Ramzi Ashoush

Postoperative oral amiodarone versus oral bisoprolol as prophylaxis against atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A prospective randomized trial

BACKGROUND Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in up to 50% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery and is associated with complications. Amiodarone and beta blockers are effective as prophylaxis for AF after CABG. The purpose of this study was to compare oral amiodarone versus oral bisoprolol for prevention of AF after CABG. METHODS In this randomized study, 200 patients admitted for elective CABG were given oral amiodarone (n=98 patients) or oral bisoprolol (n=102 patients) beginning 6 h after surgery. Amiodarone patients received 15 mg/Kg then 7 mg/Kg/day for one month. Bisoprolol patients received 2.5 mg then 2.5 mg bid indefinitely. RESULTS Postoperative AF occurred in 15.3% of the patients in the amiodarone group and 12.7% of the patients in the bisoprolol group (p=0.60). Maximal ventricular rate tended to be lower in the bisoprolol group (125+/-6 beats/min) compared with the amiodarone group (144+/-7 beats/min, p=.06). Preoperative beta blockage did not affect AF incidence in either study group. There was no difference between the 2 groups for the onset time of AF episodes, total AF duration, AF recurrence and postoperative length of hospital stay. No serious postoperative complications occurred in the two study groups. Two reversible low cardiac output cases occurred with bisoprolol. CONCLUSIONS Postoperative oral bisoprolol and amiodarone are equally effective for prophylaxis of AF after CABG. Treatment with bisoprolol resulted in a trend to lower ventricular response rate in AF cases. Both regimens were well tolerated.

Penetrating carotid injuries—A wartime experience

Thirty-nine patients with penetrating carotid injuries were treated between 1975 and 1987. All were war victims. On admission 27 (69%) had no neurologic deficit (group I), 8 (20.5%) had a mild neurologic deficit (group II), and 4 (10.5%) had a severe deficit (group III). Repair was undertaken in 38 of 39 (97.5%) patients, and carotid ligation was performed in 1 case (2.5%). Associated injuries were found in 25 (65%) patients. All patients survived. At the time of discharge all group I and II patients had a normal neurologic examination. One patient in group III recovered completely, whereas two had significant improvement. One patient remained unchanged. We conclude that repair should be attempted in all patients with carotid injuries who are seen early (less than 120 minutes) after the accident.

Aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are rare tumors of the heart and affect primarily the cardiac valves. These lesions are responsible for embolic accidents that clinically manifest as neurological and cardiovascular symptoms. We describe the case of a 40-yr-old woman who presented with a neurological deficit caused by a papillary tumor of the aortic valve. Diagnosis was made by transesophageal echocardiaphy and the tumor was surgically removed.

Kyste hydatique du cœur simulant une ischémie coronarienne

Cardiac echinococcosis is rare despite endemic occurrence of echinococcosis in some regions of the world. Clinical presentation can vary and may be misleading. Diagnosis is facilitated by new imaging techniques. Surgery is mandatory to avoid serious complications. We report a case of cardiac echinococcosis with pseudo, ischemic clinical and electrical presentation.

Myocardial extraction of intracellular magnesium and atrial fibrillation after coronary surgery

BACKGROUND The effects of magnesium loading on the incidence of atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CAGB) are equivocal. None of the previous studies assessed the influence of myocardial extraction of magnesium in these settings. The current trial aims to elucidate whether the incidence of atrial fibrillation following CABG is affected by the preoperative rate of myocardial extraction of magnesium. METHODS The ethical committee approved the study protocol. 113 patients (94 male, mean age 63 ± 11 years) planned for elective CABG surgery under normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass were prospectively included. Preoperative independent variables included preoperative treatment, electrocardiographic abnormalities, left ventricular ejection fraction estimation, left atrial size, creatinine clearance and assays of plasma and intracellular magnesium, calcium, albumin, potassium and ionized calcium, drawn preoperatively from the coronary sinus and the aortic root. The covariates - including the rate of myocardial extraction of magnesium - were entered in a logistic regression model to predict the odds of atrial fibrillation. RESULTS The incidence of post operative atrial fibrillation was 16%. A rate of myocardial extraction of intracellular magnesium ≥ 7% increases fivefold the multivariate risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation (p < .01). Advanced age was also significantly associated to postoperative atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that a preoperative rate of myocardial extraction of intracellular magnesium ≥ 7% could be a new and a potent predictive factor for postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Emergency Arteriography in the Assessment of Penetrating Trauma to the Lower Limbs

One hundred emergency arteriographies (EA) were performed in 87 patients with lower limb trauma due to high-velocity missiles. Thirteen patients had bilateral injuries. In 79 cases, EA findings were positive and led to emergency surgery. In 76 cases an arterial injury was found and treated, a positive predic tive value of 96% (76/79). In the other 3 cases, no arterial lesion was found (3 false positives). Among the 21 patients with normal findings from angiography, 10 had surgical exploration because of high clinical suspicion of vascular injury. Arterial injury was found in 2 cases (2 false negatives). In 8 patients, arteriogra phy modified the surgical procedure. In the 11 remaining patients, clinical and echo Doppler follow-up results were normal, a negative predictive value of 90% (19/21). Sensitivity was 97%, specificity 86%, and accuracy 95%. These data show that arteriography in stable patients is a safe and accurate procedure. It permits avoidance of unnecessary surgical exploration in selected patients and helps modify the surgical procedure.