Complex Clinical Cases

Submission Deadline
Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET

The ACC is now accepting Complex Clinical Case submissions. Submit your case for a chance to be featured at ACC.24, where you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of patient care by sharing your research with the global cardiovascular community.

Submissions will be accepted in the following categories:

  1. Fellow in Training (FIT) Cases: FIT Cases will be peer-reviewed and selected for presentation in one of two formats — during a special "Stump the Professor" session at ACC.24 or as a traditional or moderated poster. FITs should submit an interesting case based upon the clinical decision-making used to arrive at a diagnosis and/or treatment. The case scenario must illustrate clinical decision-making with teaching points. The first author must be a medical student or anyone in a fellowship or residency program and the presenter must be a Fellow in Training (FIT) to qualify for this category.
  2. Cardiovascular Team Cases: Submit an interesting clinical case highlighting collaboration and consultation with interdisciplinary colleagues. Highlight the diagnostic features, care coordination/management strategies and experts involved in managing the case and securing a diagnosis. Relate your experience and share with learners at least one clinical pearl that could be immediately replicated in similar practices. CVT cases are peer reviewed. The first author of the CVT Case must be a non-physician CV team member, which could include nurses, advanced practice nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, CV practice administrators, technologists, registered dietitian nutritionists or exercise specialists/physiologists. The presenter must be a CVT member.
  3. MD/PhD Cases: Case submissions should be an interesting case based upon the clinical decision-making used to arrive at a diagnosis and/or treatment. The case scenario must illustrate clinical decision-making with teaching points. These cases will be peer-reviewed. The first author and presenter must be a medical doctor or researcher.

For additional information and answers to our Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our FAQ page.

Sample Cardiovascular Team Cases

Publishing Title: DIE KINDERPICKELHAUBE - MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE LEADING TO RECURRENT VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION IN A 13 YEAR-OLD WITH MARFAN SYNDROME

Authors: Jessica Raviv, Gila Perk, Marc A. Miller, David H. Adams, Barry A. Love, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

Abstract Body:

Background: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is rarely associated with sudden cardiac arrest. The "Pickelhaube sign" (tissue Doppler at the lateral mitral annulus ≥16cm/s) is a novel echocardiographic marker for Malignant MVP, which has not been previously described in children.

Case: 13 year-old female with Marfan syndrome and MVP with moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) presented with resuscitated cardiac arrest. An implantable defibrillator (ICD) was placed. Over the ensuing 15 months, she had 3 more appropriate ICD discharges for ventricular fibrillation despite escalation from beta blocker, to Sotalol, to amiodarone. Holter monitoring and ICD data did not show significant ventricular ectopy.

Decision‐making: Though her MR was only moderate and did not meet criteria for surgery on that basis, she was presented to our adult Mitral Valve Reference Center. Echocardiography showed the "Pickelhaube sign" with a velocity of 20cm/s (fig). She underwent mitral valve repair. Her MR was reduced to trivial with elimination of prolapse. On follow up, the lateral annular velocity was reduced to 9cm/s (fig). On only beta blocker, she has not experienced any ICD discharges in the 19 months since surgery.

Conclusion: Mitral valve-associated arrhythmias are not usually encountered in children. Multidisciplinary consideration of a pediatric patient with an adult Mitral Valve Reference Center led to the key finding of the "Pickelhaube sign" as an indication for repair which successfully addressed her arrhythmia.

Complex Clinical Cases

Publishing Title: PROTEIN BEAM THERAPY CAUSING PERICARDITIS- A RARE CASE OF RADIATION INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY

Authors: Swara Shah, Rahul Gupta, Muling Lin, Theresa Maitz, Gary M. Freedman, Deborah W. Sundlof, Cheri Silverstein Fadlon, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA, USA

Abstract Body:

Background: Proton beam therapy causing radiation-induced pericarditis is not a well-known cause of pericarditis. We present a case of a patient with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome who developed acute onset radiation-induced pericarditis.

Case: 46-year old female with history of breast cancer and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome presented with acute chest pain 10 days after initiation of proton beam therapy. Her electrocardiogram did not show any diffuse ST-elevations. She had elevated inflammatory markers with ESR 38 mm/hr, CRP 145 mg/L with D-Dimer 0.77 ug/ml. CT scan of chest showed no evidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) with trace pericardial fluid (Fig.1).

Decision‐making: Due to her history of breast cancer, elevated D-Dimer and acute onset chest pain, PE was ruled out. The etiology of her chest pain was diagnosed as pericarditis, likely induced by proton beam therapy, and she was started on ibuprofen followed by Colchicine. She had symptom resolution in 1 month. While there have been several documented cases of radiation-induced pericarditis, pericarditis caused by proton beam therapy is rare.

Conclusion: Our goal is to educate clinicians about this rare case due to the lack of documented cases of pericarditis secondary to proton beam therapy. Clinical suspicion in patients receiving this form of radiation and early management can lead to rapid symptomatic improvement in these patients.

Complex Clinical Cases

Sample FIT Cases

Publishing Title: SIMULTANEOUS ARTERIAL AND VENOUS THROMBOSIS IN A HEALTHY MALE AFTER A MILD COVID-19 INFECTION

Authors: Christian A. Inchaustegui, Nitin Agrawal, Lubna Khawaja, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

Abstract Body:

Background: During the COVID pandemic, high rates of thrombosis were described in inpatients. Data on thrombosis occurrence and prophylaxis in outpatients is lacking.

Case: A 51-year-old male presented with leg pain. Three weeks ago, he had mild COVID. Four days ago, he developed intermittent leg pain, which became constant, so he came to the ER. He was otherwise healthy, used no substances and had no family history of thrombosis.

He was tachycardic and normoxemic. His distal left leg was cold and pale. He had nonpalpable left DP or TP pulses. Run-off CTA of the aorta showed arterial thrombi on the left femoral and popliteal arteries. Pulmonary emboli were also found.

Decision‐making: He was diagnosed with acute limb ischemia and PE, started on heparin, and had an emergent thromboembolectomy. TTE was negative for shunt or thrombus, and hypercoagulable workup was normal. He was discharged on rivaroxaban.

COVID-associated coagulopathy can lead to venous or arterial thrombi. Thrombosis has been reported even after mild cases. Of 11 trials evaluating outpatient antithrombotic prophylaxis, only SulES-COVID is published, showing possible benefit of sulodexide on decreasing hospitalization and oxygen needs, without decreasing thrombosis. The ACTIV-4b trial studying aspirin and apixaban was stopped early due to low event rates. Other trials evaluating DOACs, AAS or LMWH are ongoing.

Conclusion: Maintain a high suspicion for the occurrence of thrombosis in patients recovered from COVID, even after mild illness.

Complex Clinical Cases

Publishing Title: THROMBOSIS OR HEMORRHAGE: CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION IN A PATIENT WITH HEMOPHILIA

Authors: Abhinav Karan, David Gidla, Okechukwu Mgbemena, Khadeeja Esmail, University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA

Abstract Body:

Background: Patients with hemophilia (PWH) are at high risk of peri-procedural hemorrhage. We present a case of a patient with hemophilia B who required percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Case: A 61-year-old male with hemophilia B reported worsening typical chest pain for the past 6 months. A nuclear stress test revealed horizontal 2mm ST-segment depressions and a partially reversible defect in the apex with transient ischemic dilation. Cardiac biomarkers were unremarkable, and factor IX level was 4U/dl, consistent with moderate disease. He received recombinant factor IX infusion with a goal peak level of >80U/dl and underwent PCI 60 minutes thereafter through the right radial artery. PCI revealed severe two-vessel disease with 95% stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery, and 90% stenosis of the distal right coronary artery, managed with the placement of two drug-eluting stents (DES). Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was started with aspirin and prasugrel for at least 1 year, with weekly long-acting recombinant factor IX with a goal level of >30U/dl. The patient reported no hemorrhagic complications following discharge.

Decision‐making: No evidence-based guidelines exist on managing PCI in PWH. Existing data from expert opinion suggests factor IX levels of >80U/dl are safe for interventional procedures. The arterial access site should be compressible, as with the radial artery in our case, to improve management of potential arterial bleeding. Periprocedural heparin was titrated to maintain an activated clotting time of 250 seconds. Although bare metal stents (BMS) may be beneficial in PWH due to the shorter required duration of DAPT, our patient received DES due to comparatively decreased rates of revascularization, but no significant difference in bleeding. Spontaneous bleeding risk in PWH is low with Factor IX levels above 15U/dl, and existing data suggests that factor IX levels of >30U/dl while on DAPT provide adequate protection from bleeding complications.

Conclusion: PCI in PWH requires an individualized approach, balancing both risks of hemorrhage and thrombosis. Further randomized controlled trials to establish clear guidelines on management are needed.

Sample MD/PhD Cases

Publishing Title: IBRUTINIB INDUCED ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND ITS ASSOCIATED MANAGEMENT

Authors: Ankit Agrawal, Ashwin Kumar, Felix O Berglund, Allan L. Klein, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

Abstract Body:

Background: Ibrutinib is an irreversible Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that is used to treat B-cell malignancies. Specifically, it has been shown to be extremely efficacious against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Ibrutinib has numerous side effects and is noted to be especially cardiotoxic. Here, we present a case of ibrutinib induced new onset atrial fibrillation (AF).

Case: A 64-year-old male with a history of hypertension and CLL Rai stage IV presented to the emergency department for palpitations. His medications included ibrutinib 420 mg once daily and valsartan 80 mg once daily. Physical examination revealed irregularly irregular rhythm and electrocardiogram showed AF with rapid ventricular response.

Decision‐making: Deciding to stop or continue ibrutinib and AF management were the biggest challenges. After ruling out reversible causes of AF and consulting oncology, it was decided to discontinue ibrutinib due to this side effect being witnessed in 3%-16% of patients. Rate control was achieved with metoprolol succinate 25 mg once daily. Cardioversion should be considered only in those patients who can tolerate anticoagulation for a short time given the heightened risk of acute stroke in post cardioversion period. Therefore, our patient was started on apixaban 5 mg twice a day and scheduled for transesophageal cardioversion for restoration of the normal rhythm.

Conclusion: Ibrutinib induced AF is a serious therapy-limiting side effect. The anticoagulation for stroke prophylaxis needs to be considered on case-to-case basis.

Publishing Title: TWO'S COMPANY, THREE'S A CROWD: SYNCOPE DUE TO LEFT ATRIAL COMPRESSION FROM A MASSIVE HIATAL HERNIA

Authors: Vishal Patel, Rajveer Joea, Manuel Hakimi, Serap Sobnosky, St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, CA, US

Abstract Body:

Background: A massive hiatal hernia causing left atrial (LA) compression is an uncommon etiology of syncope that has clinical significance with regard to focused history, sequential diagnostic evaluation, and a multidisciplinary interventional approach.

Case: A 64-year-old male presented with a four-month history of recurrent syncopal and near-syncopal episodes associated with heavy meals and large volume intake of carbonated beverages. Evaluation for cardiac causes of syncope was unrevealing, however TTE did demonstrate near complete echogenic obliteration of the LA cavity with a decreased velocity time integral. A TEE and contrasted CT chest were performed, which revealed a large hiatal hernia with posterior LA mass effect.

Decision‐making: Given the diagnostic findings, the hiatal hernia was deemed to be the culprit pathology resulting in LA compression, transiently decreased LA stroke volume and cardiac output, and subsequent syncope. Surgical repair of the hiatal hernia was recommended through multidisciplinary discussion. The patient opted for outpatient management and was discharged home with precautionary measures. This case highlights the utility of maintaining a broad differential for cardiac syncope, including extracardiac causes which may result in hemodynamic compromise.

Conclusion: Extrinsic LA compression is a rare cause of syncope that highlights the interplay between clinical findings, multimodal cardiac diagnostic imaging, and cardiac hemodynamics.

Complex Clinical Cases
American College of Cardiology

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