[Advantages of simulation-based training in improving skills of beginners in interventional cardiology procedures: a Tunisian cross-sectional study].

Introduction: simulator training in interventional cardiology (ST) is an educational tool that is rapidly spreading worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the advantages of ST in improving skills of beginners in interventional cardiology procedures, through a short training cycle.

Methods: we conducted a before-and-after quasi-experimental evaluative study in the simulation center of the Faculty of Medicine in Sfax.

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with left ventricle outflow tract chordae insertion: Surgery or alcohol septal ablation? A case report.

Anomalous insertion of chordae is a rare disease that could be associated with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), but clinical and echocardiographic diagnoses tend to be delayed. Alcohol septal ablation has emerged as an alternative to surgical myomectomy in HOCM. When a patient showed an anomalous insertion of chordae, physicians generally opt for surgery and not alcohol septal ablation.

Impact of atorvastatin reload on the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients on chronic statin therapy: A prospective randomized trial.

Background: This trial aimed to assess the efficacy of Atorvastatin reloading on the prevention of Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients pre-treated with this statin and undergoing coronary catheterization.

Methods: This was a prospective randomized controlled study including patients on chronic atorvastatin therapy. We randomly assigned the population to the Atorvastatin Reloading group (AR group), by reloading patients with 80 mg of atorvastatin one day before and three days after the coronary procedure, and the Non-Reloading group (NR group), including patients who received their usual dose without a reloading dose.

[Impact of out-of-hospital presentation remote areas of patients with myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation : From the Nord-Alpin Emergency Network [RENAU]].

Background: European guidelines order management of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) less than 12 hours. They encourage healthcare networks to rapid coronary reperfusion strategy depending on the distance of the patient from the PCI center.

Objective: To determine impact of out-of-hospital presentation of patients with STEMI in remote areas within the framework of a care network, and to define the degree of compliance with local recommendations, and its prognostic impact.

A ruptured balloon shaft during an angioplasty.

We report a case of balloon shaft rupture during percutaneous coronary intervention. Although the entrapped balloon was not yet deflated when the complication occurred, we successfully retrieved it percutaneously using a trapping technique. This case described a cheap and straightforward technique of device retrieval that helped save our patient.

Design and Rationale of the National Observational Multicentric Tunisian Registry of Hypertension: Protocol for Evaluating Hypertensive Patient Care in Clinical Practice.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the care of hypertensive patients in daily clinical practice in public and private centers in all Tunisian regions.

Objective: This study will provide us an overview of hypertension (HTN) management in Tunisia and the degree of adherence of practitioners to international recommendations.

Methods: This is a national observational cross-sectional multicenter study that will include patients older than 18 years with HTN for a duration of 4 weeks, managed in the public sector from primary and secondary care centers as well as patients managed in the private sector.

Design and Rationale of the National Tunisian Registry of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Protocol for a Prospective Multicenter Observational Study.

Background: Coronary artery diseases remain the leading cause of death in the world. The management of this condition has improved remarkably in the recent years owing to the development of new technical tools and multicentric registries.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the in-hospital and 1-year clinical outcomes of patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Tunisia.

Anterolateral Papillary Muscle Rupture Revealing Infective Endocarditis.

The rupture of mitral papillary muscles is a very rare complication of infective endocarditis (IE). We report a case of anterolateral papillary muscle rupture resulting in severe mitral regurgitation due to IE in a young man without previous heart disease. The patient underwent urgent mitral valve replacement.

[Maladies cardiaques et Ramadan : revue de la littérature].

We review the literature on the safety of fasting in cardiac patients. We examined the changes of blood pressure among hypertensive patients and the incidence of cardiac events during Ramadan in patients with coronary disease and heart failure. We also assess the modifications of INR levels in cardiac patients who take oral anticoagulant.

[Assessment of the practices and knowledge among cardiologists regarding radiation protection in Tunisia].

Introduction: interventional cardiology procedures have become complex and expensive in time with a higher risk of exposure to ionizing radiations. The purpose of our study was to assess radiation protection knowledge and practices among Tunisian cardiologists exposed to X-rays.

Methods: we conducted a descriptive, analytical study in October 2019.

[Observational study of the prevalence of non-valvular atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke and the factors associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients: about 2887 cases].

Introduction: high blood pressure (HBP), atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke are three public health problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of AF and ischemic stroke in hypertensive patients and the factors associated with the occurrence of non-valvular AF in these patients.

Methods: we used data collected in the Department of Cardiology at the University Hospital of Sfax as a part of National Tunisian Registry of Hypertension.

Distal radial approach versus conventional radial approach: a comparative study of feasibility and safety.

The distal radial approach (DRA) is suggested to have benefits over the conventional radial approach (CRA) in terms of local complications and comfort of both patient and operator. Therefore, we aimed to compare the feasibility and safety of DRA and CRA in a real life population. We conducted a prospective, observational multicentric trial, including all patients undergoing coronary procedures in September 2019.