ABSTRACT
Objective: to investigate the clinical and angiographic characteristics of coronary artery ectasia [CAE] and its relation with the inflammatory marker, HsCRP
Study Design: an observational study
Place and Duration of Study: rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, from April 2015 till November 2016
Methodology: eighty-one patients with CAE and 57 age matched patients with stenotic coronary artery disease [CAD], but without CAE, were included in the study. Clinical, angiographic, and laboratory data were documented. Chi-square test was used to compare coronary risk factors between two groups. T test was used to compare means between the groups. Analysis of variance was used to analyse HsCRP levels among various types of ectasia. Correlation analysis was used to study association of ectasia with different risk factors
Results: males were predominant in both with and without CAE. Hypertension, smoking and obesity were significantly more common among CAE patients than those without [60.5% vs. 52.6%, 56.8% vs. 43.9% and 80.2% vs. 14%, respectively]. Diabetes was much less in CAE group [32.1% vs. 42.1%]. HsCRP was higher in patients with CAE than those without and was significantly higher in patients with more extensive ectasia. Majority [65.4%] of CAE patients had significant CAD; whereas, only 7.4% had isolated CAE. Most common artery involved was RCA [70.4% of total] and most common pattern was single ectatic vessel
Conclusion: obesity and smoking predispose to CAE, along with male sex and hypertension. While diabetes is negatively associated with CAE. HsCRP levels tend to be higher in ectasia patients, especially those with severe forms. Finally, CAE has a predilection for RCA
ABSTRACT
Objective: To find out the indication and frequency of permanent pacemaker implantation in complete heart block patients [CHB]
Study Design: Prospective cohort study
Place and Duration of Study: Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi for a period of six months from Mar 2016 to Sep 2016
Material and Methods: Total 153 patients of both genders coming to Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology with complete heart block were included in the study. The patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were evaluated for the etiology of complete heart block by history, physical examination, electrocardiography, blood tests, chest x-ray and echocardiography. Later their outcome [pacemaker implantation/medical treatment/death] was determined
Results: Myocardial infarction was found out to be the cause for CHB in 32.1 percent patients. Out of 153 patients, 12 patients died. In the remaining 141 patients, 77 were implanted with a pacemaker
Conclusions: Myocardial infarction accounted for 32.1 percent cases of complete heart block and a significant number of patients were implanted with a permanent pacemaker. Hence the trend of pacemaker use is on a rise