Anomalous systemic and pulmonary veins—An unusual coexistence

A 12‐year‐old child presented with recurrent respiratory infections and was diagnosed with Scimitar syndrome. Drainage of IVC and course of aberrant arterial supply from aorta were not clear by echocardiogram, and hence, additional imaging was planned. CT unraveled the presence of a rare combination of anomalous pulmonary venous connection (APVC) to IVC, with near‐atresia/severe stenosis of IVC, superior to the drainage of scimitar vein. There was a prominent azygos vein with preferential contrast opacification on lower limb injection.     

Prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis,malfunction, and paroxysmal mitral regurgitation

Intermittent dysfunction of mechanical mitral valve prosthesis is an uncommon condition. It carries serious clinical implications if unrecognized. Here, we present a case of a 28‐year‐old female with a history of rheumatic multivalvular disease, for which she had undergone double valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty. Six months later, she presented with heart failure. Clinical examination revealed intermittent loss of closing clicks followed by a pansystolic murmur at the apex, suggestive of mitral prosthetic valve dysfunction. We highlight the echocardiographic findings of paroxysmal mitral valvular regurgitation secondary to prosthetic valve malfunction secondary to prosthetic valve thrombosis.     

Optimization of infusional calcium gluconate for prevention of hypocalcemic reactions during therapeutic plasma exchange

We sought to optimize direct intravenous infusion of calcium gluconate (CaGlu) for maintaining plasma ionized calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]) and preventing hypocalcemic reactions during 34 consecutive 1-volume therapeutic plasma exchanges (TPEs) in eight patients. CaGlu, 2 g in 50 mL of 0.9% NaCl, was prepared by our hospital pharmacy and infused at either 1.0 or 1.6 g/h during alternate TPE. Plasma [Ca²⁺] was monitored at intervals of 20 to 30 minutes. At 1 g/h of CaGlu, plasma [Ca²⁺] fell by 8.35% after 40 to 50 minutes and then plateaued. At 1.6 g/h of CaGlu, plasma [Ca²⁺] fell by 6% after 20 to 30 minutes and then plateaued. The difference at 40 to 50 minutes was significant (P = .015). Hypocalcemic reactions were noted in three patients during 5 of 17 TPE at 1.0 g/h (all after 40 to 60 minutes) but 0 of 17 TPE at 1.6 g/h (P = .044). CaGlu at 1.6 g/h stabilized plasma [Ca²⁺] and appears to prevent hypocalcemic reactions during TPE.     

Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by a right coronary cusp prolapse: An unusual finding

Patients with large sub-pulmonic ventricular septal defect (VSD) present early as a results of their complications. Some present late, due to the restriction of VSD by the right coronary cusp (RCC) due to its prolapse. In this report, we present a rare case of sub-pulmonic VSD in a 33-year-old man who developed a sub-pulmonic stenosis due to the prolapse of the RCC into the right ventricular outflow tract.