One-year real-world outcomes for patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair: the Gulf MTEER registry (GULF Mitral Transcatheter Edge to Edge Repair).

Background: Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) with left ventricular dysfunction portends worse outcomes. Over the course of the last two decades, transcatheter repair of the mitral valve offered an alternative therapeutic modality for those deemed inoperable or high risk. Landmark studies such as the Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation and Multicentre Study of Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair MitraClip Device in Patients With Severe Secondary Mitral Regurgitation trials have shown conflicting results with respect to all-cause death and heart failure rehospitalisations.

WIN Gulf TAVR Registry: Describing Sex Differences in Patient Characteristics, Prognosis, and Outcomes.

Background: Several international registries have examined outcomes in women undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, none of these studies included women from the Gulf region. The Women IN Gulf Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (WIN Gulf TAVR) registry aimed to examine sex-based differences in patient characteristics and outcomes in patients undergoing TAVR in the region.

Dual Antiplatelet Regimens for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Corresponding Cardiac CT Evaluation of the Leaflets: Single-center Experience.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a globally established therapy. However, there is significant variability in the antithrombotic management post-procedure. The data on antiplatetet and direct antithrombin agents suggest antiplatelet agents suffice.

One-Year Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: The Gulf TAVR Registry.

Background: The use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is steadily increasing with TAVR procedures offered to patients across the entire spectrum of surgical risks. The Gulf TAVR registry captures the demographics of patients undergoing TAVR in the Gulf region, comorbidities that drive outcomes, procedural success, complications, and one-year outcomes of death or rehospitalization.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study for adult patients aged at least 18 years undergoing TAVR at eight centers in the Gulf region.

Role of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography in Acute Coronary Syndromes During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Single Center Snapshot Study.

In clinical practice, cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has a limited role in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Several trials evaluated CCT in low and intermediate risk patients presenting to the emergency room (ER) and noted that it was both safe and feasible. During the COVID19 pandemic, it is imperative to adopt a pathway for the evaluation of ACS that permits early discharge, reduces invasive coronary angiography and limits exposure of healthcare workers.

Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome During the MERS-CoV Outbreak - Single-Center Experience.

Background: During the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak of 2014, tertiary care cardiac centers shouldered the responsibility of caring for patients presenting with Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS). This entailed designing algorithms that ensured timely management of patients with ACS in the setting of an emerging novel viral infection that was rapidly spreading within the community with a high infectivity and case fatality rate. The objective of this study is to describe a single center experience and the adopted pathway for the management of ACS.

STEMI and COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impact on health care worldwide which has led to a reduction in all elective admissions and management of patients through virtual care. The purpose of this study is to assess changes in STEMI volumes, door to reperfusion, and the time from the onset of symptoms until reperfusion therapy, and in-hospital events between the pre-COVID-19 (PC) and after COVID-19 (AC) period. All acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cases were retrospectively identified from 16 centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 period from January 01 to April 30, 2020.

Left Main Coronary Artery Interventions.

The management of left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease has evolved over the past two decades. Historically, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery has been the gold standard for the treatment of LMCA disease. However, with the advancements in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) and stent technology, PCI in select patients has achieved comparable outcomes to CABG.

TAVR in Patients with a Low STS Score: A Cohort Study with a Mean Follow Up of 2 Years.

Background: Partner 2 and SURTAVI trials (mean STS score of 5.8 and 4.5) support extending TAVR into the intermediate risk group.

Effect of Comorbidity On Unplanned Readmissions After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (From The Nationwide Readmission Database).

It is unclear how comorbidity influences rates and causes of unplanned readmissions following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We analyzed patients in the Nationwide Readmission Database who were admitted to hospital between 2010 and 2014. The comorbidity burden as defined by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).

Discharge Against Medical Advice After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the United States.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate discharge against medical advice (DAMA) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and how DAMA affects readmissions.

Background: DAMA is infrequent but associated with poor patient outcomes. DAMA in the context of PCI has not been described in the published reports.

The cardiac patient during Ramadan and Hajj.

The holy month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. During this month, fasting Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sex from dawn until sunset. Although the Quran exempts sick people from the duty of fasting, it is not uncommon for many heart disease patients to fast during Ramadan.

Coronary stent thrombosis in bare metal stents.

Objective: The incidence of coronary stent thrombosis has reduced with improved techniques and drugs. Nevertheless, clinical trials may not reflect real world practice due to the selective inclusion criteria, regional variations and more complex patients treated in day-to-day practice. We examined the frequency, predisposing factors and outcome of stent thrombosis in unselected patients undergoing bare metal stents.

Biatrial aspergillosis in a patient with immunocompetency.

A 24-year-old man presented with a 24-hour history of pain and numbness in his left arm. The patient's clinical presentation of peripheral embolism was corroborated by angiography. Echocardiographic study showed masses in both right and left atria.

Non-surgical correction of Lutembacher syndrome.

Lutembacher syndrome is the combination of congenital atrial septal defect and acquired mitral stenosis. The condition is usually treated surgically. We describe a patient treated percutaneously with a combined Inoue balloon valvuloplasty and septal defect closure using the Amplatzer septal occlusion device.