Pediatric infective endocarditis initially presenting as hemorrhagic stroke

Infective endocarditis refers to infection of the heart valves. While its incidence is low, it may cause serious complications. Despite advances in its management and diagnosis, this condition still retains high mortality and significant morbidity. Considerable controversy remains regarding antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent infective endocarditis in patients with congenital heart disease. Neurologic complications are the second most common complication in patients with infective endocarditis, occurring in approximately 33% of cases.1 These include encephalopathy, meningitis, stroke, brain abscess, cerebral hemorrhage, and seizures. The vegetation formed as a consequence of endocarditis may dislodge and cause embolization. Vegetation size alone is an unreliable marker for embolization risk, however, size, in addition to location, mobility, infecting agent, and presence of antiphospholipid antibodies have the potential to be prognostic markers. The brain is the most frequent site of embolization. Furthermore, advances in medical approaches have resulted in an increase of patients at risk of endocarditis due to the now common and widely available indwelling intravascular approaches in medicine. In this report, we present a case of infective endocarditis in a child first presenting with hemorrhagic stroke.1,2

Recurrent acute coronary syndrome in a patient with right coronary artery ectasia: a case report

Background

Coronary artery ectasia is characterized by an abnormal dilatation of the coronary arteries. Coronary artery ectasia is observed in 3–8% of patients undergoing coronary angiography and sometimes leads to acute coronary syndrome regardless of the presence or absence of coronary stenosis or atrial fibrillation.

Case presentation

A 61-year-old Indonesian man presented with typical angina that began 1 week before admission and had worsened 3 hours prior to admission. Accompanying symptoms included dyspnea, nausea, and sweating. He was hemodynamically stable and had a history of tobacco smoking and dyslipidemia. An electrocardiogram showed ST-segment depression and T inversion. Laboratory results showed an international normalized ratio of 1.28. Dual antiplatelet therapy was administered along with fondaparinux, and symptoms were alleviated. Coronary angiography showed an ectatic and turbulent mid-distal right coronary artery and slow flow at the first presentation. There was a patent stent in the proximal-mid left anterior descending coronary artery. This patient had previously presented with recurrent acute coronary syndrome and received two coronary stents for the stenotic vessels.

Discussion

He had right coronary artery ectasia and experienced recurrent acute coronary syndrome. He received dual antiplatelet therapy along with warfarin after stenting of his left anterior descending coronary artery. However, he presented with unstable angina pectoris 7 months before the latest admission and at the latest admission despite a patent stent and no other significant obstructive lesion. The unstable angina pectoris might have been caused by slow flow, microvascular angina caused by small thrombi and/or vasospasm, or epicardial thrombosis at the ectatic coronary artery that dissolved after anticoagulation therapy prior to coronary angiography. Anticoagulant therapy may have a greater benefit than antiplatelet therapy in this patient due to the turbulence and stasis of blood in the ectatic vessel, although coexisting coronary conditions mandated antiplatelet therapy. His international normalized ratio was suboptimal and needed to be improved.

Conclusion

Coronary ectasia may play a role in recurrent acute coronary syndrome, and administration of an anticoagulant to prevent acute coronary syndrome in this patient was in accordance with the varying hemodynamic property of coronary artery ectasia.

Infective endocarditis due to Burkholderia cepacia in a neonate: a case report

Background

Burkholderia is a pathogen that is rarely seen in clinical cases. However, this organism is being found more commonly in hospitals.

Case presentation

A female Indonesian newborn was referred to our neonatal intensive care unit because of respiratory distress. The newborn had been delivered the previous night via cesarean section. A physical examination revealed intercostal retractions and weak cry. The newborn’s gestational history was preterm, small for gestational age, and preterm premature ruptured membrane for 14 hours. Continuous positive airway pressure was administered. A multiple-antibiotic regimen consisting of ampicillin-sulbactam, gentamicin, meropenem, and ceftriaxone was initiated. Insertion of a central catheter was performed. The patient’s laboratory results were low blood albumin and globulin, anemia, and leukopenia. A blood culture revealed Burkholderia cepacia that was resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents. A chest x-ray showed infiltrate on both lung fields. Echocardiography showed two vegetations on the tricuspid valve.

Conclusions

B. cepacia is a rare cause of infective endocarditis. With its capability to colonize water and grow on microbicides, the presence of B. cepacia in a patient’s blood warrants further investigation in institutions providing care. This might not be the first publication on this topic.

Left ventricular lead positioning in cardiac resynchronization therapy: an innovative retrograde approach without using snare

AIMS

Ideal positioning of left ventricular (LV) pacing lead in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is technically demanding. This case aims to place LV lead in anterolateral branch of coronary sinus (CS) using collateral route blindly.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Externalization via the CS ostium using collaterals retrogrogradely, which was not visible in initial balloon occlusion venography, through one delivery sheath with the support of commonly used micro-guide catheter and subsequent successful LV lead placement in anterolateral branch of CS.

CONCLUSION

This innovative retrograde approach for LV pacing lead implantation in anterolateral branch of CS obviated the need for snare technique to capture the distal end of the wire when antegrade route was not successful.