second-long pauses after head movements, with a sensation of imminent loss of consciousness associated. A temporary pacemaker was required. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2022 Apr 4;10(4):e05649. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

Department of Hematology and Oncology Kita-Harima Medical Center Hyogo Japan.

Successful treatment of the acute phase of bradycardia in patients with cardiac lymphoma via medical therapy alone has not been reported. This case report describes the successful treatment of sick sinus syndrome in an 84-year-old man with cardiac lymphoma via chemotherapy without pacemaker implantation. Read More

JTCVS Tech 2022 Apr 1;12:159-163. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.

Objective: Postoperative heart block is a significant problem in congenital heart surgery because of the unpredictability and variability of conduction tissue location in complex congenital heart defects. A novel technique for intraoperative conduction system mapping during complex congenital heart surgery is described.

Methods: Intraoperative conduction system mapping was performed utilizing a high-density multielectrode grid catheter to collect intracardiac electrograms on open, beating hearts during repair of complex congenital heart defects. Read More

Cureus 2022 Mar 7;14(3):e22926. Epub 2022 Mar 7.

Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, USA.

Recently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2) has posed a challenge for clinicians, particularly extrapulmonary manifestations. These manifestations are often rare and difficult to recognize as research is still underway for the myriad presentations of the disease. A 19-year-old man presented with viral upper respiratory infection (URI) symptoms and received a positive result for SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain testing. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2022 Apr 8;15(4). Epub 2022 Apr 8.

Division of Rheumatology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA.

A woman in her late teens with a history of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and ongoing sicca symptoms presented with syncope. Upon admission, she was found to be bradycardic with a second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. After infectious, structural and metabolic aetiologies had been ruled out, she was worked up for rheumatologic causes. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2022 22;9:774189. Epub 2022 Mar 22.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.

Introduction: The rapid-deployment valve system (RDVS) was introduced to facility minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. In this study we evaluate the potential benefits of RDVS in elderly high-risk patients with endocarditis of the aortic valve.

Materials And Methods: Since the introduction of RDVS in our institution in December 2017 through October 2021, EDWARDS INTUITY rapid-deployment prosthesis (Model 8300A, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) has been implanted in a total of 115 patients for different indications by a single surgeon. Read More

Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J 2022 May-Jun;22(3):161-164. Epub 2022 Apr 1.

Division of Cardiology, SS Trinita' Borgomanero Hospital, ASL NO, Novara, Italy.

Subcutaneous hematoma is a complication of cardiac device implantation. In most cases, it is drained or spontaneously reabsorbed. While cases of chylothorax are rare, and cases of pseudochylothorax even rarer, previous cases of accumulation of chyliform material in the subcutaneous pockets of cardiac devices are anecdotal. Read More

Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J 2022 May-Jun;22(3):165-168. Epub 2022 Mar 29.

Department of Cardiology, Eternal Hospital, Jaipur, India.

31 years lady with complete atrioventricular canal defect, large primum atrial septal defect (ASD), inlet ventricular septal defect (VSD) and Eisenmenger syndrome, presented with atrial flutter and complete heart block. She was not suitable for corrective cardiac surgery and not yet indicated for heart-lung transplantation. She was advised single chamber permanent pacemaker and eventually Micra VR transcatheter leadless pacemaker was finalised for her. Read More

Front Neurol 2022 10;13:846240. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Centre for Rare Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

It is well documented that deteriorating heart function due to deposition of ceroid lipopigment is a significant co-morbidity in Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CLN3 disease) although the exact disease mechanisms remain unknown in any NCL form. An increasing frequency of cardiac conduction disorders including severe bradycardia and sinus arrest is seen in the late teens, as is a left ventricular hypertrophy in the early 20s. Only a few case reports of pacemaker implantation have been published, and so far, no long-term follow-up study exists. Read More

Front Neurosci 2022 9;16:825246. Epub 2022 Mar 9.

School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.

Circadian rhythms are cyclic patterns of physiological, behavioural and molecular events that occur over a 24-h period. They are controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the brain's master pacemaker which governs peripheral clocks and melatonin release. While circadian systems are endogenous, there are external factors that synchronise the SCN to the ambient environment including light/dark cycles, fasting/fed state, temperature and physical activity. Read More