A large post-stenting intramural hematoma in the left anterior descending artery caused by a small intimal calcium spur; should we respect the calcium shape?

Coronary heavy calcification (HC) poses a sturdy challenge to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Scores considering calcification length, thickness, or circumferential extent, are widely accepted to dictate upfront calcium modification to improve PCI outcomes. Although often marginalized, calcification shape (morphology) may require consideration during procedure planning in selected cases. This case demonstrates how a focal but spur-shaped calcification led to a massive proximal left anterior descending (LAD) dissecting intramural hematoma.

Self-Apposing Stents in Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study assessed the 12-month angiographic and clinical outcomes of self-apposing (SA) stents in patients undergoing chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: Self-apposing (SA) stents may decrease incomplete strut apposition and stent strut coverage that are common after CTO PCI. METHODS: We compared 20 patients who underwent CTO PCI using SA drug-eluting stents (DESs) with 20 matched control patients who underwent CTO PCI using balloon-expandable (BE)-DESs. All patients were followed up clinically for 12 months and had coronary angiography with optical coherence tomography at the end of the follow-up period. The primary end points were stent strut malapposition and strut coverage. The secondary end point was composite major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) at 12 months. RESULTS: Both groups had high prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and most of the treated lesions were complex, with 62% having a J-CTO score of ≥3. All CTO PCI techniques were allowed for recanalisation, and 75% of the procedures were guided by intravascular ultrasound. At 12 months, the SA-DES group had fewer malapposed struts (0% [interquartile range (IQR) 0%-0%] vs 4.5% [IQR 0%-20%]; p<0.001) and uncovered struts (0.08% [IQR 0%-1.6%] vs 8.2% [IQR 0%-16%]; p<0.001). However, they showed significantly higher rates of MACEs due to clinically-driven target lesion revascularisation (45% vs 15%; p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, compared with conventional BE-DESs, SA-DESs used in CTO PCI were associated with fewer malapposed and uncovered stent struts but also with significantly higher rates of in-stent restenosis and MACEs, mainly caused by clinically driven target lesion revascularisation.

Efficacy and safety of a novel combination of two oral chelators deferasirox/deferiprone over deferoxamine/deferiprone in severely iron overloaded young beta thalassemia major patients.

OBJECTIVE: Minimal data are available on the combined two oral iron chelators in ß-thalassemia major (ß-TM). Comparison of safety, efficacy, compliance, treatment satisfaction, and quality of life (QoL) of two regimens: deferiprone (DFP) and deferoxamine (DFO) versus DFP and deferasirox (DFX) were studied. METHODS: A prospective randomized trial (NCT01511848) was conducted on 96 young ß-TM patients with severe iron overload. Patients were randomized to receive either DFP with DFO (arm 1) or DFP and DFX (arm 2). Efficacy endpoints were the difference between two groups in the change of serum ferritin (SF), liver iron concentration (LIC), cardiac MRI, and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: In both arms, SF and LIC at 12 months were significantly lower, and geometric mean cardiac T2* was higher compared to baseline. On regression analysis of change in each studied variable against time, significant difference between slopes of the two groups regarding cardiac T2* (P = 0.001 with more improvement in DFP/DFX patients) was found with no significant difference in the slopes of SF and LIC (P = 0.218 and 0.340). CONCLUSION: Both iron chelation combination regimens were equally effective in reducing iron overload and improving QoL.DFP/DFX combination proved superior in improving cardiac T2*, treatment compliance, and patients satisfaction with no greater adverse events.

A novel percutaneous technique for treating complete rectal prolapse in adults.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a new technique for treating complete rectal prolapse in adults that combines injection sclerotherapy with anal encirclement. METHODS: From 2008 to 2012, 20 patients were treated using combined perirectal injection sclerotherapy with anal encirclement. The primary outcome was recurrent full-thickness/mucosal rectal prolapse. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 39 years. The mean operating time was 17 minutes. Patients had short hospital stays (range = 2-4 days) and rapid recovery with no serious postoperative complications. After a mean follow-up of 22 months, recurrence occurred in 9 patients, and was complete in 6 cases and mucosal in 3 patients. Recurrent mucosal prolapse was treated with a mucosectomy, while recurrent complete rectal prolapse was treated with an open rectopexy with mesh. CONCLUSION: The combination of perirectal sclerotherapy and anal encirclement for treating complete rectal prolapse in adults is a simple and safe procedure with reasonable outcome. These findings call for confirmatory trials in larger series.

Infective endocarditis presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic: have they paid an untold toll?

Background: COVID-19 caused restrictions and re-allocation of medical resources among all healthcare services. During the peak of the pandemic, several unrelated-yet critical-conditions had silently taken their toll. Infective endocarditis (IE), owing to its non-specific clinical presentation, may have been largely mislabeled as COVID-19 in a number of cases. Results: This retrospective observational study reviewed all IE presentations at an IE unit in a university hospital during the peak of COVID-19. Patient characteristics, courses, and outcomes were compared with historical controls from our IE database published before the COVID era. We identified 30 IE cases [Group A] during the COVID-19 peak in our region (June 2021 to June 2022), with a 25% decrease compared to the usual annual rate. This is in contrast to the expected surge during the pandemic. Compared with group B (398 published IE cases from our database), group A had significantly longer symptoms-to-presentation intervals (60 [31-92] vs. 28 [14-72] days, p = 0.01). Male sex dominated both groups, but group A had significantly less pre-existing structural heart disease. Despite the more liberal use of empirical antibiotics in the COVID-era, group-A had lower rates of culture-negative IE. Compared to group B, group A demonstrated a better response to medical therapy, fewer arterial embolizations, fewer indications for surgery, and fewer overall complications, except for increased acute kidney injury. This can be explained by the abundant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The data analysis strongly suggests that there might have been a natural selection or selection bias of IE patients with favorable profiles to survive the pandemic to the appropriate diagnosis. Conclusions: The diagnosis of IE and commencing the appropriate workup were significantly undermined during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inexplicable decline in IE referral rate and the favorable outcomes witnessed during the pandemic strongly suggest a referral bias and natural selection of those who survived the pandemic to the appropriate IE diagnosis.

Telmisartan versus EnalapRil In heart failure with redUced ejection fraction patients with Moderately impaired kidney Functions; randomized controlled trial: "TRIUMF trial".

BACKGROUND: When heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) co-exist, Renin angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) are often underutilized for the fear of worsening renal function (WRF). Telmisartan is a RAASi characteristic for a favorable renal profile, although data on its utility in HFrEF is limited. This study aimed to compare efficacy and tolerability of Telmisartan versus Enalapril in patients with HFrEF and CKD. RESULTS: This study randomized 107 patients with HFrEF and CKD to either Telmisartan (10-80 mg) or Enalapril (5-40 mg) daily. The achieved RAASi dose, dose reductions (DR) or dis-continuation (DC), death/Heart failure rehospitalization (HFH), NYHA class and 6MWT were compared at 3- and 6-months. At 3- and 6-months, 93.5% versus 68.6% and 95.2% versus 72.9% were maintaining ≥ 50% of the target dose in the Telmisartan- versus Enalapril-group, respectively. Despite the higher achieved dose by 3- and 6-months, Telmisartan versus Enalapril was associated with less WRF (6.4% vs. 22.9%, p = 0.022 and 7.3% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.28) and fewer episodes of DR-DC (31.9% vs. 55.1%, p = 0.018 and 35.7% vs. 56.5%, p = 0.041), respectively. By the end of the study, there were 5 deaths in each group, yet, HFH occurred in 34.1% versus 55.3%, p = 0.035, and NYHA class changed by - 1 [- 2, 0] versus 0 [- 1, 1], p = 0.017 in Telmisartan- versus Enalapril patients, respectively. Within-group results showed improvement in 6MWT in Telmisartan-, and increase in diuretic requirements in Enalapril-group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HFrEF and CKD, Telmisartan was better tolerated to uptitrate, caused less WRF, less HFH and showed better functional improvement compared to Enalapril. Clinical trial registration This study was prospectively registered on clinicaltrials.gov, with registration number (NCT04736329).

Predictive value of CHA2DS2VASC score for contrast-induced nephropathy after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for patients presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) are at increased risk for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) than elective PCI procedures. Routine calculation of Mehran's score is limited by its complexity and difficulty to memorize. This study evaluated CHA2DS2-VASc score predictive utility for CIN in STEMI patients before pPCI. RESULTS: Consecutive 500 acute STEMI patients presenting to two Egyptian pPCI centers were recruited. Exclusion criteria included cardiogenic shock or known severe renal impairment (baseline serum creatinine ≥ 3 mg/dL) or current or previous indication of hemodialysis. CHA2DS2VASC score, Mehran's score, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), contrast media volume (CMV) and CMV/eGFR ratio were collected for all patients. Post-pPCI CIN (defined as 0.5 mg/dL absolute increase or 25% relative increase of serum creatinine from baseline) and predictive accuracy of CHA2DS2VASC and Mehran's scores were evaluated. CIN occurred in 35 (7%) of the study group. Values of CHA2DS2VASC score, Mehran's score, baseline eGFR, CMV and CMV/eGFR ratio were significantly higher in those who developed CIN compared to those who did not. CHA2DS2VASC score, Mehran's score and CMV/eGFR were found to be independent predictors for CIN (P < 0.001 for all). ROC curve analysis revealed that CHA2DS2VASC ≥ 4 had a superb predictive ability, comparable to Mehran's score, for post-pPCI CIN. CONCLUSIONS: Being practical, easily memorizable and applicable before proceeding to pPCI, routine CHA2DS2VASC score calculation in STEMI patients can effectively predict CIN risk and guide preventive and/or therapeutic interventions.

Characterization of features and outcomes of young patients (< 45 years) presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the commonest cause of death worldwide. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and its consequences can be devastating particularly at younger age for a bigger impact on the patient's psychology and ability to work. Little is known about the differential features and outcomes of young STEMI patients in Egypt. This study characterized young STEMI patients (≤ 45 years) compared to patients > 45 years and evaluated 1-year outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 492 eligible STEMI patients who presented to the National Heart Institute and Cairo University Hospitals were recruited. Young STEMI patients (< 45 years old) represented 20% of all STEMI comers. Male gender was predominant in both groups, yet with a significantly higher proportion in the younger compared to older patients (87% vs. 73%, p = 0.004). Compared to older patients, young STEMI patients had characteristically higher rates of smoking (72.4% vs. 49.7%, p < 0.001) and family history (13.3% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.002), while significantly lower rate of other conventional CAD risk factors as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia (20.4% vs. 44.7%, 20.4% vs. 44.9% and 12.7% vs. 21.8%, respectively, p < 0.05 for all). Follow-up was continued for at least 12 months after the index event. Younger STEMI patients had fewer major adverse cardiovascular events and fewer heart failure hospitalizations compared to the older controls (10.2 vs. 23.9% and 18.4% vs. 34.8%, respectively, p < 0.005 for both), however, 1-year mortality was similar (3.1% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.64). CONCLUSIONS: Younger STEMI patients (≤ 45 years) show peculiar characteristics, with significantly higher rates of smoking and family history of premature CAD, while less prevalence of other conventional CAD risk factors. Overall MACE occurred less in younger STEMI patients; however, the mortality rate was similar to the older controls.

Contemporary In-Hospital Outcomes of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: Insights from the MENATA (Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Asia) Chapter of the PROGRESS-CTO Registry.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been rapidly evolving in different parts of the world. We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 1,079 consecutive CTO PCIs performed in 1,063 patients at 10 centers in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Asia regions between 2018 and 2022. The mean age was 61 ± 10 years and 82% of the patients were men. The prevalence of diabetes (49%) and previous PCI (50%) was high. The most common target vessel was the right coronary artery (51%), followed by the left anterior descending artery (33%) and the circumflex artery (15%). The mean Japanese CTO score was 2.1 ± 1.2 and mean PROGRESS-CTO (Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention) score was 1.2 ± 1.0. The technical and procedural success rates were high (91% and 90%, respectively) with a low incidence (1.6%) of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events. The incidence of perforation was 4.6% (n = 50): guidewire exit was the most common mechanism of perforation (48%) and 14 patients required pericardiocentesis (28%). Antegrade wire escalation was the most common crossing strategy used (91%), followed by retrograde approach (24%) and antegrade dissection and re-entry (12%). Median contrast volume, air kerma radiation dose, and fluoroscopy time were 300 (200 to 400) ml, 3.7 (2.0 to 6.3) Gy, and 40 (25 to 65) minutes, respectively. In conclusion, high success and acceptable complication rates are currently achieved at experienced centers in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Asia regions using a combination of crossing strategies.

Egyptian expert opinion for the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) in patients with type 2 diabetes reduces the risk of serious heart failure events, specifically the risk of hospitalization for heart failure, and cardiovascular death. The benefit is most apparent in patients with a heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Dapagliflozin and empagliflozin reduced the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalizations for heart failure in patients with established HFrEF, including those without diabetes. Considering the magnitude of the problem and the expected benefit on the target population, an Egyptian consensus document was conducted to demonstrate the importance of and the critical knowledge needed for effective and safe implementation of SGLT2i in the daily practice for the management of patients with HFrEF.

Improvement of Coronary Calcium Scores After Bariatric Surgery in People with Severe Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a direct measure of coronary atherosclerosis. The study investigated the effect of bariatric surgery on CAC scores in people with severe obesity subjected to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). METHODS: This prospective study included 129 people with severe obesity in two groups; the LSG group (n=74) subjected to surgery and the diet group (n=55), managed by a diet regimen and lifestyle modification. Cardiovascular risk was assessed by Framingham risk score (FRS) and coronary calcium score (CCS) measured by computed tomography initially and after 3 years. RESULTS: The two groups had a comparable CAD risk before treatment according to FRS or CCS. After treatment, CCS improved significantly in the LSG group (p=0.008) but not in the diet group (p=0.149). There was no correlation between FRS and CCS (r=0.005, p=0.952). Treatment resulted in significant weight reduction and improved fasting blood glucose and lipid profile in the two groups. The change of weight, blood glucose, and HDL, and remission of diabetes mellitus (DM) were significantly higher in the LSG group compared to the diet group. CONCLUSION: LSG may reduce the risk of developing future cardiovascular comorbidities evidenced by reducing CAC scores. Significant weight reduction and improvement of cardiovascular risk factors may recommend LSG as a cardioprotective procedure in people with severe obesity.

Clinical features and outcomes of infective endocarditis in Egypt: an 11-year experience at a tertiary care facility.

BACKGROUND: Few data are available on the characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE) cases in Egypt. The aim of this work is to describe the characteristics and outcomes of IE patients and evaluate the temporal changes in IE diagnostic and therapeutic aspects over 11 years. RESULTS: The IE registry included 398 patients referred to the Endocarditis Unit of a tertiary care facility with the diagnosis of possible or definite IE. Patients were recruited over two periods; period 1 (n = 237, 59.5%) from February 2005 to December 2011 and period 2 (n = 161, 40.5%) from January 2012 to September 2016. An electronic database was constructed to include information on patients' clinical and microbiological characteristics as well as complications and mortality. The median age was 30 years and rheumatic valvular heart disease was the commonest underlying cardiac disease (34.7%). Healthcare-associated IE affected 185 patients (46.5%) and 275 patients (69.1%) had negative blood cultures. The most common complications were heart failure (n = 148, 37.2%), peripheral embolization (n = 133, 33.4%), and severe sepsis (n = 100, 25.1%). In-hospital mortality occurred in 108 patients (27.1%). Period 2 was characterized by a higher prevalence of injection drug use-associated IE (15.5% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.008), a higher staphylococcal IE (50.0% vs. 35.7%, p = 0.038), lower complications (31.1% vs. 45.1%, p = 0.005), and a lower in-hospital mortality (19.9% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: This Egyptian registry showed high rates of culture-negative IE, complications, and in-hospital mortality in a largely young population of patients. Improvements were noted in the rates of complications and mortality in the second half of the reporting period.

The role of intracoronary imaging in acute coronary syndromes: OCT in focus.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has emerged as a powerful intravascular imaging modality in recent years. The introduction of frequency-domain OCT has simplified the procedure and enabled its safe utilisation in different clinical settings including acute coronary syndromes, where it can determine the mechanism of plaque disruption, thrombus burden, and guide percutaneous coronary intervention. In patients presenting with stent failure (stent thrombosis and instent restenosis), OCT can also be very useful in determining the underlying mechanism and guiding therapy thereafter. This article aims to review the role of OCT in acute coronary syndromes as well as its potential clinical applications.

Impact of routine cerebral CT angiography on treatment decisions in infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is commonly complicated by cerebral embolization and hemorrhage secondary to intracranial mycotic aneurysms (ICMAs). These complications are associated with poor outcome and may require diagnostic and therapeutic plans to be modified. However, routine screening by brain CT and CT angiography (CTA) is not standard practice. We aimed to study the impact of routine cerebral CTA on treatment decisions for patients with IE. METHODS: From July 2007 to December 2012, we prospectively recruited 81 consecutive patients with definite left-sided IE according to modified Duke's criteria. All patients had routine brain CTA conducted within one week of admission. All patients with ICMA underwent four-vessel conventional angiography. Invasive treatment was performed for ruptured aneurysms, aneurysms ≥ 5 mm, and persistent aneurysms despite appropriate therapy. Surgical clipping was performed for leaking aneurysms if not amenable to intervention. RESULTS: The mean age was 30.43 ± 8.8 years and 60.5% were males. Staph aureus was the most common organism (32.3%). Among the patients, 37% had underlying rheumatic heart disease, 26% had prosthetic valves, 23.5% developed IE on top of a structurally normal heart and 8.6% had underlying congenital heart disease. Brain CT/CTA revealed that 51 patients had evidence of cerebral embolization, of them 17 were clinically silent. Twenty-six patients (32%) had ICMA, of whom 15 were clinically silent. Among the patients with ICMAs, 11 underwent endovascular treatment and 2 underwent neurovascular surgery. The brain CTA findings prompted different treatment choices in 21 patients (25.6%). The choices were aneurysm treatment before cardiac surgery rather than at follow-up, valve replacement by biological valve instead of mechanical valve, and withholding anticoagulation in patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis for fear of aneurysm rupture. CONCLUSIONS: Routine brain CT/CTA resulted in changes in the treatment plan in a significant proportion of patients with IE, even those without clinically evident neurological disease. Routine brain CT/CTA may be indicated in all hospitalized patients with IE.

Ultrastructural Changes in Rat's Atrial Cardiomyocytes After Short Term Administration of Amiodarone and Possible Protective Role of Vitamin E.

BACKGROUND: Amiodarone chlorhydrate is a diiodated benzofuran derivative used to treat a variety of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. The use of amiodarone is associated with ultrastructural changes affecting body tissues, but its effect on the ultrastructure of the heart has not yet been fully elucidated. METHODS: The aim of this study is to test the adverse effects of amiodarone administration on cardiomyocytes and to study the possible protective role of vitamin E co-administration. A total of 18 adult male albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided randomly into three groups of 6 rats each as follows: group I was considered the control group and was given vegetable oil; group II received 54 mg/kg of oral amiodarone; and group III received a single dose of combined vitamin E (50 mg/kg) and amiodarone (54 mg/kg). After 2 weeks, the rats were sacrificed, and the atrial tissues were harvested and processed for electron microscopic study. RESULTS: ADMINISTRATION OF AMIODARONE ALONE MODIFIED THE ATRIAL ARCHITECTURE, WHICH WAS DEMONSTRATED BY THE FOLLOWING: mitochondrial enlargement and cristae lysis; marked heterogeneity of myofibril patterns with partial necrosis and disintegration of myofilaments; and irregularities of the sarcomere and less concentration of atrionatriuretic factor (ANF) granules, which localised in closed proximity to the nucleus with disrupted chromatin contents. Concomitant administration of vitamin E with amiodarone showed a considerable preservation of the atrial architecture. CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of amiodarone in rats resulted in ultrastructural changes in atria, which can be attenuated by vitamin E co-administration.

One-stage transanal endorectal pull-through for treatment of hirschsprung's disease in adolescents and adults.

BACKGROUND: One-stage pull-through operation has become increasingly popular for treatment of Hirschsprung's disease. The one-stage transanal pull-through was introduced in the late 1990s and has rapidly replaced traditional procedures in infants and young children in many surgical centers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine feasibility and safety of transanal primary repair in adolescent and adults. METHODS: Fifteen patients who underwent transanal endorectal pull-through were prospectively studied. All patients presented by chronic refractory constipation with the age ranged from 11 to 22 years. The patients were followed up for a mean of 18 months. Anal continence and postoperative complication were evaluated. RESULTS: Incomplete continence in the form of soiling occurred in four patients (26.6%) and improved gradually with conservative management. No patients suffered from complete incontinence. Anastomotic strictures occurred in two patients and were successfully treated with regular dilatations. One patient had continued outlet obstruction and revision was considered for him. One patient complicated with low perianal fistula which needed fistulectomy. There was no impotence in adults. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that one-stage transanal endorectal pull-through operation in adolescent and adults is feasible and safe.