Search

Background: Cardiac disease is the leading cause of maternal mortality in developed countries, and myocardial infarction (MI) is an important cause of pregnancy-associated morbidity and mortality. These infrequent, but very serious, events are not optimally described in the medical literature., Objectives: This study describes a 15-year consecutive, retrospective cohort of confirmed pregnancy-associated MIs (PAMIs) identified in Alberta, Canada (2003-2017)., Methods: Utilizing a provincial administrative database, a cohort of women with PAMI were identified using a validated algorithm. Additional cases were identified by reviewing provincial maternal mortality records. Medical record review was conducted on each case with further details obtained via linkage with a provincial coronary heart disease registry. Available angiographic images were also reviewed., Results: Forty-three cases of PAMI were identified in Alberta between 2003 and 2017, providing a crude incidence of ∼5.64/100,000 births. Rates of PAMI increased over the study period. Of the identified MIs, 16.3% occurred antepartum (mean gestational age of 18 weeks), while 30.2% were peripartum and 53.4% occurred within 6 months postpartum (at a mean of 7.8 weeks after delivery). The most common mechanism of PAMI was spontaneous coronary artery dissection (44.2%) and this mechanism predominated postpartum. Coronary artery disease was a frequent antepartum cause of MI, whereas demand ischemia was the leading cause of peripartum MI. Maternal mortality was approximately 9%., Conclusions: PAMI is an increasing cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in Alberta. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for PAMI and ensure optimal management of this dangerous complication of pregnancy., Competing Interests: The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (© 2025 The Authors.)

Technology-enhanced learning is now an established part of medical education due to its ready availability and on-demand nature. This offers new opportunities but also challenges to both learners and teachers. This review outlines the current use of social media tools and online resources in medical education with a particular emphasis on congenital cardiology. It provides strategies to the reader on how to optimize learning in the digital environment and offers guidance on how such tools can be incorporated into routine educational practice. Suggestions for developing and assessing educational material online are discussed. Lastly, the concepts of digital professionalism and digital scholarship are explored to aid medical teachers and educators employ these technologies effectively into their teaching and career development., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Late tamponade after cardiac operations is rare but reasonably well described. We report a case of exceedingly late tamponade secondary to a spontaneous coronary bleed 22 years after a Fontan operation, which was repaired with catheter intervention., (Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: While well characterized in adult patients, the pattern of hypertrophy and the extent of myocardial scarring in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are insufficiently known. The aim of this study was to assess the hypertrophy patterns and the prevalence and clinical significance of scars in the hearts of young patients with HCM., Methods and Results: A retrospective analysis of the imaging findings of 38 children (aged 12.83 ± 2 years, 30 males) with HCM who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) was performed. In addition to left ventricular mass and volumes, the examinations were assessed for the pattern of hypertrophy and presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). A myocardial signal intensity ≥6 standard deviations above the mean of normal myocardium defined positive LGE. Left ventricular mass index averaged 110 ± 34 g/m(2) . Nineteen children (50%) had diffuse septal, 13 (34%) diffuse concentric and 6 (16%) isolated basal hypertrophy. Seven children (18%) had LGE. Patients with LGE had a greater left ventricular mass index than those without (136 ± 34 g/m(2) vs. 104 ± 31 g/m(2) , P = .025). The only two patients who presented with an episode of aborted sudden cardiac death had LGE (P = .03)., Conclusions: The most common hypertrophy pattern in children with HCM was diffuse septal hypertrophy. The incidence of LGE observed is lower than that reported in adults. The presence of LGE appears to confer a risk for adverse events., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

We present the case of a 22-year-old man with a Fontan circulation who suffered from intractable protein losing enteropathy for an 8-year period necessitating several hospital admissions for recurrent pleural effusions and edema. Despite trying several recognized medical therapies to alleviate his protein losing enteropathy, his condition did not improve until the introduction of loperamide for troublesome diarrhea. Following this, his symptoms and serum albumin improved dramatically and he has not required any further hospital admissions at 22 months follow up., (© 2011 Copyright the Authors. Congenital Heart Disease © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)