Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
Update Date: 2009/04/16 19:16
Recently, a 36-year-old woman surnamed Wu in Taichung County sought treatment at a clinic for a cold, but her condition did not improve and she experienced cold sweats. When her family took her to the hospital, Wu was already in a state of shock but remained conscious. After conducting relevant examinations, it was determined that the cause of her shock might be acute myocarditis. Emergency extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was administered, and her heart function gradually recovered, saving her life. (Reported by Huang Ziming)
Dr. Liu Renfu, a cardiologist at Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, stated that the patient had visited a clinic three days prior for a cold, but her condition worsened, with persistent cold sweats and a noticeable deterioration in her health. By the time she was transferred to the emergency room of a major hospital, she was in shock. Tests including X-rays, blood work, electrocardiograms (ECG), and echocardiograms were performed. The X-ray showed no heart enlargement, and the ECG revealed no significant changes, but her myocardial enzymes were elevated. Her heart was nearly in a state of arrest, leading to the diagnosis of "cardiogenic shock" caused by "acute myocarditis." She was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit and treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, an intra-aortic balloon pump, and emergency ECMO placement. Her heart function gradually improved, and she recovered fully within a week.
Dr. Liu emphasized that the "ECMO," commonly referred to as the "Dr. Ye," is an assistive device for patients experiencing acute cardiopulmonary failure, reducing the burden on the heart and lungs. However, it carries risks of complications and should be removed as soon as the patient's condition stabilizes. The ECMO uses a motorized pump to draw blood from the patient's veins, oxygenate it, and then return it to the body, thereby alleviating strain on the heart and lungs. It is typically used short-term for patients with severely compromised cardiopulmonary function.
In general, acute heart failure in middle-aged and young individuals is often caused by acute myocarditis, which can sometimes lead to sudden death. Acute myocarditis in young people is usually triggered by viral infections (such as filterable viruses), autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus erythematosus), or congenital heart conditions. "Myocarditis" refers to the inflammation and necrosis of heart muscle cells, leading to severe cardiac damage, cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, or even death.
Dr. Liu noted that the clinical symptoms of acute myocarditis often mimic those of a cold or upper respiratory infection, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment, which can result in sudden death. Although the likelihood of a cold progressing to "acute myocarditis" is low, once a viral infection triggers it, the condition can rapidly deteriorate and become life-threatening. Therefore, the public is advised not to overlook cold symptoms. In addition to taking medication, patients should regularly monitor their blood pressure and heart rate and seek professional medical evaluation for further examination.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090416/ 91/ 1hyuu. html
Cold for 3 Days Nearly Fatal Due to Viral Myocarditis
Recently, a 36-year-old woman surnamed Wu in Taichung County sought treatment at a clinic for a cold, but her condition did not improve and she experienced cold sweats. When her family took her to the hospital, Wu was already in a state of shock but remained conscious. After conducting relevant examinations, it was determined that the cause of her shock might be acute myocarditis. Emergency extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was administered, and her heart function gradually recovered, saving her life. (Reported by Huang Ziming)
Dr. Liu Renfu, a cardiologist at Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, stated that the patient had visited a clinic three days prior for a cold, but her condition worsened, with persistent cold sweats and a noticeable deterioration in her health. By the time she was transferred to the emergency room of a major hospital, she was in shock. Tests including X-rays, blood work, electrocardiograms (ECG), and echocardiograms were performed. The X-ray showed no heart enlargement, and the ECG revealed no significant changes, but her myocardial enzymes were elevated. Her heart was nearly in a state of arrest, leading to the diagnosis of "cardiogenic shock" caused by "acute myocarditis." She was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit and treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, an intra-aortic balloon pump, and emergency ECMO placement. Her heart function gradually improved, and she recovered fully within a week.
Dr. Liu emphasized that the "ECMO," commonly referred to as the "Dr. Ye," is an assistive device for patients experiencing acute cardiopulmonary failure, reducing the burden on the heart and lungs. However, it carries risks of complications and should be removed as soon as the patient's condition stabilizes. The ECMO uses a motorized pump to draw blood from the patient's veins, oxygenate it, and then return it to the body, thereby alleviating strain on the heart and lungs. It is typically used short-term for patients with severely compromised cardiopulmonary function.
In general, acute heart failure in middle-aged and young individuals is often caused by acute myocarditis, which can sometimes lead to sudden death. Acute myocarditis in young people is usually triggered by viral infections (such as filterable viruses), autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus erythematosus), or congenital heart conditions. "Myocarditis" refers to the inflammation and necrosis of heart muscle cells, leading to severe cardiac damage, cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, or even death.
Dr. Liu noted that the clinical symptoms of acute myocarditis often mimic those of a cold or upper respiratory infection, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment, which can result in sudden death. Although the likelihood of a cold progressing to "acute myocarditis" is low, once a viral infection triggers it, the condition can rapidly deteriorate and become life-threatening. Therefore, the public is advised not to overlook cold symptoms. In addition to taking medication, patients should regularly monitor their blood pressure and heart rate and seek professional medical evaluation for further examination.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090416/ 91/ 1hyuu. html