Using point-of-care ultrasound to determine incidence of deep vein thrombosis after right-sided radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Introduction: Femoral venous access is routinely used for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) procedures. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is often sub-clinical, is uncommon following RFCA. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a cost-effective way to diagnose DVT.

Health related quality of life and associated factors among patients treated for ischaemic heart disease in two public sector hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan.

Objectives: To determine the level of health-related quality of life among patients treated for ischaemic heart disease in two public-sector tertiary care settings.

Methods: The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2021 at two tertiary care hospitals in Karachi after approval from the ethics review boards of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and the Dow University of Health Sciences, and comprised patients of either gender treated for ischaemic heart disease after being diagnosed within the preceding year who were coming for follow-up in the outpatient department. Data was collected using the short version of the World Health Organisation quality of life tool.

Do collaterals to infarct bed in STE-ACS patients undergoing emergent percutaneous coronary revascularization matter? An assessment of a prospective pool for in-hospital course.

Background: Limited data exist on the role of coronary collaterals circulation (CCC) in patients with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS). This study aimed to assess CCC and the in-hospital course of patients with CCC undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

Methods: The study included consecutive STE-ACS patients undergoing pPCI.

Left Ventricular Intramyocardial Dissecting Hematoma With Late Ventricular Tachycardia Storm.

This case describes an uncommon discovery of a left ventricular intramyocardial dissecting hematoma in a patient experiencing a ventricular tachycardia storm. Imaging modalities, including 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance, assisted in diagnosing the intramyocardial dissecting hematoma. The patient underwent conservative treatment and received a single-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

The Cost-Effectiveness of Early Invasive Procedures for Acute Coronary Syndrome in Low-Income Regions: A Prospective Cohort Study in Pakistan.

Background Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity globally, necessitating effective intervention strategies. Early invasive procedures such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are often recommended for high-risk patients. However, their cost-effectiveness in low-income regions remains uncertain, particularly in Pakistan, where healthcare resources are limited.

Impact of Early Invasive Strategy on Left Ventricular Function Recovery in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients in Pakistan.

Background Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan, where healthcare resources are limited. Early Invasive Strategy (EIS), typically involving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), has been shown to improve outcomes in AMI patients. However, the effectiveness of EIS in resource-limited settings, such as Pakistan, remains under-explored.

Assessment of blood pressure measurement technique amongst nurses working at a tertiary care cardiac center.

Background: Accurate measurement is indispensable for effectively managing hypertension (HTN); any error in technique or instrumentation can lead to misdiagnosis and improper management. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the knowledge and skills of blood pressure (BP) measurement among nurses at a tertiary care cardiac center in Karachi.

Materials And Methods: Nursing staff responsible for BP assessment at various stations were identified, observed, and interviewed to evaluate their skill and knowledge levels regarding BP measurement techniques.

Safety and procedural success of daycase-based endovascular procedures in lower extremity arteries of patients with peripheral artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Timely and economic provision of revascularisation procedures is a major healthcare need. We aimed to examine the safety and efficacy of daycase-based lower extremity endovascular revascularisation procedures in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE and Embase for studies from Jan 01, 2000 through Apr 01, 2024 reporting complications of lower limb endovascular revascularisation procedures with same-day discharge.

Efficacy of Nicorandil in Preventing Myocardial Injury and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common procedure for treating coronary artery disease, but it carries a risk of periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI). This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of nicorandil, a hybrid compound with nitrate-like and potassium channel-opening properties, in preventing PMI during PCI. A comprehensive literature search identified 14 studies involving 1,762 patients, with 882 receiving nicorandil and 880 in the control group.

Fulminant Myocarditis in Patients With Autoimmune Disease That Requires Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support.

Myocarditis is a potentially life-threatening inflammatory disease of the myocardium, often resulting from infectious and immune-mediated responses. Clinical presentation in severe cases often results in a devastating illness requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support as a result of cardiogenic shock. Although endomyocardial biopsy is still considered the gold standard for diagnosis, it often reveals nonspecific lymphocytic infiltration.

Linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecium clinical isolates from Pakistan: a genomic analysis.

Background: Linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecium (LRE) is a global priority pathogen. Thirteen LRE were reported from clinical specimens between November 2021 and April 2023 at two laboratories in Karachi, Pakistan. We aimed to investigate the strain types and genes associated with linezolid resistance among these isolates.

Improvement in LV end-diastolic pressure after primary PCI and its impact on patients' recovery.

In this study, we evaluated the change in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and its impact on in-hospital outcomes and 30-day and three-month quality of life (SAQ-7), ejection fraction (EF), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). LVEDP ≥19 mmHg was taken as elevated LVEDP. In a sample of 318 patients, 18.

Uncontrolled blood pressure among the established hypertensive elderly people in Jashore, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional type of observational study.

Objectives: Hypertension is one of the major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Increased life expectancy leads to increase prevalence of non-communicable diseases among the elderly people including Bangladesh. However, different studies reported high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension ranging from 52.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Antegrade and Retrograde Techniques for Chronic Total Occlusion Revascularizations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Chronic total occlusions (CTOs) present significant challenges in interventional cardiology. This meta-analysis aims to compare the efficacy and safety of retrograde versus antegrade techniques in CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines.

Comment on "Route patterns of the collateral venous pathway in patients with tumors invading the superior sagittal sinus: an angiographic study and clinical applications".

This commentary critiques the study "Route patterns of the collateral venous pathway in patients with tumors invading the superior sagittal sinus" by Pawit Jirawisan et al., highlighting its limitations in discussing parafalcine venous collaterals, reliance on invasive imaging modalities, and lack of structured assessments. It suggests improvements by incorporating alternative imaging techniques, acknowledging crucial venous structures, and providing grading systems for surgical decision-making.

Comment on multiple craniotomies in patients with brain metastases: a two-center, propensity score-matched study.

The article by Luis Padevit et al. provides a thorough analysis of multiple craniotomies for brain metastases using propensity score matching and statistical analysis. Their findings suggest that multiple craniotomies do not increase adverse events or morbidity.

Pregnancy With Severe Valve Disease in Low-Resource Populations.

A 32-year-old pregnant woman from a remote area presented with chest pain and was diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis. Her care was managed by a multidisciplinary team with virtual consultations arranged until her admission. She successfully delivered with all necessary backup facilities in place to manage potential complications.

Association Between Sleep Duration and Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review.

Sleep duration is a substantial risk factor for several cardiovascular diseases, including atrial fibrillation (AF). Despite much research, the precise nature of the relationship between the amount of sleep and AF remains unclear. This narrative review explores the relationship between AF and sleep duration, looking at genetic, mechanistic, and epidemiological data to explain this association.

Relationship of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and E-selectin) with ABO blood groups in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: Adhesion molecules, sICAM-1 and sE-selectin appear to have a major role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The focus of this study was to investigate the relationship of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin with ABO blood groups in Pakistani patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: In a case-control study, 116 patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 116 healthy controls (age range for both: 30 years to 70 years; both males and females) were randomly selected from the Aga Khan University and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi with informed consent.