ABSTRACT
The peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a non-tunneled central venous catheter placed in the upper limb venous system, mainly in the basilic vein, and the tip terminates in the superior vena cava (SVC). A PICC is a preferred modality of central venous access in oncology, as it is associated with minimal discomfort and can be kept in situ for up to one year. Despite multiple advantages, it is also associated with complications. Fracture and migration are rare but potentially serious complications that can lead to arrhythmias, cardiac perforation, cardiac tamponade, pulmonary embolism, and sepsis. The migrated PICC fragment can be retrieved using percutaneous techniques, which have a high success rate of excess, with minimum complications. In our patient of adenocarcinoma gastroesophageal junction, the fractured and migrated PICC to pulmonary arteries was retrieved using the balloon catheter method. With more and more cancer patients using PICCs for chemotherapy administration, healthcare workers must be aware of the standard and sporadic complications of PICCs. Care of the PICC is crucial, and any lapse may lead to fracture and embolization, which is a potentially life-threatening complication. This case highlights the importance of healthcare persons being aware of the possibility of catheter embolization and methods to prevent and mitigate this phenomenon.
ABSTRACT
Acute coronary syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Timely intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the form of primary angioplasty is the gold standard of treatment to reduce mortality and morbidity. "Time is muscle" is the phrase to impress upon the importance of time in treating patients with STEMI. Traditional treatment target included "door to balloon time" of 90 min or less. This "door to balloon time" is now rephrased as the "wire crossing time" (WCT). The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) updated its guidelines further, reducing the target of wire crossing time to 60 min. The present study is a brief report on the door to wire crossing time status in one of the tertiary care centers of a nonmetro city. Retrospective analysis of case records was done for 79 patients admitted with acute MI who underwent primary angioplasty between November 2018 and June 2019 (pre-corrective action group). Various reasons for the delay, right from the time of the patient reaching the emergency room (ER) to the time of wire crossing, were analysed and measures were taken to reduce the delay. The post-corrective action group comprised 77 patients. The major causes of a prolonged WCT in our setup were delayed diagnosis of STEMI in ER, delay in giving consent by the patient's relatives, financial issues, and availability of cath lab technicians during the off-duty hour. The delay in WCT in our center was 121 min. Remedial actions were taken to mitigate the problems at each step, which resulted in a reduction of delay by 20 min, i.e., to 101 min leading to a significant difference in the outcome in view of morbidity and mortality.
ABSTRACT
The transradial approach is the most preferred method for cardiac catheterization. The radial route approach has many advantages, including fewer puncture site-related complications and early mobility and discharge. The vascular complications include radial artery spasms, occlusions, dissections, perforations, and compartment syndrome. Although pseudoaneurysms are a well-known complication of femoral access (0.2%-3%), pseudoaneurysms are very infrequent (0.05%) after radial artery access. Very few cases of radial pseudoaneurysms have been reported to date. We present a rare case of an 82-year-old man on dual antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy who underwent coronary angiography via the radial route. The patient developed a pseudoaneurysm requiring surgical intervention.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and its complications are on an increasing trend in the younger age group. In this study, we aimed to identify the different risk factor profile and coronary angiographic characteristics of young adults presenting with coronary artery disease. METHODS: We conducted this retrospective observational study at Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, for 5 years between April 2015 and March 2020. Inclusion criteria being patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome or chronic stable angina, aged ≤40 years, who underwent coronary angiography. Those below 40 years of age who underwent angiography in non-CAD (coronary artery disease) setting were excluded. RESULTS: Among the 117 cases included in this study, 81.1% were males and 18.8% were females. Majority of cases, i.e., 52.2% were in the age group of 36-40 years. Risk factor evaluation showed hypertension as the major risk factor, present in 30.76% of patients, followed by diabetes mellitus in 21.36%, Dyslipidaemia was noted in 7.6%. History of smoking was present in 8.54%, history of smokeless tobacco use was in 7.69%, family history of CAD was noted in 9.4% of patients. Among 117 cases, SVD (single-vessel disease) was most prevalent, seen in 55.5% cases. 21.3% had normal or recanalized coronaries. Among SVD, LAD (Left anterior descending artery) was the most commonly involved vessel (80%). CONCLUSIONS: Young patients with CAD are mainly males, and SVD in the form of LAD is more commonly involved. In this vulnerable age group, more emphasis should be given on diagnosis and management of risk factors.
