Lack of awareness of secondary rheumatic prevention in preoperative candidates for mitral valve surgery - alarming situation.

BACKGROUND: We conducted this study to assess the compliance with secondary rheumatic prophylaxis among preoperative patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease undergoing valvular heart surgery at a tertiary care cardiac hospital in a developing country. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care cardiac hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. The inclusion criteria encompassed patients of any sex, aged between 18 and 80 years, who had been diagnosed with rheumatic mitral valve disease through transthoracic echocardiography and had undergone valvular heart surgery. The level of compliance with secondary rheumatic prophylaxis and barriers toward noncompliance was assessed during routine preoperative interview session. This preventive measure plays a crucial role in reducing the progression of the disease and improving patient outcomes. RESULTS: Out of the 239 patients included in the study, 125 (52.3%) were females, with a mean age of 38.8 ± 11.8 years. The majority of patients (88.7%) came from rural areas. Among the patients, 79 (33.1%) received rheumatic prophylaxis, while 160 (66.9%) did not adhere to it regularly. The common barriers for receiving rheumatic prophylaxis were non availability (41.0%) and nonaffordability (40.6%). Additionally, 28.0% of patients had lacked awareness of the importance of rheumatic prophylaxis, and 2.5% expressed fear of injection site pain and subsequent symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A concerning level of noncompliance with secondary rheumatic prophylaxis was observed. The barriers identified in patients who did not receive rheumatic prophylaxis were primarily related to affordability, availability, lack of awareness, and fear of injection site pain and subsequent symptoms.

Unfolding the reality of the smoking paradox in a South Asian cohort of patients presenting with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: Smoking is a potent risk factor for coronary artery disease, but there is controversy about its protective nature in terms of prognosis in ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. So, the main objective of this study is to unfold this controversy in a South Asian population in terms of clinical angiographic parameters and its in-hospital outcomes. Methods: In this study, we included 1756 consecutive patients diagnosed with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were classified into smokers and non-smokers, and the in-hospital mortality rate was compared. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the paradoxical role of smoking. Results: Smokers were younger (53.78 ± 11.16 years vs 56.43 ± 11.17 years; p < 0.001) and more frequently men (98.7% vs 69.9%; p < 0.001) and had less diabetes (19.6% vs 44.8%; p < 0.001) and hypertension (38.5% vs 64.9%; p < 0.001). Smokers presented less frequently in Killip III (5.6% vs 8.1%; p < 0.001) and Killip IV (2.5% vs 4.8%; p < 0.001). Smokers mostly had single vessel disease (41.7% vs 34.4%; p = 0.013), whereas non-smokers had the multi-vessel disease and frequently presented with total occlusion of the culprit vessel (64.6% vs 58.8%; p = 0.040). Smokers have significantly lesser mortality (1.8% vs 4.3%; p = 0.009) compared to non-smokers with an odds ratio of 0.41 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21-0.82, p = 0.011); however, adjusted odds ratio on multivariable analysis was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.31-1.41, p = 0.290). Conclusions: The paradoxical protective role of smoking is the confounding effect of mainly younger age, less coronary artery disease burden, lower prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, and lower Killip III/IV at presentation.

Age and gender-based categorization of very premature, premature, and non-premature acute myocardial infarction: A comparison of clinical and angiographic profile and in-hospital outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to assess and compare the distribution of demographic and clinical characteristics and composite adverse clinical outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among "very premature", "premature", and "non-premature" patients with "ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS)" presented at a tertiary care center. METHODS: We included consecutive patients diagnosed with STE-ACS undergoing primary PCI. The "very premature" was defined as ≤40 years for males and ≤ 45 years for females, "premature" as <55 years for males and < 65 years for females, and "non-premature" as ≥55 years for males and ≥ 65 years for females. Clinical characteristics, angiographic patterns, and hospital course were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: In a sample of 4686 patients, 78.8%(3691) were male, and the average age was 55.6 ± 11 years. In total, 12%(561) were categorized as very premature, 38.3%(1797) as premature, and 49.7%(2328) as non-premature. The distribution of clinical characteristics in very premature, premature, and non-premature groups were as follows; hypertension in 44.6% vs. 53.5% vs. 54.9%; p < 0.001, diabetes in 30.3% vs. 36.8% vs. 35.5%; p = 0.018, smoking in 29.6% vs. 23.3% vs. 26.3%; p = 0.005, obesity in 19.4% vs. 18.4% vs. 15.3%; p = 0.008, single vessel diseases in 58.8% vs. 37.8% vs. 28.8%; p < 0.001, and composite adverse clinical outcomes in 14.1% vs. 16.7% vs. 21.8%; p < 0.001, respectively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we have a substantial burden of premature STE-ACS. Very premature STE-ACS was found to be associated with a better prognosis, but a substantial burden of composite adverse clinical outcomes was also observed.

Increasing Incidence of ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome in Young South Asian Population, a Challenge for the World? An Assessment of Clinical and Angiographic Patterns and Hospital Course of Premature Acute Myocardial Infarction.

The incidence of premature ischemic heart disease (IHD) is increasing because of urbanization, a sedentary lifestyle, and various other unexplored factors, especially in South Asia. This study aimed to assess the distribution of premature ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS) with its clinical and angiographic pattern along with hospital course in a contemporary cohort of patients who underwent primary percutaneous intervention at a tertiary care center in the South Asian region. We included consecutive patients of either gender diagnosed with STE-ACS and who underwent primary percutaneous intervention. Patients were stratified based on age as ≤40 years (young) and >40 years (old). Clinical characteristics, angiographic patterns, and hospital course were compared between the 2 groups. Of the total of 4,686 patients, 466 (9.9%) were young (≤40 years). Young patients had a lower prevalence of hypertension (40.8% vs 54.5%, p <0.001), diabetes (26.6% vs 36.4%, p <0.001), metabolic syndrome (14.8% vs 24%, p <0.001), history of IHD (5.8% vs 9.3%, p = 0.013) and a higher frequency of smoking (33% vs 24.7%, p <0.001), positive family history (8.2% vs 3.2%, p <0.001), and single-vessel involvement (60.1% vs 33.2%, p <0.001). The composite adverse clinical outcome occurrence was significantly lower in young patients (14.2% vs 19.5%, p = 0.006). On multivariable analysis, history of IHD in young, whereas age, Killip class III/IV, intubated, arrhythmias on arrival, diabetes, history of IHD, pre-procedure left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, ejection fraction <40%, and slow flow/no-reflow during the procedure were found to be the independent predictors of adverse clinical outcome in old patients. In conclusion, we have a substantial burden of premature STE-ACS, mostly in male patients potentially driven by smoking and positive family history. Despite favorable pathophysiology, with mostly single-vessel hospital courses of STE-ACS in the young equally lethal in nature.

Timi Risk Index, A Simple Tool In Emergency Percutaneous Revascularization For The Prediction Of Contrast Induced Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) is a common complication seen after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) which can contribute to increased morbidity and mortality in patients of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Aim of this study was to validate the TIMI Risk Index (TRI) for the risk stratification of CIN in patients undergone primary PCI. METHODS: Consecutive patients of STEMI undergone primary PCI at a tertiary care cardiac center were included for this study. Patients in Killip class IV at presentation, patients with history of any PCI and chronic kidney diseases were excluded from this study. TRI was calculated using the formula " " and post-procedure serum creatinine level increase of either 25% or 0.5 mg/dL was taken as CIN. RESULTS: A total of 507 patients were included in this study out of which 82.2% were males and 17.8% were females. In total 8.7% (44) patients developed CIN. In the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, area under the curve (AUC) for TRI was found to be 0.717, [0.649-0.758] for the prediction of CIN. Sensitive, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of TRI >22.8 to predict the development of CIN were 59.09%, 76.69%, 19.55% and 95.19% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TIMI risk index is and easy to calculate and readily accessible score which has good predictive value to evaluate the risk of CIN in primary PCI setting.

Comparison of Intracoronary Epinephrine and Adenosine for No-Reflow in Normotensive Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome (COAR Trial).

BACKGROUND: Intracoronary epinephrine has been effectively used in treating refractory no-reflow, but there is a dearth of data on its use as a first-line drug in normotensive patients in comparison to the widely used adenosine. METHODS: In this open-labeled randomized clinical trial, 201 patients with no-reflow were randomized 1:1 into intracoronary epinephrine as the treatment group and intracoronary adenosine as the control group and followed for 1 month. The primary end points were improvement in coronary flow, as assessed by TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) flow, frame counts, and myocardial blush. Secondary end points were in-hospital and short-term mortality and major adverse cardiac events. RESULTS: In all, 101 patients received intracoronary epinephrine and 100 patients received adenosine. Epinephrine was generally well tolerated with no immediate table death or ventricular fibrillation. No-reflow was more effectively improved with epinephrine with final TIMI III flow (90.1% versus 78%, P=0.019) and final corrected TIMI frame count (24±8.43 versus 26.63±9.22, P=0.036). However, no significant difference was observed in final grade III myocardial blush (55.4% versus 45%, P=0.139), mean reduction of corrected TIMI frame count (-25.71±11.79 versus -26.08±11.71, P=0.825), in-hospital and short-term mortality, and major adverse cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: Epinephrine is relatively safe to use in no-reflow in normotensive patients. A significantly higher frequency of post-treatment TIMI III flow grade and lower final corrected TIMI frame count with relatively better achievement of myocardial blush grade III translate into it displaying relatively better efficacy than adenosine. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04699110.

CHA2DS2-VASc, a Simple Clinical Score Expanding Its Boundaries to Predict Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

OBJECTIVE: Promising results of CHA2DS2-VASc score have been reported for the prediction of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, data of its predictive strength in the context of primary PCI are not available. Therefore, in this study, we have assessed predictive value of CHA2DS2-VASc score for CI-AKI after primary PCI. METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2021 and June 2021 at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, Pakistan. Inclusion criteria of the study was consecutive adult patients who had undergone primary PCI. Baseline CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated, and either a 25% or 0.5 mg/dL increase in post-procedure serum creatinine level as compared to baseline level was categorized as CI-AKI. RESULTS: A total of 691 patients were included, of which 82.1% (567) were male. CI-AKI after primary PCI was observed in 63 (9.1%) patients, out of which 66.7% (42) of patients had CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥2. The area under the curve (AUC) for the score was 0.725 [0.662 to 0.788] with a sensitivity and specificity of 66.7% [63.1% to 70.2%] and 66.7% [53.7% to 78.1%], respectively, at a cut-off value of ≥2. In multivariable analysis, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30% and CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2 were found to be independent predictors with adjusted odds ratios of 2.19 [1.06-4.5] and 2.13 [1.13-4.01], respectively. CONCLUSION: CHA2DS2-VASc score has a good predictive value for the prediction of CI-AKI after primary PCI. Criteria of CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2 can be used for the risk stratification of CI-AKI after primary PCI.

Radial or femoral access in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): Does the choice matters?

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted with the aim of providing a quantitative appraisal of clinical outcomes of trans-radial access for primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in patients with ST-segment evaluation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: In this study, we compared two propensity-matched cohorts of patients who underwent primary PCI via trans-radial (TRA) and trans-femoral access (TFA) in a 1:1 ratio. The profile of two cohorts was matched for gender, age, and body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, family history, and smoking. The outcomes of primary PCI were compared for the two cohorts which included all-cause in-hospital mortality, heart failure, re-infarction, cardiogenic shock, bleeding, transfusion, cerebrovascular accident, and dialysis. RESULTS: This analysis was performed on a total of 2316 patients with 1158 patients each in the TRA and TFA group. We observed significantly lower rates of mortality, 0.8% (9) vs. 3.5% (41); p < 0.001 and bleeding, 0.5% (6) vs.1.6% (19); p = 0.009 with shorter hospital stay, 1.61 ± 1.39 vs. 1.98 ± 1.5 days, in trans-radial vs. trans-femoral. However, both fluoroscopic time and contrast volume were significantly higher in the TRA as compared to TFA group 15.57 ± 8.16 vs. 12.79 ± 7.82 min; p < 0.001 and 143.22 ± 45.33 vs. 133.78 ± 45.97; p < 0.001 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TFA access, TRA for primary PCI is safe for patients with STEMI, it was found to be associated with a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality and bleeding complications.

Comparative assessment of clinical profile and outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in young patients with single vs multivessel disease.

BACKGROUND: Even though percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improved the survival of patients with acute myocardial infarction, still multivessel coronary artery disease remains an important factor burdening prognosis and it is being associated with a worse prognosis compared to single-vessel disease (SVD). AIM: To compare the clinical profile and outcomes after the primary PCI in young patients with SVD vs multivessel disease (MVD). METHODS: The retrospective cohort of patients were divided into two groups: SVD and MVD group. The study population consisted of both male and female young (≤ 45 years) patients presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Karachi, Pakistan and undergone primary PCI from 1st July 2017 to 31st March 2018. Pre and post-procedure management of the patients was as per the guidelines and institutional protocols. RESULTS: A total of 571 patients with STEMI, ≤ 45 years were stratified into two groups by the number of vessels involved, 342 (59.9%) with SVD and 229 (40.1%) with MVD. The average age of these patients was 39.04 ± 4.86 years. A lower prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was observed in SVD as compare to MVD group (25.1% vs 38%, P < 0.01; 11.7% vs 27.5%, P < 0.001) respectively. While, smoking was more prevalent among the SVD group as compare to MVD group (36.3% vs 28.4%, P = 0.05). The high-C Lesion was observed in a significantly higher number of younger patients with MVD as compared to SVD group (48.8% vs 39.2%, P = 0.021). Post-procedure thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade was found to be not associated with the number of diseased vessels with a P value of 0.426 and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade III was observed in 98% vs 96.5% of the patients is SVD vs MVD group. CONCLUSION: The MVD comprised of around 40% of the young patients presented with STEMI. Also, this study shows that diabetes and hypertension have a certain role in the pathogenesis of multivessel diseases, therefore, preventive measures for diabetes and hypertension can be effective strategies in reducing the burden of premature STEMI.

Safety of primary percutaneous coronary intervention with and without (selective) thrombus aspiration.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of selective thrombus aspiration during Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). METHODS: This observational prospective study was conducted in the catheterization laboratory of a tertiary care cardiovascular centre. A total of 150 consecutive patients who underwent primary PCI were enrolled. Aspiration was done only when thrombus burden was considered significant. After completion of procedure angiographic and electrocardiographic signs were recorded and clinical follow up was documented up to 1 year. RESULTS: No significant difference among the groups was found in age, height, weight and other risk factors like Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and Smoking. In general, left anterior descending artery was culprit in - 65% of patients and more than 90% of culprit vessels had visible thrombus. Multivessel disease was present in 38% of patients and 22.7% had past history of myocardial infarction. Out of 150 patients 117 (78%) underwent thrombus aspiration. No significant difference was found in ST resolution within 60 minutes (72.6 vs 81.8%; P < 0.285) and myocardial blush grade II & III (41.9 vs 27.3%; P < 0.128). No difference in event free survival was observed among the two groups (80.3 vs 84.8%; P < 0.708) at one year. CONCLUSION: Selective thrombus aspiration in definite thrombus laden arteries and no aspiration in low or negligible thrombus burden vessels may be a safe and effective strategy in patients undergoing primary PCI. Overall poor risk profile of our patients as compared to western population necessitates further evaluation of this matter in randomized studies.

Outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention at public sector tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the outcome of Primary Precutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in our setup and compare the results with the west. METHODS: This study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching Hospital (National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Karachi, Pakistan) during January 1st, 2008 to December 31st, 2008. A total of 113 patients were enrolled who came with STEMI and agreed to go for Primary PCI. We excluded the patients who had history of Thrombolytic therapy within 24 hours, presented with Non ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) and coronary angiogram revealed significant left Main or equivalent disease. All Patients received Aspirin, Clopidogrel and Platelet Glycoprotein IIB IIIA Inhibitor. After Primary PCI patients were planned to follow at one month, 3 months and 6 months. Primary end point was to document death, MI, CABG and rehospitalization. RESULTS: Out of 113 cases, 102 (90.3%) were male and 11 (9.7%) were female, Mean age was 51.2 +/- 11.7 years, 54 (47.8%) patients had Hypertension, 28 (24.8%) were Diabetics and 44 (38.9%) were Smokers. Immediate success was achieved in 111 (98.2%) cases. In hospital mortality was 5.3% (3.5% in cardiogenic shock, 1.7% in non-shock patients). Mean Door to Balloon time remained 98.4 minutes. Twelve patients were lost to follow up. Therefore at 6 months, out of 101 patients, 8 (7.9%) died, 5 (4.9%) underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery and 5 (4.9 %) had been re-hospitalized either for recurrent myocardial infarction or heart failure. CONCLUSION: Optimal results of primary percutaneous coronary intervention can be achieved for acute STEMI in a developing country at a tertiary care public sector hospital. The results are comparable and nearly similar to the west.

Undefeatable coronary lesion.

We report a case in which a calcification in mid left anterior descending (LAD) artery was not apparent initially on angiogram and stenting was done after inappropriate predilation resulting in underexpansion of stent. High pressure inflation, buddy wire technique, scoring and cutting balloon inflation failed to achieve the full expansion of stent.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) successfully applied in one patient in same sitting.

Sixty years old male with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), presented with dyspnoea New York Heart Association (NHYA) class III to IV. Coronary angiogram revealed severe occlusive coronary artery disease in left anterior coronary artery (LAD). Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Commissurotomy (PTMC) and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) of Left Anterior Descurery (LAD) were done in same sitting. Both procedures were successful and ended without complication. After, half an hour while shifting to coronary care unit (CCU) patient developed cardiac tamponade, which was managed successfully. Patient was followed up for three month, he is doing well and recent echocardiogram showed mild mitral stenosis with normal left ventricular function. This case demonstrates the feasibility of the combined appliance on interventional techniques in selected patients as an alternative to cardiac surgery.