Prognostic value of fragmented QRS in acute pulmonary embolism: a cross-sectional-analytic study of the Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Acute Pulmonary embolism (APE) is considered one of the deadliest cardiovascular diseases. Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in pulmonary embolism (PE) are increasingly reported. A growing number of studies have recommended that ECG plays a crucial role in the prognostic assessment of PE patients. However, there is scarce data on the prognostic importance of fragmented QRS (fQRS) on outcomes in patients with APE. This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of fQRS in APE patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional-analytic study. This study included 280 patients diagnosed with APE admitted to Shahid Madani hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) was used to diagnose APE. A checklist was prepared for all patients, demographic, clinical characteristics, and Major Adverse Cardiopulmonary events (MACPE), including in-hospital mortality, need for thrombolysis, mechanical ventilation, and surgical embolectomy, were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: patients who manifested fQRS on their ECG and patients who did not; Then, demographic, clinical characteristics, and MACPE were compared in the two groups, as mentioned earlier. Furthermore, all statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS software. RESULTS: 48 patients (17.14%) had fQRS(+) on their ECG, and 232 patients (82.86%) did not have it on their ECG. In data analysis, 22 patients (8.7%) had in-hospital mortality, 35 patients (13.9%) needed thrombolysis, nine patients (3.9%) required mechanical ventilation, and 13 patients (5.1%) needed surgical embolectomy. fQRS was not significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (P = 0.225), need for thrombolysis (P = 0.684), mechanical ventilation (P = 1.000), and surgical embolectomy (P = 1.000). Demographic and clinical characteristics were also similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support the idea that fQRS on ECG is a valuable predictor of in-hospital mortality, the need for thrombolysis, mechanical ventilation, and surgical embolectomy.

Simultaneous beat-to-beat heart rate and systolic blood pressure variability in patients with and without neurally mediated syncope.

Introduction: Autonomic changes play an essential role in the genesis of neurally mediated syncope (NMS). The aim of this study was to compare the changes of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) by measuring spectral indices of beat-to-beat systolic blood pressure and heart rate variability (SBPV and HRV) in ranges of low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and the LF/HF ratio during head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients with and without a syncope response. Methods: In this case-control study of 46 patients with a suspected history of unexplained syncope, data were recorded separately during the typical three phases of HUTT. Patients who developed syncope were designated as the case group and the rest as the control group. Results: Thirty one patients experienced syncope during HUTT. Resting HRV and SBPV indices were significantly lower in cases than controls. After tilting in the syncope group, both HF and LF powers of SBPV showed a significant and gradual decrease. LF/HF in HRV increased in both groups similarly during the test but in SBPV, mainly driven by oscilations in its LF power, it increased significantly more during the first two phases of the test in syncope patients only to paradoxically decrease during active tilt (P< 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings show an abnormal autonomic function in patients with syncope, both at rest and tilting. Fluctuations of spectral indices of beat-to-beat SBPV, a potential noval index of pure sympathetic activity, show an exaggerated response during tilt and its withdrawal before syncope.

Clinical utility of aVR lead T-wave in electrocardiogram of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: aVR lead is often neglected in routine clinical practice largely because of its undefined clinical utility specifications. Nevertheless, positive T-wave in aVR lead has been reported to be associated with poor clinical outcomes in some cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the prognostic value and clinical utility of T-wave amplitude in aVR lead in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A total of 340 STEMI patients admitted to a tertiary heart center were consecutively included. Patients were categorized into four strata, based on T wave amplitude in aVR lead in their admission ECG (i.e. < - 2, - 1 to - 2, - 1 to 0, and ≥ 0 mV). Patients' clinical outcomes were also recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality, re-hospitalization, and six-month-mortality significantly varied among four T wave strata and were higher in patients with a T wave amplitude of ≥ 0 mV (p 0.001-0.002). The groups of patients with higher T wave amplitude in aVR, had progressively increased relative risk (RR) of in-hospital mortality (RRs ≤ 0.01, 0.07, 1.00, 2.30 in four T wave strata, respectively). T wave amplitude in the cutoff point of - 1 mV exhibited a sensitivity and specificity of 95.83 (95% CI 78.88-99.89) and 49.68 (95% CI 44.04-55.33). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a significant association of positive T wave in aVR lead and adverse clinical outcomes in STEMI patients. Nevertheless, the clinical utility of T-wave amplitude at aVR lead is limited by its low discriminative potential toward prognosis of STEMI.

The association between T wave inversion in leads with ST-elevation and patency of the infarct-related artery.

BACKGROUND: Up to over half of the patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are reported to undergo spontaneous reperfusion without therapeutic interventions. Our objective was to evaluate the applicability of T wave inversion in electrocardiography (ECG) of patients with STEMI as an indicator of early spontaneous reperfusion. METHODS: In this prospective study, patients with STEMI admitted to a tertiary referral hospital were studied over a 3-year period. ECG was obtained at the time of admission and patients underwent a PPCI. The association between early T wave inversion and patency of the infarct-related artery was investigated in both anterior and non-anterior STEMI. RESULTS: Overall, 1025 patients were included in the study. Anterior STEMI was seen in 592 patients (57.7%) and non-anterior STEMI in 433 patients (42.2%). Among those with anterior STEMI, 62 patients (10.4%) had inverted T and 530 (89.6%) had positive T waves. In patients with anterior STEMI and inverted T waves, a significantly higher TIMI flow was detected (p value = 0.001); however, this relationship was not seen in non-anterior STEMI. CONCLUSION: In on-admission ECG of patients with anterior STEMI, concomitant inverted T wave in leads with ST elevation could be a proper marker of spontaneous reperfusion of infarct related artery.

First-degree atrioventricular block in acute anterior myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of data regarding the prognostic implications of first-degree atrioventricular block in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction as a distinct group. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association of prolonged PR interval with hospital clinical outcomes in patients with treated with thrombolysis. METHODS: Three hundred consecutive patients with a first acute anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing thrombolysis between October 2017 and March 2018, were retrospectively enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups based on PR interval on admission: PR interval ≤200 ms, and PR interval > 200 ms. Hospital mortality and complications were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Of the 300 patients, 26 (8.66%) had first-degree atrioventricular block on initial presentation. Overall, hospital death occurred in 20 (6.66%) patients. Patients with PR interval > 200 ms had a higher hospital mortality rate (26.9%) than those without (4.7%, p < 0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, only left ventricular systolic function and PR interval were independent predictors of hospital mortality (odds ratio = 1.031; 95% confidence interval: 1.008-1.056, p = 0.009 for PR interval). CONCLUSION: In patients with a first acute anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis, first-degree atrioventricular block was associated with increased hospital mortality and a worse prognosis.

Evaluation of Tpeak to end/QT and Tpeak to end/QTc ratios in patients with STEMI undergoing percutaneous intervention vs. thrombolytic therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) are significantly at increased risk of arrhythmia. Repolarization of myocardium has been evaluated by a series of electrical parameters including T wave peak to T wave end (Tp-Te) and Tp-Te/QT ratio. Which were compared with survival outcomes between two groups of STEMI patients treated with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI) and recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator (r-TPA). METHODS: In this prospective study, 188 patients with STEMI were included in the study. 12­Lead ECGs were obtained from all patients on time of admission and after 24 h after treatment. After dividing the patients into two groups based on their type of treatment (PPCI or r-TPA), The Tp-Te/QT and Tp-Te/QTc ratios were calculated using ECG records. The survival outcomes were compared between two groups. RESULTS: 95 patients (50.5%) underwent PPCI and 93 patients (49.5%) received r-TPA. Tp-Te/QT and Tp-Te/QTc ratios after administration of the treatments were significantly decreased in both groups (P-value = .001) with lower Tp-Te/QT and Tp-Te/QTc ratios in PPCI group (P-value = .001). 7 patients in PPCI group (7.3%) and 16 patients in r-TPA group (17.2%) were died during their hospitalization period (P-value = .04). The best combination of sensitivity and specificity of post treatment Tp-Te/QT ratio was at cutoff points of 29.4 with 82% sensitivity and 83% specificity. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that Tp-Te/QT and Tp-Te/QTc ratios decrease significantly after both PPCI and r-TPA therapies, but with PPCI these indexes decrease more than r-TPA, resulting a better survival outcome in patients with STEMI.

The significance of the left atrial volume index in prediction of atrial fibrillation recurrence after electrical cardioversion.

Introduction: Electrical cardioversion (ECV) is a safe method for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. It seems that left atrial volume index (LAVI) could be a good marker in predicting the success of ECV. The purpose of this study is to assess of the significance of LAVI measurement before ECV in predicting the recurrence of the AF. Methods: Fifty-one patients with AF, selected for ECV were studied in the cardiology department of Tabriz University of medical sciences. The clinical and demographic data of all the patients were obtained. Echocardiography was performed before and also three months after ECV. Patients were separated into two groups: those who maintained SR and those with relapse of AF diagnosed by clinical manifestations and electrocardiography (ECG). Results: Sinus rhythm (SR) was maintained in 76.5 percent of the patients following the three months after ECV. The age, sex and the body mass index (BMI) were not significantly different between SR and AF groups. Two groups showed no significant differences considering pre-ECV medical history including medications and systemic diseases. The initial LAVI of SR group was 42.21±12.4 mL/m2 and AF group was 96.08±52.21 mL/m2, the initial LAVI was significantly different between two groups (P = 0.000). The LAVI of SR group decreased significantly (5.69±0.74 mL/m2) after three months, LAVI decreased from 42.21 ± 12.4 ml/m2 to 37.51 ± 10.52 mL/m2. (P = 0.000). The cut-off point of LAVI value in predicting the maintenance of SR was 55 mL/m2. Conclusion: The present study indicates that LAVI is a powerful forecaster of the recurrence of AF after ECV. The LAVI measurement could be a useful method in the selection of the patients with AF for ECV.

QT Dispersion and Age; Independent Predictors of Restenosis after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

INTRODUCTION: There are no reliable non-invasive markers of restenosis after Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCIs). The aim of our study was to measure changes incorrected QT interval (QTc), corrected QT dispersion (QTcd), corrected T wave peak to end interval (TPEc) and corrected TPE dispersion (TPEcd) after PCI and to determine whether restenosis subsequently affects these indices. METHODS: From 211 patients, who underwent successful PCI, 202 patients were referred for repeated coronary angiography in order to exclusion of coronary restenosis and included in this analysis. QTc, QTcd, TPEc and TPEcd indices were calculated just before PCI and 24 hours later. RESULTS: Comparing pre procedural with post procedural results, median QTc and median QTcd decreased significantly after PCI procedure (from 447 to 440 ms, p=0.017 and from 46 to 40 ms,p=0.005; respectively). Corresponding changes of TPEc and TPEcD were not statistically significant. Multivariate analysis showed higher amounts of QTcd changes [Exp(B): 1.033, 95% CI: 1.018-1.051; P=0.025] and younger age[Exp(B): 1.074, 95% CI: 1.038-1.112; P=0.023] as independent predictors of restenosis. Area under the ROC curve indicated good predictive performance of QTcd changes (.QTcd) [AUC: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51-0.86, P = 0.03] and age [AUC 0.68, 95% CI 0.62-0.74, p = 0.04] for restenosis after PCI. The best cut-off point for .QTcd was 6 msec, and for age was 52 years. The sensitivity and specificity of .QTcd.6 ms to detect coronary restenosis were 73.2% and 71.4% respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of age was also similar, the sensitivity and specificity of age. 52 years were 68.1% and 74.3% respectively. CONCLUSION: The Higher differences between pre and post PCI QTcd may be an inexpensive and simple predictor of restenosis after a previously successful coronary angioplasty. It seems that these findings encourage us to re-think about using QTcd as a simple ECG predictor for sustained coronary patency after angioplasty.

Increased Likelihood of Arrhythmic Events Associated with Increased Anxiety in Patients with Implanted Cardiac Defibrillators after the Ahar-Varzegan Earthquake in East Azarbaijan, 2012.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the type and pattern of arrhythmic events following the 2012 Ahar-Varzegan Earthquake among patients implanted with cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) in East Azarbaijan province. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, conducted in East Azerbaijan Province of Iran, 132 patients were enrolled in two comparison groups according to the region of residence i.e., earthquake region (n= 98) and non-earthquake (n= 34) region in 2012. Data were collected for those meeting standard criteria for sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), or supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) and triggered ICD therapies, either shock or anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP). The state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) was used to assess general symptoms of anxiety in both groups. RESULTS: Males comprised 81.1% of the participants. Mean age of the participants was 59.7 ±15 years. The frequency of patients with sustained VAs increased significantly after the earthquake (p=0.008).  There were more VAs (mean 2.16 vs. 6.23; p=0.008) and they occurred earlier (6th vs. 16th day; p= 0.01) in the earthquake area. The mean frequency of SVTs and the total number of delivered ICD therapies were similar between groups. Differences in anxiety levels were not significant between groups but there was a trend for presence of greater number of patients with anxiety (p=0.07) and the relative severity of anxiety (p=0.08) in the earthquake area. CONCLUSION:  In the earthquake area, the mean frequency of VAs increased and they occurred earlier in the earthquake area. The stress of anxiety might have served as a trigger for these events.

Poor outcome following percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and it may increase complications and decreases success rates of percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (PBMV). This study aimed to investigate the short and long term results of PBMV in patients with AF compared to sinus rhythm (SR). Methods: In this cross sectional study, 1000 patients with MS who had undergone PBMV between 1999 and 2013 were enrolled including 585 and 415 patients with AF and SR respectively. Patients were followed for a mean of 7.27 ± 3.16 years. Clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic data were collected. Procedure success, in-hospital and long-term outcome were evaluated. Results: Patients with AF were older and had greater symptoms, mitral regurgitation, mitral echocardiographic score, and mitral pressure gradient before PBMV. PBMV success rate were significantly lower in AF group (P < 0.001). In-hospital complications, including severe mitral regurgitation, emergency mitral valve surgery, peripheral embolism and long-term complications, including mortality, re-valvotomy, mitral replacement surgery and peripheral embolism/stroke were significantly higher in patients with AF. Conclusion: AF leads to worse in-hospital and long-term outcome and lower PBMV success rate. Repeated assessment and early decision to PBMV in patients with MS to reduce AF and AF related complication seems necessary.

ST-Segment Elevation in the Right Precordial Leads in Patients with Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Elevation of ST segment in leads V3R/ V4R, which is commonly encountered in right ventricular myocardial infarction, may also occur in patients with anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the clinical impact of this finding in the setting of anterior myocardial infarction is not well understood. AIMS: We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of ST segment elevation in leads V3R/V4R in patients with first acute anterior myocardial infarction. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Right precordial leads V3R/V4R were recorded in 111 patients admitted with first time anterior myocardial infarction. Patients were allocated into two groups based on the presence or absence of ST elevation in leads V3R/V4R. Demographic, biochemical and echocardiographic data, as well as the angiographic information, were recorded. In-hospital and 3 month mortality, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), death, heart failure and ventricular dysrhythmia were also compared. RESULTS: ST elevation in lead V3R or V4R was present in 72 out of 111 patients (64.9%). Involvement of the proximal part of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery was not different in the two groups (44.4% of patients with elevation vs. 53.8% of patients without elevation, p=0.22). Post-myocardial infarction complications, mortality and major adverse cardiac events were similar in the two groups. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly lower in patients with ST elevation in V3R/V4R (35 %±8 vs. 38 %±8, p=0.02). Twenty three out of 111 patients (20.7%) developed heart failure, which was similar in the two groups [16 (22.2%) of patients with ST elevation vs. 7 (17.9%) of patients without ST elevation, p=0.39]. CONCLUSION: Although ST elevation in V3R/V4R can be present in patients with left anterior descending artery occlusion, it does not seem to predict the prognosis. Lower left ventricular ejection fraction in this group may play a role in the long-term prognosis; however, this issue needs further investigation.

Correlation between Pulmonary Artery Pressure Measured by Echocardiography and Right Heart Catheterization in Patients with Rheumatic Mitral Valve Stenosis (A Prospective Study).

INTRODUCTION: Right heart catheterization (RHC) remains the gold standard for hemodynamic assessment of the right heart and pulmonary artery. However, this is an invasive tool, and noninvasive alternatives such as transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) are preferable. Nonetheless, the correlation between measurements by TTE and RHC are debated. In this study, we prospectively examined the correlation between systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures (sPAP and mPAP) measured by RHC and TTE in patients with hemodynamically significant rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three hundred patients with hemodynamically significant MS undergoing TTE who were scheduled to undergo RHC within 24 hours were analyzed. PAP measurements were taken for all patients by RHC (sPAP(RHC), mPAP(RHC)). Maximum velocity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) jet obtained by continuous-wave Doppler with adding right atrial (RA) pressure was used for measuring sPAP by TTE (sPAP(TRVmax)). Mean PAP was measured using either pulmonary artery acceleration time (mPAP(PAAT)) method or by adding RA pressure to velocity-time integral of TR jet (mPAP(TRVTI)). RESULTS: A good correlation between sPAP(RHC) and sPAP(TRVmax) (r = 0.89, P < 0.001), between mPAP(RHC) and mPAP(PAAT) (r = 0.9, P < 0.001), and between mPAP(RHC) and mPAP(TRVTI) (r = 0.92, P < 0.001) was found. Sensitivity and specificity of sPAP(TRV) max in detecting pulmonary hypertension (PH) were 92.8% and 86.6% and of mPAP(PAAT) were 94.1% and 73.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The noninvasive assessment of sPAP and mPAP by TTE correlates well with invasive measurements and has an acceptable specificity and sensitivity in detecting PH in patients with hemodynamically significant MS.

Everolimus-Eluting Stents Reduce Monocyte Expression of Toll-Like Receptor 4.

PURPOSE: Toll-like receptors (TLR) are well known components of the innate immune system. Among them, TLR4 is related to the inflammatory processes involved in atherosclerotic plaque formation. Our purpose was to compare the monocytic expression of TLR4 following implantation of drug-eluting (DES) and bare stents (BMS). METHODS: In this study, patients with chronic stable angina undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ShahidMadani Heart Hospital, Tabriz, Iran were included. Ninety-five patients receiving DES and 95 patients receiving BMS were selected between 2012 and 2014.Everolimus eluting stents were implanted for DES group. Both groups received similar medications and procedure. Blood samples were taken before PCI, 2 hours and 4 hours after termination of PCI. Expression of TLR4 on monocytes was measured using flowcytometry. Patients were matched for age, sex and coronary artery disease risk factors, but not for TLR4 expression rate before PCI. RESULTS: A significant difference was seen between DES and BMS in TLR4 expression before (21.3±2.8% vs. 15.5±2.7%; P< 0.05) and four hours after PCI (30.1 ± 3.3% vs 39.2 ± 3.2%, P< 0.05). Due to the unmatched rate of TLR4+ expression before PCI, we measured the percentage of increase in TLR4 expression between groups. DES compared to BMS significantlycaused less increase in the TLR4 expression (50.23%±10.03% vs. 446.35%±70.58%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest thateverolimuseluted from the stents can decrease PCI induced increase in the TLR4 expression on the surface of monocytes.

Changes in Serum NT-Pro BNP and Left Atrial BNP Levels after Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Commissurotomy in Sinus Rhythm Versus Atrial Firilation.

INTRODUCTION: Natriuretic peptides are secreted from the heart in response to increased wall stress. Their levels are expected to be increased in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) due to high left atrium (LA) pressure and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) if successful is pursued by a rapid decrease in LA pressure and subsequent decrease in pulmonary artery pressure. The concurrent changes in natriuretic peptide levels could be affected with heart rhythm. METHODS: Forty five patients with severe rheumatic MS undergoing PTMC were enrolled. We evaluated the serum NT-Pro BNP levels before and 24 hours after PTMC. BNP levels were also measured from the blood samples obtained from LA before and 20 minutes after the procedure. Changes in biomarkers were assessed based on heart rhythm and success of the procedure. RESULTS: While serum NT-Pro BNP levels showed significant decrease 24 hours after the procedure (P= 0.04), BNP levels taken 20 minutes after PTMC from LA were similar to their baseline concentrations (P= 0.26). NT-Pro BNP levels decreased 51.7±182.86 pg/ml for sinus rhythm (SR) and 123.4±520 pg/ml for atrial fibrillation (AF) (P= 0.68). CONCLUSION: Immediate changes in BNP levels did not predict the success of procedure probably due to the additional balloon inflation attempts in LA in several patients and half-life of BNP. BNP levels obtained later may be of more value considering the half-life of this marker. Heart rhythm was not found to influence the changes in biomarker levels. BNP and NT-pro BNP changes were not found to predict success of the procedure.

Activated clotting time level with weight based heparin dosing during percutaneous coronary intervention and its determinant factors.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be associated with Thrombotic complications. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is a potent and preferable antithrombotic agent during this procedure. Activated clotting time (ACT) is a good assay for accurate titration of UFH during PCI. The aim of this study was to evaluate ACT levels 10 minutes after administration of 100U/kg IV heparin and determining its associated factors. METHODS: This study was performed in Madani hospital, Tabriz, Iran between January 2013 to January 2014. One hundred and two patients candidates for elective PCI were enrolled in the study. Data including demographic and risk factors were collected. RESULT: The range of ACT was between 165 to 750 seconds (mean 319.8 seconds), 52 (51%) patients had ACT levels lower than 300sec and 12 (11.8%) patients had ACT levels between 300 to 350 seconds which is known optimal range and 38 (37.2%) cases had ACT levels above this value. Major risk factors had no effect on ACT value, but there was a trend to higher levels with increasing age (P=0.06). There was no difference in the rate of major or minor bleeding with respect to ACT levels (P=0.52). There was a trend to higher rate of minimal bleeding in those with ACT >350 sec (P=0.06). CONCLUSION: Weight based UFH injection may result in suboptimal anticoagulation during the procedure. Routine ACT measurement may be necessary to ascertain adequate anticoagulation. Major risk factors had no effect on ACT level and it was not associated with the rate of bleeding.

Difference between Outcome of Left Circumflex Artery and Right Coronary Artery Related Acute Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction in Patients Undergoing Adjunctive Angioplasty after Fibrinolysis.

INTRODUCTION: Prognostic differences between anterior and inferior wall Myocardial Infarction (MI) has been extensively investigated, but there is limited information about similar comparison between inferior wall MI caused by right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex artery (LCX) occlusion. The aim of present study was to compare prognostic differences between LCX- and RCA-related acute inferior wall ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) treated by routine adjunctive angioplasty after receiving thrombolytic therapy (TLT). METHODS: Between March 2012 and June 2013 one hundred fifty consecutive patients with acute inferior wall STEMI were studied. Patients were divided into two groups according to the infarct related artery (LCX vs. RCA). All patients underwent routine adjunctive angioplasty after TLT during the index hospitalization and clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: RCA and LCX arteries were occluded in 97 (64.7%) and 53 (35.3%) of patients, respectively. Two groups were similar in baseline characteristics except multiple-vessel disease was more prevalent with LCX occlusion (p= 0.008). There was a higher cardiac enzyme release (p< 0.001), more significant mitral regurgitation (MR) (p= 0.015), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (p= 0.01) in patients with LCX occlusion. Multivariate analysis showed cTn-I release, occurrence of MR, and lower LVEF as independent factors leading to poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: There were higher cTn-I release, MR occurrence, and lower LVEF in LCX-related acute inferior wall STEMI, all associated with poor outcome. Therefore, patients with ECG finding in favour of LCX occlusion should be considered as high risk and an invasive approach should be planned.

Electrocardiographic P-wave Indices as a Useful Tool to Predict Successful Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvotomy in Patients with Mitral Stenosis.

Introduction : Patients with hemodynamically significant mitral stenosis (MS) have prolonged P-wave duration and increased P-wave dispersion (PWD) that decrease after successful percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (PBMV). The purpose of this study was to investigate if the changes in these indices may predict a successful procedure. Methods : Fifty two patients with MS in sinus rhythm underwent PBMV (90.4% female; mean age 38±10 years). Mitral valve area (MVA), valve score, mean diastolic mitral gradient (mMVG), mitral regurgitation severity, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) were evaluated by echocardiography before PBMV and repeated after one month. P-wave duration (Pmax /Pmin) and PWD were measured before and immediately after PBMV, at discharge, and at the end of the first month after discharge. Results : Among all procedures, 38 (73.1%) were defined as successful. Mean age, valve score, mMVG, and MVA before PBMV were similar for both groups. MVA was significantly greater in the successful PBMV group (1.65±0.27 vs. 1.41±0.22; P= 0.003). sPAP was reduced after PBMV in all patients and there were no significant differences in the mean sPAP before and after PBMV in both successful and unsuccessful groups. Pmax and PWD were significantly decreased immediately after the procedure (P= 0.035), the next day (P= 0.005) and at one month (P= 0.002) only in patients with successful PBMV. Pmin did not change significantly in either group. Conclusion : Only is successful PBMV associated with a decrease in Pmax and PWD. These simple electrocardiographic indices may predict the success of the procedure immediately after PBMV.

Rheumatic aortic regurgitation in a patient with large congenital fenestrations in all three leaflets.

Fenestrations of the aortic valve rarely produce significant valvular regurgitation. These are typically described as incidental findings with little clinical significance because they generally lie above their closing edges. Rarely however, when unusually large or multiple, they can lead to massive aortic regurgitation (AR), mostly in patients with chronic hypertension and/or aortic annular dilation. We operated a 52 year old normotensive male with chronic rheumatic AR and found large fenestrations in all three aortic cusps, hardly ever reported in rheumatic valvular involvement in the literature.

Comparison between covered and bare Cheatham-Platinum stents for endovascular treatment of patients with native post-ductal aortic coarctation: immediate and intermediate-term results.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the outcomes of endovascular treatment with covered versus bare Cheatham-platinum stents (NuMed, Hopkinton, New York) in coarctation of aorta (CoA) patients. BACKGROUND: Covered stenting has been newly recognized as a useful therapeutic method for patients with native CoA, but there has been no study comparing the use of covered stents with bare stents for treating CoA. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 120 patients with a mean age of 23.60 ± 10.99 years (range 12 to 58 years, 79 men), with post-ductal, short-segment, severe native CoA underwent implantation of bare Cheatham-Platinum (bCP) (n = 60) or covered Cheatham-Platinum (cCP) (n = 60) stents. Patients were followed clinically at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the stenting and yearly thereafter. During follow-up, multislice computed tomography (64 slices) was scheduled to assess any complications. RESULTS: The procedural success rate was 100% in both groups. Patients were followed for 31.1 ± 19.2 months. Although recoarctation was seen only in the bCP group during follow-up, the difference between groups did not reach statistical significance (6.7% vs. 0%; p = NS). Two cases of pseudoaneurysm (3.3%) occurred in the cCP group, but none was observed in the bCP group (p = NS). Normotensive status significantly increased during follow-up in both groups (from 15% to 73.3% in the bCP group and 16.7% to 78.3% in the cCP group, p < 0.001 for each group and not significant between groups). CONCLUSIONS: Implanting bCP and cCP stents have very high success rates with remarkable hemodynamic effects in severe native CoA patients. Patients undergoing cCP stent implantation experienced a nonsignificantly lower recoarctation rate and a higher occurrence of pseudoaneurysm formation with respect to bCP stenting during follow-up. These findings indicate that CoA stenting is a safe procedure. (Endovascular Stenting With Covered CP Stent Compared With Bare CP Stent for Adult Patients With Coarctation: The Initial and Intermediate-Term Follow-Up Results; IRCT201012045311N1).