Atrioventricular Conduction Disorders as a Complication of Inferior ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients with COVID-19 Infection.

This case series demonstrates how COVID-19 infection might affect the heart in the context of acute myocardial infarction. Atrioventricular (AV) block might appear as one of the significant cardiac complications of acute MI in patients who tested COVID-19 PCR positive regardless of the presence of CVOID-19 infection symptoms. In our series, conduction disorders as a complication of acute inferior STEMI are more common in patients who tested positive for the COVID-19 infection. 11 patients out of 18 inferior STEMI patients who have tested positive for the COVID-19 infection have atrioventricular block disorders.

Impact of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Service on Burnout Development in Eight Intensive Care Units. A National Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at investigating the effects of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) service on Burnout syndrome (BOS) development in the intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN: The authors conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTINGS: Eight ICUs within 5 tertiary hospitals in 1 country. PARTICIPANTS: Intensive care practitioners (nurses, physicians, and respiratory therapists). INTERVENTION: Using an online questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel. In addition, demographic variables, workload, salary satisfaction, and caring for COVID-19 patients were assessed. Participants were divided based on working in an ICU with ECMO (ECMO-ICU) and without (non-ECMO-ICU) ECMO service, and burnout status (burnout and no burnout). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The response rate for completing the questionnaire was 36.4% (445/1,222). Male patients represented 53.7% of the participants. The overall prevalence of burnout was 64.5%. The overall burnout prevalence did not differ between ECMO- and non-ECMO-ICU groups (64.5% and 63.7, respectively). However, personal accomplishment (PA) score was significantly lower among ECMO-ICU personnel compared with those in a non-ECMO-ICU (42.7% v 52.6, p = 0.043). Significant predictors of burnout included profession (nurse or physician), acquiring COVID-19 infection, knowing other practitioners who were infected with COVID-19, salary dissatisfaction, and extremes of workload. CONCLUSION: Burnout was equally prevalent among participants from ECMO- and non-ECMO-ICU, but PA was lower among participants in the ICU with an ECMO service. The reported high prevalence of burnout, and its predictors, requires special attention to try to reduce its occurrence.

Acute myocarditis following administration of BNT162b2 vaccine.

The wide use of vaccines was linked with rare but serious complications in adults, causing a global concern. Here, we describe a young male patient, who presented with acute myocarditis, three days after the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) PCR cycle threshold: can it help in the timing of urgent cardiac surgery?

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant reduction in urgent cardiac surgery due to concerns about safety for both patients and care givers. The timing of safe cardiac surgery is yet to be clarified in the setting of COVID-19 diagnosis. METHODS: Due to the urgency of the cardiac conditions on presentation, we have operated on four patients who exhibited the spectrum of COVID-19 disease from asymptomatic to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. With the evolving knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 and its genetic determinants as well as the cycle threshold levels obtained from real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we have attempted to develop a strategy to deal with these patients. RESULTS: All four patients underwent urgent cardiac surgery following a thorough evaluation and multidisciplinary team approach with guidance based on the virus cycle threshold values obtained by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSION: We have shown that, with thorough preparations, consideration of the significance of the cycle threshold obtained on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and meticulous timing, COVID-19 diagnosed patients may undergo open heart surgery safely.