Ischemic stroke caused by paradoxical embolism after an unsuccessful transcatheter atrial septal defect closure procedure: a word of caution

Atrial septal defect occluder device embolization: Experience of a tertiary care cardiac center

Background

Percutaneous device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) has become an increasingly popular procedure as it offers several advantages. However, it is associated with infrequent, but life-threatening complications such as device embolization.

Objective

To analyze the risk factors, common sites of embolization, associated complications, timing of embolization, and the treatment executed.

Settings and Design

A retrospective study was performed at a tertiary referral center for cardiac services.

Material and Methods

Pre-procedure, intra-procedure, and post-procedure data of patients whose ASD device embolized was collected retrospectively and analyzed for risk factors, common sites of embolization, associated complications, timing of embolization, and the treatment executed. Results: Thirty devices were embolized, out of which 13 were retrieved percutaneously in the Catheter laboratory, whereas 17 patients underwent surgery. Fourteen patients had an unfavorable septal morphology for device closure. Ten devices were embolized in the catheter laboratory, five in the intensive care unit, and two in the ward. The devices were embolized to almost all chambers of the heart and great vessels. One patient had an inferior vena cava rim tear while attempting percutaneous retrieval. One patient required a short period of total circulatory arrest (TCA) for retrieval of the device from ascending aorta, while another required a lateral position for retrieval from descending aorta. One patient required re-exploration for bleeding, while another had an air embolism and succumbed.

Conclusions

Once embolization occurs, the risks associated increase manifold. Most of the surgical extractions are uneventful; however, there could be certain complications that may need repair of valvular apparatus, the institution of TCA, or the need for the lateral position. Air embolization though very rare can occur which could be fatal.

Pediatric trauma venous thromboembolism prediction algorithm outperforms current anticoagulation prophylaxis guidelines: a pilot study

PURPOSE

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in injured children is rare, but sequelae can be morbid and life-threatening. Recent trauma society guidelines suggesting that all children over 15 years old should receive thromboprophylaxis may result in overtreatment. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of a previously published VTE prediction algorithm and compare it to current recommendations.

METHODS

Two institutional trauma registries were queried for all pediatric (age < 18 years) patients admitted from 2007 to 2018. Clinical data were applied to the algorithm and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to test algorithm efficacy.

RESULTS

A retrospective review identified 8271 patients with 30 episodes of VTE (0.36%). The VTE prediction algorithm classified 51 (0.6%) as high risk (> 5% risk), 322 (3.9%) as moderate risk (1-5% risk) and 7898 (95.5%) as low risk (< 1% risk). AUROC was 0.93 (95% CI 0.89-0.97). In our population, prophylaxis of the 'moderate-' and 'high-risk' cohorts would outperform the sensitivity (60% vs. 53%) and specificity (96% vs. 77%) of current guidelines while anticoagulating substantially fewer patients (373 vs. 1935, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A VTE prediction algorithm using clinical variables can identify injured children at risk for venous thromboembolic disease with more discrimination than current guidelines. Prospective studies are needed to investigate the validity of this model.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III-Clinical decision rule evaluated in a single population.

A Case of Paradoxical Embolism Causing Anterior Spinal Cord Syndrome and Acute Myocardial Infarction Following the Intradiscal Oxygen-Ozone Therapy

We report a case of a 66-year-old female who burst into flaccid paralysis of the lower extremities, accompanied by loss of pain and temperature sensation below T4 level, during an oxygen–ozone injection for disc herniation. Half an hour later, she suffered from chest pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed long segment hyperintensity in the thoracic spinal cord from T2 to 10 level on sagittal T2-weighted images (T2WI). The electrocardiogram (ECG) showed ST-segment elevation in V1–V6 leads. She was diagnosed with spinal cord infarction and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Transthoracic echocardiography with saline contrast showed existence of a large patent foramen ovale (PFO) correlating with the detection of massive microbubbles in the left atrium. We discuss the potential role of paradoxical embolism in spinal cord infarction and myocardial infarction.