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Eggshell calcification of the heart in constrictive pericarditis

 Eggshell calcification of the heart in constrictive pericarditis

Rajesh Vijayvergiya, Ramalingam Vadivelu, Sachin Mahajan, Sandeep S Rana, Manphool Singhal

World J Cardiol 2015 September 26; 7(9): 579-582

43/M presented with dyspnoea on exertion NYHA class III since 6 months. No other positive history.

On Examination:

HR-100/min  BP- 100/64   JVP- elevated, 18 cm; prominent X and Y descent

CVS: S1 S2 normal, Pericardial knock +

CXR : Calcified pericardium seen. See image

Echo: Thick, calcified pericardium.   > 25%  respiratory variation of mitral inflow velocities . Significant LV diastolic dysfunction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Interesting image- Post BT shunt seroma- a rare complication

Indian Heart J. 2014 Mar-Apr;66(2):227-30.

Post Blalock-Taussig shunt mediastinal mass – a single shadow with two different destinies

Rohit MK1, Vadivelu R2, Khandelwal N3, Krishna S3.

One of the rare complications following BT shunt surgery is seroma formation. It usually is benign and  x ray chest will reveal a mediatinal mass (left upper). CT scan usually confirms the diagnosis. Usually managed conservatively.

Image description:

Axial contrast chest CT obtained in a helical mode. The sagittal oblique maximal intensity projection image shows a small hypodense lesion of fluid attenuation seen adjacent to the BT shunt. No calcification, enhancement, septae, air foci or solid component was seen. Features are consistent with a post operative seroma. Thin long arrow points BT shunt. Broader, short arrow points seroma

 

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When to intervene in patients with bicuspid aortic valve and dilated aortic root or ascending aorta

Circulation – December 4, 2015

Surgery for Aortic Dilatation in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valves:

 A Statement of Clarification from the American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines

Intervention in Patients with BAV and Dilatation of the Aortic Root (Sinuses) or Ascending Aorta:

  1. Operative intervention to repair or replace the aortic root (sinuses) or replace the ascending aorta is indicated in asymptomatic patients with BAV if the diameter of the aortic root or ascending aorta is 5 cm or greater

 

  1. Operative intervention to repair or replace the aortic root (sinuses) or replace the ascending aorta is reasonable in asymptomatic patients with BAV if the diameter of the aortic root or ascending aorta is 0 cm or greater and an additional risk factor for dissection is present (eg, family history of aortic dissection or aortic growth rate ≥0.5 cm per year) or if the patient is at low surgical risk and the surgery is performed by an experienced aortic surgical team in a center with established expertise in these procedures

 

  1. Replacement of the ascending aorta is reasonable in patients with BAV undergoing AVR because of severe aortic stenosis or aortic regurgitation when the diameter of the ascending aorta is greater than 4.5 cm
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New Drug : Andexanet Alfa- Reversal agent for Factor X a inhibitors

NEJM- Nov 2015 – ANNEXA-A and ANNEXA-R ClinicalTrials

As of now the major limiting factor with the use of novel anticoagulants is the absence of  reversal agents in case of bleeding complications.

To find a solution to this problem, a new drug has been recently tested in ANNEXA-A and ANNEXA-R trials. Andexanet alfa, a new drug designed to reverse factor X a inhibition.

In the trial, Andexanet alfa was given to apixaban and rivoraxaban administrated healthy volunteers. Within minutes of administration anti factor Xa activity was reduced by more than 90% without any toxic or serious thrombotic effects.

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Approach to the management of Venous thromboembolism

Step 1 :Confirm PTE or DVT diagnosis

Step 2: Look for contraindications for full dose anticoagulation. If contraindications exist then insert IVC filter.

Step 3 : If no contraindication then look for impending venous gangrene (in case of DVT) or cardiopulmonary collapse (cardiogenic shock/ RV dysfunction in case of PTE). If yes then start thrombolysis

Thrombolysis for DVT:

Indications : Impending venous gangrene, symptom duration < 14 days and low risk of bleeding

Mode : a)Catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) : Fluroscopy guided placement of multiside holed catheter (pigtail) into the thrombus segment and infusing alteplase for 1-3 days at a rate of 0.5 mg to 3 mg/hour (50 mg diluted in 50 ml of NS). CDT is superior to systemic anticoagulation alone because of reduced post thrombotic syndrome and reduced bleeding complications

b)Pharmacomechanical Catheter directed thrombolysis (PCDT)

PCDT uses either the “Power Pulse” or “isolated thrombolysis” techniques. Power Pulse employs the AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy system (Bayer, Warrendale, PA) to deliver and disperse the thrombolytic agent by a powerful pulse-spray injection. After bathing the clot in the thrombolytic agent, the AngioJet catheter aspirates the softened thrombus fragments. Isolated thrombolysis uses the Trellis peripheral infusion system (Covidien, Mansfield, MA) to deliver the thrombolytic agent directly into the clot. The agent is then circulated within the clot by an oscillating wire.

Advantage of PCDT over CDT : Reduced dose and infusion duration of alteplase thereby reducing bleeding complications and better efficacy

Thrombolysis for PTE :

For PTE there is insufficient evidence to recommend thrombolysis via a pulmonary artery catheter rather than systemic thrombolysis

Systemic thrombolysis dose: Alteplase 100 mg (10 mg as iv bolus over 10 min f/b 90 mg in 100 ml of NS infused over 2 hours)

Step 4

If there is no evidence of impending gangrene or cardiopulmonary collapse then initiate systemic anticoagulation

Phases of anticoagulation treatment:

Initial phase– 0 to 10 days:

IV or SC unfractionated heparin/LMWH/Fondaparinux/Rivaroxaban/Apixaban

Long term phase- 10 days to 3 months

Vitamin K antagonist – warfarin/acitrom (target INR: 2-3.5)

Rivaroxaban/Apixaban/Edoxaban/Dabigatran/LMWH

Extended phase-3 months to indefinite 

Indictions for extended therapy- 1.unprovoked/recurrent VTE    2. Malignancy related VTE

Drugs :

Vitamin K antagonist – warfarin/acitrom (target INR: 2-3.5)

Rivaroxaban/Apixaban/Edoxaban/Dabigatran/LMWH

Newer agents : Rivaroxaban(15 mg bd)/Apixaban(10 mg bd)/Edoxaban/Dabigatran(110 or 150 mg bd)

Pros- No need for INR monitoring, non-inferior or slightly efficacious then warfarin/acitrom, lesser major bleeding rates

cons- costlier, lesser availability especially in developing countries and no specific reversal agents