Late-presenting complete heart block after pediatric cardiac surgery

Late presenting complete heart block after pediatric cardiac surgery is a rare complication and its management is well defined once the initial diagnosis in made timely and appropriately. In this report we described a child who underwent atrioventricular septal defect repair with a normal sinus rhythm during the postoperative period, as well as during the first 2 years of follow up.She subsequently developed complete heart block with bradycardia that required insertion of a pacemaker. Here we discuss this unusual late-presenting complication, possible risk factors, and management.     

A challenging ECG: a case of a lengthening PR interval

ABSTRACT

A 62-year-old man presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath and chest tightness. His initial ECG appeared to have an ectopic P-wave with a lengthening PR interval consistent with second degree AV block – Mobitz Type I. But closer inspection showed a faster, independent atrial rate. The patient was diagnosed with ectopic atrial bradycardia with complete AV block and junctional escape, and was ultimately referred for pacemaker.     

Correlation between Electrocardiographic Features and Mechanical Dyssynchrony in Heart Failure Patients with Left Bundle Branch Block

Background: Few electrocardiographic parameters beyond the QRS duration were studied with regard to the correlation with mechanical dyssynchrony. This study aims to analyze the correlation between electrocardiographic parameters and mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF) and left bundle branch block (LBBB). Methods: Patients with HF, ejection fraction ≤ 35%, and QRS interval ≥ 120 ms with a LBBB were prospectively studied. We analyzed the correlation between electrocardiographic parameters (QRS duration, R voltage in limb leads, S voltage in precordial leads, Sokolow and Cornell indexes, QRS axis deviation, and QRS notches in lateral and inferior leads) and mechanical dyssynchrony measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Results: A group of 50 patients were studied, 60% male, 78% with nonischemic cardiomyopathy, NYHA Class III–IV (86%), and ejection fraction of 0.22 ± 0.6. Intra‐ and interventricular dyssynchrony occurred in 68% and 74% of patients, respectively. The S amplitude in precordial leads and the Sokolow and Cornel indexes show a weak correlation with the degree of dyssynchrony. In the patients with QRS notching in the lateral and inferior leads, we observed significantly greater prevalence of intraventricular dyssynchrony, with sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 56%, respectively, for notches in lateral leads. The QRS duration presents moderate correlation with the degree of both intraventricular (r = 0.48) and interventricular dyssynchrony (r = 0.46). Conclusion: The following electrocardiographic parameters were related to the degree of mechanical dyssynchrony: QRS duration and notches in QRS. In addition, the patients tend to have highest S amplitude in precordial leads. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2011;16(1):41–48     

Ultrasound and neurophysiological correlation in common fibular nerve conduction block at fibular head

ObjectiveUltrasound (US) and neurophysiological examination are useful tools in the evaluation of common fibular mononeuropathy. There is only a report comparing US and electrophysiological parameters in patients with common fibular nerve (CFN) conduction block at fibular head. We investigated the correlation between US and neurophysiologic findings in this condition.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients with CFN assessed in our lab during last 2 years. Each patient underwent to clinical, neurophysiological and ultrasound evaluations. Cross sectional area (CSA) of CFN at fibular head was assessed.ResultsTwenty-four patients were included. Motor nerve conduction study showed a reduction of distal compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude in 10 patients (mean 1.3 mV). US showed an increased CSA in 10 patients. Statistical analysis revealed a strong correlation between the increased CSA and the CMAP reduction of CFN.ConclusionOur data suggest that usually US examination is normal in CFN conduction block at fibular head. However the association with axonal damage is frequently accompanied by an increase of CSA.SignificanceUltrasound evaluation may represent a powerful diagnostic/prognostic tool in cases with CPN conduction block at fibular head because it usually shows normal pattern in pure conduction block and increase of CSA in associated axonal damage.     

Fascia-iliaca compartment block vs intra-articular hip injection for preoperative pain management in intracapsular hip fractures: A blind,randomized, controlled trial

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to compare the fascia-iliaca compartment block and the intra-articular hip injection in terms of pain management and the need for additional systemic analgesia in the preoperative phase of intracapsular hip fractures.MethodsPatients >65 years old with an intracapsular hip fracture were randomized in this prospective, blind, controlled, parallel trial in a Level-I trauma center. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either the fascia-iliaca compartment block (cohort FICB) or the intra-articular hip injection (cohort IAHI) upon admission to the emergency department. The primary outcome was pain relief at 20 min, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after the regional anesthesia, both at rest and during internal rotation of the fractured limb. The Numeric Rating Scale was used. Residual pain was managed with the same protocol in all patients. Additional analgesic drug administration during the 48 h from admission was recorded.ResultsA total of 120 patients with comparable baseline characteristics were analyzed in this study: the FICB group consisted of 70 subjects, while the IAHI group consisted of 50 subjects.Pain was significantly lower in the IAHI group during movement of the fractured limb at 20 min (p < 0.05), 12 h (p < 0.05), 24 h (p < 0.05) and 48 h (p < 0.05).In the FICB cohort 72.9% of patients needed to take oxycodone, in contrast to 28.6% of the IAHI cohort (p < 0.05). In the FICB cohort 14.09 ± 11.57 mg of oxycodone was administered, while in the IAHI cohort 4.38 ± 7.63 mg (p < 0.05). No adverse events related to either technique were recorded.ConclusionsIntra-articular hip injection provides better pre-operatory pain management in elder patients with intracapsular hip fractures compared to the fascia-iliaca compartment block. It also reduced the need for supplementary systemic analgesia.Level of EvidenceTherapeutic Level I.     

减小后牙▉平面倾斜度对安氏Ⅱ类高角畸形髁突位置影响的研究

目的: 研究在安氏Ⅱ类高角畸形正畸治疗中,减小后牙平面倾斜度对髁突位置的影响。方法: 15例安氏Ⅱ类高角畸形患者,年龄15~30岁。治疗前ANB>5°,下颌平面角FH-MP>32°,磨牙关系为双侧远中关系。常规排齐整平及适当扩弓后,利用多曲唇弓导下颌向前,并使后牙平面平坦化。利用锥形束CT（cone-beam CT,CBCT）测量治疗前、后颞下颌关节前、上、后间隙及后牙平面的改变情况。采用SPSS19软件包对变化量进行t检验;并利用相关性分析,进一步探讨髁突位置改变量与后牙平面倾斜度减小量之间的相关性。结果: 所有患者磨牙尖牙关系均调整到中性,侧貌改善明显,髁突后间隙平均增加(0.88±0.17)mm,变化有统计学意义(P<0.001);髁突上间隙平均增加(0.45±0.20)mm,变化也具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。后牙平面变平坦,POP-SN及POP-FH平均减小3.59°±2.31°及2.31°±3.62°,变化具有统计学意义(P<0.001)。髁突前间隙变化量无统计学意义,髁突位置改变量与后牙平面倾角的变化量之间无显著相关性。结论: 在安氏Ⅱ类高角畸形患者的正畸治疗中,通过正畸减小后牙平面倾斜度,可使髁突的位置发生适当的前下改变,有利于关节症状的改善。