Remote Ischemic Preconditioning for Prevention of Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Patients of CKD Stage III and IV Undergoing Elective Coronary Angiography: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a serious complication of coronary angiography (CA). The aim of this randomized, parallel group, single blind, sham-controlled trial was to assess the safety and efficacy of the remote ischemic preconditioning on the prevention of CI-AKI. METHODS: Patients of 18-80 years of age with CKD 3 and 4, who were admitted for elective coronary angiography in a tertiary care hospital in eastern India were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to standard care with ischemic preconditioning (n = 45; intermittent arm ischemia through 4 cycles of 5-min inflation and 5-min deflation of a blood pressure cuff) or with standard care and sham ischemic preconditioning (n = 42). Overall, both study groups were at moderate risk of developing CI-AKI according to the Mehran risk score. The primary endpoint was the incidence of CI-AKI, defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥25% or ≥0.5 mg/dL above baseline at 48 h after contrast medium exposure. RESULTS: CI-AKI occurred in 8 patients (19.04%) in the control group and 2 (4.4%) in the remote ischemic preconditioning group (odds ratio, 0.198, 95% confidence interval, 0.087 to 0.452; P = 0.04). No major adverse events were related to remote ischemic preconditioning. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that remote ischemic preconditioning is a simple and well-tolerated procedure, which reduces the incidence of CI-AKI in CKD 3 and 4 patients undergoing coronary angiography.

"A case of cardiac amyloidosis with syncope".

A 56 year gentleman referred to our hospital for evaluation of syncope. He was seen previously at a local clinic and treated for cardiac failure with diuretics and was doing well on medication. He started having recurrent episode of syncope. He had his last visit to the local physician three days prior to admission when he had palpitation and was prescribed digoxin in addition to the usual medicine. Patient started having syncope from 3rd day and was referred to our hospital for evaluation. Patient's electrocardiogram as well as echocardiography was a classical finding of cardiac amyloidosis and a fat pad biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. After withdrawing digoxin and after two days on pacemaker, the patient regained normal heart rate and was discharged on diuretics.

Dysphagia aortica.

Extrinsic esophageal compression leading to dysphagia is a recognized but uncommon presentation of thoracic aortic aneurysms. This has been referred to as dysphagia aortica, and is a late presentation of large thoracic aneurysms. We present the case of a young man of age 31 years, who was referred to us for cardiological evaluation for on and off chest pain and backache with dysphagia and abnormal chest X-ray showing dilated descending aorta. Eventually, thoracic-abdominal aortic aneurysm causing compression of the esophagus was discovered. When dealing with patients who present with dysphagia and on and off chest pain and backache if no other cause is discovered, a thoracic aortic aneurysm should form part of the differential diagnosis, as this is potentially curable, and delay in diagnosis and treatment predisposes to rupture and death.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in a patient in cardiogenic shock due to recent anterior wall MI with history of prior inferior wall MI 15 days back.

Extensive damage of the myocardium following an acute myocardial infarction usually causes cardiogenic shock. A 66-year-old male patient was treated successfully by primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) following an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction with prior moderate LV systolic dysfunction and developing cardiogenic shock with intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP), ventilator support and support with four inotropic drugs in full dosage.