Morphometrical features of left atrial appendage in the AF patients subjected to left atrial appendage closure

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the morphometrical features of left atrial appendage (LAA) in patients with atrial fibrillation, subjected to left atrial appendage percutaneous closure (LARIAT) for stroke prevention. Materials and methods: Computed tomography (CT) scans of 51 patients with atrial fibrillation subjected to LARIAT procedure were comparatively evaluated with 50 patients with sinus rhythm (control group). Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions were created using volume-rendering for evaluation. Results: No differences were found in LAA types of distribution (cauliflower: 25.5 vs. 34.0%, chicken wing: 45.1 vs. 46.0%, windsock: 29.4 vs. 20.0%, all p>0.05) between groups. However, the study group was characterized by LAAs with a lower number of lobes. The LAA orifice anteroposterior and transverse diameters (19.3±4.12 vs. 17.2±4.0mm, p=0.01 and 25.1±5.1 vs. 20.5±4.4mm, p=0.001), orifice area (387.2±133.9 vs. 327.1±128.3mm2, p=0.02) and orifice perimeter (70.2±12.5 vs. 61.2±11.6mm, p=0.04) was significantly larger in atrial fibrillation patients. More oval LAA orifices was found in atrial fibrillation group (94.0 vs. 70.4%, p=0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in LAA body length (47.4±15.4 vs. 43.7±10.9mm, p=0.17), body width (24.7±5.6 vs. 24.4±5.8mm, p=0.81), and chamber depth (17.7±3.5 vs. 16.5±3.8mm, p=0.11). Calculated LAA ejection fraction was significantly lower in study group compared to healthy patients (16.4±14.9 vs. 48.2±12.9%, p=0.001). Conclusions: Important morphometrical differences in LAA orifice have been found, which was significantly larger and more oval in patients with atrial fibrillation compared to healthy controls. Although no difference in LAA body type and size was observed; the LAA ejection fraction was significantly lower in atrial fibrillation rhythm patients

Knowledge, awareness, and practice of postnatal care among mothers

Objective: The objective was to study the knowledge, awareness, and practices regarding the postnatal care among the mothers.Design and Setting: A pre-structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to evaluate knowledge and awareness of postnatal carein mothers at a tertiary care center. The questionnaire was given after stabilization between 1 and 5 days of the postnatal period.Materials and Methods: Totally, 200 postnatal mothers (18-35 years) out of 540 mothers who were given antenatal and postnataleducation in our antenatal care center were selected. Study Period: June 2013-September 2013. Results: Knowledge of mothersregarding breastfeeding practices (78%), thermal care (89%), skin and eye care (72%) was good. They have poor knowledge regardingdangers of pre-lacteal feeds (45%), timing of first bath after birth (60%), umbilical cord care (60%), and vaccination (36%). About32% of them are practicing oil instillation into nostrils while 44% of mothers were intended to use gripe water for infantile colic.Conclusion: The study highlights that there is vital need to improve the knowledge and awareness in the society regarding communitybasednewborn care. We should also strive toward helping removing myths and wrong practices, which are rampant in the community