International Journal of Cardiovascular Practice

Review Article


Thrombotic and Thromboembolic Complications in Patients with Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Behnood Bikdeli, Phillip Green, Matthew J. Lewis, Marlon S. Rosenbaum

International Journal of Cardiovascular Practice, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2017), 15 Farvardin 2017, Page 30-32
https://doi.org/10.21859/ijcp-020201

Improved medical and surgical interventions have increased the longevity of patients with congenital heart defects and most such patients live into adulthood. Thrombotic and thromboembolic complications constitute a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). Such events include acute coronary syndromes, ischemic stroke (cardioembolic due to thrombus formation in the systemic ventricle, secondary to atrial arrhythmias, or due to paradoxical embolism), and venous thromboembolism. Some thrombotic phenomena are also specific to patients with ACHD, such as those related to Fontan circulation. We provide a succinct overview of thrombotic and thromboembolic complications in patients with ACHD, focusing on stroke and venous thromboembolic events.

Role of Imaging in Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion

Mathieu Lempereur, Adel Aminian, Raluca Dulgheru, Tom De Potter, Cécile Oury, Patrizio Lancellotti

International Journal of Cardiovascular Practice, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2017), 15 Farvardin 2017, Page 33-43
https://doi.org/10.21859/ijcp-020203

Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is now a valid alternative to long-term oral anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation at high thrombo-embolism risk, especially for patients who are considered ineligible for anticoagulation. The most frequently used occluders worldwide include the WATCHAMN (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) and the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug or Amulet (St. Jude Medical/Abbott, St Paul, MN, USA) devices. Multimodality imaging is key in the understanding of 3D aspects of the LAA and surrounding structures anatomy. Imaging is essential for procedural planning, during each step of the procedure and for device surveillance after implantation. Multimodality imaging, including 2D/3D echocardiography, fluoroscopy, and cardiac computed tomography can increase the safety and efficacy of the procedure.

Original Articles


Evaluating the Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Plan on Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Seyedeh Zahra Masoumi, farideh kazemi, Somayeh Khani, Hazhir Seifpanahi-Shabani, Maryam Garousian, Mehran Ghabeshi, Fatemeh Razmara, Ghodratollah Roshanaei

International Journal of Cardiovascular Practice, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2017), 15 Farvardin 2017, Page 44-50
https://doi.org/10.21859/ijcp-020204

Introduction: Cardiovascular surgeries are among the conventional surgeries aimed at increasing the survival rate and improving the quality of life of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life of patients undergoing Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Methods: This was a semi-experimental study performed on 160 patients undergoing CABG surgery. The rehabilitation program was carried out for 13 weeks (three sessions per week) in 40 sessions, six weeks after the CABG surgery. The MacNew standard questionnaire and the general health questionnaire (S-f 36) were completed before the beginning of rehabilitation sessions as well as after completion of these sessions by patients.

Results: According to the results, the quality of life of patients significantly increased in the physical and emotional areas after the rehabilitation program. The results also indicated that there was a significant difference between various levels of research in the physical functioning variables, dysfunction due to physical health, dysfunction due to emotional health, energy/fatigue of individuals, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, and general health.

Conclusions: The present results indicated the improved quality of life of patients in all the areas after cardiac rehabilitation intervention, compared to before that. Therefore, paying more attention to cardiac rehabilitation is necessary due to its positive effects on increasing the quality of life of patients.

Case report


Edwards Intuity Elite In a Patient With Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis and Ventricular Septal Defect

Attilio Cotroneo, Gian Luca Martinelli, Gabriele Musica, Mario Bobbio, Marco Diena

International Journal of Cardiovascular Practice, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2017), 15 Farvardin 2017, Page 51-52
https://doi.org/10.21859/ijcp-020202

This study reports on 65-year-old male with a bicuspid Aortic Stenosis (AS) low flow, low gradient and a congenital Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) of pars membranosa. A ministernotomy and Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB) by aorto-femoral cannulation was performed. The VSD was below the commissure between right and non coronary sinus. It was decided to correct it by a stitch with a pericardial patch and a further safer coverage by the stent of an Intuity Elite aortic valve. To the best of our knowledge this was the first time that a VSD could be covered with a suturless valve for two reasons: International Journal of e and conformable configuration of the valve.

Strategy to manage T-Wave Oversensing in a Biventricular ICD

Mohammad Ali Akbarzadeh, Mohammad Hassan Namazi, Morteza Safi, Mehdi Sheibani

International Journal of Cardiovascular Practice, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2017), 15 Farvardin 2017, Page 53-54
https://doi.org/10.21859/ijcp-020205

T-wave oversensing is a relatively prevalent cause of intracardiac signals oversensing in patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). Some of these oversensings are typically corrected with device reprogramming. If reprogramming fails to resolve the issue, invasive options such as repositioning the implanted lead may be necessary. We present a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and intermittent T wave oversensing by a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) that was managed by altering V-V timing.