Percutaneous coronary intervention of a saphenous vein graft ostial stenosis in a patient with Bentall procedure

AbstractComposite graft replacement of the aortic root and coronary reimplantation with or without coronary artery bypass surgery is the standard treatment for a variety of aortic root pathologies. Previously, percutaneous coronary intervention of either reimplanted coronary arteries or left/right coronary artery through cabrol graft has been described in post-Bentall patients. We describe percutaneous coronary intervention of a saphenous vein graft ostial stenosis in a patient with previous Bentall procedure and a vein graft to right coronary artery, which was complex and challenging

Catastrophic Cardiac Amyloidosis

We report a case of a 61-year-old patient presenting with cardiogenic shock. His echocardiogram suggested typical features of cardiac amyloidosis. This case demonstrates that cardiac amyloidosis can present acutely and may be catastrophic

Large Right Atrial Vegetation in a Patient with Tunnelled Dialysis Catheter-Related Staphylococcal Sepsis : Remove the catheter if not in use

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Sickle cell disease with left ventricular non-compaction: A rare association

SummaryCardiac abnormalities described in sickle cell disease are pulmonary hypertension, dilated left or right atrium/ventricle, valvular abnormalities, hyperdynamic left ventricle with hypertrophy, and left or right ventriclular dysfunction. However, features consistent with left ventricular non-compaction have not been described previously in patients with sickle cell disease. We describe the case of a 21-year-old male with sickle cell disease and left ventricular non-compaction, which is a rare association and discuss the possible mechanisms for such an association

Coronary anomaly with a left ventricular accessory chamber: Is it left ventricular aneurysm or diverticulum?

AbstractA 60-year-old male hypertensive was suspected to have post myocardial infarction left ventricular aneurysm. His transthoracic echocardiogram performed elsewhere reported an inferior wall left ventricular aneurysm. He was referred for coronary angiography. His coronary angiogram and repeat transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated an accessory chamber arising from mid-inferior wall synchronously contracting with the left ventricle suggesting a diverticulum. In addition, he had anomalous coronary arteries with coronary artery disease. His electrocardiogram did not reveal any features suggestive of a post infarct aneurysm. This case illustrates the importance of a comprehensive clinical and echocardiographic examination with a broad differential thought process

Acute Coronary Syndrome in Oman : Results from the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the most common cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in Western countries. International guidelines for diagnosis and treatment have been developed based on randomised clinical trials. However, data from international registries report a lack of association between guideline recommendations and actual clinical practice. Similarly, the Gulf Heart Association initiated a registry called Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE). This registry was developed to determine the characteristics and management of ACS in the Gulf countries including Oman. Here, we report on the results of the various Gulf RACE registry studies from Oman and compare our results with the main Gulf RACE data as well as other international registries

Mechanical Prosthetic Valves and Pregnancy : A therapeutic dilemma of anticoagulation

Choosing the best anticoagulant therapy for a pregnant patient with a mechanical prosthetic valve is controversial and the published international guidelines contain no clear-cut consensus on the best approach. This is due to the fact that there is presently no anticoagulant which can reliably decrease thromboembolic events while avoiding damage to the fetus. Current treatments include either continuing oral warfarin or substituting warfarin for subcutaneous unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in the first trimester (6–12 weeks) or at any point throughout the pregnancy. However, LMWH, while widely-prescribed, requires close monitoring of the blood anti-factor Xa levels. Unfortunately, facilities for such monitoring are not universally available, such as within hospitals in developing countries. This review evaluates the leading international guidelines concerning anticoagulant therapy in pregnant patients with mechanical prosthetic valves as well as proposing a simplified guideline which may be more relevant to hospitals in this region

Multi-Factorial Causes of Torsade De Pointes in a Hospitalised Surgical Patient

A 55-year-old chronic alcoholic male known to be positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was admitted to a surgical ward following perianal abscess drainage. He was noted to have sinus bradycardia, ventricular premature complexes, and mild hypotension. His laboratory investigations revealed mild hypokalaemia. He was intermittently agitated and alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) was diagnosed. Postoperatively, he received intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam and metronidazole infusions along with a small dose of dopamine. Analysis of a 24-hour Holter monitor (ECG) showed a prolonged QT interval with two episodes of self-terminating torsade de pointes. His AWS was treated, hypokalaemia was corrected, and dopamine, along with antibiotics, was withdrawn. There was no recurrence of arrhythmias. This case highlights the importance of avoiding QT-prolonging drugs in hospitalised patients, since hospitalised patients often have multiple risk factors for a proarrhythmic response.

Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus in Oman : Results from two decades of research

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of diabetes mellitus over the past two decades in Oman, particularly in terms of its prevalence and incidence. In addition, the study sought to estimate the future incidence of diabetes in Oman. Methods: Three national and three regional surveys conducted between 1991 and 2010 were analysed to obtain the age-adjusted prevalence and undiagnosed proportion of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Omani subjects aged ≥20 years. Diabetes mellitus registers and published studies were used to determine incidence rates of both type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and T2DM in Oman. Linear regression was used to determine trends and projections for diabetes in 2050. Results: The age-adjusted prevalence of T2DM in Oman varied from 10.4% to 21.1%, while the highest prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was found in males (35.1%). In comparison to men, higher incidence rates of T2DM were found in women (2.7 cases compared to 2.3 cases per 1,000 person-years, respectively). No significant trends were observed for the prevalence or incidence of T2DM in both genders. Undiagnosed T2DM was more common in men (range: 33–68%) than women (range: 27–53%). The results of this study show that by 2050, there will be an estimated 350,000 people with T2DM living in Oman (a 174% increase compared to estimates for 2015). Conclusion: Health authorities need to prioritise diabetes prevention and control in order to prevent or delay long-term complications and avert a potential epidemic of diabetes in Oman