This research topic highlights recent high quality case reports from our heart failure and transplantation section, with a focus on myocarditis and is overseen by journal Associate Editor Yasuhiro Ikeda. Case reports aim to highlight unique cases of patients that present with an unexpected/unusual diagnosis, treatment outcome, or clinical course.?Case reports provide insight into the differential diagnosis, decision making, and clinical management of unusual cases and are a valuable educational tool.

Yamaguchi Prefectural Grand Medical Center

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

Heart Failure and Transplantation

Heart Failure and Transplantation Case Reports: Myocarditis and therapeutic strategy

Scrub typhus is an acute zoonotic febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi having a specific geographic endemic area. This infection could be complicated with multi-organ involvement including myocarditis with variable severity. Here, we report a rare case of scrub typhus with biopsy-proven acute fulminant myocarditis which progressed very rapidly to cardiac arrest and was treated successfully with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Clinicians should be alert to possible rapid progression of scrub typhus myocarditis to fulminant form and be prepared for close monitoring and temporary mechanical support if indicated.

Scrub typhus is an acute zoonotic febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi having a specific geographic endemic area. This infection could be complicated with multi-organ involvement including myocarditis with variable severity. Here, we report a rare case of scrub typhus with biopsy-proven acute fulminant myocarditis which progressed very rapidly to cardiac arrest and was treated successfully with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Clinicians should be alert to possible rapid progression of scrub typhus myocarditis to fulminant form and be prepared for close monitoring and temporary mechanical support if indicated.

Case Report: Fulminant Myocarditis Successfully Treated With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Ikeda Strain Orientia tsutsugamushi Infection

Recently, myocarditis following messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination has become an important social issue worldwide. According to the reports so far, myocarditis related to mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is rare and usually associated with a benign clinical course without intensive care or any sequelae of fulminant myocarditis. Here, we report a case of acute fulminant myocarditis and cardiogenic shock after the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, requiring extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Clinicians should keep in mind the possibility of progression to fulminant myocarditis in patients who presented with suggestive symptoms or signs of myocarditis after the COVID-19 vaccination.

Recently, myocarditis following messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination has become an important social issue worldwide. According to the reports so far, myocarditis related to mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is rare and usually associated with a benign clinical course without intensive care or any sequelae of fulminant myocarditis. Here, we report a case of acute fulminant myocarditis and cardiogenic shock after the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, requiring extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Clinicians should keep in mind the possibility of progression to fulminant myocarditis in patients who presented with suggestive symptoms or signs of myocarditis after the COVID-19 vaccination.

Case Report: Acute Fulminant Myocarditis and Cardiogenic Shock After Messenger RNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination Requiring Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

We recently treated a 36-year-old previously healthy male with a prolonged hypothermic (lowest temperature 22.3°C) cardiac arrest after an alcohol intoxication with a return of spontaneous circulation after 230min of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation and rewarming by veno-arterial ECMO with femoral cannulation and retrograde perfusion of the aortic arch. Despite functional veno-arterial ECMO, we continued mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (Auto Pulse™ device, ZOLL Medical Corporation, Chelmsford, USA) until return of spontaneous circulation to prevent left ventricular distention from persistent ventricular fibrillation. The case was further complicated by extensive trauma caused by mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (multiple rib fractures, significant hemothorax, and a liver laceration requiring massive transfusion), lung failure necessitating a secondary switch to veno-venous ECMO, and acute kidney injury with the need for renal replacement therapy. Shortly after return of spontaneous circulation, the patient was already following commands and could be discharged 3 weeks later without neurologic, cardiac, or renal sequelae and being entirely well. Prolonged accidental hypothermic cardiac arrest might present with excellent outcomes when supported with veno-arterial ECMO. Until return of spontaneous circulation, one might consider continuing with mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation in addition to ECMO to allow some left ventricular unloading. However, the clinician should keep in mind that prolonged mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation may cause severe injuries.

We recently treated a 36-year-old previously healthy male with a prolonged hypothermic (lowest temperature 22.3&#xb0;C) cardiac arrest after an alcohol intoxication with a return of spontaneous circulation after 230min of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation and rewarming by veno-arterial ECMO with femoral cannulation and retrograde perfusion of the aortic arch. Despite functional veno-arterial ECMO, we continued mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (Auto Pulse&#x2122; device, ZOLL Medical Corporation, Chelmsford, USA) until return of spontaneous circulation to prevent left ventricular distention from persistent ventricular fibrillation. The case was further complicated by extensive trauma caused by mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (multiple rib fractures, significant hemothorax, and a liver laceration requiring massive transfusion), lung failure necessitating a secondary switch to veno-venous ECMO, and acute kidney injury with the need for renal replacement therapy. Shortly after return of spontaneous circulation, the patient was already following commands and could be discharged 3 weeks later without neurologic, cardiac, or renal sequelae and being entirely well. Prolonged accidental hypothermic cardiac arrest might present with excellent outcomes when supported with veno-arterial ECMO. Until return of spontaneous circulation, one might consider continuing with mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation in addition to ECMO to allow some left ventricular unloading. However, the clinician should keep in mind that prolonged mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation may cause severe injuries.

Case Report: Left Ventricular Unloading Using a Mechanical CPR Device in a Prolonged Accidental Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest Treated by VA-ECMO – a Novel Approach

Eosinophilic myocarditis is a rare subtype of myocarditis characterized by myocardial eosinophilic infiltration, and it is potentially fatal if left untreated. Although endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is a cornerstone for the histological diagnosis of acute eosinophilic myocarditis (AEM), as it is an invasive procedure and has a low diagnostic accuracy, the diagnosis of AEM with hemodynamic instability remains challenging. We describe a case of AEM presenting as low-flow heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), with rapid progression to cardiogenic shock. The constellation of peripheral eosinophilia, increased left ventricular wall thickness, and HFpEF raised the suspicion of AEM. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed heterogeneous hypoenhancement localized in the basal-to-mid septal and mid anterolateral walls of the left ventricle, strongly suggestive of acute inflammation. Based upon these findings, we performed CT-guided EMB, which lead to a definitive diagnosis. Subsequent high-dose corticosteroids allowed a rapid and dramatic recovery and normalization of cardiac structure and function. This case highlights the clinical importance of assessing AEM as a rare cause of HFpEF and the usefulness of CT-guided EMB in patients with hemodynamic instability.

Eosinophilic myocarditis is a rare subtype of myocarditis characterized by myocardial eosinophilic infiltration, and it is potentially fatal if left untreated. Although endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is a cornerstone for the histological diagnosis of acute eosinophilic myocarditis (AEM), as it is an invasive procedure and has a low diagnostic accuracy, the diagnosis of AEM with hemodynamic instability remains challenging. We describe a case of AEM presenting as low-flow heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), with rapid progression to cardiogenic shock. The constellation of peripheral eosinophilia, increased left ventricular wall thickness, and HFpEF raised the suspicion of AEM. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed heterogeneous hypoenhancement localized in the basal-to-mid septal and mid anterolateral walls of the left ventricle, strongly suggestive of acute inflammation. Based upon these findings, we performed CT-guided EMB, which lead to a definitive diagnosis. Subsequent high-dose corticosteroids allowed a rapid and dramatic recovery and normalization of cardiac structure and function. This case highlights the clinical importance of assessing AEM as a rare cause of HFpEF and the usefulness of CT-guided EMB in patients with hemodynamic instability.

Case Report: Acute Eosinophilic Myocarditis With a Low-Flow Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Phenotype

Thirty four-year-old male with history of D-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) who underwent Mustard operation at 14 months of age presented in cardiogenic shock secondary to severe systemic right ventricular failure. Catheterization revealed significantly increased pulmonary pressures. Due to the patient's inotrope dependence and prohibitive pulmonary hypertension, he underwent implantation of a Heart Ware HVAD® for systemic RV support. Within 4 months of continuous flow ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation complete normalization of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was achieved. He ultimately underwent orthotopic heart transplantation with favorable outcomes. This is the second report of complete normalization of PVR following VAD implantation into a systemic RV in <4 months. We conducted a thorough literature review to identify Mustard patients that received systemic RV VAD as a bridge to a successful heart transplantation. In this article, we summarize the outcomes and focus on pulmonary hypertension reversibility following VAD implant.

Thirty four-year-old male with history of D-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) who underwent Mustard operation at 14 months of age presented in cardiogenic shock secondary to severe systemic right ventricular failure. Catheterization revealed significantly increased pulmonary pressures. Due to the patient&apos;s inotrope dependence and prohibitive pulmonary hypertension, he underwent implantation of a Heart Ware HVAD&#xae; for systemic RV support. Within 4 months of continuous flow ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation complete normalization of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was achieved. He ultimately underwent orthotopic heart transplantation with favorable outcomes. This is the second report of complete normalization of PVR following VAD implantation into a systemic RV in &lt;4 months. We conducted a thorough literature review to identify Mustard patients that received systemic RV VAD as a bridge to a successful heart transplantation. In this article, we summarize the outcomes and focus on pulmonary hypertension reversibility following VAD implant.