Effectiveness of mechanical circulatory support devices in reversing pulmonary hypertension among heart transplant candidates: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) poses a significant challenge in the selection of candidates for heart transplantation, impacting their eligibility and post-transplant outcomes. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, particularly left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), have emerged as a therapeutic option to manage PH in this patient population. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MCS devices in reversing fixed pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant candidates. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify studies that evaluated the effectiveness of MCS devices in reversing fixed pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant candidates. Data on pulmonary vascular resistance, PH reversal, heart transplant eligibility, and post-transplant outcomes were extracted and synthesized. RESULTS: The review included studies that demonstrated the potential of MCS devices, especially LVADs, to significantly reduce pulmonary vascular resistance and reverse fixed pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant candidates. These findings suggest that MCS devices can improve transplant eligibility and may positively impact post-transplant survival rates. However, the literature also indicates a need for further comparative studies to optimize MCS device selection and treatment protocols. CONCLUSION: MCS devices, particularly LVADs, play a crucial role in the management of fixed pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant candidates, improving their eligibility for transplantation and potentially enhancing post-transplant outcomes. Future research should focus on comparative effectiveness studies to guide clinical decision-making and optimize patient care in this challenging clinical scenario.

The Gulf Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator Registry: Rationale, Methodology, and Implementation.

BACKGROUND: The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is effective in the prevention of sudden cardiac death in high-risk patients. Little is known about ICD use in the Arabian Gulf. We designed a study to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving ICDs in the Arab Gulf region. METHODS: Gulf ICD is a prospective, multi-center, multinational, and observational study. All adult patients 18 years or older, receiving a de novo ICD implant and willing to sign a consent form will be eligible. Data on baseline characteristics, ICD indication, procedure and programing, in-hospital, and 1-year outcomes will be collected. Target enrollment is 1500 patients, which will provide adequate precision across a wide range of expected event rates. RESULTS: Fifteen centers in six countries are enrolling patients (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar). Two-thirds of the centers have dedicated electrophysiology laboratories, and in almost all centers ICDs are implanted exclusively by electrophysiologists. Nearly three-quarters of the centers reported annual ICD implant volumes of ≤150 devices, and pulse generator replacements constitute <30% of implants in the majority of centers. Enrollment started in December 2013, and accrual rate increased as more centers entered the study reaching an average of 98 patients per month. CONCLUSIONS: Gulf ICD is the first prospective, observational, multi-center, and multinational study of the characteristics and, the outcomes of patients receiving ICDs in the Arab Gulf region. The study will provide valuable insights into the utilization of and outcomes related to ICD therapy in the Gulf region.

2015 Oman Heart Association guidelines for the management of hypertension : practical recommendations from the Oman Heart Association (OHA).

Hypertension (HTN) is a major independent risk factor for the development of stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral arterial disease (PAD), heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). HTN is a growing public health problem in Oman, almost certainly the most prevalent modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The risk of CVD in patients with HTN can be greatly reduced with lifestyle modifications and effective antihypertensive therapy. Randomized trials have shown that blood pressure (BP) lowering produces rapid reductions in CV risk. Several studies have shown that the majority of the hypertensive patients remain uncontrolled. It is well established that the observed poor control of the disease is not only related to poor adherence to medications, but also to limited awareness and adherence to evidence-based management of hypertension among physicians. Several guidelines for the management of patients with hypertension have been published. However, the aim of this document is to provide the busy physicians in Oman with more concise and direct approach towards implementing these guidelines into clinical practice.

Carcinoma of unknown primary presenting as large right atrial and ventricular mass secondary to disseminated tumor thrombosis.

We report a 65-year-old male patient who presented with right heart failure and a large mobile right atrial and ventricular mass on echocardiography. His computed tomography demonstrated bilateral supraclavicular/mediastinal lymphadenopathy, right atrial and ventricular mass with right pulmonary artery segmental embolism, and multiple liver hypodense lesions. His tumor markers were negative. However, fine-needle aspiration cytology of supraclavicular lymph node revealed metastatic carcinoma suggestive of squamous cell carcinoma. He was suspected to have carcinoma of unknown primary origin. This case illustrates a rare presentation of carcinoma of unknown primary origin with disseminated tumor thrombosis primarily manifesting in heart and other sites.

2014 Oman Heart Association protocol for the management of acute atrial fibrillation.

Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, there is variation in practice with regard to the management of acute AF among the hospitals and even within the same hospital in Oman. This variation likely reflects a lack of high-quality evidence. Standard guidelines and textbooks do not offer clear evidence-based direction for physicians to guide the management of acute AF. Particularly controversial is the issue of using rhythm control or rate control. This stimulated Oman Heart Association (OHA) to issue a simplified protocol for the management of acute AF to be applied by the entire cardiac caregivers all over the country. The priorities for acute management of AF include stabilizing the patient's hemodynamic status, symptom control, treatment of the underlying and precipitating cause, and more importantly protecting the brain.

Clinical Pathways for Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome in Oman: An Oman Heart Association Protocol for Hospital Quality Improvement Initiative.

In 2012, Oman Heart Association (OHA) published its own guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, the aim was not to be comprehensive but rather simplified and practical in order to reduce the gap between the long comprehensive guidelines and our actual practice. However, we still feel that the busy registrars and residents need simpler and direct clinical pathways or protocol to be used in the emergency departments, coronary care units and in the wards. Clinical pathways are now one of the main tools used to manage the quality in healthcare concerning the standardization of care processes. It has been shown that their implementation reduces the variability in clinical practice and improves outcomes in acute care.

Licorice-induced severe hypokalemia with recurrent torsade de pointes.

A 38-year-old obese woman presented with recurrent polymorphic ventricular tachycardia secondary to persistent hypokalemia necessitating more than 40 DC shocks. All endocrine investigations for hypokalemia were negative with impression of "mysterious hypokalemia." On repeated inquiry, a hidden history of licorice use was elicited causing persistent hypokalemia. The case highlights a life threatening complication of licorice use. In addition, it reiterates the importance of repeated history taking in a patient with undiagnosed hypokalemia and torsade de pointes which avoided a device therapy.

Atrial fibrillation with wide QRS tachycardia and undiagnosed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas in a pediatric patient.

A 10-year-old girl presented to the emergency department of a regional hospital with 1 episode of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Postictal monitoring followed by a 12-lead electrocardiogram showed fast atrial fibrillation with intermittent wide QRS regular tachycardia. Immediately following this, her rhythm changed to wide QRS irregular tachycardia without hemodynamic compromise. She was suspected to have ventricular tachycardia and was treated with intravenous amiodarone with cardioversion to sinus rhythm. Subsequent electrocardiogram in sinus rhythm showed typical features of manifest Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) accessory pathway. This case illustrates the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas in patients with atrial fibrillation, wide QRS tachycardia, and undiagnosed WPW syndrome with antidromic conduction of atrial arrhythmias through the accessory pathway. Furthermore, this case demonstrates that undiagnosed wide QRS tachycardias need to be treated with drugs acting on the accessory pathway, thus keeping in mind underlying WPW syndrome as a possibility to avoid potentially catastrophic events.

2012 Oman Heart Association simplified guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Although current practice guidelines provide an evidence-based approach to the management of acute coronary syndromes, application of the evidence by individual physicians has been suboptimal. This gap between comprehensive guidelines and actual practice stimulated Oman Heart Association to issue a simplified series for the management of the common cardiac abnormalities to be applied by the entire cardiac caregivers all over the country. This simplified approach for the management of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome provides a practical and systematic means to implement evidence-based medicine into clinical practice.

Outcome after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients with Brugada syndrome: the Gulf Brugada syndrome registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Among patients with Brugada syndrome (BS) and aborted cardiac arrest, syncope, or inducible ventricular fibrillation at electrophysiologic study (EPS), the only currently recommended therapy is an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), but these are not without complications. We assessed the total number of shocks (appropriate and inappropriate) and complications related to ICD in patients with BS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-five patients implanted with ICD for BS in 6 Gulf centers between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2010, were reviewed. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator indication was based on aborted cardiac arrest (24%), syncope (56%), or in asymptomatic patients with positive EPS (20%). During a follow-up of 41.2 ± 17.6 months, 3 patients (all with prior cardiac arrest) had appropriate device therapy. Four patients developed complications; 3 of them had inappropriate shocks. CONCLUSION: In our cohort, appropriate device therapy was limited to cardiac arrest survivors, whereas none of those with syncope and/or positive EPS had arrhythmias. Overall complication rate was relatively high, including inappropriate ICD shocks.