Optimizing ventricular assist device rotor design parameters through computational fluid dynamics and design of experiments.

Heart failure is among the most widespread diseases globally. With the rapid rise in the number of affected individuals and the significant disparity between organ demand and supply, the relevance of implantable devices has grown each year. However, these devices face various regulatory restrictions, and obtaining approval requires outstanding performance.

Analysis of shear stress related hemolysis in a ventricular assist device.

Background: Implantable devices such as ventricular assist devices provide appropriate treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. Unfortunately, these devices still have many problems, particularly related to blood damage.

Objective: The aim of this research is to examine two new ventricular assist devices in terms of induced shear stress, exposure time, and induced hemolysis.

Numerical study of a new ventricular assist device.

The present work presents a numerical study of two axial ventricular assist devices (VADs) with two different designs. The geometry of the first design was inspired by DeBakey's rotary blood pump and the geometry of the second design is based on BioCirc's pediatric VAD. The goal is to see which of the two designs has promising capabilities in terms of pressure differential, flow rate, and thrombosis before proceeding to deeper investigations.

The Influence of Heavy Metals and Trace Elements on Comatose Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in the First Week of Admission.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of heavy metals (lead and cadmium) and imbalance of trace elements (chromium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese) in death among patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Material And Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 64 comatose patients with severe TBI, in the Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ibn Sina University Hospital and Hospital of Specialties in Rabat, Morocco; 22 healthy volunteers were recruited in Blood Transfusion Center of Rabat. Blood samples were collected from TBI patients, in the first week (3h after admission and each 48h during one week) and from healthy volunteers one time.

Serum levels of Selenium and C-reactive protein in comatose patients with severe traumatic brain injury during the first week of hospitalization: case-control study.

Introduction: Mortality and morbidity related to traumatic brain injuries still remain high in patients. Many authors reported the importance of Selenium in maintaining the integrity of brain functions. This fact is supported by clinical evidence that therapy with selenium supplementation could help patients suffering from brain disorders like neurodegenerative diseases.

[A comparison of Airtraq™ laryngoscope and standard direct laryngoscopy in adult patients with immobilized cervical spine].

Introduction: Airtraq laryngoscope is a new and single use device for endotracheal intubation. Few studies showed the superiority of the Airtraq comparing to Macintosh laryngoscope in the setting of difficult intubation.

Study Design: To compare the performance of these two laryngoscopes by simulating a situation of reduced mobility of the cervical spine by applying the Manual in-line stablization (MILS) maneuver.

[Medication errors in anesthesia: a Moroccan university hospitals survey].

Introduction: Medication errors are a major public health problem because of their morbidity and financial costs. In anesthesia, few articles publications, mostly retrospective, have assessed its incidence and outcomes. By our prospective study, we intend to identify and describe the drug errors in anesthesia in four university hospitals in Morocco.

Endovascular treatment of a tuberculous thoracoabdominal aneurysm with the Multilayer stent.

Purpose: To describe a case of multiple thoracoabdominal aneurysms of tuberculous origin treated in an endovascular procedure with the Multilayer stent.

Case Report: A 16-year-old girl had been treated 4 years previously for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm of tuberculous origin. Due to the presence of 4 rapidly evolving saccular aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta and a fusiform aneurysm of the suprarenal aorta, an endovascular solution was chosen after the patient refused open surgery.

Use of magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of constrictive pericarditis: a Moroccan center experience.

Background: The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis continues to be a clinical challenge. Magnetic resonance imaging provides excellent visualization of the pericardium. The aim of our study is to clarify the contribution of this non invasive exploration in the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis in our center.

[Contribution of closed mitral commissurotomy in the surgery of rheumatic mitral stenosis].

Unlabelled: The objective of this work was to study the indications, techniques and results of closed heart mitral commissurotomy in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis in Morocco.

Methods: All patients who had undergone closed heart mitral commissurotomy for rheumatic mitral stenosis, operated between 1999 and 2008 were collected in this study. Mitral stenosis was diagnosed and evaluated using Doppler echocardiography.

Incidence of adverse drug events and medication errors in intensive care units: a prospective multicenter study.

Background: In recent years, medication error has received considerable attention because it causes substantial mortality, morbidity, and additional health care costs. Collecting information in this field depends on the willingness of health professionals to report their errors. Another important point is to identify patients at high risk for an adverse drug event (ADE) to oversee the quality of the entire drug distribution chain, including prescription, drug choice, dispensing, and preparation to the administration of drugs.

[Cardiac myxomas (a series of 23 cases)].

Objective: This study aims to report clinical particularities, treatment concepts, potential evolution related to cardiac myxoma to the light of our initial experience and reviewed of the literature.

Methods And Results: Between May 1980 and January 2005: 23 patients were operated in our service for cardiac myxoma. There were 21 left-atrium myxomas and two in right atrium.

Novel point mutation in the NKX2-5 gene in a Moroccan family with atrioventricular conduction disturbance and an atrial septal defect in the oval fossa.

Defects of the oval fossa usually occur as isolated malformations, but can show an autosomal dominant pedigree in familial cases. Several mutations have been described for the transcription factor NKX2-5, and co-segregate with varied cardiac anomalies. We have identified by sequence analysis a novel missense heterozygous mutation in the NKX2-5 gene, specifically a substitution of glutamine for proline at codon 160, in a Moroccan family, the affected members having a deficiency of the floor of the oval fossa and atrioventricular block.

Right atrial rupture following a hoof kick to the chest wall.

We report a case of right atrial rupture due to blunt trauma by a hoof kick to the anterior chest wall. We describe our successful management of this case. We suggest that a diagnosis of cardiac chamber rupture should be considered in all cases of blunt thoracic trauma.

[Ruptures of the posterior wall of the left ventricle after mitral valve replacement: surgical repair and prevention].

We report two cases of type III rupture of the left ventricle posterior wall, situated midway between the mitral annulus and the posterior papillary muscle and occurring in immediate continuations of a mitral valvular replacement. The first case has occurred at the moment of the canulas removal in a 28 years old patient operated for mitral stenosis. The tear was repaired with horizontal mattress sutures through felt strips on the external surface of the heart.

Intrapericardial paraganglioma.

We report a case of intrapericardial paraganglioma accidentally discovered during surgery for mixed mitral valve disease. The 6 cm tumor was located in the aorta-caval groove, adherent to the roof of the left atrium and compressing the superior vena cava. A biopsy of the mass established the histological diagnosis of a non pressor secreting paraganglioma.