Hypocalcemia is a rare cause of reversible heart failure. We reported a 40-year-old woman who had severe heart failure resistant to the usual antifailure therapy. She had severe hypocalcemia due to hypoparathyroidism after strumectomy. Echocardiography showed a large left ventricle with very low ejection fraction of 25% and moderate mitral regurgitation. After supplementation of calcium and vitamin D, her clinical situation and hemodynamics improved rapidly. At 15 months, myocardial impairment resolved fully. In conclusion, hypocalcemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of resistant severe heart failure.

The increased P wave dispersion in addition to the dilated LA and the depressed LAA emptying flow can identify patients at risk of recurrent AF after cardioversion.

No abstract

Nasal septum deviation (NSD) can cause obstruction of the upper airway, which may lead to increased pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and right ventricle dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of septoplasty on right ventricular function and mean PAP of patients with marked NSD. 25 patients with marked NSD (mean age = 31.8 ± 12.3 years) and 27 healthy volunteers (mean age = 34.5 ± 10.8 years) were enrolled. Echocardiography was performed for all subjects and right ventricular function and mean PAP were evaluated before and 3 months after septoplasty. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and tricuspid annulus early diastolic myocardial velocity (E') were significantly lower in patients with NSD than control subjects, while right ventricle myocardial performance index (RVMPI) and mean PAP were significantly higher (respectively, p = 0.006, 0.037, 0.049, 0.046). When preoperative and postoperative findings were compared, the mean PAP decreased whereas TAPSE increased significantly (respectively, p = 0.007, 0.03). The results of the present study demonstrated that mean PAP increased and right ventricular function worsened in patients with NSD. However, mean PAP decreased and right ventricular function tended to recover after septoplasty.

No abstract