Impact of prosthetic heart valves on pregnancy in Bangladeshi women.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated pregnancy outcome in women with a prosthetic heart valve, especially with the oral anticoagulation therapy that must be weighed against the risk of intracardiac thrombosis. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study was undertaken between January 2012 and June 2017. The principal maternal outcome variables included bleeding and thromboembolic complications, infective endocarditis, prosthetic valve thrombosis and heart failure. However, the main foetal outcome variables included miscarriage, mortality, preterm baby, warfarin embryopathy, low birthweight and the mode of delivery. RESULTS: A total of 265 pregnancies in women with prosthetic heart valves were evaluated in two groups: Group I (n = 182) covers a mechanical valve, while Group II (n = 82) covers a bioprosthetic valve. The mean age of the patients was 25.2 ± 2.5 years and 24.5 ± 5.2 years in Group I and Group II, respectively. Approximately 80% of the patients had normal echocardiography findings. However, Group I (mechanical prostheses) has a higher incidence (11.54%) of thrombus formation in comparison with the bioprostheses. Hemorrhagic complications and spontaneous miscarriage were statistically significant (p⩽0.05) between the study groups. However, normal pregnancy outcome (91.57%) was significantly higher (p⩽0.05) in Group II compared to Group I (61.54%). Mean birthweight and mean APGAR score were found normal in both study groups. Only 2.75% of patients have warfarin embryopathy in Group I. Furthermore, comparison of SF-36 scores for HRQOL (Health-Related Quality of Life) before and after pregnancy were statistically insignificant among the study population. CONCLUSION: Proper antenatal care and early risk stratification are the fundamental measures to improve the maternal and foetal outcomes in a patient with a prosthetic heart valve.

Bangladeshi Atherosclerosis Biobank and Hub: The BANGABANDHU Study.

Background: Genetic factors contribute significantly to the risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD), which is the leading cause of mortality in Bangladesh. The BANGABANDHU (Bangladeshi Atherosclerosis Biobank AND Hub) study will allow a hypothesis-free genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic risk factors associated with ischaemic heart disease patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in Bangladesh. Methods:  This is a multi-centre population-based case-control study aimed to evaluate 1500 (Fifteen Hundred) adult (≥18 years of age) people divided into 2 study groups: Case/Proband (750 IHD patients undergoing CABG surgery) and Control (750 healthy people). Spouses or family members are preferred as healthy control subjects due to their shared geographic location and similar environmental exposure. Results: This will be the first largest DNA repository of CABG patients in Bangladesh, and identifying novel gene loci among CABG patients might help to discover novel therapeutic targets for Bangladeshi IHD patients. Further, identifying and comparing novel gene loci among CABG patients with other ancestry might help devise national guidelines for treating coronary artery disease. Conclusion: Promising current study results will encourage Bangladeshi researchers and pharmaceutical companies to conduct further studies into the genetic basis of Bangladeshi complex coronary artery disease, which might identify novel genes for therapeutic targets for Bangladeshi patients and strengthen the healthcare standards in Bangladesh.

Prevalence of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Following Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in Elderly Patients.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the frequent complications following coronary artery bypass surgery. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) can lead to thromboembolic events and prolong hospital stays. We aimed to determine the prevalence of POAF following off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) in the elderly population.  Materials and Methods  This cross-sectional study was carried out between May 2018 to April 2020. Elderly patients (age ≥65 years) admitted for isolated elective OPCAB were eligible for the study. A total of 60 elderly patients were evaluated based on the preoperative and intraoperative risk factors and postoperative outcomes during the hospital stay. Results The mean age was 67.83±4.06 years, and the prevalence of POAF in elderly adults was 48.3%. The mean number of grafts was 3.20±0.73, and ICU stays at 3.43±1.61 days. The mean duration of the hospital stays was 10.03±2.12 days. Although stroke developed in 1.7% of post-CABG patients, no mortality was observed postoperatively. Conclusion  POAF is one of the commonly encountered complications following OPCAB. Though OPCAB is a superior revascularization procedure, preoperative planning and attention are especially needed in the elderly to reduce the prevalence of POAF.

Computed Tomography-Based Angiographic Evaluation of Graft Patency Rate After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in Bangladesh.

Background This study aims to assess the graft patency rate following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using noninvasive CT angiography.  Materials and methods A total of 68 patients were retrospectively evaluated with CT angiography (group I: 34 patients with coronary endarterectomy (CE) and group II: 34 patients without CE). CE was performed in multi-segmental diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) or when calcified or extremely thick plaques made anastomosis troublesome. A team of two experts, an interventional radiologist and a cardiac surgeon, did the evaluations of graft patency rate. Results A total of 205 bypass grafts were evaluated in 68 post-CABG status patients (110 grafts in group I and 95 grafts in group II; moreover, 82 were arterial and 123 were venous grafts). Post CABG, CT angiography demonstrated a graft patency rate of about 90% in both study groups at five years follow up, which was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05) in terms of graft patency rate. Following CE, five-year angina-free survival rates were 89% and 91% in groups I and II, respectively. Conclusion CABG surgery with endarterectomy is reliable and effective. It achieves the desired surgical myocardial revascularization in patients with diffuse calcified CAD having no alternative options for adequate myocardial revascularization.

Comparison of traditional and upper thoracic epidural analgesia after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A Quasi-experimental study.

Background and Aims: Surgical trauma initiates changes in central and peripheral nervous systems that need to be treated therapeutically to facilitate postoperative pain. The quality of postoperative analgesia is expected to affect clinical outcomes positively. Albeit optimal pain relief following cardiac surgery is often complex, researchers have tried to explore several techniques other than conventional ones during the last decade to find a unique analgesic method for postcardiac surgical patients. This study aims to find a unique analgesic approach that maximizes patient satisfaction after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCABG) surgery. Methods: The current study will compare the analgesic effect of upper thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) with conventional analgesia after OPCAB graft surgery. For this, we will use a Quasi-experimental study design. Patients admitted for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery will be assigned into two groups. The control group (conventional) will receive intravenous opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and the study (case) group (TEA) will receive Inj. Bupivacaine 0.25% as an infusion through the epidural catheter. Physiologic parameters like hemodynamic and respiratory variables and pain scores will be recorded in predesigned format periodically. Results: We expect to analyze a total of 130 consecutive off-pump CABG surgery patients in Group A (Case, 65 patients) and Group B (Control, 65 patients). Study variables will be the visual analog scale score, hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiratory parameters (respiratory rate, PaO2, PaCO2, PEFR, FEV1). After data collection, the result will be analyzed and published in the public domain and in journals. Conclusion: We expect thoracic epidural analgesia with local anesthetics will be a reliable postoperative analgesic option.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Analysis of Carotid Stenosis Among Ischaemic Heart Diseases Patient in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of carotid stenosis among ischaemic heart disease (IHD) patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and identify risk factors associated with carotid stenosis at a tertiary-level hospital in Bangladesh. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 200 IHD patients scheduled for isolated and elective CABG surgery, and multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the impact of independent variables on carotid stenosis with coronary artery disease. A vascular surgeon and sonographer assessed carotid stenosis, and the severity of stenosis was classified according to the current Grayscale and Doppler US diagnosis models. Results: We observed that the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis was 13.5%, and the male was significantly higher (85.2%) in the carotid stenosis group. A multivariate regression analysis observed that age (OR 1.79), dyslipidaemia (OR 2.19), uncontrolled hypertension (OR 2.38), uncontrolled DM (OR 2.51), multivessel coronary artery disease (OR 3.79), and multiple comorbidities (OR 4.46) are potential predictors of having significant carotid stenosis in a patient undergoing CABG surgery. Conclusion: In Bangladesh, multivessel coronary artery disease, especially in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities, are 4 (four) times higher risk to have significant carotid artery stenosis. Preoperative carotid duplex screening should be performed to curtail the risk of postoperative adverse cerebrovascular events, particularly those who have carotid stenosis associated potential risk factors.

Evaluation of myocardial protection in off-pump vs. on-pump coronary bypass surgery by troponin I estimation.

BACKGROUND: This prospective non-randomized clinical study was done to compare Off-pump and On-pump myocardial revascularization by Troponin I release in patients undergoing first elective coronary artery bypass graft used to evaluate myocardial injury. METHODS: One hundred an twenty patients were non-randomly assigned to a Off-pump or On-pump myocardial revascularization group. Cardiac Troponin I (CTnI) were measured in serial venous blood samples drawn preoperatively in both groups. In On-pump group after aortic unclamping at 12 and 24 hours and in Off-pump group after the last distal anastomosis at 12 and 24 hours. RESULTS: The total amount of CTnI release were significantly higher in On-pump group than in Off-pump group. In On-pump group it was 2.1 +/- 1.9 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml vs in Off-pump group it was 1.0 +/- 1.7 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml at 12 hours and in On-pump group it was 1.6 +/- 1.6 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml vs. in Off-pump group it was .9 +/- 1.6 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml at 24 hours (P < 0.0001 for the pattern). CONCLUSION: The lower release of CTnI in the Off-pump myocardial revascularization group indicates that the arrested heart coronary revascularization group causes more damage to the heart due to cardiopulmonary bypass than Off-pump myocardial revascularization group.

Performance of EuroSCORE II and logistic EuroSCORE in Bangladeshi population undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: A prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) was developed to identify patients who may have a greater postoperative risk for adverse effects following adult cardiac surgery. This study evaluated the discriminatory potential of using the EuroSCORE system in predicting the early, as well as late, postoperative outcomes following coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Bangladesh. METHODS: A total of 865 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery were evaluated with the EuroSCORE risk scoring system. Moreover, we also compared the discriminatory potentials between the EuroSCORE II and the original logistic EuroSCORE. RESULTS: Operative mortality was best predicted by EuroSCORE II (area under the curve (AUC) 0.863, Brier score 0.030) compared to the original logistic EuroSCORE (AUC 0.849, Brier score 0.033). However, the overall expected-to-observed mortality ratio for EuroSCORE II was 1.1, whereas the observed ratio for the original logistic EuroSCORE was 1.7. EuroSCORE II was predictive of an intensive care unit stay of five days or more (AUC 0.786), prolonged inotropes use (AUC 0.746), stroke (AUC 0.646), de novo dialysis (AUC 0.810), and low output syndrome (AUC 0.715). Moreover, a high EuroSCORE II quintile significantly predicted the risk for late mortality (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: EuroSCORE has an important role in predicting the early, as well as late, postoperative outcomes following coronary artery bypass surgery. However, the performance of EuroSCORE II is significantly better than the original logistic EuroSCORE in predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality after isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery among Bangladeshi patients.

Prevalence of carotid artery stenosis in ischaemic heart disease patients in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent carotid artery stenosis and ischaemic heart disease rates are increasing day by day in Bangladesh. Moreover, carotid artery stenosis has been identified as a high-risk factor for postoperative ischaemic cerebral inconvenience following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS: This observational cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate 200 study patients from July 2017 to June 2018. Patients with coronary artery disease scheduled for isolated elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery were included in the study, excluding those with coexisting valvular or congenital heart disease and emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery. RESULTS: About two-thirds of the study patients were 50-59 years old, with a mean age of 57.7 ± 3.06 years. Approximately 70% patients were male; the male:female ratio was 2.1:1. Most of the patients (74.5%) were Muslim. The majority of patients (59.0%) were overweight, and severe carotid artery stenosis was significantly higher in obese patients (p ⩽ 0.05). Furthermore, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with moderate to severe carotid artery stenosis (p ⩽ 0.05). Multi-vessel coronary artery disease was significantly associated with the severity of carotid artery stenosis. Bilateral carotid artery stenosis was significantly associated with the severity of carotid artery stenosis (p ⩽ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Routine duplex screening will identify significant carotid artery disease and will subsequently reduce the risk of perioperative stroke in ischaemic heart disease patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Outcome of coronary endarterectomy with coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease in Bangladesh: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to review the consequences of coronary endarterectomy with coronary artery bypass grafting, and assess outcomes of this combined surgical technique for patients with diffuse coronary artery disease in a single surgeon's practice. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed outcome of 1198 endarterectomized coronary artery in 1000 patients with diffuse coronary artery disease, who have had experienced coronary endarterectomy with off pump coronary artery bypass grafting in between 2009 and 2016. RESULTS: The mean age was 61.5 ± 5.5 years. Coronary endarterectomy was performed on 74.7% in the left coronary territory (43.2% left anterior descending, 26.6% diagonal, 4.9% Obtuse Marginal), and 25.3% in the right coronary territory. Post-operative intensive care unit mortality rate was 1.9%, and there were 11 (1.1%) late deaths. Mean intensive care unit stay was 36.6 ± 6.7 hours. Patients were extubated following a mean of 9.8 ± 1.25 hours. The mean duration of hospital stay was 10 ± 1 days. One-year survival rate was 97.8% and 89.5% survival rate was at 5 years follow up. However, 91.8% of patients were angina free at median follow-up of 2.5 years. CONCLUSION: Coronary endarterectomy with off pump coronary artery bypass grafting is attainable and accomplishes surgical revascularization in coronary artery disease patients when there is no other alternative for sufficient revascularization.