Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with COVID-19

Infection with the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) and the resulting syndrome, COVID-19, have been associated with inflammation and a prothrombotic state, with increases in fibrin, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products and D-dimers. In some studies, elevations in these markers have been associated with worse clinical outcomes. Several studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), and pulmonary embolism (PE), particularly in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), even in those receiving prophylactic anticoagulation. The high rate of thrombosis in COVID-19 is driven by at least two interrelated processes: a hypercoagulable state responsible for large-vessel thrombosis and thromboembolism and direct vascular and endothelial injury responsible for in situ microvascular thrombosis. The presence of PE and pulmonary thrombosis may explain why hypoxemia is out of proportion to impairment in lung compliance in some patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Diagnosing PE in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia may be challenging, because the two pathologies share many signs and symptoms. It has been demonstrated that the administration of prophylactic anticoagulation within 24 h of admission in patients with COVID-19 was associated with decreased mortality when compared with no prophylactic anticoagulation. Given the antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and possibly antiviral properties of heparins, it has been hypothesized that anticoagulation with heparin administered at doses higher than conventionally used for venous thromboprophylaxis may improve outcomes. In non-critically ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19, therapeutic-dose anticoagulants with heparin (most commonly, low-molecular-weight heparin) increased the probability of survival until hospital discharge with a reduced need for ICU-level organ support at 21 days as compared with usual-care thromboprophylaxis. In Critically ill patients with confirmed COVID-19, therapeutic-dose anticoagulation did not increase the probability of survival to hospital discharge or the number of days free of cardiovascular o respiratory organ support and had a 95% probability of being inferior to usual-care pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. Currently, randomized trials evaluating the use of tissue plasminogen activator and Tenecteplase in patients with COVID-19 ARDS are underway.

Left Internal Mammary Artery to Left Anterior Descending Artery. An Alternative for old, High-Risk, Multivessel, Coronary Artery Disease Patients and an Approach for Hybrid Revascularization

In 1997, the first ambulatory off-pump left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) anastomosis was performed via xiphoid approach, an intervention known today as the MINI-OPCAB operation. This operation has been performed in more than 150 patients around the world for the management of single and multiple vessel coronary artery disease, and 70 of those cases underwent the procedure in our Foundation from 1997 to 2021, showing no operative mortality or reintervention rates, low conversion rates, early hospital discharge, and 100% graft patency at the follow-ups. The minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) procedure was introduced in 1994 by Benetti from Argentina, and was developed based on our previous experience performing off-pump coronary surgery by manipulating the ascending aorta through a left-sided small thoracotomy. Although it represents one of the most common minimally invasive procedures done worldwide, the original technique is not easy to reproduce, and in most cases the pleura is opened, which increases patients pain, morbidity, hospital length of stay, and hinders the realization of immediate hybrid revascularization after the procedure. The latest minimally invasive approaches for CABG include robotic-assisted procedures, in which the IMAs are harvested using robotic technology or the whole procedure is done using robotic technology. This approach has shown adequate short-term clinical results, however, there are no studies available reporting the procedure’s long-term results. Conclusion: The MINI-OPCAB operation is a friendly approach to perform Minimally Invasive Coronary Bypass Surgery in old, high-risk, multivessel coronary artery disease patients, and it represents a good intervention alternative for the majority of cardiac surgeons and cardiac specialized centers. We also consider this approach as ideal for patients who further require Hybrid Revascularization; however, more experience is needed to validate this initials results.

Myopericarditis as an Extra-Intestinal Manifestation of Crohn’s Disease: A Case Report

Introduction: Myopericarditis is an uncommon manifestation of Crohn’s disease. Interestingly enough, it can present in a patient without any acute bowel symptoms. Case Presentation: A 21-year-old male with a medical history of Crohn’s disease and eosinophilic esophagitis presented to the hospital with chest pain and fever. Blood work revealed elevated troponin, C-reactive protein, and sedimentation rate levels. Electrocardiogram (EKG) showed diffuse ST elevation in all leads. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) demonstrated a small pericardial effusion without valvular abnormalities. The patient was diagnosed with myopericarditis. Extensive etiological workup was negative, in the absence of other explanations, it was attributed to his Crohn’s disease. The patient was started on colchicine and ibuprofen. Out-patient follow-up revealed resolution of symptoms. Conclusion: This case reports the rare occurrence of myopericarditis and Crohn’s disease. Inflammatory bowel disease as a cause of myopericarditis has been reported in some cases within the literature; however, there is no definitive mechanism known.

Stable Angina Pectoris: One-Year Outcomes of Patients with Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Multicenter Sutdy in Dakar (Senegal)

Background: CAD management is important in prevention of disease progression. But we have very little study or research on the evolution of stable angina in amulatory patients without coronary antecedents and with obstructive coronary disease. Purpose: The objective of our study was to analyze the clinical and angiographic profil of patients with stable chest pain and to assess their angina status one year outcomes. Patients and methods: All patients who presented with symptomatic angina pectoris and/or signs of ischemia and first diagnosis of obstructive CAD in the Cardiology Departments of Idrissa Pouye General Hospital and Aristide Le Dantec National University Hospital Center of Dakar, from March 01, 2019 to December 31, 2020 were selected. The clinical characteristics, initial angiographic findings, therapeutic strategy and outcome within the first year were analyzed. Results: During the study period, 84 outpatients presenting with symptomatic stable chest pain and first obstructive coronary artery disease were selected. The mean age was 63.01± 9.37 years. Male preponderance was observed with 63(75%) patients; Clinical symptoms were dominated by typical pain with 46.4% (n=39) ; the risk factors were dominated by hypertension 61.9% (n=52); diabetes 41.7% (n=35) and dyslipidemia 33.3% (n=28). During follow-up, 10 patients (11.90%) remained untraceable while 9 patients (10.71%) were not available for check-up; 3 patients (3.57%) died during follow-up. Only 62 patients (73.80) could be evaluated; among those who were alive and controlled, 26 patients (41.93%) with angina at baseline still had angina symptoms, 2 patients (3.22%) had undergone myocardial infarction; one (1.61%) had undergone urgent revascularization; one (1.61%) patient developed heart failure. Finally 32 patients (51.61%) were event-free and angina-free Conclusion: The management of outpatients with stable chest pain and first obstructive CAD appears favourable, with good adherence to guideline-based therapies one year outcomes. Stable chest pain is not associated with an increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes but there remains room for improvement in terms of risk factor control.

Echocardiographic and Computed-tomographic Evaluation of the Fate of Bovine Pericardial Patch as a Pericardial Substitute in Bentall’s Procedure: Twenty-year’ Results

Objective: The study was designed to ascertain the influence of usage of bovine pericardial patch in patients undergoing Bentall’s procedure with respect to reexploration for bleeding, mediastinal infection, avoidance of conduit adhesions, late development of pericardial constriction and calcification. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 150 patients (79 males) aged between 22 to 68 years (mean±SD 49.25±12.9 years) receiving a composite aortic conduit between January 1998 to December 2020 for annuloaortic ectasia (n=100), aortic dissection (n=49), and dilated aortic root in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (n=1). Twenty-five patients had Marfan’s syndrome. Modified “button technique” was performed by interposing a glutaraldehyde treated pericardial strip at the graft coronary anastomoses, and proximal aortic conduit suturing using interlocking interrupted, pledgeted mattress suture. On completion, the pericardial cavity was reconstructed using St. Jude Medical Biocor pericardial patch. To detect evidence of pericardial constriction, survivors underwent echocardiography and computed tomography. The Kaplan-Meier curve was drawn to show the probability of survival over a period of follow-up time. Results: Seven (4.7%) patients died of cardiac-related cause, 45% had transient hemodynamic instability, 55% had low cardiac output, and 87.1% had spontaneous return of sinus rhythm. The average 12-hour postoperative drainage was 245±70 ml and there was no mediastinal infection. At a mean follow-up of 172.4 (SD± 58.9) months, the actuarial survival was 94.2±0.04% (95% CI: 88.5-96.8), and there was no pericardial constriction or calcification. Conclusion: Reconstruction of pericardial cavity using Biocor bovine pericardial patch minimizes diffuse oozing of blood, graft infection, and is not associated with later development of pericardial constriction, or calcification.

Lung Ultrasound B-lines as a Surrogate Marker for High Left Ventricular Diastolic Pressures; a bed-side Diagnostic tool

Background: We studied the diagnostic accuracy of B-lines (comet-tail sign) on bedside lung US, NT-proBNP, E/e` on ECHO in differentiation of the causes of acute dyspnea in the emergency setting. Major advantages include bedside availability, no radiation, high feasibility and reproducibility, and cost efficiency. Methods: Our prospective study was performed at the alazhar university hospital, Cairo, Egypt, between July 2019 and March 2020. All patients underwent lung ultrasound examinations, along with TTE, laboratory testing, including rapid NT-proBNP testing. Results: The median E/e’ levels in patients with B-profile were 18, compared with a median of 7.4 in the subjects with A-profile (P =< 0.0001 CI = -9.649 to -7.044). It was found that the sensitivity and the specificity of detecting B-profile on ultrasound is high when E/e’ > 15.5 (95.0% and 83.0% consecutively), which concluded the high correlation between finding B profile on U/S chest and elevated left ventricle filling pressure in a patient presenting with picture of suggestive of heart failure Conclusion: Chest ultrasound can be used as screening test for the evaluation of patients with suspicion of heart failure with excellent sensitivity and good specificity.

Technical Details of Redo Aortic Valve Replacement using St. Jude Medical Mechanical Prosthesis in a Patient with Thrombosed Aortic Mechanical Prosthesis: A Video Presentation

Current consensus guidelines of the AHA and ESC, uniformly recommend either type of prosthetic valve for patients aged 60 to 70 years and mechanical prosthesis for patients aged less than 60 years

A Novel Isoform of COL4A1 in the Regulation of Vascular Intercellular Communication

Vascular interventions have transformed the outlook towards improved patient-outcomes following atherosclerotic lesions

A Missense Mutation (R723H) in the Head Motor Domain of β-MYH7 gene in an Indian HCM Patient and Phenotypic Plasticity

Mutations in the β-MYH7 gene are one of the major causes that lead to cardiomyopathies. However, to differentiate a causative nsSNP and its impact on protein structure remains a major challenge. In the present study, we detected a missense mutation Arg723His in the head motor domain of β-MYH7 in a HCM patient, and it was absent in 207 healthy individuals. The mutant (R723H) has been found to alter an evolutionarily conserved amino acid. In addition, the mutant (R723H) was predicted pathogenic by Polyphen-2 and SIFT bioinformatic tools. Further, the superimposed 3D structure of the mutant (p.His723 homology model) with native (p. Arg723) displayed the root means square deviation (RMSD) of ~3.38A0. We know that the non-covalent interactions such as hydrophobic, electrostatic, Van der Waals, and hydrogen bonds between amino acids are at the heart of stabilizing protein structures. Here, we demonstrated how the mutant (p.His723) has disrupted a critical non-covalent interactions network at the mutation site and may contribute to the disease phenotype. Hence, our findings in the future could pave the way for developing small molecular modulators or myosin-targeted therapies for heart failure.

Redo Mitral Valve Replacement using St. Jude Medical Mechanical Prostheses in a Patient with Degenerated Mitral Perimount Bioprosthesis: A Video Presentation

Current consensus guidelines of the American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology, uniformly recommend either type of prosthetic mitral valve for patients aged 60 to 70 years, and mechanical prosthesis for patients less than 60 years.