Management of patent foramen ovale in embolic stroke of undetermined source patients: Malaysian experts' consensus.

INTRODUCTION: About 20 to 40% of ischaemic stroke causes are cryptogenic. Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is a subtype of cryptogenic stroke which is diagnosed based on specific criteria. Even though patent foramen ovale (PFO) is linked with the risk of stroke, it is found in about 25% of the general population, so it might be an innocent bystander. The best way to treat ESUS patients with PFO is still up for discussion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Therefore, based on current evidence and expert opinion, Malaysian expert panels from various disciplines have gathered to discuss the management of ESUS patients with PFO. This consensus sought to educate Malaysian healthcare professionals to diagnose and manage PFO in ESUS patients based on local resources and facilities. RESULTS: Based on consensus, the Malaysian expert recommended PFO closure for embolic stroke patients who were younger than 60, had high RoPE scores and did not require long-term anticoagulation. However, the decision should be made after other mechanisms of stroke have been ruled out via thorough investigation and multidisciplinary evaluation. The PFO screening should be made using readily available imaging modalities, ideally contrasttransthoracic echocardiogram (c-TTE) or contrasttranscranial Doppler (c-TCD). The contrast-transesophageal echocardiogram (c-TEE) should be used for the confirmation of PFO diagnosis. The experts advised closing PFO as early as possible because there is limited evidence for late closure. For the post-closure follow-up management, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for one to three months, followed by single antiplatelet therapy (APT) for six months, is advised. Nonetheless, with joint care from a cardiologist and a neurologist, the multidisciplinary team will decide on the continuation of therapy.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: A case of missed diagnosis in a neonate.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a congenital vascular abnormality that can cause persistent cyanosis in children. PAVMs can go undetected till adulthood; however, there have been several neonatal cases reported over the years. This case report describes a classical manifestation of a child with isolated PAVM whose diagnosis was likely missed during the neonatal period. A high level of clinical awareness of this condition is crucial as early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can prevent lifethreatening complications and mortality. Diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography and percutaneous transcatheter embolotherapy resulted in complete resolution of symptoms.

Predictors of acute neurological complication following tetralogy of Fallot operation in Serdang Hospital, Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: The long waiting time for Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) operation may potentially increase the risk of hypoxic insult. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the frequency of acute neurological complications following primary TOF repair and to identify the peri-operative risk factors and predictors for the neurological sequelae. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical and surgical notes of 68 patients who underwent TOF repair in Hospital Serdang, from January 2013 to December 2017 was done. Univariate and multivariate analyses of demographics and perioperative clinical data were performed to determine the risk for the development of acute neurological complications (ANC) among these patients. RESULTS: ANC was reported in 13 cases (19.1%) with delirium being the most common manifestation (10/68, 14.7%), followed by seizures in 4 (5.9%) and abnormal movements in two patients (2.9%). Univariate analyses showed that the presence of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, prolonged duration of inotropic support (≥7 days), prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation (≥7 days), longer length of ICU stays (≥7 days), and longer length of hospital stay (≥14 days), were significantly associated with the presence of ANCs (p<0.05). However, multivariate analyses did not show any significant association between these variables and the development of ANC (p>0.05). The predictors for the development of postoperative delirium were pre-operative oxygen saturation less than 75% (Odds Ratio, OR=16.90, 95% Confidence Interval, 95%CI:1.36, 209.71) and duration of ventilation of more than 7 days (OR=13.20, 95%CI: 1.20, 144.98). CONCLUSION: ANC following TOF repair were significantly higher in patients with RV dysfunction, in those who required a longer duration of inotropic support, mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital stay. Low pre-operative oxygen saturation and prolonged mechanical ventilation requirement were predictors for delirium which was the commonest neurological complications observed in this study. Hence, routine screening for delirium using an objective assessment tool should be performed on these high-risk patients to enable accurate diagnosis and early intervention to improve the overall outcome of TOF surgery in this country.

Transcatheter Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus: The Penang Hospital's Experience.

Transcatheter closure of small and moderate sizes of Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a standard and well accepted form of treatment. The aim of this study is to describe the experience of transcatheter closure of PDA in Penang Hospital. All patients who underwent transcatheter closure of PDA at our institution between 20th January 2006 and 27th June 2008 were retrospectively identified and studied. There were a total of 66 patients who had undergone transcatheter closure of PDA during this period which comprised of 24 male and 42 female. The PDA was closed by Amplatzer Duct Occluder (ADO) in 31 patients, Gianturco coil in 29 patients and other types of devices in 6 patients. There were 4 patients (6%) who had developed acute complication during the procedure (3 of them developed coil embolization and 1 had bleeding from puncture site). The PDA was successfully close in 95.5% of the study population without any residual PDA shunting. All the patients were alive but 5 of them (4.5%) have some abnormalities (2 has mild left pulmonary stenosis, 3 has small residual). Comparison between ADO and Gianturco coil revealed no significant difference in the outcome. Transcatheter closure of PDA has proven to be safe and effective with good midterm outcome. There was no significant difference between Amplatzer Ductal Occluder and Gianturco coil in term of the outcome.