Association Between Off-hour Presentations and In-hospital Mortality for Patients with Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the effect of the admission time (on-hours versus off-hours) on in-hospital mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in a region without STEMI network. METHODS: We analysed in-hospital the mortality among 300 consecutive ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with PPCI between March 2012 and February 2017. Patients were divided according to admission time into on-hours admission (08:00 AM until 08:00 PM on weekdays) versus off-hours admission (08:00 PM until 08:00 AM on weekdays and 24 h on weekends and holidays). Demographic and clinical data as well as in-hospital mortality were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy eight (59.3%) patients were admitted during on-hours, and 122 (40.7%) patients were presented in off-hours. The mean door-to-balloon time was 42.3 min in the off-hours group and 34.2 min in the on-hours group with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.39). The mortality rate was 3.9% at on-hours presentation versus 4.09% in off-hours admission (p = 0.58). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that off-hours presentation was not associated with in-hospital mortality. [odds ratio (OR) 0.74; 95% CI, 0.21-2.61, p = 0.64]. CONCLUSION: Despite no efficient STEMI network in present study, off-hour presentation had no significant impact on in-hospital prognosis in patients with STEMI treated with PPCI. Larger studies are warranted in order to determine the prognostic role of off-hour presentation in patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI.

Prognostic value of platelet indices in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Introduction: Given the role of platelets in thrombus formation, markers of platelet activation may be able to predict outcomes in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 492 patients with acute PTE were enrolled. Patients were evaluated for platelet indices including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and platelet-lymphocyte-ratio (PLR), as well as for the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) risk score. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Major adverse cardiopulmonary events (MACPE, composite of mortality, thrombolysis, mechanical ventilation and surgical embolectomy during index hospitalization) and all-cause death during follow-up were secondary endpoints. Results: MPV, PDW and PLR were 9.9±1.0 fl, 13.5±6.1%, and 14.7±14.5, respectively, in the total cohort. Whilst MPV was higher in those with adverse events (10.1±1.0 vs 9.9±1.0 fl; P= 0.019), PDW and PLR were not different between two groups. MPV with a cut-off point of 9.85 fl had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 50% in predicting in-hospital mortality, but it had lower performance in predicting MACPE (Area under the curve: AUC 0.58; 95%CI 0.52-0.63) or long-term mortality (AUC 0.54; 95% CI 0.47-0.61). The AUC for all these three markers were lower than the AUC calculated for the simplified PESI score (0.80; 0.71-0.88). Conclusion: Platelet indices had only fair-to-good predictive performance in predicting in-hospital all-cause death. Established PTE risk scoring models such as simplified PESI outperform these indices in predicting adverse outcomes.

The impact of cigarette smoking on infarct location and in-hospital outcome following acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Smoking, which is a major modifiable risk factor for coronary artery diseases, affects cardiovascular system with different mechanisms. We designed this study to investigate the association of smoking with location of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and short-term outcomes during hospitalization. Methods: In 1017 consecutive patients with anterior/inferior STEMI, comprehensive demographic, biochemical data, as well as clinical complications and mortality rate, were recorded. Patients were allocated into two groups based on smoking status and compared regarding the location of myocardial infarction, the emergence of clinical complications and in-hospital mortality in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 1017 patients, 300 patients (29.5%) were smoker and 717 patients (70.5 %) were non-smoker. Smokers were significantly younger and had lower prevalence of diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Inferior myocardial infarction was considerably more common in smokers than in non-smokers (45.7% vs. 36%, P = 0.001). Heart failure was developed more commonly in non-smokers (33.9% vs. 20%, P = 0.001). In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in smokers (6.7% vs. 17.3%, P = 0.001). After adjustment for confounding variables, smoking was independently associated with inferior myocardial infarction and lower heart failure [odds ratio: 1.44 (1.06-1.96), P = 0.01 and odds ratio: 0.61 (0.40-0.92), P = 0.02, respectively]. However, in-hospital mortality was not associated with smoking after adjustment for other factors [odds ratio: 0.69 (0.36-1.31), P = 0.2]. Conclusion: Smoking is independently associated with inferior myocardial infarction. Although smokers had lower incidence of heart failure, in-hospital mortality was not different after adjustment for other factors.

Poor outcome following percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and it may increase complications and decreases success rates of percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (PBMV). This study aimed to investigate the short and long term results of PBMV in patients with AF compared to sinus rhythm (SR). Methods: In this cross sectional study, 1000 patients with MS who had undergone PBMV between 1999 and 2013 were enrolled including 585 and 415 patients with AF and SR respectively. Patients were followed for a mean of 7.27 ± 3.16 years. Clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic data were collected. Procedure success, in-hospital and long-term outcome were evaluated. Results: Patients with AF were older and had greater symptoms, mitral regurgitation, mitral echocardiographic score, and mitral pressure gradient before PBMV. PBMV success rate were significantly lower in AF group (P < 0.001). In-hospital complications, including severe mitral regurgitation, emergency mitral valve surgery, peripheral embolism and long-term complications, including mortality, re-valvotomy, mitral replacement surgery and peripheral embolism/stroke were significantly higher in patients with AF. Conclusion: AF leads to worse in-hospital and long-term outcome and lower PBMV success rate. Repeated assessment and early decision to PBMV in patients with MS to reduce AF and AF related complication seems necessary.

Hemi-fontan or bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt for right ventricular failure after mitral valve replacement and acute ascending aortic dissection: report of two cases.

Right ventricular failure due to right coronary artery disease, right ventricular hypertrophy, stunning, abnormal septal motion, myocardial infarction, or non-homogeneous distribution of cardioplegia is an uncommon but serious complication of open heart surgery. We report a patient with severe right ventricular hypertrophy secondary to severe mitral valve stenosis and another patient with detachment of the right coronary artery due to the dissection of the ascending aorta. The patients developed right ventricular failure, which persisted after surgery and rendered weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass unsuccessful. Through a hemi-Fontan, or bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt, and an intra-aortic balloon pump, the patients were successfully weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. This shunt may be an alternative to a right ventricular assist device in some patients with right ventricular failure. The long-term outcome and the indication of bi-directional cavopulmonary shunt has not been confirmed, although it is believed to be effective for saving the life of patients with low cardiac output and acute right ventricular failure. In our cases, six months following the operation, there was some degree of recovery of the right ventricular function. In long-term follow-up, however, it would be interesting for the authors to know if the improved right ventricular function, with better antegrade pulsatile flow in the pulmonary artery, in any way interferes with the functioning of the bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt.

Myxoma of the superior vena cava origin presented as a right atrial mass.

Myxomas are the most common benign cardiac tumors. Myxomas are more common in the left heart chamber than the right side chamber. An extracardiac origin presenting as a right atrial mass is very rare. We present a case of myxoma originating in the superior vena cava (SVC) in a 24-year-old man, who underwent surgical resection. Preoperative two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated a mass in the right atrium. Intraoperatively, the tumor was found to have originated from the SVC orifice. The tumor was excised from the SVC by opening the one-third proximal portion of the SVC. Pathological examination revealed a myxoma, and one-year follow-up showed no evidence of the recurrence of any tumors in the SVC.

Unprotected carotid artery stenting: complications in 6 months follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: The most serious complications of carotid artery stenting (CAS) are related to the release of particles into the cerebral circulation. Although embolic protection devices may reduce the incidence of cerebral embolization, their use may be associated with additional complications including spasm or dissection. In this report, we present our experience with patients who underwent unprotected CAS. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis from October 2008 to June 2010.Stenosis diagnosed based on carotid duplex and/or CT angiography findings and confirmed by digital subtraction angiography. All stenting procedures were done without using a protection device. Neurologist evaluated neurological situation of the patients, 24 h, 30 days, 3 and 6 months after stenting. Patients had carotid duplex scan scheduled on the third and sixth month after the procedure. RESULTS: Overall, 116patients underwent stenting; technical success rate was 100% .Mean age of patients was 68.48 ± 9.84 years, and 69% of the patients were male. One patient (1/116, 0.86%) developed transient ischemic attack during the procedure. One non-neurologic death (1/116, 0.86%) occurred 18 h after the procedure because of myocardial infarction. In 1-month follow-up, only one patient (1/115, 0.87%) presented with neurological complication as a consequence of thalamic hemorrhagic. Six months follow-up revealed two cases (2/115, 1.74%) with in-stent restenosis which one of them was severe and symptomatic and underwent angioplasty. CONCLUSION: Unprotected carotid stenting appears to accompany with low early and late complications. Cerebral embolization during CAS is not the only cause of these complications and the use of cerebral protection devices may therefore not prevent all major complications including myocardial infarction, hyperperfusion syndrome, and re-stenosis.

Postoperative outcomes in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in madani heart center: 2000-2010.

INTRODUCTION: Renal failure predisposes patients to adverse outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Renal dysfunction is a predictor of increased morbidity and mortality after CABG, whether it is dialysis-dependent or not. METHODS: In a retrospective study from April 2000 to December 2010, seventy-six patients (60 male and 16 female with the mean age of 58.57±7.93 years) with different categories of chronic renal failure undergoing CABG in Shahid Madani Hospital, were studied. The cardiac disease leading to the operation was coronary artery disease (CAD) in all patients. Patients demographic, surgical and laboratory data were gathered from hospital records. Data were then analyzed. RESULTS: Mean hospital stay was 10.16±7.16 days. The preoperative mortality rate was 10.5% (15% in non dialysis and 5.6% in dialysis dependant patients with no significant difference). Morbidity rate was 28.9% (respectively 30% and 27.8% in dialysis and non dialysis patients with no significant difference) including in-hospital myocardial infarction (MI) (10.5%), in-hospital stroke (2.6%), in-hospital bleeding (21.1%) and in-hospital infection, pneumonia, (5.3%). Mean creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were significantly increased after surgery (p<0.001). Postoperative hemodialysis rate was 33.3%. CONCLUSION: Chronic renal failure whether dialysis-dependant or not increases in-hospital mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing CABG. For CRF patients not on dialysis with a creatinine 2.5 gm/dL, there is a strong likelihood of postoperative dialysis.

Neurocognitive impairment after off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery - an Iranian experience.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide, and it may be accompanied by postoperative neurocognitive impairment. Although this complication has been attributed to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, it is still a matter of debate whether the switch from on-pump to off-pump technique affects the cognitive function. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the impact of the on-pump and off-pump techniques on neurocognitive impairment in low-risk CABG surgery groups. METHODS: In a descriptive and analytic study, 201 CABG patients with left-ventricular ejection fraction >30%, and without cardiac arrhythmia were enrolled. Before the elective operation, all patients underwent neurological examination and neurocognitive test, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Two months following the operation, both on- and off-pump, the patients were re-examined by MMSE to detect any neurocognitive impairment. RESULTS: Out of 154 patients included in the study, 95 (61.6%) and 59 (38.3%) patients were in off-pump and on-pump groups, respectively. Mean age of the patients was 57.17 ± 9.82 years. A 2-month postoperative neurocognitive impairment was detected among 17 patients of on-pump group (28.8%) and in 28 cases of off-pump group (29.4%) (P = 0.54). The mean postoperative MMSE scores were not comparable between groups (25.01 ± 4.49 in off-pump group versus 23.73 ± 4.88 in on-pump group, P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that in low-risk patients undergoing CABG surgery, either the techniques of on-pump or off-pump did not differ regarding the neurocognitive outcome 2 months after the procedure.