Catheter-Associated Post-Cardiac Injury Syndrome after Epicardial
Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation in a patient with Dilated
Cardiomyopathy due to Becker type Muscular Dystrophy
Abstract
Background Post-cardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is a clinical
entity caused by immune reactions against antigens released after
primary or secondary cardiac damage. This condition, which has been
reported to occur generally after cardiac perforation, may also occur
after epicardial ablation of ventricular arrhythmias. Case
summary We report a case of a 33-year-old Male who developed chest pain
accompanied by electrocardiogram (ECG) changes—extensive ST segment
elevation in V1–V6 leads after an initially uncomplicated ventricular
tachycardia CA procedure by epicardial approach. After examination and
investigations, including transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), invasive
coronary angiography (ICA), he was diagnosed with regional pericarditis,
which occurred even though the ablation was uneventful. Furthermore, the
diagnosis was difficult due to the absence of pericardial effusion on
TTE and the unique ECG with changes that can be confused with acute
coronary syndrome (ACS), findings that are not characteristic of
pericarditis. The most important factor that made our case interesting
was the improvement of the complaints and ECG findings after the removal
of the epicardial catheter. The patient was discharged after a certain
period of TTE and ECG follow-up. Discussion Regional
pericarditis after ablation is a relatively rare PCIS. Coronary events
should definitely be considered in the differential diagnosis. It is
important to confirm the diagnosis with non-invasive and, if necessary,
invasive imaging methods and to perform treatments and interventions for
the underlying cause.