Hospitalization Rates, Prevalence of Cardiovascular Manifestations and Outcomes Associated With Amyloidosis in the United States.

Background Amyloidosis is a multisystem disease characterized by the deposition of misfolded insoluble precursor protein fibrils in several organs including the heart. Cardiac amyloidosis can result in a wide range of complications that may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. However, contemporary data in the United States (US) on cardiac amyloidosis is scarce despite these negative consequences. In view of this lack of contemporary data, we sort to assess the prevalence, trends of hospitalization, and outcomes of cardiovascular manifestations in amyloidosis. We also explored this retrospective data for factors that may be associated with in-hospital mortality of amyloidosis hospitalization. Methods We used the national (nationwide) inpatient sample (NIS) database from January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2014, of adult hospitalizations. We studied the prevalence and trends of hospitalizations of amyloidosis among patient with or without cardiovascular co-morbidities. Results We identified 137,797 amyloidosis hospitalizations from 2007 to 2014 of which 87,164 (63.2%) had cardiovascular manifestations. The overall mean age was 70.3±12 years. There were more males (54.5%) overall. The trend of amyloidosis hospitalizations increased significantly from 2007 through 2014 (34 to 73 per 100,000, Ptrend <0.001) and in-hospital mortality decreased from 8.4 to 6.8 per 100 amyloidosis hospitalizations, Ptrend <0.001). Conclusion Our study showed that hospitalizations of amyloidosis have increased considerably over the past decades with a concurrent decline in in-hospital mortality. Despite this decline and after adjusting for other factors, amyloidosis hospitalization with cardiovascular manifestations was still associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Screening of patients with amyloidosis for cardiovascular manifestations should be more accessible to prevent undesired outcomes.

Bell's Palsy as a Late Neurologic Manifestation of COVID-19 Infection.

Bell's palsy is acute peripheral facial nerve palsy; its cause is often unknown but it can be triggered by acute viral infection. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection commonly presents with respiratory symptoms, but neurologic complications have been reported. A few studies have reported the occurrence of facial nerve palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic. We present a case of Bell's palsy in a 36-year-old man with COVID-19 infection and a past medical history of nephrolithiasis. He presented to the emergency room with a day history of sudden right facial weakness and difficulty closing his right eye four weeks following a diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. Physical examination revealed right lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy (House-Brackmann grade IV). Serologic screen for Lyme disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2 were negative for acute infection; however, neuroimaging with MRI confirmed Bell's palsy. He made remarkable improvement following treatment with a course of valacyclovir and methylprednisolone. This case adds to the growing body of literature on neurological complications that should be considered when managing patients with COVID-19 infection.

Right Ovarian Vein Thrombosis in the Setting of COVID-19 Infection.

Ovarian vein thrombosis is a rare condition associated with the postpartum state, pelvic disease, gynecological surgeries, and other thrombophilic states. We present the first reported case of right ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) in the setting of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) unrelated to pregnancy, pelvic disease, or surgery. This case highlights the breadth of the hypercoagulable state induced by COVID-19. We also put forward the use of novel oral anticoagulants in the case of OVT.

A 62-Year-Old Man with Acute Alcohol Withdrawal and Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome, and left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome. Patients may present with chest pain and electrocardiogram (EKG) changes, but without coronary artery occlusion, and a reduced ejection fraction that may undergo spontaneous reversal if the patient receives appropriate hemodynamic support. This is a case report of stress-induced cardiomyopathy associated with alcohol withdrawal in a 62-year-old man. CASE REPORT We present the case of 62-year-old man who came to the emergency room on account of nausea and vomiting after a reduction in the daily intake of alcohol. He had no chest pain or shortness of breath but had new T wave inversions in anterolateral leads on EKG, elevated troponin, and apical wall hypokinesis with ejection fraction 40% on echocardiography. He subsequently developed active symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and was managed with intravenous Lorazepam and chlordiazepoxide. With the improvement in his mental state over the next couple of days, he had a coronary angiogram which showed no coronary disease. He was diagnosed with stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy due to alcohol withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS This report describes a case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, that was believed to be associated with acute alcohol withdrawal, with spontaneous improvement in the reduced left ventricular ejection fraction following medical support.

Closure of a Prosthetic Mitral Valve Paravalvular Leak Using a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Amplatzer Occluder Device.

BACKGROUND Paravalvular leaks (PVL) are becoming more commonly experienced in clinical practice due to the increasing number of mitral valve replacements performed. There are about 182 000 valve replacements performed annually, with a 5-15% prevalence rate of paravalvular leaks. Due to increased mortality associated with surgical repair, percutaneous transcatheter closure procedures are increasingly being performed as an alternative to repeat surgery. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 52-year-old woman with past medical history of mitral valve endocarditis who developed worsening acute heart failure 1 month after surgical bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement. Transesophageal echocardiography at the time revealed dehiscence of the bioprosthetic mitral valve and severe mitral regurgitation. She subsequently had emergent surgical bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement and annular reconstruction. The post-operative course was complicated by increasing dyspnea and lower-extremity edema, with recurrent pericardial tamponade requiring placement of a pericardial window. Based on her multiple comorbidities, most notably the concomitant right ventricular failure with severe pulmonary hypertension and prior pericardial patch repair with compromise of her mitral valve annulus, she was deemed inoperable for re-do surgery and eventually underwent a successful percutaneous closure of the mitral paravalvular leak with a ventricular septal defect (VSD) Amplatzer occluder device. The patient made good recovery and was discharged home a few days after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS Although use of the Amplatzer VSD occluder device for this indication currently remains off-label, our report supports the use of the VSD occluder device in this subset of patients considering the high mortality rates associated with repeat surgical procedure.

Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia as a Harbinger of Cardiac Amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND Cardiac amyloidosis is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy caused by the extracellular deposition of insoluble precursor protein amyloid fibrils. These depositions of protein amyloid fibrils are found on the atria and ventricles and can cause a wide array of arrhythmias; however, sustained ventricular arrhythmias are quite uncommon. CASE REPORT A 71-year-old man with a history of hypertension developed a sudden onset of shortness of breath, profuse diaphoresis, lightheadedness, and presyncope. Upon emergency medical services' arrival, an initial electrocardiogram revealed wide complex tachycardia with a heart rate of 220 to 230 beats per min. He was subsequently given, in succession, magnesium, adenosine, and amiodarone with no change in heart rate or rhythm. Due to ongoing symptoms of diaphoresis and the development of dyspnea, he underwent direct current cardioversion and was converted from ventricular tachycardia to atrial fibrillation at controlled rates. A transthoracic echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed features suspicious for cardiac amyloidosis. A subsequent 99m technetium pyrophosphate single-photon emission computerized tomography scan revealed a grade 3 visual uptake and a heart-to-contralateral lung ratio of 1.92, consistent with transthyretin amyloidosis. The patient was treated with tafamidis and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for secondary prevention of ventricular arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the need to consider cardiac amyloidosis in the differential diagnoses of patients with persistent ventricular arrhythmia and no prior history of heart disease.

Seasonal Trends in Hospitalization of Attempted Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury in United States Adults.

Introduction  Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States (US) and the prevalence continues to increase. It is estimated that there is an average of 25 attempted suicides for every suicide death in the US, and the economic burden of suicide and attempted suicide is high. Identification of those at risk for suicide and attempted suicide can help with early and prompt intervention. Studies in Europe and Asia have shown that there is a relationship between seasonal patterns and suicidal risk. However, little is known about seasonal patterns of suicidal attempts in the US. Therefore, our study aimed to assess seasonal patterns by days of the week and months of the year in the US. Methods Hospitalized adult patients with suicide attempts and self-inflicted injury were identified using the discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014. We looked at the seasonal trends of patients with attempted suicide and self-inflicted injury by weekday vs weekend and month of the year over the five-year study period. We also assessed two groups, male and female with attempted suicide and compared trends and contributing risk factors over the study period using Student's t-test and chi-square test. Results A total of 249,845 patients with attempted suicide and self-inflicted injury were reported during the study period with a prevalence rate increase of 15%, among which 70% were males, 65.5% white and 38.8% were age 40-64 years. An overall prevalence rate of about 168-200 per 100,000 hospitalizations was reported. There was a higher admission rate on weekends as compared to weekdays (190-300 vs 150-178 per 100,000 hospitalizations). Attempted suicide and self-inflicted injury admissions peaked during the months of July and August with a peak period range of 200-230 per 100,000 hospitalizations in a year. Conclusion The prevalence of attempted suicide is steadily rising. Awareness of the seasonal and epidemiological trends of attempted suicide and self-inflicted injury is a very important step towards developing effective strategies to prevent suicide and attempted suicide.

Trends of Opioid Use Disorder and Associated Factors in Hospitalized Patients With Arthritis.

Introduction Opioid use was primarily limited to acute pain, postsurgical care, and end of life care setting but now is the most prescribed medication for chronic pain. Arthritis is a chronic disease associated with chronic pain. Given limited options for pain relief in the patient population, these patients are often prescribed opioids and are at increased risk of opioid use disorder (OUD). Therefore, our study aimed to identify factors associated with OUD in patients with arthritis. Methods We analyzed hospitalized adult patients with arthritis with and without OUD using discharge data from National Inpatient Sample (NIS) over five years from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014. We looked at trends of OUD in hospitalized patients with arthritis and compared demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with and without OUD using Student's t-test and chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was also used to adjust for variables. Results A total of 21,396,252 arthritis hospitalizations were identified during the five-year study period among which 227,608 had OUD. The prevalence of OUD in arthritis hospitalization increased over the five-year period by 43%. After adjusting for other variables, mental health (OR 2.50 (2.43-2.58)), and substance use (OR 6.39 (6.14-6.66)) disorders were associated with increased odds of OUD. Conclusion The prevalence of OUD among patients with arthritis increased over the five-year study period. Mental health and substance use disorders were associated with increased odds of OUD. More studies are needed to explore alternative pain management options for arthritis patients particularly in those with mental health and substance use disorders.

Predictors and Outcomes of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Opioid Overdose Hospitalization in the United States.

Introduction  Opioid overdose is increasingly becoming common and so is the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for opioid overdose admissions in hospitalized patients. Respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation is the most common reason for the admission of opioid-associated overdose patients. The aim of our study was to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the increased need for IMV in hospitalized opioid overdose patients. Methods  We analyzed all adult admissions (18 years and above) using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for five years from January 1, 2010-December 31, 2014 to identify opioid overdose patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of opioid overdose patients requiring and not requiring mechanical ventilator support and performed univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the odds ratio (OR) of association. Results A total of 2,528,751 opioid overdose patients were identified among which 6.4% required IMV during hospitalization. The prevalence of opioid overdose and the need for IMV increased by 31% and 38%, respectively, over the study period. Multivariate logistic regression (OR (95% CI), p<0.001) determined the following to be associated with increased odds of mechanical ventilator use: (OR 1.12 (1.06-1.19)) among patients aged 25-39 years vs (1.36 (1.28-1.44)) for the age group 40-64 years when compared to 18-24 years; hospital locations in the south US region (OR 1.62 (1.49-1.75)) when compared to the northeast US region; the presence of aspiration pneumonia (OR 14.30 (13.63-15.0)), rhabdomyolysis (3.22 (3.04-3.42)), septic shock (9.15 (8.41-9.97)), and anoxic brain injury (15.5 (13.70-17.50)). Other factors associated with decreased odds of IMV include hepatitis C virus infection (OR 0.75 (0.72-0.79)) and black race (OR 0.68 (0.63-0.74)]. Opioid overdose patients requiring IMV had a higher length of stay by 8.9 ± 0.1 days, higher hospitalization cost by US$ 28,117.81 ± 373.53, and higher in-hospital mortality rate (13.4% vs 0.3%). Conclusion The prevalence of opioid overdose and the need for IMV increased over the five-year study period, reflecting an increase in the relatively high in-hospital mortality of opioid overdose patients on IMV. Patient's age, geographic location, race, and several comorbidities affect the need for invasive mechanical ventilation in hospitalized opioid overdose patients. These findings emphasize the need for a better understanding of these risk factors in creating a strategic approach for hospital care of opioid overdose patients.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Infection in a Patient with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Colonizer or True Infection?

BACKGROUND This article describes a finding of sputum culture positive for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in an elderly woman with past medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypertension, presenting with acute hypoxemic hypercapnic respiratory failure secondary to COPD exacerbation from bronchitis/bronchopneumonia. CASE REPORT Computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed secretions in the lower lobe bronchi and small scattered clustered nodules consistent with bronchitis/mild bronchopneumonia without evidence of pulmonary embolism. A sputum culture was positive for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. She was treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for 10 days. She recovered and was subsequently discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSIONS Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, previously known as a colonizer, is now being recognized as a true respiratory infection, especially in immunocompromised patients and those with chronic diseases like COPD presenting with signs and symptoms of infection. Therefore, early identification and prompt treatment of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection is important for a favorable outcome.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Treated with Direct Coronary Stenting.

BACKGROUND Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare medical emergency characterized by non-traumatic and non-iatrogenic tearing of the intima of a coronary artery, with an estimated incidence of 1-4%. CASE REPORT A 39-year-old woman with no known cardiac risk factors or recent trauma presented with acute chest pain, electrocardiographic (ECG) changes consistent with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, and elevated cardiac enzymes. Coronary angiography revealed near-complete stenosis of the distal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery with findings consistent with coronary artery dissection. Due to ongoing chest pain refractory to medical therapy, she underwent successful complex intervention on the distal LAD lesion with a 2.0×30 mm Onyx drug-eluting stent that was post-dilated to high pressure with a 2.5 noncompliant balloon, reducing the 99% stenosis to a 0% residual. She recovered fully and was discharged on aggressive risk factor modification with dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) and high-intensity statin. CONCLUSIONS Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare condition that can present with ECG changes and ischemic symptoms identical to ST-elevation transmural myocardial infarction secondary to plaque rupture. Coronary angiography is required to evaluate patients, and, depending on the catheterization findings, the patient's hemodynamic profile, and severity of ischemic symptoms, complex interventions such as direct coronary stenting can best treat patients such as ours, while medical management might be considered for others.

High-dose heparin is associated with higher bleeding and thrombosis rates in pediatric patients following cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between unfractionated heparin (UFH) dose and the rate of postoperative bleeding and thrombosis events in pediatric cardiac patients. We tested the hypothesis that high-dose UFH is associated with higher rates of bleeding and thrombosis. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of pediatric patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit following cardiac surgery between November 2016 and December 2017. Peripheral venous thrombosis was excluded from analysis. Bleeding was defined as spontaneous bleeding remote from procedural manipulation. Postoperative UFH dosing strategy was categorized into 3 groups: no UFH, low-dose UFH (<15 U/kg/h) and high-dose UFH (≥15 U/kg/h). Statistical analysis was performed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: We observed 966 consecutive patients (median age, 1.37 years; interquartile range, 0.27-5.50 years) during their stay in the cardiac intensive care unit. There were 94 patients (10%) with bleeding and 52 patients (5%) with thrombosis during follow-up. Patients receiving high-dose UFH experienced significantly more bleeding (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-3.95) and thrombosis events (odds ratio, 3.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.81-7.38) compared with patients receiving low-dose UFH. The odds of bleeding (odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-1.47) and thrombosis (odds ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-1.35) were similar in the low-dose UFH and no-UFH groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bleeding remote from immediate postsurgical bleeding occurs uncommonly in pediatric patients following cardiac surgery. Anticoagulation with high-dose UFH is associated with higher bleeding rates as well as higher thrombosis rates. Indications for high-dose UFH should be carefully considered to reduce the rate of bleeding in this population.

Persistent Exertional Chest Pain in a Marathon Runner: Exercise-induced, Painful, Left Bundle Branch Block Syndrome Treated With His-Bundle Pacing.

A 49-year-old woman presented with exercise-induced chest discomfort during long-distance running that was occasionally present during rest. Significant coronary artery disease was excluded and a diagnosis of "painful left bundle branch block (LBBB) syndrome" was made after correlation of LBBB aberrancy with symptoms during Holter monitoring. The patient underwent confirmatory testing consisting of rapid atrial pacing below and above 130 beats per minute, the rate cut-off for LBBB manifestation. His bundle pacing implantation was performed resulting in both non-selective and selective morphologies depending on output, both of which manifested with a painless narrow QRS regardless of rate. She was rendered completely pain free during long-distance running and remains so 6-months later. Her pain at rest, now thought to be due to severe anxiety secondary to her painful LBBB, has also subsided. Exercise-induced, painful LBBB is a rare phenomenon that manifests as chest discomfort when LBBB is present. This disease is frequently misdiagnosed as coronary angina, has limited medical treatment options, and can be disabling. HBP is an attractive treatment for this syndrome in an effort to avoid electromechanical dyssynchrony, the presumed mechanism of discomfort. This case report adds to the growing literature of painful LBBB syndrome and its effective treatment with HBP, with the added caveat that it can present with persistent symptoms at rest, in the setting of enhanced anxiety. HBP should be considered early on in the treatment of such patients.

An anticoagulation protocol for use after congenital cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease are at high risk for bleeding as well as thrombosis in the postoperative period. The objective of the study was to describe the design and effects of implementing a standardized unfractionated heparin anticoagulation protocol for children after congenital heart surgery. METHODS: We created a tiered guideline for the postoperative management of bleeding and thrombosis. In patients treated with unfractionated heparin, anti-factor Xa activity level as well as activated partial thromboplastin time were used for dose titration. Clinical outcomes, including bleeding and thrombosis events, were prospectively collected for 5 months before and after protocol implementation and adjudicated as either minor, clinically relevant nonmajor, or major. RESULTS: Among 792 surgical patients followed during the study period, a total of 203 patients (87 preimplementation, 116 postimplementation) were treated with therapeutic unfractionated heparin over a total of 1481 patient days. Of these, 28% were neonates and 35% were infants (29 days to 1 year), with a trend toward fewer neonates and lower Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS) scores after protocol implementation. Among 1321 time-matched pairs, activated partial thromboplastin time and antifactor Xa activity levels were poorly correlated (r2 = 0.33). Clinically relevant bleeding events, which required increased medical care, including blood transfusion, decreased after protocol implementation (4.14 vs 1.62 bleeding events per 100 patient-days; risk ratio, 0.39 [0.20-0.75]; P = .005), even after correcting for differences in age and RACHS scores (P = .006). This finding was primarily found after RACHS category 1 to 3 procedures (risk ratio, 0.27 [0.10-0.73]; P = .0099) and in noninfants (risk ratio, 0.25 [0.09-0.65]; P = .005). There were no significant differences in the incidences of major bleeding (P = .88) or any thrombosis (P = .55). CONCLUSIONS: The use of a standardized anticoagulation protocol is feasible and might reduce the incidence of bleeding and thrombosis events in postcardiotomy patients.

Partial thromboplastin time is more predictive of bleeding than anti-Xa levels in heparinized pediatric patients after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin (UFH) after pediatric cardiac surgery can be monitored using either activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) or anti-factor Xa activity (anti-Xa). However, correlation of bleeding with either of these laboratory values has not been established. We sought to determine the correlation between bleeding events and aPTT and anti-Xa in patients who undergo anticoagulation after congenital heart surgery. METHODS: We prospectively studied pediatric patients treated with UFH after cardiac surgery over an 11-month period. Bleeding events were prospectively assessed and adjudicated. The highest aPTT and corresponding anti-Xa for the 24 hours before bleeding events were collected to assess for association with bleeding. Statistical analysis was performed using generalized additive logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 202 patients received UFH over 1488 patient-days. The median age at surgery was 0.4 years (interquartile range, 0.1-2.2). A total of 45 major or clinically relevant bleeding events were observed. The correlation between aPTT and anti-Xa was of moderate strength (R = 0.58; P < .001). The odds of bleeding increased significantly when aPTT exceeded 150 (odds ratio, 1.71 per 10-second increase in aPTT, 95% confidence interval, 1.21-2.42; P = .003). Anti-Xa was not associated with bleeding (odds ratio, 1.11 per 0.1 IU/mL increase, 95% confidence interval, 0.89-1.29; P = .34). CONCLUSIONS: In heparinized pediatric patients after cardiac surgery, increased risk of bleeding is more closely associated with elevated aPTT levels than elevated anti-Xa levels. In addition to anti-Xa, monitoring of aPTT levels should be considered during titration of UFH in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery.

Staged ventricular recruitment in patients with borderline ventricles and large ventricular septal defects.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with borderline ventricles and ventricular septal defects (VSDs) who have previously undergone single ventricle palliation might be candidates for staged ventricular recruitment with the ultimate goal of biventricular conversion. This study aimed to determine the effect of atrial septal defect (ASD) restriction without VSD closure on ventricular growth in patients with borderline right or left ventricles and VSDs. METHODS: Patients with borderline ventricles and VSD who underwent a staged ventricular recruitment procedure with strategies to increase blood flow through hypoplastic ventricle via ASD restriction without VSD closure after single ventricle palliation were retrospectively reviewed. Pre- and postrecruitment ventricular volumes were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients underwent staged ventricular recruitment via ASD restriction without VSD closure at median age of 20.0 months (interquartile range [IQR], 8.0-52.5 months). At a median of 9.0 months (IQR, 8.0-11.8 months) after the recruitment procedure, there were increases in the median indexed ventricular diastolic volume (31.7 mL/m2 [IQR, 24.5-37.1] to 48.5 mL/m2 [IQR, 38.4-58.0; P < .01]), median indexed systolic volume (13.3 mL/m2 [IQR, 9.7-18.7] to 19.5 mL/m2 [IQR, 16.8-29.7]; P < .01), and the median indexed stroke volume (18.4 mL/m2 [IQR, 14.8-21.1] to 28.1 mL/m2 [IQR, 21.3-31.8]; P < .01). Biventricular conversion was ultimately performed in 14 (67%). Two patients died after biventricular conversion. CONCLUSIONS: Staged ventricular recruitment via ASD restriction without VSD closure is associated with growth of the hypoplastic ventricle. In patients who are deemed high-risk for single ventricle, this approach might facilitate eventual biventricular conversion. Further studies are needed to identify optimal candidates for this approach.

Prevention of congenital transmission of malaria in sub-saharan african countries: challenges and implications for health system strengthening.

Objectives. Review of burden of congenital transmission of malaria, challenges of preventive measures, and implications for health system strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods. Literature from Pubmed (MEDLINE), Biomed central, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Database were reviewed. Results. The prevalence of congenital malaria in sub-Saharan Africa ranges from 0 to 23%. Diagnosis and existing preventive measures are constantly hindered by weak health systems and sociocultural issues. WHO strategic framework for prevention: intermittent preventive therapy (IPT), insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and case management of malaria illness and anaemia remain highly promising; though, specific interventions are required to strengthen the health systems in order to improve the effectiveness of these measures. Conclusion. Congenital malaria remains a public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Overcoming the challenges of the preventive measures hinges on the ability of national governments and development partners in responding to the weak health systems.

Job satisfaction among anesthesiologists at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: We assessed job satisfaction among anesthesiologists at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria and identified elements of job stress and dissatisfaction. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed; a structured self-administered questionnaire was distributed, which focused on sociodemographic data, rating of job satisfaction, identification of stressors, and work relationships. RESULTS: Out of 55 questionnaires distributed, 46 (83.6%) completed questionnaires were returned. Overall, 27 (58.7%) of the anesthesiologists were satisfied with their job. While 8.7% were very satisfied (grade 5), 6.5% were very dissatisfied (grade 1) with their job. The stressors identified by the respondents were time pressures, long working hours with complaints of insufficient sleep, and employment status. Among the respondents, the medical officers were the most discontented (9 out of 12, 75%), followed by senior registrars (5 out of 9, 56%). A high percentage of participants (54.1%) declared that the one change if implemented that would enhance their job satisfaction was having a definite closing time. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that despite the demanding nature of anesthesiology as a specialty, many anesthesiologists were contented with their job.

A rural-urban comparison of client-provider interactions in patent medicine shops in South west Nigeria.

The increasing prominence of patent medicine vendors (PMVs) in healthcare provision makes information about how they operate of interest. This study assessed consumers' behavior and PMVs' performance in the treatment of childhood illnesses in rural and urban communities in South West Nigeria. Non-participatory observations were carried out in 163 licensed patent medicine stores in Oyo State, Nigeria. Many PMV shops (70.6% rural and 61.9% urban; p = 0.141); stocked non proprietary drugs. Clients often requested for drugs by name (75.4% urban versus 62.2% rural; p = 0.002) and PMVs mostly sold drugs as requested without questions (65.3% urban 57.8% rural; p = 0.07). Inappropriate treatment practices and invasive procedures were observed more often in urban PMVs shops (p < 0.001). PMVs functioned mostly as sales persons supplying clients' drug requests. Strategies to improve PMV treatment practices should include caregiver education to be effective.