Cardiology Commons^™

Structural Characterization Of A Clinically Described Heparin-Like Substance In Plasma Causing Bleeding, Yanlei Yu, Karen Bruzdoski, Vadim Kostousov, Lisa Hensch, Shiu-Ki Hui, Fakiha Siddiqui, Amber Farooqui, Ahmed Kouta, Fuming Zhang, Jawed Fareed, Jun Teruya, Robert J Linhardt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Heparin-like substances (HLS) have been described in various clinical situations, including in settings of liver disease associated with infection, transplant, and metastasis. HLS are generally attributed to circulating glycosaminoglycans. Initial results for this patient showed coagulopathy due to liver disease without HLS. Two weeks after liver transplantation, a 10 year-old female with liver failure patient began to bleed from catheter insertion sites, mouth, and nares and HLS was suspected. The patient subsequently died and these clinical samples resulted in the isolation of a single heparan sulfate (HS) present at high concentrations in the plasma. Analysis of this HS showed it …

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Evaluation Of Cardiac Masses In Patients With Suspicion Of Cardiac Masses On Echo Or Computed Tomography, Fateh Ali Tipoo Sultan, Syed Waqar Ahmed

Section of Cardiology

Objectives: In recent years, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has emerged as an important tool in the identification and characterization of cardiac masses. No imaging data on cardiac masses are available from Pakistan. We aimed to review the clinical presentation, CMR findings, and outcome of patients referred for CMR due to suspicion of cardiac masses on echocardiogram or computed tomography (CT).
Material and methods: We reviewed all the patients referred for CMR at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2011 to March 2020, with the suspicion of cardiac mass on echocardiogram and/or CT. Only those with the confirmed diagnosis …

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue Is Associated With The Extent Of Aortic Dissection, Ahmet S. Yõlmaz

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a biologically active organ that has endocrine and paracrine functions. Endothelial dysfunction, systemic, and local inflammatory response, due to bio-active molecules produced by EAT, may affect aortic dissection propagation and extent. We investigated the association between EAT thickness and the extent of aortic dissection.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 78 patients with aortic dissection diagnosed by thoracoabdominal Computerized Tomography (CT). EAT was measured from the thickest part of the perpendicular plane between the pericardium and free wall of the right ventricle using CT. Aortic dissection length was measured from the beginning to the end of …

Subaortic Membrane And Patent Ductus Arteriosus In Rare Association-Case Series, Hussain Moafa, Mohammed Alnasef, Obayda M. Diraneyya, Fahad Alhabshan

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: The combination of subaortic membrane (SAM) and patent ductus arteriosus is very rare. Subaortic stenosis is the second most common form of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction after valvular aortic stenosis. We are reporting the largest case series of SAM and PDA. Methods: We included all patients that were diagnosed with the combination of SAM and PDA at our cardiac center. We have reviewed patients echocardiographic studies, cardiac catheterizations, surgical notes and all the outpatients notes. Results: We have a total of 7 patients. The age at presentation was in the early childhood with 3 patients diagnosed in …

Stroke In Young Adults: Current Trends, Opportunities For Prevention And Pathways Forward, Tamer Yahya, Mohammad Hashim Jilani, Safi U. Khan, Reed Mszar, Syed Zawahir Hassan, Michael J. Blaha, Ron Blankstein, Salim S. Virani, Michelle C. Johansen

Office of the Provost

Cardiovascular disease remains a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in the US and elsewhere, and stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite recent success in diminishing stroke incidence in the general US population, in parallel there is now a concerning propensity for strokes to happen at younger ages. Specifically, the incidence of stroke for US adults 20-44 years of age increased from 17 per 100,000 US adults in 1993 to 28 per 100,000 in 2015. Occurrence of strokes in young adults is particularly problematic as these patients are often affected by physical disability, depression, cognitive impairment and …

Does Preoperative Dipyridamole-Thallium Scanning Reduce 90-Day Cardiac Complications And 1-Year Mortality In Patients With Femoral Neck Fractures Undergoing Hemiarthroplasty?, Chin-Yi Liao, Timothy L. Tan, Yu-Der Lu, Cheng-Ta Wu, Mel S Lee, Feng-Chih Kuo

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dipyridamole-thallium scanning (DTS) on the rates of 90-day cardiac complications and 1-year mortality in patients with a femoral neck fracture treated with hemiarthroplasty.

METHODS: Between 2008 and 2015, 844 consecutive patients who underwent cemented or cementless hemiarthroplasty were identified from the database of a single level-one medical center. One-hundred and thirteen patients (13%) underwent DTS prior to surgery, and 731 patients (87%) did not. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, surgical variables, and length of the delay until surgery were recorded. A propensity score-matched cohort was utilized to reduce recruitment bias in a 1:3 …

Ultra Long Stent In An Aberrant Right Coronary Artery, Desabandhu Vinayakumar, Jomy Vadasseril Jose

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

The prevalence of anomalous origin of right coronary artery from the left sinus is about 0.92%. A percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in such a vessel is challenging especially when maneuvering long stents. We report a case of 75- year old female patient with recent acute coronary syndrome. The angiogram showed significant lesions in the left anterior descending coronary artery and the left circumflex coronary artery with an aberrant RCA originating from the left sinus close to the origin of LMCA with multiple tight lesions. The aberrant RCA was stented with a 50 mm long stent. To the best of our …

Accidental Snapping Of Right Ventricular Pacing Lead With Micra, Vivek Singh Guleria, Prafull Sharma, Prashant Bharadwaj

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Leadless pacemaker implantation rates are increasing worldwide. These pacemakers have to be deployed , captured and redeployed in order to achieve optimal electric parameters. Various complications occur during this procedure. We herein report a unique case, where right ventricular(RV) pacing lead of the patient was accidentally snapped during MICRA deployment in a elderly male with pocket site infection.

Effect Of Coronary Artery Bifurcation Angle On Atherosclerotic Lesion Localization Distance To The Bifurcation Site, Murat Ziyrek, Ahmet Lütfü Sertdemir, Mustafa Duran

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objectives: Although percutaneous coronary interventions become a common treatment modality for coronary artery diseases, lesion localization make these procedures more complex. As the lesion localizes near to the bifurcation site, more complex PCI procedures, overqualified equipments are needed and complication risk increases. Previous studies have demonstrated the strong correlation between wide angulation and significant coronary stenosis. However, a paucity of data exists about the association between bifurcation angle and lesion localization distance. In this study we analysed the effect of coronary bifurcation angle and left main coronary artery length on the atherosclerotic lesion localization.

Methods: Patients, who underwent coronary angiography …

Quality Review And Education As Method Of Improving Guideline Adherence For Medication Prescription And Outcomes Among Vascular Interventionalists Performing Non-Cardiac Vascular Surgeries, Alejandro Perez, Shih-Ting Chiu, A Manning, Brant W Ullery

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Background: Medical management of patients undergoing non-cardiac vascular procedures often sub-optimally follow evidence based guidelines. We hypothesized that feedback to practitioners in regards to outcomes and medications prescribed would improve care.

Methods: With conversion to new database in 2015 that allowed for more comprehensive tracking of vascular surgery outcomes, a decision was made to share these data with practitioners on regular basis as well as relay medications prescribed at discharge. Carotid and abdominal aortic surgeries were evaluated. The most frequent format for presentation of data was vascular morbidity and mortality conference. Medications included in presentations were antiplatelet and statin therapies. …

Secondary Prevention Of Cardiovascular Diseases In India: Findings From Registries And Large Cohorts, Hasan Rehman, Ankur Kalra, Ajar Kochar, Angad S. Uberoi, Deepak L. Bhatt, Zainab Samad, Salim S. Virani

Section of Cardiology

Several registries and quality improvement initiatives have focused on assessing and improving secondary prevention of CVD in India. While the Treatment and Outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndromes in India (CREATE), Indian Heart Rhythm Society-Atrial Fibrillation (IHRS-AF), and Trivandrum Heart Failure (THF) registries are limited to collecting data, the Tamil Nadu-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (TN-STEMI) program was aimed at examining and improving access to revascularization after an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The Acute Coronary Syndromes: Quality Improvement in Kerala (ACS-QUIK) study recruited hospitals from the Kerala ACS registry to assess a quality improvement kit for patients with ACS while the Practice …

Outcomes Of Cancer Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement., Vardhmaan Jain, Anas M Saad, Mohamed M Gad, Agam Bansal, Omar Abdelfattah, Medhat Farwati, Keerat R. Ahuja, James Yun, Amar Krishnaswamy, Samir R Kapadia

Reading Hospital Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship

No abstract provided.

Frequency Of Intraoperative Hypotension After The Induction Of Anesthesia In Hypertensive Patients With Preoperative Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Fahad Salim, Fazal Hameed Khan, Muhammad Nasir, Rashid Ali, Ayesha Iqbal, Amir Raza

Department of Anaesthesia

Introduction: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an important target in the treatment of hypertension. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. ACE inhibitors not only treat hypertension but also decrease morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients and in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The discontinuation of ACE inhibitors before the surgery is still controversial. To assess the current magnitude of the problem in our population, we aimed to conduct this study, which evaluated the frequency of intraoperative hypotension after the induction of anesthesia in controlled hypertensive patients with preoperative ACE inhibitors.
Material and …

A Case Of Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens., Davin Barnett, John Casey

Heart and Vascular Articles

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) is a rare presenting condition that carries a high mortality and morbidity risk. It is a cannot miss diagnosis with potentially deadly sequelae, and we highlight the importance of a thorough physical examination and initiation of empiric treatment to help prevent such.

The De Winter Ecg Pattern: Distribution And Morphology Of St Depression, Zhong-Qun Zhan, Yang Li, Li-Hong Han, Kjell C Nikus, Yochai Birnbaum, Adrian Baranchuk

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The reported positive predictive value (PPV) for the "de Winter ECG pattern" to predict an acute left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesion is inconsistent. Besides, the morphology of upsloping or nonupsloping ST depression (STD) may have different significance of severity and prognostication.

METHODS: We searched the MEDLINE database using "de Winter" or "junctional ST-depression with tall symmetrical T-waves" or "tall T wave" or "STEMI equivalent" as the item up to March 2020. We compared the ECG differences between the different culprit arteries and various morphological STD.

RESULTS: A total of 70 patients with analyzable ECGs were included. In 60 …

Flash Pulmonary Edema: A Case And Review Of Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Cardiomyopathy, Paula J. Watts, Oliver S. Garbo, Wendy Barrett, Michael Kopstein, Ryan Maybrook, Dmitriy Scherbak

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy is an uncommon type of cardiomyopathy caused by malformation of the myocardium during embryogenesis. This results in trabeculations within the ventricular wall that can affect the left and, less commonly, right ventricles. Presentation ranges from clinically asymptomatic to life-threatening arrhythmias. It is a rare and relatively unknown form of cardiomyopathy, though thought to be underdiagnosed. Prevalence is increasing due to improvements in imaging and awareness. Management is similar to that of other cardiomyopathies including angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, diuretics, automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator placement and cardiac transplantation. We present a case of a …

Cangrelor: Safe And Effective For Left Ventricular Assist Device Thrombosis, Roopa Rao, Eve Anderson, Mark Jones, Muhamed Safiia, Maya Guglin

The VAD Journal

Pump thrombosis is a devastating complication of left ventricular assist device implantation as it increases the risk of mortality and morbidity. Early and effective treatment is important to prevent the progression of the clot and to avoid the surgical need for pump exchange or heart transplant. The current strategies of intensifying anticoagulation therapy are not consistently effective and carry significant bleeding risks. Cangrelor is a new pharmacological agent that has been utilized as an antiplatelet agent in several cardiac procedures. In this case series, we describe the use of cangrelor for left ventricular assist device thrombosis in five patients. Cangrelor …

Pericardiocentesis Indications And Complications: A Retrospective Observational Study In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Karachi, Pakistan, Abdul Baqi, Intisar Ahmed

Section of Cardiology

Introduction: Pericardiocentesis is crucial for the diagnosis and management of diseases responsible for significant pericardial effusions. Pericardiocentesis was performed the first time by Riolanus for cardiac tamponade. He described the process of trephination of the sternum to remove the abnormally accumulated fluid from the pericardial space. However, with the advancement of expertise in echocardiography assisted procedures, echocardiography-guided diagnostic and therapeutic pericardiocentesis is now considered standard clinical practice in the treatment of pericardial effusions.
Objectives: We aim to study different causes of pericardial effusion and indications of pericardiocentesis as well as complications associated with it in our population.
Methods: This is …

Exploring The Influence Of Socio-Cultural Factors And Environmental Resources On The Health Related Quality Of Life Of Children And Adolescents After Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: Parental Perspectives From A Low Middle Income Country, Laila Ladak, Robyn Gallagher, Babar Hasan, Khadija Awais, Ahmed Abdullah, Janice Gullick

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important indicator of long-term well-being, influenced by environmental factors such as family, culture, societal norms and available resources. This study aimed to explore parental perspectives on the influence of socio-cultural factors and environmental resources on the HRQOL of children and adolescents after congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery.
Methods: Using a descriptive, qualitative design, semi-structured interviews of children/adolescents who had CHD surgery in this low-middle income country (LMIC) were collected between July to December 2017. There were 20 families enrolled, which included 18 parent dyads (mother and father) and two single mothers, …

Effect Of Niacin Monotherapy On High Density Lipoprotein Composition And Function, Scott M. Gordon, Marcelo J. Amar, Kianoush Jeiran, Michael Stagliano, Emma Staller, Martin P. Playford, Nehal N. Mehta, Tomas Vaisar, Alan T. Remaley

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Niacin has modest but overall favorable effects on plasma lipids by increasing high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lowering triglycerides. Clinical trials, however, evaluating niacin therapy for prevention of cardiovascular outcomes have returned mixed results. Recent evidence suggests that the HDL proteome may be a better indicator of HDL's cardioprotective function than HDL-C. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of niacin monotherapy on HDL protein composition and function.

METHODS: A 20-week investigational study was performed with 11 participants receiving extended-release niacin (target dose = 2 g/day) for 16-weeks followed by a 4-week washout period. HDL …