Very Late Patent Foramen Ovale Occluder Device Structural Dysfunction and Thrombosis.

Mechanical dysfunction of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure device is extremely rare. We present a 58-year-old male patient who had multiple episodes of ischemic strokes 3 years after PFO closure, which was related to PFO device mechanical dysfunction and thrombosis. He was successfully treated with surgical intervention.

Prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography compared to radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging in patients With coronary stents.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in predicting cardiovascular events in patients with stents.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: University Hospital, London, Ontario Canada

Participants: Between January 2007 and December 2018, 119 patients post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who were referred for hybrid imaging with CTA and 2-day rest/stress SPECT were enrolled.

Safety of returning patients immediately to their originating hospitals after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the immediate return of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to their originating hospitals after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods: This was a prospective study, conducted between January 2014 and December 2017. All patients with STEMI who were transferred for PPCI and returned back to their referring hospitals (RB group) were included and compared to the onsite STEMI population (OS group).

Are cardiac patients in Saudi Arabia provided adequate instructions when they should not drive?

Objective: Driving capability can be significantly affected by different heath disorders; cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) should be considered when assessing patients for medical fitness to drive (MFTD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of Saudi patients about driving recommendations and to assess the incidence of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) among cardiac patients.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey-based study.

Predictive and prognostic value of 256-slice computed tomography angiography in patients with suspected coronary artery diseases.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is commonly used to diagnose coronary artery diseases (CADs). We aimed to determine the utility of CCTA among patients suspected with CAD at the Prince Sultan Cardiac Center Qassim.

Materials And Methods: CCTA results of 425 cardiac patients, complaining of chest pain with suspected CAD, were used to classify coronary artery stenosis into two types: obstructive if the luminal stenosis was ≥50% or nonobstructive if it was <50%.

Awareness of fitness to drive among cardiologists in Saudi Arabia.

To assess the perception and awareness of cardiologists in Saudi Arabia about medical fitness to drive in different cardiovascular diseases. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional survey-based study between June 2018 and July 2018. Cardiologists were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire inquiring about awareness of driving fitness and educating patients regarding driving risks in specific cardiovascular conditions.

Fat volume measurements as a predictor of image noise in coronary computed tomography angiography.

Introduction: Image noise can negatively affect the overall quality of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between image noise and fat volumes in the chest wall. We also aimed to compare these with other patient-specific predictors of image noise, such as body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI).

Ultra-fast, low dose high-pitch (FLASH) versus prospectively-gated coronary computed tomography angiography: Comparison of image quality and patient radiation exposure.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is increasingly being used for the evaluation of coronary artery disease; however, radiation exposure remains a major limitation of its use.

Objective: To compare image quality and radiation exposure in two groups of patients undergoing CCTA using a 256-slice dual-source helical computed tomography scanner with high-pitch (FLASH) or prospective [step-and-shoot (SAS)] gating protocols.

Methods: A prospective, single-center study was performed in our cardiac center.

Visual versus fully automated assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to compare three different echocardiographic methods commonly used in the assessment of left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction (EF).

Methods: All patients underwent full echocardiography including LVEF assessed using M-mode, automated EF (Auto-EF), and visual estimation by two readers.

Results: We enrolled 268 patients.

Effects of Ramadan fasting on the symptoms of chronic heart failure.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting on the symptoms of chronic heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Globally, more than one billion Muslims fast during Ramadan. Data regarding the effect of fasting in heart failure patients with a reduced ejection fraction are limited.

The Role of Computed Tomographic Angiography in Predicting Left Anterior Descending Artery Graftability When Catheter Angiography is Inconclusive.

Purpose: Graftability of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) has important prognostic value for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. However, with a chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the LAD, invasive coronary angiography (ICA) may be insufficient to determine its graftability. We evaluated the role of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in the assessment of CTO and LAD graftability when the distal vessel segment was incompletely visualized by ICA.

Analysis of three risk stratification systems in a Saudi population.

Introduction: Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Although there are a number of algorithms in use for determining the risk of coronary artery disease and thus predicting future cardiovascular events, the data available regarding their validity among the Saudi population are insufficient.

Objective: We studied the validity of three clinical score systems in predicting a high risk population defined as having excessive coronary calcification: the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Pooled Cohort Risk Equation, the Framingham Risk Score, and the European Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation.

The prevalence of coronary artery anomalies in Qassim Province detected by cardiac computed tomography angiography.

Background: Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) affect about 1% of the general population based on invasive coronary angiography (ICA) data, computed tomography angiography (CTA) enables better visualization of the origin, course, relation to the adjacent structures, and termination of CAAs compared to ICA.

Objective: The aim of our work is to estimate the frequency of CAAs in Qassim province among patients underwent cardiac CTA at Prince Sultan Cardiac Center.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the CTA data of 2235 patients between 2009 and 2015.

Impact of coronary artery calcification on percutaneous coronary intervention and postprocedural complications.

Background: Excessive coronary calcification can lead to adverse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We therefore evaluated the impact of coronary calcium score (CCS) measured by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) on immediate complications of PCI and rate of restenosis.

Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of 84 patients with coronary stenosis diagnosed by MDCT who underwent PCI.

Interrupted aortic arch with isolated persistent left superior vena cava in patient with Turners syndrome.

We present a case of 13-year-old female with Turner syndrome (TS), who presented with unexplained lower limbs swelling and ejection systolic murmur at the left second intercostal space. Suspicion of mild aortic coarctation was made by echocardiography. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a complete interruption of the aortic arch (IAA) below the left subclavian artery with persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) and absent right SVC, defined as an isolated PLSVC.

Radial artery ultrasound predicts the success of transradial coronary angiography.

Background: The transradial approach has become the preferred vascular access during conventional coronary angiography (CCA). Hereby, we evaluated the impact of pre-procedural radial artery diameter (RAD), the cross-sectional area (CSA), and the perimeter on vascular complications (VACs).

Methods: We conducted a single-center prospective analysis of 513 patients who underwent CCA.

Objective and subjective image quality with prospectively gated versus ECG-controlled tube current modulation using 256-slice computed tomographic angiography.

Introduction: Radiation exposure is one of the major limitations of computed tomographic coronary angiography (CTA). The purpose of this study was to compare the objective and subjective image quality and radiation dose using prospective ECG gating (PGA) versus ECG-controlled tube current modulation (ECTCM) scanning techniques.

Methods: A prospective, single-center study was performed at Prince Sultan Cardiac Centre, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

Visceral adipose tissue influences on coronary artery calcification at young and middle-age groups using computed tomography angiography.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of excessive visceral adipose tissue (VAT) on subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and coronary artery calcifications (CAC) in young and middle-age groups using multislice computed tomography.

Methods: This study is a single center, cross-sectional study. Eligible patients (n = 159), who under the age of 61 years, with chest pain and mild to moderate probability to have coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled.

A rare case of coronary artery fistula presented with acute myocardial infarction.

Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs): Are anomalous connections of the coronary arteries (CA) with major vascular structures or heart chambers. Most of CAFs are incidental findings during invasive coronary angiography (ICA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA). Many patients with CAFs are asymptomatic; only a minority has been associated with various clinical features and outcomes.