ICD implantation in left ventricular noncompaction: A case report and review of the literature

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is an uncommon cardiomyopathy characterized by the persistence of fetal myocardium with a pattern of prominent trabecular meshwork and deep intertrabecular recesses, systolic dysfunction and left ventricular dilatation. It is thought to be caused by the arrest of normal endomyocardial morphogenesis. There is no consensus on the definition, diagnostic criteria, pathogenesis or treatment of LVNC. We report the case of a 43 year-old patient with LVNC, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia and family history of sudden cardiac death (SCD). An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was prophylactically implanted because of the individual’s high SCD risk. Although ICD is an effective option for preventing SCD, data on the long-term follow-up of patients with LVNC is limited. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 6: 691–694

Prediction of right ventricular dysfunction from radiographic estimates of right descending pulmonary artery in hemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism patients

Background: The evaluation of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction by echocardiography isone of the most important established determinants of the prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism.The aim of the study was to investigate possible association between diameter of rightdescending pulmonary artery on chest X-rays and RV dysfunction by echocardiography inhemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism patients.Methods: Eighty-nine patients with the diagnosis of hemodynamically stable pulmonaryembolism were included.Results: The frequency of RV dysfunction was signifi cantly higher in patients with anenlarged right descending pulmonary artery on chest X-rays (p = 0.001). There wasa signifi cant positive correlation between the diameter of the right descending pulmonary arteryon postero-anterior chest X-rays and the diameter of the RV (r = 0.469; p = 0.002). Diameterof right descending pulmonary artery on chest X-rays was also found as a signifi cant predictorof RV dysfunction besides the troponin-T levels and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Diameter of right descending pulmonary artery on chest X-rays may provideinformation about the risk for pulmonary embolism patients and may be used as a prognosticradiological parameter for the appropriate management of acute pulmonary embolism

Detection of serum protein profile changes in atherosclerosis

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Implantation of a permanent pacemaker in a patient with severe Parkinson's disease and a preexisting bilateral deep brain stimulator

Cardiac pacemakers and implantable defibrillators are commonly used therapeutic modalities in cardiac arrhythmias. Thalamic deep brain stimulation has also become an important modality in the treatment of drug-refractory tremors and other complications in advanced Parkinson's disease. Concerns exist about the potential electrical interaction and interference between these 2 devices in the same patient. There are only a limited number of reports that have investigated this issue. We describe a patient with advanced Parkinson's disease and a previously implanted deep brain stimulator, who subsequently needed a permanent cardiac pacemaker due to severe bradyarrhythmia. Despite the probability of interference between the devices, there were no problems during implantation of the cardiac pacemaker; both the deep brain stimulator and cardiac pacemaker functioned appropriately afterwards