Management of atrial fibrillation in the emergency room: insight on ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation [AF] is the most common arrhythmia in the Western World[1]. AF prevalence in the general population is around 0.4-1%. It increases in prevalence with age, affecting up to 10% of the population over the age of 80 years. AF is often associated with structural heart disease, although a substantial proportion of patients with AF have no detectable heart disease. Hemodynamic impairment and thromboembolic events related to AF results in significant morbidity, mortality, and cost. The purpose of this article is to provide an insight into the American College of Cardiology [ACC], American Heart Association [AHA] and European Society of Cardiology [ESC] guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation [1]

Chromosomal analysis in a sample of Iraqi Children with down's syndrome and concominant cogenital heart disease

To study the demographical pattern of Iraqi children with Down's syndrome [DS] and congenital heart disease [CHD] forty-five children with DS were examined clinically, radiologically and by 2D color Doppler echocardiography. In eight with CHD [six female, two male] chromosomal analysis was used to investigate the possible relationship between chromosomal patterns and the type of CHD. All had a 47, +21 chromosomal patterns and the type of CHD. All had a 47, +21 chromosomal pattern. Three had atrioventricular septal defect [AVSD], three atrial septal defect [ASD] and two ventricular septal defect [VSD]. Only one case had reached the Eisenmenger complex, all the others had pulmonary hypertension. In this small sample of Iraqi children with Down's syndrome there appeared no relationship between CHD type and Chromosomal pattern