Compliance with stress testing in patients discharged from the emergency department following a diagnosis of low-risk chest pain
Conclusions
Compliance with EST is poor in patients with low-risk chest pain. Non-compliance is related to a number of factors including work commitments, cancellation of studies by the PCP and patients beliefs about the nature of their chest pain. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - August 8, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Robinson, K., Prabhala, S. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Aortic pulse wave velocity and its relationship with complexity of coronary artery disease based on SYNTAX score
Conclusions
APWV has predictive value for the SX score. A positive relation exists between aortic stiffening and coronary atherosclerosis and APWV measured by 2D Doppler is a good predictor of advancing CAD. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - August 6, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Ranjith, R., Binu, T. G., George, V., Madhu, K. G., Devika, P., Subair, K., Jayaram, V., Mohanan, K. S., Radhakrishnan, V. V. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Air angiogram
Air embolism during pacemaker implantation is a rare but potentially fatal complication.1 2 The creation of negative intrathoracic pressure sucking up air seems to be the most common mechanism of this event.3 Air embolism during the use of sheaths with haemostatic valves is a very rare occurrence. An 80-year-old man was undergoing implantation of cardiac resynchronisation therapy device (BIOTRONIK Stratos LV-T). Under fluoroscopy, a 7 French peel-away introducer with a haemostasis valve for left ventricular lead delivery (BIOTRONIK Scoutpro) was introduced after left subclavian vein puncture. During coronary sinus eng...
Source: Heart Asia - August 4, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Malviya, A., Nath, D., Mishra, A. Tags: Images in cardiovascular medicine Source Type: research
Cocaine-associated increase of atrial natriuretic peptides: an early predictor of cardiac complications in cocaine users?
Conclusions
In conclusion, natriuretic peptides could represent an early indicator of heart dysfunction liability in chronic cocaine abusers. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - July 8, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Casartelli, A., Dacome, L., Tessari, M., Pascali, J., Bortolotti, F., Trevisan, M. T., Bosco, O., Cristofori, P., Tagliaro, F. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Complex cardiac pacing in the setting of a district general hospital: procedural success and complications
Conclusions
In the presence of necessary clinical expertise, complex cardiac devices can be implanted successfully and with a high degree of safety in the setting of a district general hospital. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - June 24, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Rahbi, H., El-din, M., Salloum, M., Shaukat, N., Farooq, M. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Insomnia and its association with hypertension in a community-based population in China: a cross-sectional study
Conclusions
Self-reported insomnia is associated with a higher risk of hypertension in women. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - June 23, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Zhan, Y., Chen, R., Zhang, F., Wang, J., Sun, Y., Ding, R., Hu, D., Yu, J. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Syncope in young
A 34-year-old woman presented with recurrent syncope. Electrocardiogram revealed complete heart block. Dual-chamber pacemaker was implanted. Two months later she returned with recurrent syncope. Pacemaker was functioning normally, but she had repeated episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Her echocardiography, chest X-ray and biochemical parameters were within normal limits. She had lupus pernio in her nose this time (figure 1). Non-caseating granuloma was found in skin biopsy and diagnosis of sarcoid was made (figure 2). MRI was not possible because of pacemaker. There were small bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy in CT ...
Source: Heart Asia - June 19, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Datta, G. Tags: Images in cardiovascular medicine Source Type: research
Systolic blood pressure during recovery from exercise is related to flow-mediated dilatation in patients with coronary artery disease
Conclusions
These findings suggest that SBP during recovery from exercise is associated with endothelial function in patients with CAD. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - June 13, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Nishiyama, Y., Sakaue, A., Matsuo, S., Niiyama, H., Harada, H., Katoh, A., Ikeda, H. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
The effect of uraemia on the duration of arrhythmias in the context of cardioprotective ischaemic conditioning strategies
Conclusions
These studies demonstrate that underlying chronic uraemia does not reduce the threshold for arrhythmia timing or duration resulting from myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion and underlying uraemia did not alter the effects of these cardioprotective ischaemic conditioning strategies in the context of arrhythmia duration.
Summary
This novel work in a rodent model of chronic uraemia establishes that underlying uraemia does not increase the susceptibility to myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion induced arrhythmias. When compared with the non-uraemic heart, the uraemic heart has a similar response to the effects of ischaem...
Source: Heart Asia - May 26, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: McCafferty, K., Byrne, C. J., Kieswich, J., Raftery, M., Thiemermann, C., Yaqoob, M. M. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Risk factors for cardiovascular events and bleeding complications following non-cardiac surgery or procedure in patients with drug eluting stent placement
Conclusions
Non-cardiac procedures are common within 1 year after DES placement. Urgent nature of procedure is a risk factor for CV events and bleeding complications. Older age, diabetes, type of surgery, are risk factors associated only with bleeding events. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - May 22, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Tiwari, D., Jurkovitz, C. T., Zhang, Z., Bowen, J., Kolm, P., Wygant, G., Weintraub, W. S. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
A perilous cause for cardiovocal syndrome
A 74-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of hoarseness of voice and dyspnoea. He had been on treatment for hypertension and was a chronic smoker. Initial evaluation by an otorhinolaryngologist identified left vocal cord palsy (figure 1A). The chest X-ray appeared normal. For evaluation of coronary artery disease he was referred to the cardiology department. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed moderate left ventricular dysfunction and dilatation of the ascending aorta. The coronary angiogram showed normal coronary arteries. An aortogram performed with the pigtail catheter in the ascending aorta revealed the...
Source: Heart Asia - May 13, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Mohanan, S., Sajeev, C. G., Kader Muneer, P., Krishnan, M. N., Krishnan Tags: Images in cardiovascular medicine Source Type: research
Breathlessness in the older patient with repaired Fallot's Tetralogy: not always the heart
A 58-year-old obese farmer (BMI=31.4 kg/m2) presented with increasing breathlessness and reduced exercise tolerance for 2 years associated with discomfort after meals, increased snoring and daytime sleepiness. Past medical history included multiple repairs for Fallot'sTetralogy (TOF), asthma and kyphosis. Blood tests were normal. ECG showed RBBB (QRSd=154msecs). Echocardiogram revealed normal left ventricle, and mildly dilated well-contracting right ventricle (RV). Chest X-ray (CXR) showed a very large mass in the right hemithorax; a similar but smaller mass at the same site had been seen in 1992 (figures 1 and 2...
Source: Heart Asia - May 9, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Rao, U., Freeman, L. J. Tags: Images in cardiovascular medicine Source Type: research
Loss of mid-cavity gradient in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy following myocardial infarction: blessing in disguise
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterised by a heterogeneous clinical expression, unique pathophysiology and diverse natural history. Longstanding left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction is a strong determinant of HCM-related progressive heart failure and cardiovascular death. Here we report the clinical features and natural history of a young female with HCM and mid-cavity obstruction who became symptomatically better after apical myocardial infarction which resulted in the loss of mid-cavity obstruction. A 40-year-old woman presented with a history of progressive worsening of dyspnoea on exertion over th...
Source: Heart Asia - May 8, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Kadermuneer, P., Sajeer, K. T., Sajeev, C. G., Ranjith, M. P. Tags: Postscript Source Type: research
Arterial stiffness determined according to the cardio-ankle vascular index is associated with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a cross-sectional study
Conclusions
Our finding suggests that increased arterial stiffness may be involved in the maintenance of AF. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - May 2, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Miyoshi, T., Doi, M., Noda, Y., Ohno, Y., Sakane, K., Kamikawa, S., Noguchi, Y., Ito, H. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
A study of coronary artery patency in relation to the index event in patients with myocardial infarction thrombolysed with streptokinase
Conclusions
We found STK to be as effective as newer thrombolytic agents reported in other studies. In patients with AMI thrombolysed within 4 h, STK results in higher patency in young compared to older patients. (Source: Heart Asia)
Source: Heart Asia - April 28, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Gokhroo, R. K., Gupta, S., Bisht, D. S., Padmanabhan, D. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
