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A case report: metastatic complete heart block.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Though primary malignant tumours of the heart are rare, secondary metastatic affection of the heart is quite common. Common presentations include pericardial effusion, obstruction of inflow and outflow tracts and arrhythmias, most notably tachyarrhythmias, and very rarely complete heart blocks (CHBs).

Case summary

A 28-year-old man suffering from carcinoma of the tongue underwent a surgery in the form of radical hemimandibulectomy. He presented with recurrent syncope and CHB with broad complex escape rhythm. After performing echocardiography, he was found to have malignant infiltration of the interventricular septum. This was confirmed by performing cardiac positron emission tomography (PET). It was decided that a permanent pacemaker would then be implanted. Post-implantation of permanent pacemaker patient succumbed to massive haemoptysis after 5 days.

Discussion

Although CHBs are rare in malignancy and careful assessment of ECGs especially looking for first degree heart blocks which may progress to CHB later on is prudent. One must rule out hypercalcaemia as it is a reversible cause of CHB. Careful echocardiogram can show hyper enhancement on interventricular septum and presence of pericardial effusion. Further imaging like cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or cardiac PET is confirmatory.

SUBMITTER: Kumar D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6426093 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundAortic stenosis is a progressive disease that frequently remains undiagnosed until late in the disease course. In patients that present with symptoms of heart failure and a systolic murmur at a young age, a congenital valvular abnormality must be on the differential. With patients that have accelerated symptoms of aortic stenosis and valvular dysfunction, a unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) could be present. A UAV is often difficult to distinguish from a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) on transthoracic echocardiography. In patients with congenital valvular abnormalities an ascending aortic aneurysm can also be present. Aortic stenosis changes the jet of fluid emerging from the aortic valve leading to an increased risk for aortic aneurysm dissection and rupture. The gold standard treatment for aortic stenosis secondary to a congenital valvular abnormality is valve replacement. A known risk of aortic valve replacement is conduction abnormalities. In this case, we present a patient with a unicuspid valve who postoperatively develops complete heart block leading to pacemaker implantation.Case summaryWe present a case of a 46-year-old Caucasian male with no prior medical history who presented with progressively worsening exertional dyspnoea and palpitations for 7 months. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed a BAV, however, further work up confirmed a unicommissural aortic valve with severe aortic stenosis and moderate regurgitation along with an ascending aortic aneurysm. Aortic valve replacement and aortic aneurysm repair via the Bentall procedure was successfully completed with postoperative course being complicated by a complete heart block and subsequent permanent pacemaker placement.DiscussionWhen assessing patients with symptoms of heart failure with a systolic murmur that suggests aortic stenosis at a young age, a UAV must be kept on the differential. The symptoms of aortic stenosis and valvular dysfunction are accelerated in UAVs when compared with BAVs. Currently, the treatment for patients with congenital valvular abnormalities presenting with aortic stenosis is aortic valve replacement using traditional open surgery. A known sequelae of isolated aortic valve replacement is conduction abnormalities that can sometimes lead to permanent pacemaker placement. After the confirmation of unicuspid or bicuspid valve postoperatively, it is important to report any postoperative conduction abnormalities. This is because, currently, there is no literature that compares the incidence of conduction abnormalities after unicuspid replacement to that of other BAV syndromes.