Bicuspid aortic valve: long-term morbidity and mortality.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart anomaly. Lifetime morbidity and whether long-term survival varies according to BAV patient-sub-groups are unknown. This study aimed to assess lifetime morbidity and long-term survival in BAV patients in the community. METHODS: The authors retrospectively identified all Olmsted County (Minnesota) residents with an echocardiographic diagnosis of BAV from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 2009, including patients with typical valvulo-aortopathy (BAV without accelerated valvulo-aortopathy or associated disorders), and those with complex valvulo-aortopathy (BAV with accelerated valvulo-aortopathy or associated disorders). RESULTS: 652 consecutive diagnosed BAV patients [median (IQR) age 37 (22-53) years; 525 (81%) adult and 127 (19%) paediatric] were followed for a median (IQR) of 19.1 (12.9-25.8) years. The total cumulative lifetime morbidity burden (from birth to age 90) was 86% (95% CI 82.5-89.7); cumulative lifetime progression to ≥ moderate aortic stenosis or regurgitation, aortic valve surgery, aortic aneurysm ≥45 mm or z-score ≥3, aorta surgery, infective endocarditis and aortic dissection was 80.3%, 68.5%, 75.4%, 27%, 6% and 1.6%, respectively. Survival of patients with typical valvulo-aortopathy [562 (86%), age 40 (28-55) years, 86% adults] was similar to age-sex-matched Minnesota population (P = .12). Conversely, survival of patients with complex valvulo-aortopathy [90 (14%), age 14 (3-26) years, 57% paediatric] was lower than expected, with a relative excess mortality risk of 2.25 (95% CI 1.21-4.19) (P = .01). CONCLUSION: The BAV condition exhibits a high lifetime morbidity burden where valvulo-aortopathy is close to unavoidable by age 90. The lifetime incidence of infective endocarditis is higher than that of aortic dissection. The most common BAV clinical presentation is the typical valvulo-aortopathy with preserved expected long-term survival, while the complex valvulo-aortopathy presentation incurs higher mortality.

Feasibility, reproducibility and accuracy of electrical velocimetry for cardiac output assessment in congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive cardiac output assessment is important for prognostication in patients with heart failure. Electrical velocimetry (EV), an impedance cardiography technique, can be used for noninvasive cardiac output assessment. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility, reproducibility and accuracy of cardiac output assessment by EV in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Cross-sectional study of CHD patients that had simultaneous cardiac output assessment by Fick and EV (using Cardiotronic monitor, Osypka Medical). We divided the cohort into: Group 1 patients (n = 54) had hemodynamic assessment at rest only, while Group 2 patients (n = 7) had assessment both at rest and peak exercise. RESULTS: EV cardiac output assessment was feasible in 100% of the patients. There was good correlation between Fick-derived and EV-derived cardiac index (r = 0.89, p < 0.001) in Group 1. Among 26 patients in Group 1 that underwent cardiac output assessment pre- and post-intervention, there was no difference in the strength of correlation of Fick and EV cardiac output pre- and post-intervention (p-interaction 0.244) indicating good reproducibility of the technique. There was also modest correlation between Fick-derived and EV-derived cardiac index at rest (r = 0.68, p = 0.032), and peak exercise (r = 0.62, p = 0.055), in Group 2. CONCLUSION: In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility and accuracy of EV cardiac output assessment in adults with CHD. We also demonstrated, for the first time, that EV cardiac output assessment was reproducible under different loading conditions, and that EV can be used for the assessment of cardiac output augmentation at peak exercise.

Predictors of Progression in Patients With Stage B Aortic Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of stage B aortic regurgitation (AR) is unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to examine determinants, rate, and consequences of progression of AR. METHODS: Consecutive patients with ≤moderate chronic AR quantified by effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) and regurgitant volume (RVol) from 2004 to 2017 who had ≥1 subsequent echocardiogram with quantitation were included. RESULTS: Of 1,077 patients (66 ± 15 years of age), baseline trivial/mild AR was noted in 196 (18%), mild-to-moderate AR in 465 (43%), and moderate AR in 416 (39%); 10-year incidence of progression to ≥moderate-severe AR (stage C/D; progressors) was 12%, 30%, and 53%, respectively. At 4.1-year follow-up (interquartile range: 2.1 to 7.2 years), there were 228 progressors (21%), whose annualized progression rates within 3 years before diagnosis of ≥moderate-severe AR were 4.2 mm2/year for EROA and 9.9 ml/year for RVol. Baseline AR severity and dimensions of sinotubular junction and annulus were associated with progression (all p ≤ 0.007); hypertension and systolic blood pressure were not. Progressors had faster chamber remodeling, functional class decline, and more aortic valve/aortic surgery. At medium-term follow-up, 242 patients (22%) died; poor survival was linked to age, comorbidities, functional class, resting heart rate, and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (p ≤ 0.003), not LV end-systolic dimension index. Survival after progression to stage C/D AR was associated with LV end-systolic dimension index (adjusted p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Progression from stage B to stage C/D AR was observed in 21% patients. Repeat echocardiography for trivial/mild, mild-to-moderate, and moderate AR at every 5, 3, and 1 years, respectively, was reasonable. EROA, RVol, annulus, and sinotubular junction should be routinely measured to estimate progression rates and identify patients at high risk of progression, which was associated with adverse consequences.

Post Vaccination Guillain Barre Syndrome: A Case Report.

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare but fatal autoimmune disease. The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is still unknown. The most common known etiology of Guillain-Barre syndrome is infectious disease notably caused by Campylobacter jejuni. A very small fraction of people can develop Guillain-Barre syndrome due to vaccines and vaccinations like a meningococcal vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, influenza vaccine, and rabies vaccine. Of all these, rabies is fatal invariably. It can be preventable if diagnosed early and post-exposure treatment is followed according to the World Health Organization guidelines. Older formulations of rabies vaccines are cultured in the neural tissues and have been found to have an increased risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Although less immunogenic older formulations of rabies vaccines are more commonly used in Asian and South American countries due to their cost-effective nature. There is little to no data available on the incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome due to vaccinations in Pakistan. Most of the cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome due to vaccination are either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In this case report, we are presenting a case of vaccine-associated Guillain-Barre syndrome due to neural tissue anti-rabies vaccine in a young girl, who presented with lower limb weakness, inability to pass urine and abdominal pain.

Anaphylactic Reaction to Cyanocobalamin: A Case Report.

Vitamin B12 is essential for the development of healthy nerves and red blood cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency is becoming widespread and most commonly affects elderly, pregnant women, vegetarians, and patients with renal or intestinal diseases. Either parenteral vitamin B12 treatment or high-dose oral vitamin B12 treatment is an effective therapy regardless of etiology. Parenteral therapy using the intramuscular route is considered the most familiar treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency. Anaphylactic reaction after intramuscular injection is an uncommon and potentially serious side effect. In this study, we are documenting a case of anaphylactic reaction in a 55-year-old woman after her second dose of intramuscular injection of cyanocobalamin. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the need to understand the rare life-threatening side effect of intramuscular cyanocobalamin. Health care providers should be vigilant while administering the intramuscular injection of cyanocobalamin to vitamin B12 deficient patients.

Subacute Infective Endocarditis of Aortic Valve During Pregnancy.

Bacterial infective endocarditis is a rare but a life-threatening infection during pregnancy. Infective endocarditis during pregnancy is often associated with a congenital heart condition or an earlier history of rheumatic heart disease. In pregnant women with infective endocarditis, the maternal and fetal mortality rate can reach as high as 33% and 29%, respectively. In most cases, infective endocarditis runs a subacute course and involves the mitral valve, nonetheless, rarely it can involve the aortic valve as well. We are documenting a rare case of subacute infective endocarditis in a 26-year-old pregnant female with severe aortic stenosis with associated multiple systemic emboli. The patient was managed by urgent cesarean section at 35 weeks of gestation followed by aortic valve replacement; there was no maternal or fetal mortality. This case report highlights the importance of early diagnosis, and timely management of infective endocarditis in pregnant women to prevent maternal and fetal death.

Energy Drinks and Myocardial Infarction.

The popularity and use of energy drinks have accelerated over the past decade and are a health concern worldwide. The key ingredients of energy drinks include caffeine, guarana, taurine, ginseng, and sugar. Most of the well-known side effects due to consumption of energy drinks include tachycardia, headache, anxiety, and palpitations and are frequently attributed to caffeine. Recently, a few cases of life-threatening cardiovascular events in individuals who overdosed massive quantities of caffeinated energy drinks have been reported. In this case report, we are documenting a case of myocardial infarction in a 25-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with chest pain. The patient had been consuming massive quantities of caffeinated energy drinks daily for the past week. This case report and the few previously documented studies support a possible connection between caffeinated energy drinks and myocardial infarction. The purpose of this case report is to promote awareness in the general population and the medical staff about cardiac mortality due to overdosing of massive quantities of caffeinated energy drinks.

Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis Successful Treatment with Montelukast: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) is a chronic condition characterized by pelvic pain, urinary frequency, and urgency for more than six months in the absence of urinary tract infections. The etiology of PBS/IC is still an enigma. PBS/IC is challenging for doctors to diagnose because its symptoms overlap with other diseases such as urinary tract infection, overactive bladder, or endometriosis. Hence, it is diagnosed after excluding those diseases. The prognosis of PBS/IC may vary because of multiple treatment options. In this study, we are documenting a 26-year-old female patient who was successfully treated with montelukast after diagnosed with PBS/IC.

A Survey of Handwashing Knowledge and Attitudes among the Healthcare Professionals in Lahore, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes towards handwashing of clinical year medical and dental students and health-care professionals (HCPs) working in the departments of medicine, surgery, dentistry, nursing, and physiotherapy in Lahore, Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted during May and June 2016. After approval from the institutional review board, a modified form of the World Health Organization (WHO) Hand Hygiene Knowledge Questionnaire for Healthcare workers that included 18 items was sent to 400 clinical year students and HCPs from six medical colleges and affiliated hospitals of Lahore. The data obtained was entered and analyzed by using IBM SPSS version 20 (IBM, NY, USA). Chi-square was used as the test of significance. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant for all purposes. RESULTS: The response rate was 79%. Less than half of the respondents (149, 47.9%) were satisfied with their knowledge regarding hand hygiene. Statistically significant associations of various groups of HCPs were observed with their satisfaction regarding knowledge about hand hygiene (p-value = 0.022), their awareness of the proper technique required for handwashing proposed by the WHO (p-value = 0.001), and their awareness about other preventive techniques proposed by the WHO and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (p-value = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the clinical year students and HCPs were not satisfied with their knowledge regarding hand hygiene. HCPs working in different departments have varying knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene. Females were found to be more satisfied with their handwashing practices. Teaching proper technique of handwashing to medical students and starting refresher courses regarding hand hygiene for HCPs are dire needs. The WHO-recommended guidelines should not only be taught but also implemented in the medical field as poor hand hygiene techniques have led to the spread of many diseases around the globe.

Public stigma associated with mental illnesses in Pakistani university students: a cross sectional survey.

Background. The objectives of the study were to explore the knowledge and attitudes of Pakistani university students toward mental illnesses. People with mental illnesses are challenged not only by their symptoms but also by the prejudices associated with their illness. Acknowledging the stigma of mental illness should be the first essential step toward devising an appropriate treatment plan. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the University of Punjab, Lahore, CMH Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore, and University of Sargodha, Sub-campus Lahore, from February to May 2014. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of three sections: demographics, general knowledge of psychiatric illnesses, and Community Attitudes towards Mental Illnesses (CAMI) Scale. The questionnaire was distributed to 650 participants enrolled in different disciplines (Social Sciences, Medicine and Formal Sciences). Results. Response rate was 81% (527/650 respondents). Mean age was 20.98 years. Most of the students (331, 62.8%) had an urban background and studied Social Sciences (238, 45.2%). Four hundred and eighteen respondents (79.3%) considered religion very important and most respondents considered psychiatrists (334, 63.4%) and spiritual leaders (72, 13.7%) to be best able to treat mental illnesses. One hundred and sixty nine respondents (32.1%) considered black magic to be a cause of mental illness. Only 215 (41%) respondents had ever read an article on mental illnesses. Multiple regression analysis revealed study discipline, exposure, perceived causes of mental illnesses and superstitions to be significantly associated with attitudes towards mental illnesses (p < .05). Conclusion. Although low awareness and exposure were found in this sample of Pakistani university students, their attitude towards mental illnesses was generally positive. Most respondents gave supernatural explanations for mental illnesses but only a few believed that spiritual leaders can play a role in treatment.