Cardiomyopathy Associated with Zinc Deficiency after Bariatric Surgery.

Noncompliance with vitamin and mineral supplement protocol after bariatric surgery may lead to true-elements deficiency. Among them, zinc and selenium deficiencies were closely related to cardiac complications, such as myocardial fibrosis, heart failure, and arrhythmias. We describe a 30-year-old female, 6 weeks after delivery and 5 years after bariatric surgery, who was admitted to the cardiology department because of dyspnea and clinical evidence of heart failure, as well as an echocardiogram that demonstrated reduced systolic left ventricular function.

Cardiovascular Involvement in Behçet Disease: Clinical Implications.

Behçet disease (BD) is a multisystem disorder, with vasculitis as its underlying pathological process, in contrast to the classic triad of recurrent oral and genital ulcerations, with uveitis. Vascular involvement in BD includes venous thrombosis, arterial occlusion, and pulmonary artery and aortic aneurysm formation. Cardiac involvement is rare and often obscure.

Bivalirudin versus Unfractionated Heparin during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients at High Risk for Bleeding.

Low/medium-bleeding-risk populations undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) show significantly less bleeding with bivalirudin (BIV) than with unfractionated heparin (UFH), but this has not been established for high-risk patients. We performed a randomized double-blind prospective trial comparing efficacy and safety of BIV versus UFH combined with dual antiplatelet therapy during PCI among 100 high-risk patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or angina pectoris. The baseline characteristics were similar in both treatment arms.

Catheter Aspiration after Every Stage during Primary Percutaneous Angioplasty; ADMIT Trial.

We assess the epicardial and microcirculation flow characteristics, and clinical outcome by using catheter aspiration after each stage of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Conflicting data are reported regarding early and late benefit of using aspiration catheter in the initial phase PPCI. A total of 100 patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) were included: 51 underwent PPCI without using an aspiration device (SA group) and 49 underwent PPCI by activating an aspiration catheter after each stage of procedure; wiring, ballooning and stenting, respectively (MA group).

Association of heart block with uncommon disease States.

A variety of diseases, other than the common Lev-Lenègre disease, are associated with cardiac conduction system abnormalities. These include acute processes, such as acute rheumatic fever, and other disorders, such as sarcoidosis, connective tissue disorders, neoplasms, and bacterial endocarditis with cardiac abscess formation. The purpose of the study is to raise awareness of these rare conditions.

Clinical Significance of Conditions Presenting with ECG Changes Mimicking Acute Myocardial Infarction.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is the primary tool in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, other clinical conditions, both cardiac and noncardiac originated pathologies, may result in ECG tracing of AMI. This may lead to an incorrect diagnosis, exposing the patients to unnecessary tests and potentially harmful therapeutic procedures.

The significance of bradycardia in anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a life-threatening condition, with a significant risk for death, due to cardiovascular complications. It is characterized by abnormal eating behavior and has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders. It has been associated with bradycardia (a heart rate [HR] of less than 60 beats per minute) (up to 95%), hypotension, mitral valve prolapse, and heart failure.

[Arrhythmic storm in a patient with Brugada syndrome--an unusual case].

Brugada syndrome is characterized by episodes of near sudden death or syncope. The heart is normal on physical, angiographic and echocardiographic examination. The characteristic ECG abnormalities consist of ST-segment elevation in leads V1-V3 and pseudo right bundle branch block.

Cardiac device-related endocarditis: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment - a review.

Cardiac device-related endocarditis (CDE) is a phenomenon for which incidence is on the rise; it presents difficult management problems to the clinician. On one hand, there is the patient who needs the implanted device, and the potential morbidity and mortality associated with its removal. On the other hand, there is the problem of a persistent infection - usually acquired during insertion of an electrical device - that is resistant to many antibiotics, has a high recurrence rate, and necessitates an extensive operation to remove the device if removal is delayed.

Improving the adverse changes in cardiac autonomic nervous control during laparoscopic surgery, using an intermittent sequential pneumatic compression device.

Background: The creation of positive pressure pneumoperitoneum (PP) may lead to adverse cardiovascular effects during laparoscopic operations. It can also lead to increased sympathetic cardiac activity, that might have serious consequences. We hypothesized that by reversing the hemodynamic effects, the use of intermittent sequential pneumatic compression device (Lympha-press) on the lower extremities would lead to improved cardiac autonomic control.

[The clinical significance of postictal electrocardiographic changes mimicking acute myocardial infarction].

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is of critical importance in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Clinical conditions such as acute pericarditis, esophageal rupture, pancreatitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, perforated duodenal ulcer, pneumothorax and status following elective DC cardioversion result in ECG changes that include ST elevation and T wave inversion. This report aims to increase the awareness of non-cardiac syndromes, with ECG abnormalities mimicking acute myocardial infarction, and thus to avoid unjustified thrombolytic therapy.