Occupational Health of Frontline Healthcare Workers in the United Arab Emirates during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Snapshot of Summer 2020.

The study aim was to understand the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study was an online-based, cross-sectional survey during July and August 2020. Participants were eligible from the entire country, and 1290 agreed to participate. The majority of HCWs were females aged 30-39 years old, working as nurses, and 80% considered PPE to be available. Twelve percent of respondents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Half of HCWs considered themselves physically tired (52.2%), reported musculoskeletal pain or discomfort (54.2%), and perceived moderate-to-high levels of burnout on at least one of three burnout domains (52.8%). A quarter of HCWs reported anxiety (26.3%) or depression (28.1%). HCWs reporting not having musculoskeletal pain, having performed physical activity, and higher scores of available PPE reported lower scores of anxiety, depression, and burnout. UAE HCWs experienced more access to PPE and less anxiety, depression, and burnout compared with HCWs in other countries. Study findings can be used by healthcare organizations and policymakers to ensure adequate measures are implemented to maximize the health and wellbeing of HCWs during the current COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Thyrocervical trunk perforation: A rare vascular complication during cardiac intervention through right radial approach: A case report and literature review.

Trans radial artery access (TRA) is considered a relatively safe approach for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), by virtue of its fewer access related peripheral vascular complications. Central arterial complications are rare. We are presenting a case report wherein thyrocervical trunk (TT), a branch of first part of right subclavian artery (RSA) was perforated during intervention through right radial approach, resulting in deep neck hematoma, compressing the trachea and surrounding structure. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of TT perforation by a hydrophilic wire during a staged cardiac catheterization after primary PCI through right radial approach. Knowledge of such a rare complication, its early recognition, and endovascular treatment might spare a patient with recent acute coronary syndrome on double antiplatelet medications, from surgical intervention and fatal outcome.

Reducing Door to- Balloon- Time for Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction In Primary Percutaneous Intervention: Transformation using Robust Performance Improvement.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death in the UAE. Prompt reperfusion access is essential for patients who have Myocardial Infarction (MI) with ST-segment elevation as they are at a relatively high risk of death.This risk may be reduced by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but only if it is performed in a timely manner. Guidelines recommend that the interval between arrival at the hospital and intracoronary balloon inflation (door-to-balloon (D2B) time) during primary PCI should be 90 minutes or less. The earlier therapy is initiated, the better the outcome. Our aim was to decrease the door-to-balloon time for patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who come through the emergency department (ED) in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City,a tertiary hospital in UAE, to meet the standard of less than 90 minutes. A multidisciplinary team was formed including interventional cardiologists, catheterization laboratory personnel, emergency department caregivers and quality staff. The project utilized the Lean Six Sigma Methodology which provided a powerful approach to quality improvement. The process minimized waste and variation, and a decreased median door-to-balloon time from 75.9 minutes to 60.1 minutes was noted. The percentage of patients who underwent PCI within 90 minutes increased from 73% to 96%. In conclusion, implementing the Lean Six Sigma methodology resulted in having processes that are leaner, more efficient and minimally variable. While recent publication failed to provide evidence of better outcome, the lessons learned were extrapolated to other primary percutaneous coronary intervention centers in our system.This would have marked impact on patient safety, quality of care and patient experience.

Tenecteplase in prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis.

In the few reported cases of prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis, where surgical intervention was considered as high risk, fibrinolytic therapy had proved life saving. The authors present clinical, laboratory, and imaging data from such a patient, with prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis and its successful management with tenecteplase. The use of tenecteplase as a viable fibrinolytic agent for the first time was justified, due to the lack of immunogenicity concerns compared to streptokinase.