Awareness and recommendation of home blood pressure measurement among physicians in India: Results from Asia HBPM survey 2020

Background: Awareness of hypertension and blood pressure (BP) control rates are still low in India. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is recognized as a valuable tool to diagnose and support hypertension treatment including the prevention of cardiovascular diseases(CVD) and target organ damage. We explored the prevailing knowledge and current recommendation of HBPM in daily practice by physicians in India. Materials and methods: As part of Asia HBPM Survey 2020, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare providers from India between June 2020 to June 2021. The questionnaire consisted of 37 questions and sub-questions related to HBPM awareness and recommendations to patients. Results: A total of 832 physicians participated in the survey. Almost 83% were male, whereas age, specialty and workplace were well distributed. 31.3% of physicians instruct their patients to measure their BP before taking antihypertensive drugs, while around 30% of physicians gave no instructions. The reference value of hypertension diagnosis amongst the physicians was substantially low based on clinic BP (34.4%) and home BP (15.1%). Among physicians who manage hypertensive patients, nearly 88% recommend HBPM to their patients, however, only 34.9% of their patients own HBPM device and 30.4% of the patients measure their own BP at home. Conclusion: The survey reveals that HBPM instructions to the patients are either lacking or not well aligned with the local hypertension guidelines which may have led to the low HBPM use among patients. Clear and practical educational material and sessions are needed to improve the understanding of HBPM amongst physicians

Effect of Anti?Platelet Therapy on Peri?Operative Blood Loss in Patients Undergoing Off?Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to review the effect of the pre?operative use of clopidogrel and aspirin on peri?operative bleeding, blood product transfusion, and resource utilization after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Materials and Methods: A total of 1200 patients who underwent off?pump CABG (OPCABG) between 2010 and 2012 were retrospectively studied. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1: discontinued aspirin and clopidogrel 6 days prior to surgery (n = 468), group 2: discontinued both drugs 3 to 5 days prior to surgery (n = 621), and group 3: discontinued both drugs 2 days prior to surgery (n = 111). The bleeding pattern and blood product transfusion were studied and compared between the groups. Patients having history of other drugs affecting the coagulation profile, other organ dysfunction, on?pump CABG, and the combined procedure were excluded from the study. Results: Group 2 patients had a higher rate of bleeding and a reduced mean value of hemoglobin (Hb) as compared to other groups. The same results were seen in blood and blood product transfusion. Patients of group 2 and group 3 were associated with higher blood loss in terms of drainage at 12 and 24 hours. Post?operatively, this was statistically significant. Re?exploration was statisitically significant in group 3 patients (9.01%) than in group 2 (2.58%) and group 1 (1.07%) patients. Conclusion: The pre?operative use of clopidogrel and aspirin in patients undergoing OPCABG showed limited clinical benefits; however, its use significantly increased the risk of bleeding and blood transfusion, thus increasing morbidity and resource utilization. Hence, clopidogrel and aspirin should be stopped at least 6 days prior to surgery.

Vascular Access Complications in Patients Undergoing Veno-Arterial ECMO and Their Impact on Survival in Patients With Refractory Cardiogenic Shock: A Retrospective 8-Year Study

Introduction:Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is well-recognized treatment modality for patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. Uncomplicated cannulation is a prerequisite and basis for achieving a successful outcome in ECMO. Vascular access is obtained either by surgical cut-down. Common vascular access complications are bleeding and limb ischemia. Objective: To evaluate cannulation technique, the incidence of vascular complications, and their impact on the outcome. Methods: A retrospective data analysis conducted on 95 patients receiving ECMO from 2013 to 2020 was done. The patients were divided into two groups: no vascular access complications (non-VAC group) and vascular access complications (VAC group). The groups were compared related to the hospital and ICU stays and blood transfusion. Results: The patients in both groups were demographically and clinically comparable. The Non-VAC group had 75 patients, whereas the VAC group had a total of 20 patients. The main complication observed in the VAC group was bleeding from the cannulation site which required more blood transfusion than the non-VAC group (6.8 ± 1.02 vs 4.2 ± 1.26). Limb ischemia was another complication seen in the VAC group (4.2%, n = 4). Two patients had delayed bleeding after decannulation. The overall average length of stay in the hospital was statistically similar in both the groups (22 days in the VAC group vs 18 days in the non-VAC group), but the average ICU stay was more in the VAC group compared to the non-VAC group (18 days vs 12.06 days). Conclusion: Bleeding and limb ischemia are the important vascular access site complications, which increase blood transfusion requirements, ICU stay, and overall hospital stay.

TEE-guided left ventricular epicardial pacing lead placement for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Biventricular pacing has demonstrated improvement in cardiac functions in treating congestive cardiac failure patients. Recent trials have proven the clinical and functional benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy in severe heart failure and intraventricular cardiac delays, mainly left bundle branch block. Biventricular pacing improves the exercise tolerance, quality of life, systolic heart function, reduces hospitalization and slows progression of the disease. A 54-year-old lady, a known case of dilated cardiomyopathy, was on biventricular pacing since 2 years. She presented in emergency with sudden deterioration of dyspnea to NYHA class III/IV. When investigated, the coronary sinus lead was found displaced; thus, left ventricle (LV) was not getting paced. After multiple failures to reposition the coronary sinus lead, it was decided to surgically place the epicardial lead for LV pacing under general anesthesia. Lateral thoracotomy was done and LV pacing lead was placed at different sites with simultaneous monitoring of cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume (SV) by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Baseline CO and SV were 1.9 l/min and 19.48 ml respectively and increased at different sites of pacing at LV, the best CO and SV were 4.2 l/min and 42.39 ml respectively on lateral surface. Intraoperative TEE can calculate beat to beat stroke volume and thus CO and helps to choose optimal site for placement of epicardial pacing lead.

Isquemia miocárdica silenciosa em pacientes submetidos à prostatectomia transuretral: comparação entre anestesia subaracnóidea e peridural / Silent myocardial ischaemia in patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostate: comparison of spinal versus epidural anaesthesia

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A isquemia miocárdica silenciosa foi recentemente relacionada ao aumento de morbimortalidade cardíaca peri-operatória. Até 41 por cento dos pacientes com doença coronariana conhecida ou fatores de risco cardíaco, submetidos à cirurgias não cardíacas, apresentaram isquemia peri-operatória. Vários autores compararam técnicas de anestesia regional e geral mas nenhum comparou o impacto de diferentes técnicas de anestesia no neuro-eixo na incidência e duração da isquemia miocárdica silenciosa. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar duas técnicas diferentes de anestesia no neuro-eixo (subaracnóidea versus peridural) em pacientes idosos aleatoriamente selecionados e submetidos à prostatectomia transuretral. Optou-se por este grupo de pacientes idosos porque freqüentemente, apresentam doença coronariana silenciosa ou clinicamente aparente. Um outro fator importante que influenciou a escolha, foi a sobrecarga de volume e tremores causados pela prostatectomia transuretral nesses pacientes promovendo desequilíbrio entre consumo e oferta de oxigênio. MÉTODO: Participaram deste estudo 40 pacientes submetidos a prostatectomia transuretral, que foram estudados em relação à isquemia miocárdica silenciosa com a ajuda de um equipamento Holter. A monitorização iniciou-se 1 hora antes da cirurgia, prosseguiu durante a cirurgia e após pelas próximas 24 horas. Os dados do Holter foram analisados por um DSM modelo 300. RESULTADOS: A incidência geral de isquemia miocárdica silenciosa neste estudo foi de 30 por cento. Não foi estabelecida nenhuma relação entre isquemia miocárdica silenciosa e o tipo de anestesia. A maior parte dos episódios de isquemia miocárdica ocorreu no período pré-operatório e não tiveram relação com alterações hemodinâmicas. No entanto, a incidência e a gravidade de isquemia miocárdica silenciosa foi mais alta em pacientes com altos escores de Detsky, hipertensão arterial e anemia. Nenhum paciente apresentou efeitos cardíacos adversos...