Double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is a particularly rare congenital entity characterized by the presence of two ventricular cavities separated by an abnormal muscle band. An asymptomatic 15-year-old boy was referred to our hospital because of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. His initial transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated a DCLV with mild left ventricular systolic dysfunction. During a 5-year follow-up period, he remained symptom free with no changes in ECG and conventional TTE findings. However, two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography revealed a subtle progressive deterioration of left ventricular systolic function during the 5-year follow-up.

A 76-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department owing to chest pain, which started immediately after lunch. Although electrocardiogram revealed ST-segment elevation with hyperacute T-wave changes in the anterior lead tracings, emergency coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries. Echocardiography revealed left ventricular (LV) compression with left ventricular obstruction (LVO) caused by an echogenic mass. Computed tomography clearly revealed compression of both left atrial (LA) and LV by a large hiatal hernia. A large hiatal hernia can induce cardiac symptoms resulting from cardiac compression. This case highlights a possible association between chest pain and LVO caused by a hiatal hernia.

A 70-year-old man was referred to our emergency department for shortness of breath on exertion and systemic edema. He had been taking lithium carbonate for 2 years (500 mg/day over previous 3 months) for bipolar disorder diagnosed at age 60. He was diagnosed with hypothyroidism accompanied by Hashimoto's disease 2 weeks before hospitalization. Massive pericardial effusion and bilateral pleural effusions were demonstrated by transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography. Cardiac tamponade occurred on the 3rd day. Pericardiocentesis and thoracentesis were performed once and three times, respectively, because of the acute deterioration of hemodynamic status due to pleural and pericardial effusion. Lithium carbonate is a widely used and effective treatment for bipolar disorder. However, lithium has a narrow therapeutic range and many side effects. An important aspect of this case was the rapid development of severe hypothyroidism, although serum lithium concentration was measured regularly and was maintained within the therapeutic range. It is important to note that lithium can cause serious complications, as in this patient, even if serum lithium concentration is measured regularly and maintained within the therapeutic range. We report the first case of cardiac tamponade caused by hypothyroidism associated with administration of lithium.

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