Waiting time for transfer of patients with prostaglandin dependant congenital heart defects to tertiary cardiac centers

Worldwide congenital heart defects (CHD) are the leading cause of infant deaths owing to congenital anomalies. Delay in diagnosing and operating in neonates with prostaglandin dependant CHD may lead to significant morbidity and mortality.Objectives: To assess the time interval needed for acceptance and transfer of patients with critical CHD to a tertiary cardiac center and the impact on the patient’s survival.Study design: Retrospective database reviews of all cases diagnosed to have prostaglandin dependant (PG) CHD at Prince Sultan Cardiac Center-Qassim during a 43 months period (from May 2007 to December 2010).Results: During the study period 104 patients were diagnosed to have PG dependant CHD. Patients with PG dependant systemic circulation constitute 60% of patients. Patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD) associated with coarctation of the aorta constituted 16% of patients. The mean waiting time for transfer to a tertiary cardiac center was 10 ± 10 days. Twenty-two (21%) patients died while waiting for acceptance and transfer. Eleven patients were diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). There was no significant difference in the waiting time for those with or without HLHS, with a mean of 9 days for both. Six of our patients had infections with positive blood cultures. The mean waiting period for those with proved infection was 25 days compared with 8 days for those with no proved infection (p value < 0.005).Conclusion: There are a significant number of patients with severe CHD who die while waiting for acceptance and transfer to a tertiary cardiac center. The causes for delay could be the presence of infection, prematurity and low birth weight. The limited numbers of tertiary cardiac centers in Saudi Arabia as well as cardiac ICU beds are among the factors delaying the acceptance of patients requiring cardiac surgery.     

Catheter Ablation of Typical Atrial Flutter in Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

Atrial Flutter and Pulmonary Hypertension. Background: Radiofrequency ablation is first‐line therapy for atrial flutter (AFL). There are no studies of ablation in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods: Consecutive patients with severe PAH (systolic pulmonary artery pressure >60 mmHg) and AFL referred for ablation were evaluated. Patients with complex congenital heart disease were excluded. Results: A total of 14 AFL ablation procedures were undertaken in 12 patients. A total of 75% of patients were female; mean age 49 ± 12 years. SPAP prior to ablation was 99 ± 35 mmHg. Baseline 6‐minute walk distance was 295 ± 118 m. ECG demonstrated a typical AFL pattern in only 42% of cases. Baseline AFL cycle length was longer in PAH patients compared to controls (295 ± 53 ms vs 252 ± 35 ms, P = 0.006). Cavotricuspid isthmus dependence was verified in 86% of cases. Acute success was obtained in 86% of procedures. SPAP decreased from 114 ± 44 mmHg to 82 ± 38 mmHg after ablation (P = 0.004). BNP levels were lower postablation (787 ± 832 pg/mL vs 522 ± 745 pg/mL, P = 0.02). Complications were seen in 14%. A total of 80% (8/10) of patients were free of AFL at 3 months; 75% (6/8) at 1 year. Conclusion: Ablation of AFL in severe PAH patients is feasible, with good short‐ and intermediate‐term success rates. The ECG pattern is not a reliable marker of isthmus dependence. The SPAP and BNP levels may decrease postablation. AFL may be a marker of poor outcomes in patients with PAH with a 1‐year mortality rate of 42% in this study. This rate is higher than expected in the general PAH population. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 1185–1190, November 2012)     

主动脉内球囊反搏术在冠状动脉搭桥术后心脏泵衰竭中的应用体会

目的总结主动脉内球囊反搏（IABP）在冠状动脉搭桥术（CABG）后心脏泵衰竭应用的临床经验,探讨此类手术应用IABP的时机选择和适应证。方法总结2007年6月至2012年6月,5例因冠心病行CABG后患者出现心脏泵衰竭,在IABP支持下,术后心功能及血液动力学恢复稳定的情况。结果5例患者均在术后3-7d撤除IABP,恢复良好,痊愈出院。结论冠脉病变严重（多支病变、左主干病变）及急性心肌梗死患者,行冠状动脉搭桥术风险较大,特别是术后出现严重的低心排使手术效果更加不确定。术后应用IABP可以有效地改善心功能,提高手术成功率。     

培哚普利对高血压患者左室肥厚及转化生长因子β1的影响

目的 探讨原发性高血压（EH）患者左心室肥厚（LVH）与转化生长因子β1（TGF-β1）的关系,以及培哚普利对其的影响.方法 选取原发性高血压患者143 例,根据测得的左心室质量指数（LVMI）将全部患者分为两组：LVH 组71例和心肌正常（NLVH） 组72例.另选62名健康体检者为对照组.所有入选高血压患者予培哚普利4 mg/d,早餐后口服,连续治疗24周,采用彩色多普勒超声检测舒张期末室间隔厚度（IVST,mm）,计算LVMI,采用酶联免疫吸附法检测患者血浆TGF-β1浓度,样本数据分析采用t检验或直线相关性分析.结果 培哚普利药物治疗前,与对照组比较,LVH 组患者IVST、TGF-β1浓度均升高（P＜0.01）,NLVH 组患者TGF-β1浓度升高（P＜0.01）,LVH 组患者治疗前IVST、TGF-β1浓度亦高于NLVH 组（P＜0.01）.培哚普利药物治疗后,LVH 组患者较治疗前IVST、TGF-β1浓度均下降（P均＜0.01）,NLVH 组患者较治疗前TGF-β1浓度下降（P＜0.01）.以LVH组LVMI和TGF-β1做直线相关性分析,二者呈正相关（r＝0.674）,具有统计学意义（P＜0.01）.结论 TGF-β1可能参与了高血压的发生,并在 LVH形成中起重要作用;培哚普利可能通过降低 TGF-β1逆转 LVH.     

心脏外伤的诊治

目的探讨心脏外伤的诊断及治疗方法。方法分析2000年7月至2006年9月收治的7例心脏外伤患者资料,男性6例,女性1例,年龄18-37岁,其中刀刺伤5例、胸部挤压伤2例、急性心包填塞6例。损伤部位：右心室3例、左心室2例、室间隔破裂1例、单纯急性心包填塞1例。结果急诊手术6例,保守治疗1例,没有死亡病例。结论早期快速诊断、积极抗休克治疗、紧急开胸手术是成功抢救心脏外伤的关键。     

心脏起搏器并发症45例分析

目的探讨置入心脏起搏器并发症发生的原因及处理措施。方法对45例置入或更换起搏器出现并发症患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果发生囊袋血肿11例,电极脱位4例,心室颤动2例,切口和（或）囊袋感染7例,阈值一过性升高5例,感知不良5例,气胸4例,心室电极误入冠状静脉窦2例,脑栓塞2例,上腔静脉阻塞综合征2例,心包填塞1例。结论应加强对置入起搏器常见并发症的认识,严格术中规范操作,加强术后随访,尽可能将并发症降到最低。     

心理干预对心脏瓣膜置换术后患者生命质量的影响

目的探讨心理干预对心脏瓣膜术后患者心理状态和生命质量的影响。方法选择120例风湿性心脏病瓣膜置换术患者,随机分为心理干预组和对照组,各60例。对照组采用一般的治疗方法,干预组在此基础上加心理干预。12周为1疗程。于人组时、12周末采用焦虑自评量表（SAS）、Beck抑郁自评量表（BDI）、健康状况调查问卷（SF-36）对两组患者进行心理状态和生命质量评定。结果入组时两组患者SAS、BDI评分差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。12周末试验组与对照组SAS、BDI评分比较显著降低[分别为（32．51±8．74）分比（41．84±8．03）分;（13．5±7．24）分比（21．5±5．2）分]（P〈0．01）;12周末试验组SAS和BDI评分比人组时均显著降低[分别为（32．51±8．74）分比（47．43±8．16）分;（13．5±7．24）分比（28．75±5．32）分]（P〈0．01）。试验组患者治疗前后SF-36各分量表值差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;治疗后试验组与对照组表值比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论心理干预有助于改善心脏瓣膜置换术后患者的心理状态,提高患者的生命质量。