Saudi Med J
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To assess the perception and awareness of cardiologists in Saudi Arabia about medical fitness to drive in different cardiovascular diseases. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional survey-based study between June 2018 and July 2018. Cardiologists were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire inquiring about awareness of driving fitness and educating patients regarding driving risks in specific cardiovascular conditions. Results: A total of 194 cardiologists completed the study survey; there were 30.4% consultants, 59.3% specialists, and 10.3% residents. ⋯ Interestingly, we found that cardiologists had never or rarely educated their patients regarding the potential risks of driving: 49% in symptomatic angina, 47% when ejection fraction is ≤35%, 39% in symptomatic valvular diseases, 26% after cardioverter defibrillators implantation, and 23% after non-elective percutaneous coronary interventions. Conclusion: There is a lack of awareness among cardiologists in Saudi Arabia about international guidelines regarding medical driving fitness. This study highlights the necessity of formulating appropriate national driving regulations for cardiovascular diseases.
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[No Abstract Available].
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Comparative Study
Risk of potential drug-drug interactions in the cardiac intensive care units. A comparative analysis between 2 tertiary care hospitals.
To identify and compare the prevalence of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in the intensive cardiac care units (CCUs) of 2 tertiary care hospitals and analyze their association with various predictors. Methods: This one-year prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) and Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), Peshawar, Pakistan, between January 2014 to Janury 2015. The patient medication profiles from the respective CCUs were evaluated for potential DDIs (PDDIs) using Micromedex DrugReax and Drug interaction facts. Results: The prevalence of PDDIs was 96.5% and 95.7% in the 2 hospitals, with over 1200 PDDIs in total. A significant association was found between the number of prescribed drugs and PDDIs in both hospitals. Conclusion: The knowledge of PDDIs is either lacking among the clinicians or is not taken into consideration. Monitoring PDDIs and timely interventions are required to minimize the adverse outcomes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Clinical efficacy of low dose recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator for the treatment of acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism.
To investigate the efficacy and safety of initial thrombolysis by recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in compared with anticoagulant therapy in patients with acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: Sixty-six patients with acute intermediate-risk PE were randomly assigned to receive rt-PA or LMWH between June 2014 and June 2017 in our department. We obtained information regarding the difference in the right ventricle/left ventricle (RV/LV) ratio, pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), clinical symptoms improvement, PE-related mortality, hemodynamic decompensation, recurrent PE, and major and minor bleeding. Results: In the rt-PA group, the mean PASP was reduced from 52.0±12.2 at baseline to 34.8±9.4 (p less than 0.001) and the mean RV/LV ratio was reduced from 1.26±0.22 at baseline to 0.96±0.18 (p less than 0.001) at 24 hours. ⋯ In comparison with the LMWH group, there was a significant reduction in PASP and an improvement in the symptom severity in the rt-PA group. At 90 days, there was no difference in mortality, recurrent venous thromboembolism and major bleeding as a safety outcome, but increased minor bleeding and decreased hemodynamic decompensation occurred in the rt-PA group. Conclusions: In patients with acute intermediate-risk PE, low dose thrombolytic therapy is considered safe and effective, it can be recommended as an alternative option in clinical treatment.
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Comparative Study
AuraGain and i-Gel laryngeal masks in general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Performance characteristics and effects on hemodynamics.
To evaluate and compare the performances of new types of supraglottic airway devices (SADs) with endotracheal intubation regarding their ease of insertions, perioperative complications, and effects on hemodynamic parameters and peak airway pressures in laparascopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods: One hundred and fourteen patients with ASA 1-2 physical status scheduled for elective LC were recruited for this prospective randomized controlled trial. The study was completed between January 2016 and January 2017 in Adiyaman University Research and Educational Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey. The patients were divided into AuraGain(Ambu, Ballerup, Denmark) (n=38), i-Gel® (Intersurgical Ltd, UK) (n=35), and endotracheal tube (ETT)(n=32) groups. ⋯ Ease of insertion for SADs which was evaluated with insertion procedure duration, attempts, first insertion success rates, and oropharyngeal leak pressures were similar between the groups. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressures, and peak airway pressures were significantly lower in the AuraGain and i-Gel® groups, compared with the ETT, p less than 0.017. Conclusion: Both AuraGain and i-Gel® SADs are comparable with ETT used for airway control in general anesthesia for LC, regarding application ease and perioperative complications. Favorable hemodynamic responses to AuraGain and i-Gel® SADs may put them in a better place than ETT.