Acute Cardiac Care

INTRODUCTION: Little data exists evaluating how different risk factors influence outcomes following in-hospital arrests. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients that suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest between 1 May 2008 and 30 June 2014 was performed. Patients were stratified into subsets based on cardiac versus non-cardiac reasons for admission. RESULTS: 199 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 138 (69.3%) had a non-cardiac reason for admission and 61 (30...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence, clinical characteristics, contributing factors, management and outcome of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF). METHODS: Data were derived from Gulf Care (Gulf acute heart failure registry), a prospective multicenter study of 5005 consecutive patients hospitalized with acute heart failure during February to November 2012 in seven Middle Eastern countries...

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of acute heart failure (HF) can be determined by cardio-renal function which is assessed by cystatin-C (Cys-C). We evaluated whether Cys-C could be a more useful prognostic indicator in acute HF, compared with uric acid (UA) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). METHODS: Two hundred thirty-two HF patients in the emergency room were studied using measurements of Cys-C, UA, and NT-proBNP. During the follow-up, cardiac events, defined as the composites of recurrent HF or cardiac death, were determined...

The need for cardiovascular expertise in the treatment of advanced heart failure (AHF), malignant arrhythmias, and structural heart disease has shifted the role of the CCU to a more diverse and medically complex patient population. This study's purpose was to analyze the temporal trends in the principal diagnosis leading to admission to the CCU in a tertiary referral hospital. Over the last 15 years, the CCU has evolved from a medical unit strictly focusing on the care of patients with ACS to an advanced cardiac intensive care unit...

BACKGROUND: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) represents a therapeutic option in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock (RCS). This strategy is limited to a restricted number of centres with capabilities for implanting VA ECMO and management patients on this support. We report on the initial experience of our ECMO referral centre for patients with RCS. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed our ECMO data registry for RCS of 14 patients treated with VA ECMO, consecutively admitted to our intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU), which is an ECMO referral centre...

Pulmonary artery catheters have been extensively used for hemodynamic assessment over the past several decades. We present a case that highlights the management of a known, but rare and catastrophic complication of pulmonary artery catheter based therapy. An elderly lady with acute decompensated heart failure, severe pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation on anticoagulation had a pulmonary artery catheter inserted for hemodynamic monitoring. Subsequently, the patient developed acute hemoptysis and damped pulmonary artery pressure waveforms during inflation of the catheter tip balloon...

Iatrogenic left main coronary artery (LMCA) dissection is a rare complication and may have devastating consequences if not immediately intervened. The management includes urgent revascularization mostly with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bail-out stenting and rarely requires coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. In clinically and hemodynamically stable patients, a conservative approach may be preferred. Here, we present a rare case of iatrogenic retrograde LMCA dissection due to pin-hole rupture of angioplasty balloon that was managed conservatively...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between country of birth and the utilization of coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) after a first-time myocardial infarction (MI). DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: 117,494 MI patients of all ages who were admitted to coronary care units between 2001 and 2009 in Sweden were followed-up for three months after admission. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Undergoing coronary angiography, PCI or CABG after first-time MI...

BACKGROUND: Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer and K(+)-ATP channel opener with inotropic and vasodilatatory effects irrespective of myocardial oxygen consumption, used for treatment of heart failure (HF). A loading dose is usually given by infusion for 12 h; however, profound lowering of blood pressure often disrupts or prolongs the infusion. The aim of this study was to assess clinical, biochemical and myocardial differences between different regimes of levosimendan therapy, with or without loading dose, and compared to standard therapy in heart failure...

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a benign condition that has been reported, however the association with epidural pneumatosis is much less common. A 27-year-old male presented with concomitant air in the epidural space, mediastinum and pericardium after illicit drug use and engagement in sexual activity. The patient was hemodynamically stable. Non-invasive tests ruled out aerodigestive injury. The patient was discharged after a short observation without intervention. Invasive and potentially risky diagnostic tests may be safely avoided in patients who remain asymptomatic with this unique presentation...

Radial artery spasm is one of the most commonly encountered problems during transradial interventions with a reported incidence in the range of 6-10%. Balloon-assisted tracking (BAT) of guide catheter has recently been described as a novel technique to overcome difficult radial artery anatomies including tortuosity, loops and spasm. In this report, we describe the successful use of BAT in a patient with radial artery spasm during primary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to improve understanding of patients' perspectives of informed consent for clinical trial enrollment during ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: STEMI research poses challenges regarding informed consent due to time constraints, symptom severity, and potential cognitive impairment. METHODS: An interview study was embedded within a clinical trial of an ischemic post-conditioning procedure for STEMI...

Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is characterized by a unique pattern of transient circumferential left ventricular wall motion abnormality (LVWMA). The LVWMA in TS may be localized to the apical, mid-apical, mid-ventricular, mid-basal or basal regions of the left ventricle. Focal and generialized (global) LVWMA have also been reported. In the acute phase of TS, the hyperkinetic valve-like motion of the basal segments and/or the hyperkinetic slingshot-like motion of the apical segments combined with the firm stunned a-, hypokinetic segments result in a conspicuous left ventricular ballooning during systole...

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a major role in inflammatory processes as they degrade extracellular proteins and modify immune responses. Inflammation is the driving factor in atherogenesis and MMPs, particularly MMP-8, has been linked to atherosclerotic plaque progression. MMP-8 is shown to be strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and its complications thus providing a potential marker to identify patients at risk. Previously, laborious and expensive immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) was needed to reliably detect MMP-8 levels in serum...

Acute mitral regurgitation (AMR), a known complication of acute coronary syndromes, is usually associated with posterior papillary muscle dysfunction/rupture. In severe cases, management of AMR requires surgical intervention. Reversible severe AMR in patients in the absence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and coronary artery stenosis may result from processes which cause transient subendocardial ischemia, such as intermittent episodes of hypotension or coronary artery vasospasm. We present two cases of reversible transient AMR due to subendocardial and/or endocardial ischemia, both of which offer insight into the mechanism of transient severe AMR...

The association of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and anomalous pulmonary venous connection is extremely rare. Children with transposition of the great arteries improved dramatically with the advent of the atrial repair. In this report, we describe a 40-day old male infant with TGA and associated anomalous pulmonary venous connection who presented with the history of cyanosis and hurried breathing. This patient underwent successful balloon atrial septostomy and discharged with uneventful recovery...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.