Rates of Ischemia Amongst Asymptomatic Patients with High Coronary Artery Calcium Scores

CACS may be used to recommend lifestyle changes or other treatment recommendations to reduce the risk of heart disease. The incidence of asymptomatic ischemia in patients with elevated CACS is poorly defined. Furthermore, the CACS cut-off above which it is clinically important and cost effective to look for and diagnose ischemia is also not well defined. The purpose of this study is to better define the incidence of asymptomatic ischemia in Parkview Heart Institute (PHI) patients with elevated CACS, including an examination of demographic data that may also influence the rate of ischemia. 118 Patients who were screened for CAD, received CACS ≥ 400, and subsequently had stress testing or invasive coronary angiogram within 6 months were admitted into the study. Through statistical analysis it was determined there was no statistical difference in rates of ischemia between patients with CACS of 400-999 and those >1000. However, due to a small sample size this study will be continued to strengthen its results and investigate if demographics play a role in rates of ischemia.

Angiographic Significance of ST Depression in Anterior Leads in Acute Inferior ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background and aims: Electrocardiogram of acute ST elevation inferior myocardial infarction can show concomitant ST depression in anterior leads. We aimed to see its significance on coronary angiogram. Methods: Cross sectional study conducted in Department of Cardiology of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre from March 2021 to June 2021. Total of 64 patients of acute inferior myocardial infarction were included consecutively. Electrocardiogram were analyzed for the presence of ST depression in anterior leads (V1-V6). Coronary angiogram were obtained. Linear regression analysis was applied to see correlations. Results: Thirty-four (53.12%) participants had significant ST depression in anterior leads. Their mean age was 64.53±11.67 years. Twenty-two (64.70%) were male. Out of them, 13 (38.23%) were hypertensive, 9 (26.47%) were smoker and 7 (20.58%) were diabetic. Among 30 (46.88%) participants without ST depression, mean age was 56.73±13.31 years and 21 (70%) were male. Out of them, 11 (36.66%) were hypertensive, 12 (40%) were smoker and 11 (33.66%) were diabetic. Culprit vessel was right coronary artery in 22 (64.70%) of those with ST depression and 22 (73.33%) of those without ST depression. Significant left anterior descending artery lesion was seen in 19 (55.88%) of those with ST depression and 3 (10%) of those without depression. Anterior ST depression showed positive correlation with left anterior descending artery lesion. Conclusion: ST depression in anterior leads in acute inferior myocardial infarction can be due to presence of concomitant left anterior descending coronary artery disease.

Major Complication Following Kawasaki Disease in an Infant—The Development of Apical Infarction and Aneurysm Formation

Considerable advances have occurred in the understanding of Kawasaki disease, with a substantial drop in morbidity and mortality following the infusion of gamma globulin during the acute phase. Nevertheless, major complications may still occur. A 27-year-old male presented as an infant of 11 weeks when he was diagnosed as having Kawasaki disease. He was appropriately treated with aspirin and a gamma globulin infusion following his diagnosis 5 days after the onset of his illness. Despite that, he went on to develop coronary aneurysms. He represented a few weeks later with a history of inconsolable crying associated with pallor, suggestive of ischaemic chest pain. A repeat echocardiogram revealed infarction of the apex of the left ventricle with localised thrombus formation. There were persistent aneurysms within both coronary artery systems. A further infusion of gamma globulin was given. In view of the thrombus formation, he was started on warfarin. The thrombus gradually resolved with the development of a clearly defined left ventricular apical aneurysm. He has remained on warfarin, aiming for an international normalised ratio (INR) level of 2 to 2.5. He developed mild left ventricular dysfunction during late childhood, which improved following the commencement of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Despite his ventricular aneurysm, there has been no documented evidence of ventricular tachycardia over the years. Repeated testing initially by nuclear perfusion scans and then by stress echocardiograms failed to show any inducible ischaemia apart from the apical ventricular aneurysm. A recent computed tomography (CT) coronary angiogram revealed an ectatic origin of the left main and the right coronary arteries with mild calcification involving the mid-portion of the latter and slight calcification of the former. His raised cholesterol level has responded well to a statin. Despite the persistence of the ventricular aneurysm, he continues to be managed conservatively, as he has remained well. The question arises as to what the long-term implications are of his left ventricle apical aneurysm. Should it be excised? Is he at risk for ventricular tachycardia and sudden death? In addition, although the coronary aneurysms have resolved, the CT coronary angiogram shows calcium plaques in both coronary arteries at the site of the earlier aneurysms. This finding raises the question as to whether all children who develop coronary artery aneurysms following Kawasaki disease should have a CT coronary angiogram performed in adulthood.

Normal coronary diameters in coronary angiogram at Patan Hospital, Nepal

This study aims to assess the normal coronary diameters of patient who underwent coronary angiogram in Patan Hospital. Angiographic and demographic data of a total of 307 patients (155 males, 152 females; mean age 62.09±11.06 years) who underwent elective coronary angiography in Patan Hospital due to suspicion of coronary artery disease between 2017 and 2020 and in whom coronary angiography documented normal coronary arteries without any intra-luminal irregularity were analyzed retrospectively. Proximal diameters of the main epicardial coronary arteries were measured quantitatively using automated software analysis (Allura, Philips). The mean diameter of unadjusted/adjusted left main coronary artery, proximal left anterior descending artery, proximal left circumflex artery, proximal right coronary artery were 4.87±0.85mm/2.8±0.54, 3.8±0.7/2.19±0.439, 3.4±0.7/1.98±0.44, 3.6±0.85/2.07±0.53 respectively. Our study findings contradict the traditional belief that females have narrower coronary arteries than males. Our study showed the females have statistically significant larger unadjusted Right Coronary Artery diameter and adjusted Left Main Coronary Artery diameter. We believe that our findings may contribute to the global data pool of normal coronary diameters and can be utilized in future studies as a database.

Rare Case of Dual Right Coronary Artery Intervention Presenting as Acute Coronary Syndrome

Dual right coronary artery (RCA) is a very rare coronary anomaly. This anomaly is often undetected and may be totally asymptomatic to presenting as acute coronary syndrome. Here , we present a young diabetic male who presented with acute onset severe chest pain of 30 minutes duration which was managed as acute coronary syndrome ( NSTE-ACS). His urgent coronary angiogram revealed single ostial origin of right coronary artery (RCA) with total occlusion from proximal segment followed by double right coronary arteries with their respective distal branches.

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction due topolycythemia vera

ABSTRACT Polycythemia vera is a rare hematological disorder that can cause heart failure with reduced ejection fraction from chronic micro-vascular ischemia. Appropriately recognizing the underlying cause of cardiomyopathy is essential to decrease morbidity and mortality. Patients can present with elevated troponin level and have patent epicardial coronary arteries on coronary angiogram, hence presenting a diagnostic challenge for health care professionals. Furthermore, the presentation can mimic myocarditis. Herein, we report a case of a 61-year-old female who presented with heart failure due to microvascular thrombotic complication associated with polycythemia vera. Laboratory investigation and coronary angiogram were inconclusive. A high degree of clinical suspicion and utilizing non-invasive techniques, such as cardiac imaging, can describe myocardial pathology and aid with the diagnosis.

Distal transradial artery access for coronary angiography in a patient having rheumatoid arthritis-related severe arthropathies

Conventional radial access has become the default access for coronary angiography. Sometime, it is difficult to take a conventional radial access, especially in patients having severe arthropathies leading to limited wrist joint mobility. In such scenarios, distal transradial access (dTRA) can be adopted. We describe a case of an elderly male patient having rheumatoid arthritis with arthropathies. He presented to us with unstable angina; coronary angiogram was advised for ischaemia assessment. Right dTRA was adopted due to severe joint deformity at wrist joint, limiting joint extension. A successful coronary angiogram was performed via the right dTRA without major discomfort and complications. Haemostasis was secured with TR band radial artery compression device. In this case report, we have evaluated the importance of practising dTRA in a patient with severe arthropathies.

Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge of Staff Nurses Regarding Coronary Angiogram at a Selected Hospital, Bangalore

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme (STP) on knowledge of staff nurses regarding coronary angiogram. The study involved one group pre-test and post-test using pre-experimental design, with non-probability sampling technique in which purposive sampling method was used. Sixty staff nurses working at Kempegowda Institute of Health Science and Research Center were taken as samples (n=60) and requested to mark the structured knowledge questionnaire followed by implementation of STP on the same day and post-test conducted on the 15th day, using the same structured knowledge questionnaire to find out the effectiveness. The results revealed that in posttest there was a significant gain in knowledge of staff nurses with a mean of 23.83+ 2.21 compared to pretest mean of 17.90+ 2.79 and the improvement was statistically significant (p<0.05). There was no significant association found in relation to any of the demographic variables. The overall findings of the study clearly showed that the STP was significantly effective in improving the knowledge of staff nurses regarding coronary angiogram. Keywords: Effectiveness, structured teaching programme, coronary angiogram, staff nurses, knowledge and structured knowledge questionnaire.