The Ace of Spades: Reverse Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in the Context of Angiographic Embolization of Recurrent Metastatic Serotonin-Positive Neuroendocrine Tumour of the Pancreas

A 62-year-old woman undergoing embolization of recurrent neuroendocrine tumor, positive for serotonin, developed chest pain and bradycardia with lateral ST-segment depression. Cardiac biomarkers were elevated, and echocardiography revealed akinesis of all basal segments with a normally contracting apex. The absence of flow-limiting coronary disease on angiography confirmed the presence of reverse Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. After optimal medical therapy for six weeks, left ventricular function returned to normal. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy has been described across a wide variety of hyperadrenergic states; the description of the reverse-type Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the setting of embolization of recurrent neuroendocrine with serotonergic positivity tumour is novel

A survey evaluating surgeons’ peri-operative usage of acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA) and their willingness to enroll their patients in a perioperative ASA randomized controlled trial

Purpose: Major cardiovascular complications associated with noncardiac surgery represent a substantial population health problem for which there are no established efficacious and safe prophylactic interventions. Acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA) represents a promising intervention. The objective of this study was to determine surgeons’ perioperative usage of ASA, and if they would enrol their patients in a perioperative ASA randomized controlled trial (RCT). Methods: Cross-sectional survey of all practicing Canadian general, orthopedic, and vascular surgeons. Our mailed, self-administered survey asked surgeons to consider only their patients who were at risk of a major perioperative cardiovascular complication. Results: The response rate was 906/1854 (49%). For patients taking ASA chronically, there was marked variability regarding ASA continuation prior to surgery amongst the general and orthopedic surgeons, whereas 76% of vascular surgeons continued ASA in 81-100% of their patients. For patients not taking ASA chronically, approaches to starting ASA prior to surgery were variable amongst the vascular surgeons, whereas 70% of general and 82% of orthopaedic surgeons did not start ASA. For patients taking ASA chronically, 73% of general surgeons, 70% of orthopaedic surgeons, and 36% of vascular surgeons would allow at least 40% of their patients to participate in a perioperative RCT comparing stopping versus continuing ASA. For patients not taking ASA chronically, most general (76%), orthopaedic (67%), and vascular (51%) surgeons would allow at least 40% of their patients to participate in a perioperative RCT comparing starting ASA versus placebo. Conclusion: This national survey demonstrates that perioperative ASA usage as reported by surgeons is variable, identifying the need for, and community interest in, a large perioperative ASA trial