Ultra-low contrast, complex left main coronary intervention case series using novel intravascular ultrasound technology.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) carries a high morbidity and mortality. Ultra-low contrast percutaneous coronary intervention (ULPCI) has previously been described. Complex left main (LM) ULPCI using two-stent strategy guided by novel intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) co-registration software has not been described. We report a series of complex LM ULPCI using IVUS co-registration. CASE SUMMARIES: Five patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤20 mL/min who presented with stable angina or non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The patients previously had diagnostic angiography performed as a separate procedure. Successful LM ULPCI was performed in all patients with a provisional and two-stent bifurcation strategies. These were complex procedures, some of which required haemodynamic support and rotational atherectomy. DISCUSSION: This report describes the first ULPCI using a dedicated two-stent LM bifurcation strategy and using rotational atherectomy and IVUS co-registration. This technology facilitated complex PCI in this high-risk patient group with minimal contrast use (≤6 mL) with optimal results and no patients developed acute kidney injury after intervention. The adaptation of ULPCI to daily practice in patients at risk of CIN will improve treatment for this underserved patient group.

Mental Health Outcomes Among British Healthcare Workers-Lessons From the First Wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the level of psychological distress, using validated psychology tools, among British National healthcare workers (HCW) during the first wave of the Covid-19 crisis. METHODS: A multi-centre, anonymized, all-comer staff survey across 3 hospitals in Lancashire, England during the Covid-19 first wave (April to June 2020), consisting of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Impact of Events Scale (IES-6). RESULTS: Among 1113 HCW, median (IQR) PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSS-10, and IES-6 score was 7 (3 to 11), 6 (3 to 11), 19 (13 to 24), and 9 (5 to 14), respectively. Potential predictors of higher levels of psychological distress included living alone, disabled dependents, history of depression/anxiety, and being female. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates a high prevalence of psychological distress during the acute Covid-19 period among HCW, identifies groups at risk and areas of future research.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Insights from a British cardiac center.

The current study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patient-related delay with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at a tertiary center in the United Kingdom. The study demonstrated a significant delay in symptom-to-first medical contact and a higher cardiac troponin-I level on admission in patients with STEMI during the COVID-19 pandemic versus the pre-COVID era.

Resiliency, the Lived Experience of Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background: Hematopoetic stem cell transplantation is considered as a standard treatment for cancer patients to stay hopeful toward treatment outcome. However, these patients experience many complications which might affect different aspects of their life. The aim of this study was to investigate the lived experience of patients after hematopoetic stem cell transplantation and introduce supportive care strategies. Materials and Methods: In this study, Van Manen's Hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used. Eleven patients (7 males and 4 females) were chosen by targeted sampling from visitors of Shariati Hospital's outpatient clinic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the final data were analyzed by MAXQDA 10 software. Results: Data analysis revealed that the main theme was resiliency with two sub-themes of "not surrendering to disease" and "feeling closer to God". Conclusion: Participants declared that transplantation was like a second chance for life and considered this opportunity as a gift from God to overcome their disease. According to our findings, spirituality aids can help patients control the disturbances following HSCT and health professionals can use constructive strategies to support patients with spiritual needs.

Attitudes toward Telling the Truth to Cancer Patients in Iran: A Review Article.

Background:Patients generally have the right to be informed of their condition, but the debate over the issue of truth disclosure is still present. The attempt of this study is to review the approaches toward truth- telling to cancer patients in Iran. Materials and Methods: This study is a narrative review that included articles published in Iran on attitudes toward telling the truth to cancer patients. The present study extracted data from articles published in PubMed, Science Direct, Scientific Information Database (SID), Magiran, Iran Medex, Google Scholar, Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology with key terms such as truth disclosure, breaking bad news, death awareness and disclosure of diagnosis without any time restriction. Results: Totally, 21 articles including 14 in English and 7 in Persian were selected and reviewed. The results of the study have shown that although treatment team and caregivers are unwilling to disclose the truth to patients, they have a tendency to obtain more information about their disease. Conclusion: As the incidence of cancer has increased worldwide, telling the truth to patients seeking more information about cancer disease would be inevitable, but more studies are required to provide scientific procedures based on evidence for truth disclosure, not the whole, to cancer patients.

A Multiparous Woman with Lately Diagnosed Multilevel Left Ventricular Obstruction.

A 56-year hypertensive, multiparous woman presented to the cardiology unit with Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class-III angina and worsening dyspnea for the past few weeks. Her clinical examination showed high blood pressure and mid-systolic crescendo-decrescendo murmur radiating to carotids. However, there was no radio-femoral delay or significant blood pressure difference between her arms. Her transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and mid cavity left ventricular outflow (LVO) obstruction. Left heart catheterization (LHC) showed coarctation of aorta with extensive collaterals, mid cavity LVO obstruction, and moderate AS. Thus, she was diagnosed as a case of multi-level LVO obstruction including mid cavity LVO obstruction AS and coarctation of aorta. She underwent stenting of aortic coarctation as the initial step of graded approach to her disease, and is doing well.

Family Stigma Associated With Epilepsy: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Harmful nature of epilepsy can affect the patient and their parent. Stigma, arising from it, affects the patient and their family. To relieve it understanding the experiences of the parent are useful. This study was aimed at understanding the experiences of parent of child with epilepsy in Iran. Methods: In this interpretative phenomenological study, 10 parents who took care of their child with epilepsy were participated. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. After transcription, data were analyzed using Van Manen's method. Results: Family stigma emerged as a main theme in data analysis with three subthemes including becoming verbally abusive, a dull and heavy shadowed look, and associates interference. Conclusion: Family stigma is a major challenge for parents of child with epilepsy need to special attention by health system. Nurses, as a big part of the system, can play an important role to manage this problem.

A Survey of Adherence to Guidelines to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Iranian Intensive Care Units.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are acquired by patients while receiving care. The highest incidence of HAIs has been documented in admissions to intensive care units. Adherence to evidence-based practices is the most important step for preventing HAIs. OBJECTIVES: To determine the rate of adherence to evidence-based post-insertion recommended care practices after admission into the intensive care unit for the following devices: central line catheter, indwelling urinary catheter, and mechanical ventilator. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A structured observational cross-sectional research design was used. Data were collected using a checklist and a self-report questionnaire. The minimum sample size required for this study was 276 post-insertion care episodes, and 332 episodes were observed. The ANOVA test was used to identify any significant differences among the mean scores of the three devices. RESULTS: Overall observed adherence rates were 18.3%, 59.1%, and 43.1% for central line catheters, indwelling urinary catheter, and mechanical ventilator, respectively. Of the observed episodes of device care, only in 9.4% of the episodes was regular oral care performed for patients on mechanical ventilators and only in 19.3% of the episodes were indwelling urinary catheters properly secure after insertion. More so, in none (0.0%) of the episodes was the central line catheter hub disinfected before being accessed. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based post-insertion recommended care practices were not consistently and uniformly implemented in the intensive care units. Establishment of a program for the surveillance of adherence to recommended guidelines is required for improving compliance by health professionals and the quality of preventive care.

Sheathless transradial coronary angioplasty in an achondroplasic patient with ST elevation myocardial infarction.

We present a case of a 50-year-old man with achondroplasia, who presented with anterior ST segment myocardial infarction (STEMI). He was taken urgently to the catheterisation laboratory. Owing to his short stature, it was not possible to insert a radial artery sheath so he underwent a sheathless primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through the right radial artery, with no complication. He was shifted to the coronary care unit and had an uneventful hospital course. He was discharged in stable condition and follows up regularly as an outpatient.