Chronotropic effect of the antithrombotic agent cilostazol in a patient with sick sinus syndrome and syncope

In this case report we describe an 80-year-old man with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) who developed syncope attacks. The diagnosis of SSS was based on electrocardiographic evidence of markedly prolonged sinus arrests associated with syncope attacks while in hospital. The patient was given cilostazol, an antithrombotic agent that selectively inhibits cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase type 3, at a dose of 100 mg twice daily. The syncope attacks ceased, and an electrocardiogram obtained 1 week after the start of cilostazol administration showed no evidence of sinus arrest. The outcome of this case suggests that cilostazol may be useful in patients with syncope attacks due to SSS, although the long-term chronotropic effects of cilostazol need to be evaluated.     

Cough Syncope Caused by Sinus Arrest in a Patient with Sick Sinus Syndrome

Cough syncope is a syndrome in which dizziness or syncope occurs after prolonged bouts of cough. This paper presents a case of 63-year-old man with recurrent dizziness and syncope. The 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram and intracardiac electrogram showed sinus node dysfunction with sinus arrest, both spontaneous and inducible by voluntary cough. Sinus arrest was sometimes associated with dizziness. A permanent VVI pacemaker was implanted and no further cough syncope has occurred. We suggest that sinus arrest may play a role as a mechanism of cough syncope in a patient with sick sinus syndrome.     

Prolonged hyperventilation and intracranial pressure

The effects of PaCO2 changes on intracranial pressure (ICP) often remain even after prolonged hyperventilation. Two representative cases are described where PaCO2 rises were directly related to serious rises in ICP after 4, 6, and 14 days of hyperventilation. This is common in head injuries and suggests that where hyperventilation is used to reduce ICP in the presence of brain swelling, withdrawal of the technique should be cautious.     

Untoward reaction to adenosine therapy for supraventricular tachycardia

Adenosine, a naturally occurring nucleoside that slows conduction through the atrioventricular node, has recently been approved for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia. It has been shown to convert patients with supraventricular tachycardia to sinus rhythm in up to 92% of cases. Its intravascular half-life of only 10 seconds and absence of reported serious side effects have made adenosine an attractive antiarrhythmic agent. This report describes two cases in which significant side effects from the administration of adenosine were encountered including: (1) prolonged sinus arrest with syncope, and (2) syncope with prolonged bradycardia and hypotension. Emergency physicians should be cognizant of the potential complications resulting from adenosine administration, and should be prepared to deal with them when using this newly available agent.     

Diagnosis of absent ductus venosus in a population referred for fetal echocardiography: association with a persistent portosystemic shunt requiring postnatal device occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this series was to assess the incidence, anatomic variants, and implications of an absent ductus venosus (ADV) in patients referred for fetal echocardiography. METHODS: We searched our fetal cardiology database for diagnoses of ADV from May 2003 to December 2006. RESULTS: During the study period, we performed 1328 fetal echocardiographic examinations in 990 fetuses. We found 6 cases of ADV (6/1000). Indications for fetal echocardiography were cardiomegaly, dilated umbilical or systemic veins, and extracardiac abnormalities. We identified 5 anatomic variants of ADV. In 2 patients, the umbilical vein connected to the systemic venous circulation by way of the portal sinus: via an abnormal venous channel from the portal sinus to the right atrium (case 1) and presumably via hepatic sinusoids to the hepatic veins (case 2). In the remaining 4 patients, the umbilical vein bypassed the portal sinus and the liver and connected to the systemic venous circulation via an abnormal venous channel: from the umbilical vein to the right atrium (case 3), from the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava (cases 4 and 5), and from the umbilical vein to the right iliac vein (case 6). All patients survived; 2 required cardiovascular intervention. No intervention was required in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: An ADV should be ruled out in a fetus with unexplained cardiomegaly or dilatation of the umbilical vein, systemic veins, or portal sinus. To our knowledge, prenatal diagnosis of an ADV with an abnormal communication between the portal sinus and the right atrium has not been reported previously. The portosystemic communication persisted after birth and required device occlusion.     

真菌性鼻窦炎19例诊治体会

目的:通过回顾分析19例真菌性鼻窦炎的临床资料,以提高该病的诊断和治疗水平。方法;对收治的19例真菌性鼻窦炎患者作鼻窦CT检查和鼻内镜检查,并行相应手术治疗。结果:所有病例均为单侧鼻窦发病,其中病变单纯累及上颌窦者12例、单纯累及筛窦者2例、单纯累及蝶窦者1例,有3例同时累及上颌窦和筛窦,有1例同时累及上颌窦、筛窦和蝶窦。有15例(78.9%)窦腔软组织团块影中可见斑点状钙化灶,5例窦腔有不同程度的骨质吸收和破坏。术后随访2年,有3例复发。结论:真菌性鼻窦炎好发于上颌窦,多为单侧鼻窦发病,CT具有较高的诊断价值,手术具有较好的治疗效果。     

3D-CE-MRA在脑静脉血栓影像学诊断中的价值

目的:探讨运用三维对比增强MR血管造影技术(3D-CE-MRA)的MRV在脑静脉血栓(CVT)的各种影像学诊断中的价值。方法:回顾22例经MRI、MRV及DSA检查CVT的病例,重点观察分析各种影像学表现。结果:MRI(SE序列)检查共显示脑实质继发改变10例;显示上矢状窦、横窦及直窦血栓共13例;MRV检查显示上矢状窦血栓6例;下矢状窦血栓1例;上矢状窦合并直窦2例;上矢状窦合并横窦、乙状窦3例;横窦合并乙状窦血栓3例;海绵窦血栓1例;大脑大静脉及大脑内静脉血栓1例;大脑上静脉及吻合静脉血栓1例。全部病例均经DSA检查证实。结论:MRI与3D-CE-MRA成像技术的MRV相结合可以全面、准确地显示CVT,为CVT检出的最佳方法。     

The Effect of Exogenous Adenosine in Patients with Neurally-Mediated Syncope and Sick Sinus Syndrome

The effects of a 20-mg IV, bolus of adenosine 5'triphosphate (ATP) on the heart rhythm was studied in 79 patients affected by neurally-mediated syncope (26 cases) or sick sinus syndrome (22 cases) or both syndromes (31 cases) and in 31 healthy control subjects in order to examine the sensitivity of cardiac purinoceptors in such circumstances. During ATP infusion, the sinus cycle lengthened to > 2 seconds in no control, in 1 (4%) patient with neurally-mediated syncope, in 5 (23%) patients with sick sinus syndrome, and in 13 (42%) patients with both neurally-mediated and sick sinus syndromes (P = 0.01). Atrioventricular block occurred in 14 (45%) of controls, in 10 (38%) patients with neurally-mediated syncope, in 4 (18%) patients with sick sinus syndrome, and in 13 (42%) patients with both neurally-mediated syncope and sick sinus syndrome (n.s.). Thus, exogenous ATP exerts different effects on patients with neurally-mediated syncope and patients with sick sinus syndrome. In fact, intrisic disease of the sinus node is necessary to modulate an abnormal adenosine-mediated sinus arrest, whereas patients affected by neurally-mediated syncope alone show a normal sensitivity to the drug administration. The effect of ATP on atrioventricular conduction is greater than that on sinus node and is of similar magnitude in patients and controls; thus the clinical meaning of ATP induced atrioventricular block remains uncertain.     

儿童房间隔缺损介入治疗后并发症的随访研究

目的 随访观察儿童继发孔型房间隔缺损(ASD)介入治疗后并发症的发生及转归情况.方法 192例介入治疗成功且随访时间超过1个月的ASD患儿,ASD直径8.0～33.0 mm,平均(16.7±8.0)mm.128例应用Amplatzer房间隔封堵器,64例应用国产房间隔缺损封堵器,封堵器大小8.0～38.0 mm,平均(18.9±8.2)mm.随访时间1个月～4年,平均(19.0±4.5)个月.术前及术后24 h和术后1、3、6、12个月及以后每1～2年行超声心动图及心电图(ECG)检查.结果 ①并发症总的发生率为3.6%(7/192),其中残余分流占1.6%(3/192),窦性心动过缓占0.5%(1/192),Ⅰ度房室传导阻滞占0.5%(1/192),封堵器微移位并残余分流占0.5%(1/192),斑秃占0.5%(1/192).②ASD的大小和缺损的多少与并发症的发生情况:单孔型ASD共184例,并发症的发生率为2.7%(5/184),其中ASD≤10 mm 5例均无并发症发生,ASD10～20 mm者并发症的发生率为1.7%(2/119),ASD≥20 mm者并发症的发生率为5.0%(3/60);两孔和多孔型ASD共8例,并发症的发生率为25.0%(2/8).③并发症出现的时间:术后24 h内并发症的发生率为3.1%(6/192),分别为残余分流3例、Ⅰ度房宣传导阻滞1例、窦性心动过缓1例、封堵器微移位并残余分流1例;术后2 d～2周发生斑秃1例(0.5%,1/192).④并发症的处理情况:残余分流、封堵器微移位和斑秃患儿均未予特殊处理,窦性心动过缓者给予地塞米松和阿托品治疗,房室传导阻滞者给予地塞米松治疗.⑤并发症的转归情况:完全恢复4例(57.1%),分别为残余分流、Ⅰ度房宣传导阻滞、窦性心动过缓和斑秃各1例:少量残余分流2例和封堵器微移位1例未恢复.结论 继发孔型房间隔缺损介入治疗后总的并发症少,大部分并发症在随访过程中可完全恢复,一些少见并发症仍需长期随访观察.     

2:1 Left to Right Interatrial Block and Other Effects of Ibutilide during Non-isthmus-Dependent Atrial Flutter

The effects of ibutilide on non-isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (NIDAFL) and the left atrium are not completely known. We describe a case report of 2:1 left to right interatrial block as a result of ibutilide during NIDAFL. This is a 68-year-old man with history of right atrial flutter ablation who presented with recurrence of atrial flutter and underwent a diagnostic electrophysiology study. A 20-pole catheter with 2–10-mm spacing was used spanning the cavotricuspid isthmus to the midcoronary sinus. Morphology of the flutter waves and atrial activation sequence was recorded. Ibutilide was given to terminate the atrial flutter. During administration, 2:1 left-to-right interatrial block was seen. In addition, the cycle length of the flutter prolonged, yet the activation sequence did not change. Ibutilide terminated the flutter. During sinus rhythm, interatrial block was not seen. This case report illustrates an example of 2:1 left to right interatrial conduction block because of ibutilide during a non-isthmus-dependent atrial flutter.     

Sinus Node Dysfunction and Sudden Cardiac Death Following Treatment with Encainide

Encainide, a class Ic drug, is generally thought of as having little effect on sinus node function. In this article, we present the clinical course and electrophysiological findings of a patient who had cardiac arrest after 1 week of encainide therapy for ventricular extrasystoles. No ventricular tachyarrhythmias were induced during programmed ventricular stimulation (baseline study and while receiving encainide therapy). Prior to encainide therapy, sinus node function was normal, but clinical observations after admission for cardiac arrest and subsequent electrophysiological study revealed that encainide had caused striking impairments in sinus node function. During a 6-month follow-up without antiarrhythmic drug treatment, this patient has had an uneventful course. We concluded that encainide can cause severe and life-threatening sinus node dysfunction.     

Continuous passive oxygen insufflation results in a similar outcome to positive pressure ventilation in a swine model of out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation

BACKGROUND: The deleterious effects of positive pressure ventilation may be prevented by substituting passive oxygen insufflation during advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: We compared 24-h neurologically normal survival among three different ventilation scenarios for ACLS in a realistic swine model of out-of-hospital prolonged ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest. No bystander CPR was provided during the first 8 min of untreated VF before the simulated arrival of an emergency medical system (EMS). Thirty-six swine were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups. Group I (standard ventilation) was mechanically ventilated at 10 respirations per minute (RPM) at a tidal volume (TV) of 10 ml/kg with 100% oxygen. Group II (hyperventilation) was ventilated at 35 RPM at a TV of 20 ml/kg with 100% oxygen. In Group III (insufflation) animals, a nasal cannula was placed in the oropharynx to administer oxygen continuously at 10 l/min. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the 24h neurologically normal survival among groups (standard: 2/12, hyperventilation: 2/12, insufflation: 4/12; p=.53). CONCLUSIONS: Passive insufflation may be an acceptable alternative to the currently recommended positive pressure ventilation during resuscitation efforts for out-of-hospital VF cardiac arrest. Potential advantages of this technique include: (1) easier to teach, (2) easier to administer, (3) prevention of the adverse effects of positive pressure ventilation and (4) allows EMS personnel to concentrate upon other critically important duties.     

20例蝶窦孤立性良性病变的诊断及治疗分析

目的总结蝶窦孤立性良性病变的诊断及合理治疗。方法对20例蝶窦孤立性良性病变的临床资料进行回顾分析。结果20例中蝶窦囊肿10例，真菌性蝶窦炎5例，慢性蝶窦炎3例，颅咽管瘤1例，骨瘤1例。临床表现有头痛（85％）、视力改变（35％）、颅神经麻痹（25％）、回吸性涕血或鼻出血（30％）。所有病例术前行CT或磁共振检查，并经术后病理检查证实。结论蝶窦孤立性良性病变以蝶窦囊肿、真菌性蝶窦炎多见；CT或磁共振检查对本病诊断有较高价值，可为制定手术方案提供依据。鼻内镜微创外科手术是治疗蝶窦病变的优选术式。     

Dual defibrillation in patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation

In the setting of cardiac arrest, refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF) is difficult to manage, and mortality rates are high. Double sequential defibrillation (DSD) has been described in the literature as a successful means to terminate this malignant rhythm, after failure of traditional Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) measures. The authors herein present a case of refractory VF in a patient with cardiac arrest, on whom DSD was successful in reversion to sinus rhythm, and provide a thorough review of similar cases in the literature.     

内镜辅助经蝶窦入路手术切除垂体腺瘤的并发症及其护理对策

目的探讨经蝶入路切除垂体腺瘤术后主要并发症的发生原因及护理对策。方法分析在神经内镜下经蝶窦入路切除垂体腺瘤212例患者的临床资料。结果术后鼻腔出血2例,术后发生尿崩症29例,脑脊液鼻漏11例,视觉障碍1例,鼻中隔穿孔1例,蝶窦感染1例,无死亡病例。结论经蝶窦入路手术切除垂体腺瘤创伤小,住院时间短,术前充分完善的准备及重视术后并发症的处理,是提高临床治疗效果的重要保证。     

静脉溶栓治疗急性心肌梗死再通后心律失常的临床特点

目的观察分析静脉溶栓治疗急性心肌梗死再通后心律失常发生特点。方法选取静脉溶栓治疗的急性心肌梗死患者50例,溶栓治疗前后均严格进行心电监测及病情观察,观察本组患者血管再通及再灌注心律失常的发生情况。结果 50例患者均无明显出血倾向,其中40例(80.00%)判定为血管再通,42例(84.00%)在溶栓治疗开始后2 h内发生心律失常,其中23例(54.76%)为加速性室性自主心律,9例(21.43%)发生室性早搏,5例(11.90%)发生房性早搏,窦性停搏或房室传导阻滞均发生在下壁心肌梗死,其中2例(66.67%)为血管再通患者,1例(33.33%)为血管未通患者。42例发生再灌注心律失常患者中,38例自行缓解,3例经静脉推注利多卡因后复律,1例血管未通发生室颤者抢救无效死亡。结论早期进行静脉溶栓治疗可提高急性心肌梗死患者冠脉再通率,但易再灌注心律失常,因此,在溶栓治疗期间应加强心电监测,必要时应积极处理,以提高溶栓治疗成功率。     

Successful resuscitation of a child with severe hypothermia after cardiac arrest of 88 minutes

A 4-year-old boy broke through the ice of a frozen lake and drowned. The boy was extricated from the icy water by a rescue helicopter that was dispatched shortly after the incident. Although the boy was severely hypothermic, no cardiac response could be induced with field resuscitation measures, including intubation, ventilation, suction, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. On admission, the primary findings included fixed, nonreacting pupils and asystole. The first core temperature measured was 19.8 degrees C (67.6 degrees F). During active, external warming, the first ventricular beats were observed 20 minutes after admission, and changed 10 minutes later to a sinus rhythm. Continuous monitoring included repeated arterial blood gas and electrolyte tests; prophylaxis for cerebral edema was performed with hyperventilation and administration of sodium Brevimytal and dexamethasone. Seventy minutes after admission, hemodynamics stabilized and the boy was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), where active external warming was continued to raise the core temperature at a rate of 1 degree C/hour. Adult respiratory distress syndrome developed, and the boy had to be ventilated in the PICU for 10 days. He was discharged home after another two weeks. He recovered fully. The rapid heat loss with the induction of severe hypothermia (< 20 degrees C; 68 degrees F) was the main reason for survival in this rare event of a patient with cardiac arrest lasting 88 minutes after accidental hypothermia.     

Effect of dichloroacetate in the treatment of anoxic lactic acidosis in dogs

Lactic acidosis is seen frequently after severe anoxia and circulatory failure. Because dichloroacetate (DCA) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of lactic acidosis, we studied its effect on lactate levels and pH in arterial and sagittal sinus blood specimens in a pediatric canine model of anoxic cardiac arrest followed by CPR. Lactate levels rose steadily in all puppies receiving DCA alone (group 1), DCA plus bicarbonate (group 2), bicarbonate alone (group 3), or neither drug (group 4). Arterial and sagittal-sinus lactate levels were in the range of 2 mmol/L during the baseline period, 6 mmol/L after anoxic arrest, and 10 mmol/L after 20 min of CPR. Bicarbonate, but not DCA, significantly raised arterial pH. Neither drug reversed the progression of acidosis in the sagittal sinus; mean pH ranged from 6.85 to 6.92 among the four groups after 20 min of CPR. We speculate that DCA did not decrease lactate levels or raise the pH in either the peripheral circulation or the CNS (sagittal sinus) because of poor perfusion achieved during closed-chest cardiac compression.     

静脉栓塞继发脑梗死的MRI影像诊断

目的:研究静脉栓塞继发脑梗死的MRI影像诊断及其临床应用价值。方法:对14例经脑血管造影及临床治疗有效证实的静脉栓塞继发脑梗死的MRI影像进行了回顾性分析。男6例,女8例,年龄21~65岁,平均43岁。全部行头颅MRI平扫检查,其中10例行磁共振静脉血管造影(MRV)检查,5例行Gd-DTPA增强扫描。结果:14例中脑梗死发生于额叶6例,顶叶4例,颞叶3例,岛叶1例,小脑1例,发生于基底节、丘脑累及中脑、胼胝体1例。脑梗死发生于双侧脑内的8例,单侧6例。静脉栓塞部位14例中10例为上矢状窦(其中6例同时合并横窦或乙状窦或直窦栓塞),1例直窦及左横窦,1例左侧横窦及乙状窦,2例皮层大脑浅静脉,其中梗死内伴出血10例。5例静脉注射Gd-DTPA后增强扫描,3例无强化,2例病灶内出现不规则类环形强化,其中有大脑镰、小脑幕脑膜增厚强化的2例。10例MRV均显示栓塞的静脉血流信号丢失或缺损,以及周围异常静脉侧支和其他引流静脉异常扩张。结论:静脉栓塞继发脑梗死的MRI影像表现具有一定的特征性,对静脉栓塞的诊断和治疗非常重要,其继发的脑梗死又是评估静脉栓塞的脑实质病变严重程度和观察临床治疗效果的一项重要指标。