Medical Images
Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm: A Rare Cause of Chest Pain to Keep in Mind
A man in his 80s presented with sharp central chest pain, diaphoresis, and dyspnea. He had a remote history of coronary artery bypass graft. Results of the physical examination were unremarkable, and initial vital signs were stable. Electrocardiogram was unrevealing. Troponins were elevated and flat. He was initiated on intravenous nitroglycerin, after which his symptoms resolved. However, his blood pressure decreased to a minimal systolic of 76 and diastolic of 50 mm Hg. Because of the resolution of his symptoms, immediate angiography was deferred, and the patient was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit.An Extreme Case of Bioprosthetic Valve Thrombosis in a Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
A young woman presented with increasing fatigue, dyspnea, lightheadedness, and intermittent chest pain. She had a history of systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, and Libman-Sacks endocarditis, resulting in a bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement 6 months before presentation. A bioprosthetic valve was chosen at that time over a mechanical valve because of inability to consistently maintain therapeutic anticoagulation levels with warfarin. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed and showed severe aortic valve prosthetic stenosis with a mean gradient of 69 mm Hg and thickened leaflets (Figure A) with reduced mobility, consistent with bioprosthetic valve thrombosis (BPVT).
