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Biomedical subjects

D H Spodick

Publications and source records attributed to D H Spodick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

'Idiopathic' pericarditis--the clinician's challenge [nothing is idiopathic].

Reports on the aetiologic distribution of acute pericarditis vary significantly from study to study. We attempted to summarise reports on incidence of different aetiologies of pericarditis and explain the variable range of reported frequencies of different aetiologies. The literature between 1978 and 2005 was reviewed for comparative incidence of acute pericarditis. Reports of more than 50 subjects were included. The most common cause of pericarditis was 'idiopathic' pericarditis (mean: 26.1%), followed by neoplastic diseases (mean: 25.6%) and iatrogenic pericarditis (mean: 16.3%). Each mean had a wide range of 95% confidence interval. In summary, the clinician is confronted by a huge dispersion of reported frequencies of pericarditis aetiologies as a consequence of multiple factors. Recognising specific rare causes of pericarditis, often essential for early diagnosis and successful treatment, means coping with that aetiologic dispersion and its implied probabilities.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Advanced interatrial block: a classic electrocardiogram.

Interatrial block (IAB; P wave>or=110 ms) indicates conduction delay between the right and left atria. IAB can present as partial or advanced and is denoted on the electrocardiogram (ECG) by bifid or biphasic P waves, respectively, the latter in inferior leads. The importance of IAB cannot be overemphasized due to high prevalence, especially at ages 60 and over, and due to grave associations with atrial flutter and fibrillation as well as congestive heart failure. Thus, we present a classic ECG of the much less common form of IAB, namely advanced IAB, as it serves as an excellent yardstick and teaching tool to help clinicians understand this medical entity thoroughly and to easily recognize this often missed type of block.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Cardiac tamponade masking pulmonary embolism.

This report describes a patient admitted with shortness of breath due to cardiac tamponade, which masked concomitant pulmonary embolism that was diagnosed only after right heart pressures failed to decrease after successful pericardiocentesis. The patient was found to have widely metastatic adenocarcinoma of colon (with metastases to pericardium) and a paraneoplastic syndrome of deep vein thrombosis.

Cardiac Tamponade↗
PubMed2001

Exceptional prevalence of interatrial block in a general hospital population.

BACKGROUND: Interatrial block (IAB: P wave > or = 110 ms) is a strong correlate of left atrial (LA) enlargement and an important predictor of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, notably atrial fibrillation and flutter. It is surprising that, despite its association with arrhythmias and its effects on the electromechanical properties of the left atrium, there is widespread neglect of this common abnormality. HYPOTHESIS: The study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of IAB in a general hospital population. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the electrocardiograms of 1,000 consecutive adult patients. analyzed for P-wave duration. RESULTS: Our results showed a very high prevalence of IAB (41.1% of patients in sinus rhythm and 32.8% of all patients). As expected, it was more common in patients aged > 60 years. CONCLUSIONS: Given this unusually high prevalence of IAB in hospital patients and its ominous portents (LA enlargement. thrombosis and embolism, arrhythmias), physicians should be aware of its frequency and computer software should be programmed to recognize it.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Pericardial disease in renal patients.

Pericardial disease is common in patients with renal disease. Approximately 20% of uremic patients requiring chronic dialysis develop uremic pericarditis or dialysis pericarditis. In all forms of uremic pericarditis, cardiac tamponade is the main danger. Pericardial contents are sterile unless secondarily infected. Differential diagnosis may be difficult, especially in mentally confused patients and because nonuremic intercurrent pericarditis of any cause is always possible. In uremic patients, frequent autonomic impairment and decreased cardiac adenylate cyclase limit heart rate increases during pericarditis, even during tamponade, so that the heart rate may be deceptively slow even with fever and hypotension. Adequate renal dialysis effectively ends uremic pericarditis. Several factors are associated with precipitating dialysis pericarditis and effusion, above all inadequate dialysis. Pericarditis in hepatorenal failure occurs at relatively low blood urea nitrogen levels and does not respond to dialysis.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Electromechanical dysfunction of the left atrium associated with interatrial block.

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to determine the effect of interatrial block (IAB, P-wave duration >/=120 ms) on left atrial (LA) dynamics. IAB is associated with LA enlargement (LAE). LA dysfunction is associated with decreased left ventricular filling, a propensity for LA appendage thrombus formation, and reduced atrial natriuretic peptide levels. We evaluated LA function in patients with and without IAB matched for LA size. METHODS: Echocardiograms with LA enlargement were analyzed. Twenty-four patients had IAB, and 16 patients without IAB formed the control group. LA volumes, A-wave acceleration times (At), LA stroke volume (LASV), ejection fraction (LAEF), and kinetic energy (LAKE) were calculated. RESULTS: The control group and patients with IAB had comparable maximal LA volume and diameter (P >.05). Patients with IAB had significantly longer At (115 +/- 39 ms vs 83 +/- 24 ms, P <.01) and smaller LASV (7 +/- 5 mL vs 17 +/- 6 mL, P <.01), LAEF (9% +/- 6% vs 25% +/- 8%, P <.01), and LAKE (20 +/- 14 vs 65 +/- 44 Kdyne/cm/s, P <.01). LAKE varied inversely with P-wave duration (r = -0.51, P <.01). P-wave duration and minimal LA volume were independent determinants of LAEF. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IAB have a sluggish, poorly contractile LA, and the extent of dysfunction is related to the degree of electrical delay from IAB. IAB should be considered a marker of an electromechanically dysfunctional LA and hence a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure.

Atrial Fibrillation↗
PubMed2001

Multiple coronary artery-left ventricular fistulas associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Coronary artery-left ventricular (LV) fistulas are extremely rare and can cause myocardial ischemia from coronary steal. We describe an elderly woman who presented with unstable angina from multiple and extensive coronary artery-LV fistulas. She also had clinical features suggestive of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Association of coronary artery-LV fistulas with HHT has not been reported and can pose a management dilemma in view of the risks of extensive cardiopulmonary surgery and potential complications of myocardial ischemia, stroke, and brain abscess.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Effect of interatrial block on left atrial function.

Interatrial block produces prolonged P-waves due to conduction delay mainly in the Bachmann bundle, the most direct route from right to left atrium. It is prevalent in patients over age 60 with its main clinical significance its association with eventual atrial fibrillation and/or flutter. Having demonstrated a mean delay in the onset of active left ventricular filling of 37 msec, we defined the electromechanical abnormality further by measuring left atrial volume at key points in the atrial cycle to produce 10 measurements of left atrial function. Compared to the normal left atrium, interatrial block is correlated with a large, poorly contractile left atrium with a delayed and markedly reduced contribution to left ventricular filling and the kinetic energy with which atrial systole propels blood.

Atrial Fibrillation↗
PubMed2000

William Dock, MD.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Ballistocardiography↗