Cardiology Commons^™

Percutaneous Vegetectomy As An Emerging Alternative For Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis, Alexander Patel, Elias Wakim, William Zvagelsky, Ebad Ur Rahman, Youssef Al-Saghir, Ahmed Zaky

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Anterior Mediastinal Mass With: Airway Compression, Svc Syndrome, And Cardiac Tamponade, Joseph Davis, Arunpreet Kahlon

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

A Question Of Imaging: Percutaneous Closure Of Ruptured Sinus Of Valsalva Aneurysm Presenting As Suspected Ventricular Septal Defect, Alexander Rhodes, Aswin Srinivasan, Mukhtar Al-Saadi, Amar Kalidas, Hafez Golzarian, Pranav Loyalka

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Aspirin Monotherapy Versus Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Tavr In Patients Without An Indication For Oral Anticoagulation: Randomized Evidence And Meta-Analystic Estimates, Yves Najm Mrad, Snehalkumar Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Contemporary Outcomes Of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement In Bicuspid Anatomy And Younger Patients, Yves Najm Mrad, Ahmad Al-Taweel, Bahaeddin Shabaneh

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Triple-Vessel Conundrum: A Stemi Case Involving Extensive Occlusion Of All Three Major Epicardial Coronary Arteries Complicated By Cardiogenic Shock, Ubaldo Gonzalez, Ziran Yang, Masi Javeed, Guillermo Gomez, Bir Singh, Najam Javeed

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Transthoracic Echocardiography Use In Low-Risk Syncope Patients Utilizing The Canadian Syncope Risk Score: A Qi Analysis, Muhammad Anzar Ullah, Ali Hassan, Ryan Fernandez, Yousuf Qureshi, Areeb Zafar, Farhan Hiya, Huzaifa Hakim, Mohamad Saad, Trushil Patel

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Qi Project: Improving Utilization Of Cardiac Monitoring On Inpatients Based On Aha Guidelines, Muhammad Humais, Jorim Parmar, Shakir Al-Ezzi, Florence Murray, David Maldonado, Mohan Sengodan

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

No abstract provided.

Cocaine Kicks Mitral Valve In The Pap- A Rare Case Of Papillary Muscle Rupture Secondary To Cocaine-Induced Ischemia Mimicking A Tumor Vs Vegetation, Greeshma Molugu, Seline Haci, Mehdi Khalafi, Amir Z. Malik, Machaiah Madhrira

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: Cocaine is known to have many cardiotoxic effects, specifically secondary to increased sympathetic output from the increased catecholamines, calcium modulation, and increased platelet aggregation. This can cumulatively cause suppression of myocardial contractility and decreased coronary blood flow, resulting in arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, or even infarction. Papillary muscle rupture, already a rare complication of myocardial infarction (MI), is exceedingly rarely associated with cocaine toxicity in the absence of MI. Also, acute mitral regurgitation(MR) due to papillary muscle rupture from cocaine-induced ischemia remains exceedingly rare. We present a second-ever reported case of papillary muscle rupture secondary to cocaine-induced ischemia in the …

Antibody-Mediated Allograft Rejection 23 Years After Heart Transplant, Jorim Parmar, Boney Lapsiwala, Devika Adusumilli, Sienna Luk, Nguyen Dung, Song Li, Kamala Tamirisa

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

INTRODUCTION: Orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) remains the gold standard treatment for patients with advanced heart failure refractory to optimal medical and device-based therapies. Despite advances in perioperative management, immunosuppressive regimens, and long-term surveillance protocols, graft rejection remains a major determinant of post-transplant morbidity and mortality [1]. We report a case, representing one of the longest documented intervals in literature, of suspected antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) occurring 23 years after heart transplantation in which conventional endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) could not be successfully performed. This case highlights the diagnostic uncertainty associated with very late AMR and underscores the potential role of clinical presentation, …

An Unusual Culprit Behind A Massive Pulmonary Embolism: Atypical May-Thurner Syndrome From Iliac Artery Aneurysm, Boney Lapsiwala, Jiaming Xue, Mayank Singh, Sai Krishan Reddy Dronadula, Sadia Zahid, Mian Yousef

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of global morbidity and mortality. May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is an iliofemoral venous compression syndrome caused by extrinsic compression of the left common iliac vein (LCIV), classically by the right common iliac artery at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra. Although the estimated anatomic prevalence ranges from 18-49%, only 2-5% of cases are diagnosed during evaluation for lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic venous compression to unilateral leg swelling, venous insufficiency, and acute iliofemoral DVT, with pulmonary embolism (PE) reported infrequently.

Case presentation: A 75-year-old man with hypertension, …

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement For Moderate Aortic Stenosis In Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Randomized Comparison With Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy, Yves Najm Mrad, Ahmad Al-Taweel, Bahaeddin Shabaneh

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Acute-On-Chronic Right Pulmonary Artery Thrombus With Systemic–Pulmonary Collateral Fistulas And Post-Thrombectomy Distal Rca Occlusion Due To Pfo, Joseph Davis, Jesse Bolton, Sridhar Sampath Kumar, Sundeep Viswanathan

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Don’T Blame The Heart When On Steroids: A Rare Case Of Glucocorticoid Dependant Childhood Asthma Causing Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Greeshma Molugu, Srinivasan Rajaganapathy, Machaiah Madhrira, Karthik Anand

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: Steroids are known to have various cardiac side effects, such as hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. They are also known to cause rare but potentially life-threatening cardiomyopathy. The mechanisms behind steroid-induced cardiomyopathy are multifactorial, potentially involving direct or indirect myocardial toxicity, such as tissue fibrosis, apoptosis, and alterations in cardiac remodeling pathways via the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Cardiomyopathy is known to occur with anabolic steroid use, but the literature on glucocorticoid-induced cardiomyopathy is scant. We present a rare case of glucocorticoid-induced dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) in a patient with a history of refractory asthma who was treated …

A Rare Case Of Successful Resolution Of Bifurcation Stenosis Using Double Kissing Crush Stenting Technique, Greeshma Molugu, Tony Alacron, Karthik Anand, Machaiah Madhrira

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Introduction: Bifurcation lesions are associated with greater procedural complexity and consequently are at higher risk for stent restenosis. Bifurcation lesions are still technically challenging even in the era of modern stents. High incidence of restenosis both in the main vesseI and side branch Iimits the Iong-term prognosis. We present a rare case of successful resolution of bifurcation stenosis in a patient by using the double kissing (DK) crush stenting technique.

Case Description: A 52-year-old male patient with a past medical history of hypertension presented to the hospital for elective left heart catheterization as a part of an evaluation for a …

A Rare Case Of Left Ventricular Free Wall Rupture Following Mechanical Circulatory Support In Stemi, Jyotirmaya Jain, Hasnan Ijaz, Heriberto Cantu, Mohamad Mubder, Thomas Alexander

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Complications Of Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support: Device-Specific Risk Profiles & Meta-Analytic Estimates, Yves Najm Mrad, Ahmad Al-Taweel, Bahaeddin Shabaneh

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Transient Stunning Of Leadless Pacemaker Diagnostic Function Following Pulse Field Ablation For Atrial Arrythmia, Danish Bawa, Stephanie Billingsly, Thomas Pritchard, Rachad Ghazal, Adnan Ahmed, Douglas Darden, Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy

MidAmerica Division GME Healthcare Symposium 2026

No abstract provided.

A Unified Finite Element Framework For Cardiac Growth And Remodeling In Mitral Regurgitation Incorporating Fiber Reorientation And Baroreflex, Mohammad Mehri, Jonathan F. Wenk

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Mitral regurgitation (MR) triggers complex cardiac remodeling responses that alter the structure and function of the left ventricle (LV). While several models have been developed to predict myocardial growth in MR, they often neglect key concurrent adaptive mechanisms that influence both the pattern and severity of LV dilation. This study presents a unified finite element framework to systematically evaluate the individual and combined contributions of fiber reorientation (FR) and baroreflex regulation to LV growth and remodeling, along with the effects of myocardial material property changes associated with the acute and chronic phases of MR. A healthy baseline model and multiple …

Contemporary Nonfemoral Access For Tavr: Comparative Outcomes Of Transcarotid, Transsubclavian/Transaxillary, And Transcaval Approaches, Yves Najm Mrad, Snehalkumar Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Catheter Ablation Versus Anti-Arrhythmic Drug Therapy For Atrial Arrhythmias In Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Real-World Cohort Study, Revanth Reddy Bandaru, Nishant Nerella, Suman Pasupuleti

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Validity Assessment Of Resting Heart Rate Variability From The Garmin Health Snapshot, Kayla M. Porter, Andrew Flatt

Honors College Theses

Purpose: To assess the agreement between the Garmin Forerunner 265 (a commercially available sports watch) and a single-channel electrocardiographic (ECG) chest strap for determining resting heart rate variability (HRV). Secondary aims were to assess the impact of skin tone and body position on measurement accuracy.

Methods: Young adults (n = 30, 57% women) aged 18–39 years without known cardiovascular conditions and without tattooing or scarring on the dorsal left wrist were recruited. HRV was recorded simultaneously using ECG and the Forerunner 265’s optical sensor during Garmin’s 2-minute “Health Snapshot.” Measurements were obtained in three standardized positions: supine, seated, and standing. …

Prophylactic Distal Perfusion Catheters In Femoral Va-Ecmo: Association With Lower Limb Ischemia And Major Limb Outcomes (Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis), Yves Najm Mrad, Snehalkumar Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Outcomes And Implications Of Patients Included Vs. Excluded For Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation After Initial Activation, Kevin George, Joshua B. Wiener, Michael Zacharias, Frank Forde, Yasir Abu-Omar, Colin Mccloskey

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to describe the implementation of a new Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) program in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. We also provide a novel comparison of outcomes between patients cannulated vs excluded from cannulation for ECPR after initial field activation.

METHODS: A prospective observational study of ECPR activations between September 2021 and February 2025. Patients meeting initial eligibility criteria for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA)-namely based on age, bystander-CPR, and initial shockable rhythm-were transported to the emergency department where the ECPR team completed cannulation based on further biochemical criteria. Medical records were used to collect data after …

Effect Of Plant-Based Vs. Standard American Diet On Cardiovascular Parameters In College Students, Timothy J. Horanic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines how adherence to different dietary patterns—specifically a plant-based diet compared to the standard American diet—can influence physiological indicators tied to cardiovascular health, including heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Among these markers, HRV is considered especially sensitive to autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation and may offer earlier insight into physiological stress or dysfunction than HR or BP alone. Although nutritional habits are widely believed to impact heart health, few investigations have focused on how specific long-term diets affect autonomic and cardiovascular metrics in healthy, college-aged adults. This study aims to investigate if …

Congenital Heart Defects, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with congenital heart defects.

Relationship Between Exception Request For Higher Listing Urgency And Aggressiveness In Accepting Heart Offers, Jorim Parmar, Yingxian Liu, Devika Adusumilli, Luke Taylor, Shakir Al-Ezzi, Usman Khan, Claudio Bravo, Claudius Mahr, Song Li

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

BACKGROUND: Transplant programs may submit exception requests to upgrade a listed patient’s priority, often anticipating a higher likelihood of accepting marginal or high-risk donor organs. This study explores whether exception request status is associated with increased risk tolerance in organ acceptance.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), focusing on adult patients (≥18 years) listed for heart transplantation. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS/STAT 14.1. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and clinical variables. Baseline characteristics were compared between recipients with and without exception requests. Primary analysis: Mixed-effects linear regression was used to …

Cardiac Step-Down Unit (Csu), Two Failures Drive Suboptimal Vte Prevention: Quality Improvement, Jorim Parmar, Shakir Al-Ezzi, Anvi Manduva, Muhammad Suleman, Fahed Alsayed, Debra Medsker

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

BACKGROUND: In the Cardiac Step-down Unit (CSU), two failures drive suboptimal VTE prevention: (1). over-ordering of SCDs in patients unlikely to benefit and (2). < 10% documented application when SCDs are truly indicated. Baseline data indicates that curbing over-ordering alone would reduce recorded non-compliance by >50%, revealing a clear opportunity for system redesign.

METHODS: To integrate the updated “3 Bucket” Risk Model assessment into the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) in order to delineate the prophylaxis for a given patient population. Once the manual risk assessment proves to be viable in increasing compliance, we can propose having the tool adopted into the CPOE system. Root Cause Analysis revealed that lack of standardized VTE risk stratification leads to inconsistent ordering practices – …

Prognostic Value Of Systemic Inflammatory Indices For Predicting Mace In Nstemi Patients Undergoing Pci, Boney Lapsiwala, Aditya Sharma, Usman Khan, Jorim Parmar, Justin Soloman, Veeranna Vibhuti, Mehdi Khalafi

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for nearly one-third of global mortality, with ischemic heart disease caused by a mismatch between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Despite advances in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and contemporary pharmacotherapy, patients with non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) continue to experience substantial residual risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). As traditional risk stratification tools have limited ability to identify high-risk individuals, interest has shifted toward biomarkers reflecting inflammatory pathways central to atherosclerosis and plaque instability. Hematologic inflammatory markers including pan inflammatory value (PIV), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) initially …

Double Trouble: A Rare Co-Existence Of Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy And Anomalous Origin Of The Right Coronary Artery, Greeshma Molugu, Srinivasan Rajaganapathy, Seline Haci, Machaiah Madhrira

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Introduction: Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) are well-known but rare congenital heart diseases that are recognized as independent leading causes of sudden cardiac death(SCD). The independent prevalence of both these conditions is less than 1%. The co-occurrence of these two conditions is seldom ever reported in the literature. We present an extremely rare case of HOCM and the anomalous origin of the RCA in the same individual.

Background: A 67-year-old male with no significant past medical history presented for chest pain and palpitations. EKG showed atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. Troponin …