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P181 An uncommon mechanism of severe mitral regurgitation due to infective endocarditis mimicking acute myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jez319.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
A 53-year-old man, smoker, with diabetes mellitus, presented to the Emergency Department because of intense chest and abdominal pain, accompanied by dyspnea and high fever (39.5 °C) in the previous 4 days. Physical examination revealed an apical holosystolic murmur, with no signs of peripheral or pulmonary edema. An ECG showed sinus rhythm (90 bpm), complete right bundle branch block and minimal ST elevation in the inferior leads. A transthoracic echocardiography showed a mild reduction in left ventricle ejection fraction (EF 44%) due to akinesia of the infero-lateral wall, and mild mitral regurgitation (MR) due to mitral valve prolapse. An abdominal ultrasound ruled out signs of acute cholecystitis. Blood cultures were collected, and an empirical antibiotic therapy was started. Urgent blood exam showed high Troponin I (72000 ng/L) and high C-reactive protein (290 mg/L).
An acute coronary syndrome was suspected based on clinical, ECG and echocardiography exam, and the patient underwent coronary angiography (Figure 1, Panel A) that showed no significant coronary stenosis, except for two small filling defects in the very distal part of both the left anterior descendent and the circumflex coronary arteries suspected for coronary emboli. The patient was then admitted in the coronary care unit, but after just a few hours his clinical and hemodynamic condition deteriorated. A transesophageal echocardiography was performed to rule out mechanical complications related to the acute myocardial infarction and revealed severe MR (Panel D), elongated, hyperechogenic and dysfunctioning antero-lateral papillary muscle (ALPM) with an abnormal mobility suggestive for myocardial abscess, and a mobile mass attached on the aortic valve suggestive for vegetation (Panel B and C). Due to the worsening hemodynamic status, the patient underwent urgent cardiac surgery. Histological analysis confirmed the presence of an abscess of the ALPM due to Staphylococcus Aureus. The patient died after a week because of cerebral hemorrhage. Autopsy reported multiple lungs, renal and cerebral embolic septic infarctions.
Learning points
coronary artery embolization and papillary muscle abscess are very rare and often fatal consequences of infective endocarditis (IE). High (otherwise unexplained) fever and signs of embolism are minor Duke modified criteria for IE that should lead the physician to look for major criteria, such as positive blood cultures or echocardiography suggestive for IE. Emboli seen in the very distal part of the coronary arteries might have caused the ALPM abscess.
Abstract P181 Figure
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P1257 Additional value of echocardiography in critical patient: a quick and effective tool to improve diagnosis and treatment. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jez319.710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
A 72 year-old woman with Hashimoto thyroiditis in replacement therapy and no known CV risk factors was admitted to the emergency department because of worsening asthenia, nausea, vomiting and fever unresponsive to antibiotic therapy. Two weeks before the admission, she had a syncopal episode preceded by intense chest pain for which she hadn’t seek medical help.
At admission, the patient was unconscious and hemodynamically unstable with signs of shock (BP 80/50 mmHg, HR 120 bpm, lactate 6.11 mmol/L). She was promptly intubated and mechanically ventilated, and fluids and vasopressor treatment was administered. Lab tests showed moderate anaemia (haemoglobin 8.3 mg/dl), mild neutrophilia, elevated inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein 87 mg/dl) and troponin I (679 ng/L). An ECG showed sinus tachycardia and inferior Q waves.
A thoraco-abdominal CT excluded pulmonary embolism and showed a suspect acute cholecystitis, suggesting a septic shock. However, a focused transthoracic echocardiogram in the emergency room showed a dilated and non-collapsing inferior vena cava, a severe mitral regurgitation and a very large rounded structure suggestive of left ventricle (LV) aneurysm/pseudoaneurysm, but it was inconclusive due to the poor acoustic window of the patient. The review of CT images also did not allow to make a clear diagnosis of LV aneurysm vs pseudoaneurysm. The patient was transferred in the ICU for further investigation; inotropes, vasopressors, blood transfusion and antibiotics were administered.
A complete transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) was performed to clarify the diagnosis between septic and cardiogenic shock. TTE revealed a large aneurysm (55x40 mm) of the inferior interventricular septum and inferior basal and mid LV segments, with a ventricular septal defect (VSD) with left-right shunt, a severe ischaemic mitral regurgitation and a severely dilated and dysfunctional right ventricle. Due to the suboptimal quality of TTE, an urgent transoesophageal examination (TEE) was done which revealed mobile masses attached on the tricuspid and the aortic valves suggestive of vegetations and confirmed the VSD at the level of a large inferoseptal LV aneurysm and severe ischaemic mitral regurgitation with no signs of papillary muscle or chordal rupture (Figure). Coronary angiography was performed, showing proximal occlusion of right coronary artery (likely embolic) with initial collateral circulation. Blood cultures were positive. The patient underwent cardiac surgery, which confirmed the diagnosis of endocarditis associated with VSD and LV aneurysm. The postoperative course was complicated by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death after 19 days of intensive care.
Learning point
in challenging cases with unclear diagnosis of septic versus cardiogenic shock, both TTE and TOE play a pivotal role showing a series of findings that can help clarifying the diagnosis and guide patient treatment in emergency settings.
Abstract P1257 Figure
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P110Twin CMRs, the same diagnosis? Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jez110.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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