Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of the patients with bio-prosthetic mitral valve replacement at a tertiary care hospital of a South Asian country.
Methodology: The study is a retrospective observational observational study involving patients who underwent bio-prosthetic mitral valve replacement at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, between 2006 and 2020, and had at least two complete echocardiograms. Patients with incomplete clinical data, no electronic reports of echocardiograms, and mechanical mitral valve replacement were excluded.
Results: This is a retrospective observational study, conducted at a tertiary care hospital. We included a total of 502 patients who underwent bio-prosthetic mitral valve replacement from the year 2006 to 2020. Patients were divided into two groups based on normal functioning bio-prosthetic mitral valve and bio-prosthetic mitral valve dysfunction (BMVD). Out of 502 patients, 322 (64%) were female, mean age at the time of surgery was 49.42 ± 14.56 years. Mitral regurgitation was more common, found in 279 (55.6%) patients followed by mitral stenosis in 188 (37.5%) patients. Mitral valve replacement was done as an elective procedure due to NYHA II to IV symptoms at the time of surgery in 446 (88.8%) patients. In the mean follow-up of 6.59 + 2.99 years, bio-prosthetic mitral valve dysfunction (BMVD) was observed in 183 (36.5%) patients. However, re-do mitral valve surgery was done in only 49 (9.8%) patients. Comparing the two groups, individuals with normal functioning bio-prosthetic mitral valve had a mean age of 51.6 + 14.27 years, while those with BMVD had a mean age of 45.639 + 14.33 years at the time of index surgery (p value=0.000). There were more long-term complications including heart failure (n = 16, 8.74%), atrial fibrillation (n = 11, 6.01%) and death (n = 6, 3.28%) in BMVD group which were statistically significant.
Conclusion: This study is distinct because it demonstrates the outcomes of bio-prosthetic valve replacement in a relatively younger South Asian population. Due to rapid degeneration of bio-prosthetic valve in younger patients, a significant number of cases developed BMVD along with poor long-term clinical outcomes even at a short follow up period of less than ten years. These findings are like international data and signify that mechanical mitral valve replacement may be a more reasonable alternative in younger patients.
To evaluate the clinical results of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided intervention for calcified coronary artery lesions.Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2013 to January 2020.A cohort of 134 consecutive patients who underwent intravascular ultrasonography-guided assessment of coronary arteries were included. Patients were divided into two groups: those with coronary artery calcification (CAC, n=77) and those without (non-CAC, n=57). The two groups were compared for their clinical characteristics, management, in-hospital events, follow-up, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).The mean follow-up duration was 40.3 ± 30.1 months. Most of the patients were male (n=97, 72.3%), and the mean age was 63.1 ± 12.9 years. In the CAC group, age was the most common risk factor, followed by dyslipidaemia (n=68, 88%), hypertension (n=64, 83%), and Diabetes mellitus (n=44, 57%). CAC group patients were more commonly presented with acute coronary syndrome (n=59, 76.6%), had prior PCI (n=40, 52%), had more LM disease (n=34, 44%, p=0.005), and a significant number of prior stent-ISR (n=27, 35%, p=0.024). Those who had CAC had higher MACE.Patients with CAC had more co-morbidities and commonly presented with acute coronary syndrome. MACEs frequency was recorded higher in the CAC group although the results were not statistically significant.Coronary artery calcification, Intravascular imaging, Coronary artery disease, Target vessel revascularisation, Percutaneous coronary intervention.
Objectives: Due to rheumatic heart disease, young people are more likely to develop valvular heart disease in developing countries. In countries like Pakistan, surgeons implant more bioprosthetic mitral valves (MVs) in younger patients. However, bioprosthetic valves degenerate rapidly in younger people, leading to bioprosthetic MV dysfunction (BMVD). This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with bioprosthetic MV replacement (MVR) at a tertiary care hospital in a South Asian country. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective observational study, conducted at a tertiary care hospital. We included a total of 502 patients who underwent bioprosthetic MVR from the year 2006 to 2020. Clinical and surgical characteristics along with transthoracic echocardiographic findings (pre-surgery and recent most follow-up studies) were noted. Follow-up data were also collected. Results: Out of 502 patients, 322 (64%) were female, mean age at the time of surgery was 49.42 ± 14.56 years. Mitral regurgitation was more common, found in 279 (55.6%) patients followed by mitral stenosis in 188 (37.5%) patients. MVR was done as an elective procedure due to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) II to IV symptoms at the time of surgery in 446 (88.8%) patients. In the mean follow-up of 6.59 ± 2.99 years, BMVD was observed in 183 (36.5%) patients. However, re-do MV surgery was done in only 49 (9.8%) patients. Patients were divided into two groups based on normal functioning bioprosthetic MV and BMVD. Comparing the two groups, individuals with normal functioning bioprosthetic MV had a mean age of 51.6 ± 14.27 years, while those with BMVD had a mean age of 45.639 ± 14.33 years at the time of index surgery ( P = 0.000). There were more long-term complications including heart failure ( n = 16, 8.74%), atrial fibrillation ( n = 11, 6.01%), and death ( n = 6, 3.28%) in the BMVD group which were statistically significant. Conclusion: This study is distinct because it demonstrates the outcomes of bioprosthetic valve replacement in a relatively younger South Asian population. Due to rapid degeneration of bioprosthetic valve in younger patients, significant number of patients developed BMVD along with poor long-term clinical outcomes, even at a short follow-up period of <10 years. These findings are similar to international data and signify that mechanical MVR may be a more reasonable alternative in younger patients.
Abstract Background Aorto-cavitary fistula is a rare complication of infective endocarditis. Multimodal imaging is commonly required to assess the severity and extent of infection because of the complex pathology of the valvular and paravalvular apparatus in endocarditis. Case presentation We present an unusual case of a middle-aged man with recent history of meningoencephalitis who developed infective endocarditis complicated by ruptured abscess in inter-valvular fibrosa between aortic and mitral valve resulting in free communication or fistula formation between aorta and left atrium. Patient underwent double valve replacement (aortic and mitral) along with repair of the aorta. Conclusions Our case highlights recognition of this rare clinical presentation of aorto-left atrial fistula in infective endocarditis and the diagnostic role of transesophageal echocardiography in good clinical outcome with aggressive and timely management.
There is lack of large data from South-Asian region on atrial fibrillation and it is imperative that clinical presentation, prognostic factors, management pursued, and outcomes are known for this part of the world. Once collective evidence for the region is known, region-specific guidelines can be laid forward.To evaluate clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of atrial fibrillation at a tertiary care center of Pakistan.This was a retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care center of Pakistan. Period of study ranged from July-December 2018. All hospitalized patients who were admitted with atrial fibrillation as a primary or associated diagnosis were enrolled.A total of 636 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 68.5 ± 12 years and 49.5% (315) were male. 90.6% of the patients were admitted via emergency room. Majority (59.9%) had previously known AF and 40% developed new-onset AF during the hospital stay. Hypertension was the most common co-morbid condition (85.4%) followed by Diabetes Mellitus (40.1%). At least 9% had rheumatic heart disease. The median CHA2DS2VASc and HASBLED scores were 4 and 2 respectively. More than one-third of patients had sepsis as a primary diagnosis (36.8%). The in-hospital mortality of patients with atrial fibrillation was 6.7%. Patients with new-onset AF had higher mortality. Sepsis and stroke were independently associated with a higher mortality. There was no significant difference in median CHA2DS2VASc and HASBLED scores for patients with new-onset and previously known AF. On discharge, 83% of the eligible patients received oral anticoagulation.There was higher prevalence of chronic co-morbid conditions in the studied population leading to a higher CHA2DS2VASC Score. Sepsis and stroke were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality.
A double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is an extremely rare congenital malformation. The exact prevalence of DCLV is not known, although studies have reported prevalence of 0.04-0.42%. This abnormality is characterized by the sub-division of left ventricle into two chambers, the main left ventricular chamber (MLVC) and the accessory chamber (AC) by a septum or muscle band.We are reporting two cases of DCLV, one in an adult male and an infant, who were referred for undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. The adult patient was asymptomatic, whereas the infant had the diagnosis of left ventricular aneurysm on fetal echocardiography. On CMR, we confirmed the diagnosis of DCLV in both patients, as well as moderate aortic insufficiency in the adult patient. Both patients were lost to follow-up.The double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is commonly detected in infancy or childhood. Although echocardiography can help detect double-chambered ventricles, MRI provides a better knowledge of this problem and can also be used to diagnose other related heart disorders.