cardiac workups in young athletes

Cardiovascular changes following lumbar spine surgery in a prone position are exceedingly rare. Over the past 20 years, a total of six cases have been published where patients experienced varying degrees of bradycardia, hypotension, and asystole, which could be attributed to intraoperative dural manipulation. As such, there is emerging evidence for a potential neural-mediated spinal-cardiac reflex. The authors report their experience of negative chronotropy during an elective lumbar spine surgery that coincided with dural manipulation and review the available literature...

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality, and it is caused by a diverse array of conditions. Among these is commotio cordis, a relatively infrequent but still significant cause, often seen in young athletes involved in competitive or recreational sports. It is known to be caused by blunt trauma to the chest wall resulting in life-threatening arrhythmia (typically ventricular fibrillation). The current understanding pertains to blunt trauma to the precordium, with an outcome depending on factors such as the type of stimulus, the force of impact, the qualities of the projectile (shape, size, and density), the site of impact, and the timing of impact in relation to the cardiac cycle...

Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital coronary anomaly, which is defined as cardiac muscle overlying a portion of a coronary artery. Although traditionally considered benign in nature, increasing attention is being given to specific subsets of MB. Sports medicine recognizes MB as a cause of sudden death among young athletes. We present a case of a 30-year-old man who suddenly collapsed during a marathon running. Diagnostic workup with coronary computed tomography angiography revealed the presence of three simultaneous myocardial bridges in this patient, possibly explaining the exercise-induced syncope...

BACKGROUND: Commotio cordis is an event in which a blunt, non-penetrating blow to the chest occurs, triggering a life-threatening arrhythmia and often sudden death. This phenomenon is often seen in young, male athletes and has become increasingly well-known over the past few decades. We present a unique case in which ventricular fibrillation occurs in an older male athlete after blunt trauma. CASE PRESENTATION: Patient with no known medical history was brought to the ER after being found unconscious after a soccer ball kick to the chest...

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are a group of congenital conditions characterized by abnormal origin or course of any of the 3 main epicardial coronary arteries. Although CAAs have been identified as a common underlying condition in young athletes with sudden cardiac death, the widespread use of invasive and noninvasive coronary imaging has led to increased recognition of CAAs among adults. CAAS are often discovered as an incidental finding during the diagnostic workup for ischemic heart disease. The clinical correlates and prognostic implication of CAAs remain poorly understood in this context, and guideline-recommended therapeutic choices are supported by a low level of scientific evidence...

Misuse of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) has been well known to increase the risk for a cardiac problem, including acute myocardial infarction (MI). Steroids once thought a magic drug providing immediate relief to patients, also have a darker aspect of its severe side effects. AAS are widely used these days, especially in teenagers, bodybuilders, and athletes. MI is thought to be a disease of old age, but young patients with MI without risk factors draw attention to the possibility of drugs such as cocaine, AAS abuse, and amphetamine...

INTRODUCTION: Congenital coronary artery anomalies are quite uncommon with estimates ranging from 0.2% to 1.3% on coronary angiography. The rarity of these anomalies makes their diagnosis a formidable challenge. Variable arterial courses have been described. In this report, we present a case with unique arterial course, which starts as a hyperacute take-off of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left main coronary artery (LMCA), with subsequent coursing, without external compression, between the right ventricular outflow tract and aorta...

Mesalamine is often used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Mesalamine-induced cardiotoxicity has been reported in the literature and is a rare entity. The mechanism of cardiotoxicity remains unclear, however, it is believed to be due to a humoral-mediated hypersensitivity reaction. Patients with mesalamine-induced cardiotoxicity could present with a wide range of cardiovascular symptoms ranging from mild chest pain and shortness of breath (SOB) to cardiogenic shock secondary to left ventricular systolic dysfunction...

Coronary artery anomalies and variants are relatively uncommon congenital disorders of the coronary artery anatomy and constitute the second most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young competitive athletes. The rapid advancement of imaging techniques, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, have provided us with a wealth of new information on the subject. Anomalous origin of a coronary artery from the contralateral sinus is the anomaly most frequently associated with sudden cardiac death, in particular if the anomalous coronary artery has a course between the aorta and the pulmonary artery...

In this case report, we describe a young athletic male with a family history of early sudden cardiac death who presented with atypical chest pain and was found to have a positive serum troponin. Although his symptoms resolved without intervention, workup revealed hypertension, hyperlipidemia, mild left ventricular hypertrophy, non-obstructive coronary artery disease, and the presence of serum heterophile antibodies. Ultimately, it was concluded that his rigorous exercise regimen as well as the presence of heterophile antibodies may have contributed to his positive serum troponin...

The most common cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes in the United States is "autopsy-negative sudden unexplained death." This makes it extremely difficult to screen for and diagnose predisposing cardiovascular conditions before athletic participation. The goal of the preparticipation physical examination is to detect risk factors for SCD, make risk-based decisions regarding the need for further workup, and ultimately recommend for or against participation. Current evidence recommends universal screening of young athletes using the 14-point American Heart Association preparticipation cardiovascular checklist...

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is the second most common cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes in United States. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms of SCD are unknown. There is lack of long-term outcome data on repaired and unrepaired AAOCA and our current risk stratification scheme for these patients is suboptimal. These patients are evaluated in a nonuniform manner across institutions in United States, and even by different providers residing in the same institution...

BACKGROUND: Subepicardial delayed gadolinium enhancement (DGE) patches without underlying cardiomyopathy is poorly understood. It is often reported as the result of prior silent myocarditis. Its prognostic relevance in asymptomatic athletes is unknown; therefore, medical clearance for competitive sports participation is debated. This case series aims to relate this pattern of DGE in athletes to outcome. METHODS: We report on seven young asymptomatic athletes with isolated subepicardial DGE detected during workup of abnormalities on their regular screening examination, that is, pathological T-wave inversions on ECG (n=4) or ventricular arrhythmias on exercise test (n=3)...

BACKGROUND: Use of energy drinks has significantly increased in recent times. Besides athletes, teenagers and students are among the most common consumers. However, popularity is also increasing among the younger and older age groups. Most of the users believe that they are a good source of instant energy and are unaware of its high Caffeine content resulting in harmful effects on health. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a young boy who presented with palpitations and high blood pressure as a result of energy drinks usage...

A 19-year-old male presented to our hospital after an episode of syncope while playing soccer. He reported a family history of sudden death. Laboratory workup on admission was unremarkable. Electrocardiogram and 2-Dimensional Echocardiogram suggested heart disease involving the right ventricle. The patient had Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging that revealed a dilated right ventricle with global hypokinesis and high signal intensity due to fatty infiltration. The diagnosis of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia was made based on right precordial electrocardiographic features, family history and structural abnormalities seen on imaging...

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are a diverse group of congenital disorders whose manifestations and pathophysiological mechanisms are highly variable. The subject of CAAs is undergoing profound evolutionary changes related to the definition, morphogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, prognosis, and treatment of these anomalies. To understand the clinical impact of CAAs, the fundamental challenge is the firm establishment, for a particular type of CAA, of a mechanism capable of interference with the coronary artery's function, which is to provide adequate blood flow to the dependent myocardium...

Coronary artery anomalies are, after hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the second most common cause of exercise-related sudden cardiac death in young American athletes. These anomalies have been associated with myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, and sudden death during exercise. A 14-yr-old male with no previous abnormal medical history collapsed during soccer practice and was successfully resuscitated without defibrillation. An extensive cardiac workup did not reveal any abnormalities. Two weeks later, he experienced a cardiac arrest while running and could not be resuscitated...