Concomitant screening of coronary artery disease and lung cancer with a new ultrafast-low-dose Computed Tomography protocol: A pilot randomised trial

We performed a pilot randomised study to assess the feasibility and radiation exposure of a new computed tomography (CT) protocol that allows screening of both coronary artery disease (CAD) and lung cancer. Current or former heavy smokers at high lung cancer risk with indication to cardiac CT for suspected or known CAD were randomised to undergo concomitant CT evaluation of either cardiac or thoracic area or cardiac CT only. Out of 129 subjects deemed eligible for the study, 110 agreed to participate and were randomised to simultaneous cardiac and lung CT (Gr.A; n = 55) or cardiac CT only (Gr.B; n = 55). The feasibility (i.e. adequate visualization of coronary artery segments) was noninferior with simultaneous cardiac and lung CT compared with the standard cardiac CT (870 of 889 segments [97%] in Gr.A vs 878/890 segments [99%] in Gr.B; mean difference 2.0% [90% confidence interval: -0.3% to 4.1%]). The safety (i.e. effective radiation dose) of the concomitant cardiac and lung CT protocol was noninferior to the standard cardiac CT (1.5 [95% confidence intervals: 1.2-1.7] vs. 1.4 [95% confidence intervals: 1.1-1.6] mSv; mean difference 0.1 mSv [90% confidence interval: -0.2 to 0.3 mSv]). In the two groups, a total of 25 significant (>70%) coronary stenoses were found at cardiac CT (9/55 cases of Gr.A vs 11/55 cases of Gr.B). Pulmonary nodules >2 mm were detected in 7 of the 55 Gr.A subjects. This pilot randomised study shows that concomitant CAD and lung cancer screening by means of a new CT protocol is both feasible and safe, thus allowing a comprehensive evaluation of both cardiac and thoracic regions during one CT scanning only. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03727958)

Incidence and Predictors of Infections and All-Cause Death in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: The Italian Nationwide RI-AIAC Registry

The incidence of infections associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and patient outcomes are not fully known. To provide a contemporary assessment of the risk of CIEDs infection and associated clinical outcomes. In Italy, 18 centres enrolled all consecutive patients undergoing a CIED procedure and entered a 12-months follow-up. CIED infections, as well as a composite clinical event of infection or all-cause death were recorded. A total of 2675 patients (64.3% male, age 78 (70-84)) were enrolled. During follow up 28 (1.1%) CIED infections and 132 (5%) deaths, with 152 (5.7%) composite clinical events were observed. At a multivariate analysis, the type of procedure (revision/upgrading/reimplantation) (OR: 4.08, 95% CI: 1.38-12.08) and diabetes (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.02-4.84) were found as main clinical factors associated to CIED infection. Both the PADIT score and the RI-AIAC Infection score were significantly associated with CIED infections, with the RI-AIAC infection score showing the strongest association (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.60-3.55 for each point), with a c-index = 0.64 (0.52-0.75), p = 0.015. Regarding the occurrence of composite clinical events, the Kolek score, the Shariff score and the RI-AIAC Event score all predicted the outcome, with an AUC for the RI-AIAC Event score equal to 0.67 (0.63-0.71) p < 0.001. In this Italian nationwide cohort of patients, while the incidence of CIED infections was substantially low, the rate of the composite clinical outcome of infection or all-cause death was quite high and associated with several clinical factors depicting a more impaired clinical status

Bidirectional Tachycardia after an Acute Intravenous Administration of Digitalis for a Suicidal Gesture

Acute digoxin intoxication is a life-threating condition associated with severe cardiotoxicity. Female gender, age, low lean body mass, hypertension, and renal insufficiency may worsen the prognosis. Arrhythmias caused by digitalis glycosides are characterized by an increased automaticity coupled with concomitant conduction delay. Bidirectional tachycardia is pathognomonic of digoxin intoxication, but it is rarely observed. An 83-year-old woman was admitted to the Emergency Department after self-administration of 5 mg of digoxin i.v. for suicidal purpose. Her digoxin serum concentration was 17.4 ng/mL. The patient developed a bidirectional tachycardia and the Poison Control Center of the hospital provided digoxin immune fab. Bidirectional tachycardia quickly reversed and the patient remained stable throughout the hospital stay. This case shows that a multiple disciplinary approach, involving cardiologists and toxicologists, is essential for the management of digoxin intoxication. The optimal treatment of this rare event depends on the clinical conditions and on the serum drug concentration of the patient. Digoxin immune fab represents a safe, effective, and specific method for rapidly reversing digitalis cardiotoxicity and should be started as soon as the diagnosis is defined

Case Report Bidirectional Tachycardia after an Acute Intravenous Administration of Digitalis for a Suicidal Gesture

Acute digoxin intoxication is a life-threating condition associated with severe cardiotoxicity. Female gender, age, low lean body mass, hypertension, and renal insufficiency may worsen the prognosis. Arrhythmias caused by digitalis glycosides are characterized by an increased automaticity coupled with concomitant conduction delay. Bidirectional tachycardia is pathognomonic of digoxin intoxication, but it is rarely observed. An 83-year-old woman was admitted to the Emergency Department after self-administration of 5 mg of digoxin i.v. for suicidal purpose. Her digoxin serum concentration was 17.4 ng/mL. The patient developed a bidirectional tachycardia and the Poison Control Center of the hospital provided digoxin immune fab. Bidirectional tachycardia quickly reversed and the patient remained stable throughout the hospital stay. This case shows that a multiple disciplinary approach, involving cardiologists and toxicologists, is essential for the management of digoxin intoxication. The optimal treatment of this rare event depends on the clinical conditions and on the serum drug concentration of the patient. Digoxin immune fab represents a safe, effective, and specific method for rapidly reversing digitalis cardiotoxicity and should be started as soon as the diagnosis is defined

Estrazione di elettrocateteri a permanenza di pacemaker e/o defibrillatore impiantabile con metodica laser ad eccimeri

Dal 1980 a oggi, si è visto crescere in maniera esponenziale il numero degli interventi di impianto di dispositivi (pacemaker e defibrillatori) conside­rati indispensabili nel trattamento delle patologie del ritmo cardiaco di tipo sia ipocinetico sia ipercinetico. Notevoli progressi tecnologici sono stati compiuti con la presenza sul mercato di vari mo­del­li con differente modalità di sti­molazione: pacemaker in fun­zione VVIR monocamerali con un solo elettrocatetere da stimolazione posizionato in apice del ventricolo destro; pa­cemaker in funzione DDDR bicamerale con due elettrocateteri da stimolazione posizionati in atrio destro e apice del ventricolo destro; ICD con elettrocatetere da stimolazione e defibrillazione; pacemaker/ICD bi­ventricolari resincronizzanti, molto utilizzati in questi ultimi anni per la terapia dello scompenso cardiaco, con elettrocateteri da stimolazione in atrio destro, ventricolo destro e seno coronarico; pacemaker in stimolazione bifocale o polifocale con l’utilizzo di siti d’impianto alternativi, tuttora al vaglio scientifico

Effects of remifentanil on human heart electrical system: A transesophageal pacing electrophysiological study

Aim. Previous studies have shown that the administration of remifentanil (a μ-agonist opioid) is often accompanied by bradyarrhythmias preventable or manageable by parasympatholytic drugs. The aim of this paper is to evaluate if these negative chronotropic effects are exclusively due to an increased parasympathetic activity or to a direct action of remifentanil on heart conduction fibres. Methods. A transesophageal pacing electrophysiological study on 40 healthy subjects scheduled for orthopaedic surgical treatment under general anaesthesia has been carried out. We determined either the correct sinus recovery time or the occurrence of Wenckebach atrio-ventricular block in the awake state and, again, during remifentanil administration. Results. In all patients either a significant depression of sino-atrial automatism or a decrease of atrio-ventricular node conduction reserve was noticed. In 2 cases, in particular, a sinus arrest and a junctional rhythm, respectively, both spontaneously recovered were observed. Conclusion. Atropine normalized all parameters, confirming that remifentanil-associated hypokinetic cardiac phenomena are exclusively vagally mediated

Thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage in the course of atrial fibrillation

Background. Thromboembolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is secondary to emboli arising from atrial cavities, particularly left atrial appendage. Stroke Prevention Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) III study showed washing flow, left appendage ejection fraction, natural echocontrast, and left appendage volume and morphology, as risk parameters of thromboembolism. Methods. The authors examined 69 patients by transesophageal echocardiography, subdividing them into 3 groups: 26 patients in sinus rhythm in Group A (Gr.A), 22 patients in atrial fibrillation without thrombi in the left atrial appendage in Group B (Gr.B), 21 patients with tromboembolism and with thrombus in the left atrial appendage (Gr.C) Results. Atrial volume in sinus rhythm (SR) patients (41.9 ± 23.4 cm3) was lower than the one in Gr.B (86.2 ± 47.9 cm3, p &lt; 0.001) and Gr.C (78.6 ± 28.5 cm3, p &lt; 0.01), whereas no difference was found between Gr.B and Gr.C (86.2 vs. 78.6 cm3; p &gt; 0.05). No difference was found between Gr.A and Gr.B left atrial appendage fraction (31.8% versus 29.1%, p &gt; 0.05, whereas it was found related to Gr.C (31.8% versus 15.4% p &lt; 0.01). Flow velocity within left atrial appendage was significantly higher in Gr.A in relation to the other two groups (p &lt; 0.001); flow velocity in Gr.B was lower than in Gr.A but higher than in Gr.C and in all cases such differences were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.001). Gr.A flow duration was approximately twice as much compared to the one in Gr.B (616.8 ± 94.1 msec vs. 483.3 ± 172.6 msec, p &lt; 0.01), whereas it was approximately four times higher compared to the one in Gr.C (616.8 ± 94.1 msec vs. 165.7 ± 53.7 msec; p &lt; 0.001). Such duration, if related to the corresponding cardiac cycle, indicates the percentage of time during which blood flows through a cycle within the left atrial appendage; this value is about 85% of cardiac cycle in Gr.A, while it is 65% in Gr.B (p &lt; 0.01) and about 21% in Gr.C (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions. Such results add a new parameter to the ones suggested in the SPAF III study for the evaluation of TE risk, that is flow duration measurement within the left atrial appendage, and its ratio to the cardiac cycle. The availability to measure this parameter, by recording the transesophageal pulse wave sample volume positioned in the atrial appendage, makes the evaluation of TE risk more reliable