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Background: Heart failure is a leading cardiac morbidity prevalent across the globe. Its incidence is rising in direct proportion to increasing longevity all over the world. Demographic variables are important predictors of quality of life, morbidity, rehospitalization, and mortality due to systolic heart failure. The objective of our study was to assess the association of demographic variables with quality of life of systolic heart failure in patients presenting at Cardiology Out Patient Department, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Our study aims to inform policy making as it highlights some important demographics factors associated with quality of life. Methods: A cross sectional method was employed in the study to examine systolic heart failure and its prevalence across various demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, activity, number of children, education, employment status, and BMI at cardiology OPD of a medical teaching institution in Peshawar. Consecutive sampling was used and data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 368 Systolic Heart Failure patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: We had 368 participants, a majority of whom (n=290; 78.8%), were in NYHA class III. The rest (n=78; 21.2%) were in class IV. Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) was used to categorize quality of life into 'Good', 'Moderate' and 'Poor'. Most participants were in the 'poor' category with MLHFQ scores >45 (n=193; 52.4%). Those who had scores between 25 -45 were categorized as 'moderate' (n=116; 31.5%), and participants who scored < 24 were categorized as having a 'good' quality of life (n=59; 16%). Reliability of tools was checked by Cronbach alpha which was 0.86 Conclusion: It was concluded that demographic variables have a significant effect on the overall morbidity of heart failure patients and heart failure related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With increased rate of permanent pacemaker's (PPM) implantation, the rate of complication also increased many folds. Infection in pacemakers is one of the dreaded complications which need a multidisciplinary approach in its management. Methods: All patients with permanent pacemakers, who presented with infection of device, were admitted in our unit. The infected device was explanted and wound left open. The same device was used as a temporary pacemaker with a new PPM screwing lead from internal jugular approach. Once the infection was under control, a new device was implanted on the other side and temporary wire (PPM screwing lead) pulled out. Wound on both side closed and patient kept on antibiotics for a week. Results: Total 10 cases of infected device received. Single chambers devices with infection were six and dual chamber pacemakers were four. One case with infection had tine lead and nine patients presented with screwing leads. Male and female ratio was 2.3:1. All leads were explanted in our department with conventional gadgets using rotation and traction maneuvers. Culture sensitivity in all cases remained negative. Patients were kept on broad spectrum antibiotics till the wound was clear. One patient had small pericardial effusion soon after explantation of tine lead, which was treated conservatively. No other major or minor complication documented. Conclusion: Scrupulous planning and preparation before system extraction and later on new Cardiac implantable electronic device re-implantation is essential for better patient outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overall life span has increased with improved management of cardiac diseases all over the world which has opened the door of degenerative cardiac diseases. On the other hand, stat of the art corrective congenital cardiac disease also increased the volume of adult living with treated congenital heart diseases. Both these factors lead to a new epidemic in cardiology of complete heart block (CHB). Permanent pacemakers (PPM) implantation is a life-saving procedure for CHB. Permanent pacemakers are usually implanted from upper limb veins. But at time upper limb veins are not suitable for implantation due to various anatomical and pathological reasons, so alternative methods are used for implantation of devices. We are reporting a case of PPM implantation from Superior Vena Cava (SVC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To highlight our experience of transseptal approach for arrhythmias for the left side pathways. Methodology: Electrophysiology (EP) studies and ablation conducted in electrophysiology laboratory Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from September 2006 to May 2009. The study was conducted on Bard EP Lab, Bloom stimulator and Cordes EP shuttle. After explaining the procedure to the patient, beta- blockers were stopped 5 days and patients were fasted for six hours before the procedure. Five standard wires passed two from left femoral that is for coronary sinus and His and three from right femoral side that is for high right atrium, right ventricle and ablation. Pigtail catheter was placed in aortic root from left femoral artery. Septal puncture was done in the left lateral projection. Ablation catheter was passed in the sheath after withdrawing the needle, pathway was identified and ablated. Results: Total 295 consecutive patients underwent electrophysiological studies and ablation. Out of which pathways were 131 (124 patients were having Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) and orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia 7).Among pathways Left sided pathways were 70. In all cases successful septal puncture and ablation was done. Overall success rate for atrial septal puncture and ablation was 100%. No complication was seen during and after the procedure. Average time for procedure of ablating left sided pathways was 25 minutes. Conclusion: Trans-septal approach is safe and is well approachable for far lateral pathways ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is still the most common presentation to our electrophysiology laboratory for ablation. The aim of this study is to document the confirmative value of cross over manoeuvre in successful AVNRT ablation., Methods: This study was conducted in Hayat Abad Medical complex Peshawar June 2006 to October 2015. In all patient with AVNRT, Dual-nodal pathway physiology confirmed by programmed atrial pacing of eight Tran with an extra beat by 10 millisecond (ms) decrement and at least Atrial HIS (A-H) interval prolongation of 50 ms. The dual pathway was further confirmed by cross over manoeuvre. Slow pathway potential identified and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) energy applied at 60 temperatures and 30 powers in Left Anterior Oblique (LAO) projection. Post ablation absence of cross over documented with and without isoproterenol and patient followed for any complication or recurrence., Results: Total 567 patients studied with mean age 36.56±12.16 and male to female ratio 1:1.4 with presentation of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Slow pathway was successfully modified and statistically no significant complication or recurrence documented., Conclusions: Failure to cross over reliably excludes any conduction over the slow pathway and so recurrence of AVNRT.

Background: Device implantation is an integral part of interventional cardiology particularly electrophysiology. In this study, we are going to shear our experience of device implantation technique at electrophysiology department Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar., Methods: The study was conducted from June 2011 to December 2015. Axillary vein was used to implant the devices but in some cases when this rout was not convenient due to any reason then subclavian vein was entered through the Seldinger technique. Fluoroscopy time was less than 10 minutes and total procedure time was not more than 45 minutes. Electric cautery was used only in two cases. Pressure dressing was used in a few cases., Results: Total numbers of permanent pacemakers (PPM) remain 800 during the study period. There were 450 single chamber pacemakers and 350 dual chambers pacemakers. No case of any major bleeding was documented and in very few cases there was mild ooze from the procedure site after the operation which was tackled with pressure dressing. Four cases of pneumothorax were noted during the study period and in three cases chest intubation were done and one patient was kept on conservative management. Patient were followed after one moth of discharge from the hospital and then yearly. Eight cases of lead dislodgment were documented during the study period., Conclusions: Axillary vein approach for implantation of permanent pacemakers is a safe and less time-consuming technique.

Background: To ablate accessory pathway successfully and conveniently, accurate localization of the pathway is needed. Electrophysiologists use different algorithms before taking the patients to the electrophysiology (EP) laboratory to plan the intervention accordingly. In this study, we used Arruda algorithm to locate the accessory pathway. The objective of the study was to determine the accuracy of the Arruda algorithm for locating the pathway on surface ECG., Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study conducted from January 2014 to January 2016 in the electrophysiology department of Hayat Abad Medical Complex Peshawar Pakistan. A total of fifty nine (n=59) consecutive patients of both genders between age 14-60 years presented with WPW syndrome (Symptomatic tachycardia with delta wave on surface ECG) were included in the study. Patient's electrocardiogram (ECG) before taking patients to laboratory was analysed on Arruda algorithm. Standard four wires protocol was used for EP study before ablation. Once the findings were confirmed the pathway was ablated as per standard guidelines., Results: A total of fifty nine (n=59) patients between the age 14-60 years were included in the study. Cumulative mean age was 31.5 years±12.5 SD. There were 56.4% (n=31) males with mean age 28.2 years±10.2 SD and 43.6% (n=24) were females with mean age 35.9 years±14.0 SD. Arruda algorithm was found to be accurate in predicting the exact accessory pathway (AP) in 83.6% (n=46) cases. Among all inaccurate predictions (n=9), Arruda inaccurately predicted two third (n=6; 66.7%) pathways towards right side (right posteroseptal, right posterolateral and right antrolateral)., Conclusions: Arruda algorithm was found highly accurate in predicting accessory pathway before ablation.

Background: Temporary pace maker (TPM implantation is done mostly in emergency with assistance of fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy has various constrains which may delay the procedure at different occasion. We are going to share our experience in TPM implantation without fluoroscopy from internal jugular vein., Methods: The case series study was conducted in Hayatabad Medical complex Peshawar from January 2011 to November 2011. Internal jugular vein was cannulated with 6 French sheaths in the supra-clavicular region with modified Seldinger technique. TPM wire connected to the TPM device and advanced in the sheath to the right ventricle. Position was confirmed from captured beat on monitor. There was no need of repositioning and lead remains stable., Results: Total 122 TPM leads were implanted in the study period. All patients were implanted from internal jugular vein. There were 71 male and 51 female patients. Among these patients 55 were in hemodynamically unstable state. The average time of implantation was less than 10 minutes. There was failure in one case. So the overall success rate was 99.180%., Conclusion: TPM implantation from the internal jugular vein even without fluoroscopy is safe, less time consuming and convenient.

Background: Lead erosion is one of the troublesome complications which are very difficult to treat and most of the time leads to device explanation and replacement prematurely., Methods: From 2005 to 2011, total 415 pacemakers were implanted in our cardiology department at Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar. The patients were followed regularly at six month interval or more frequently in case there were complications. At every visit we inspected the wound site, electrocardiography was done and device was analyzed with compatible programmer for the device. If there was soreness at the site of implantation, patient was seen more frequently and if there was erosion of skin, wound was reopened margin refreshed and wound closed. Initially we closed the wound in two layers after reopening but we got repeated erosion with this method and so we buried the leads sub-muscularly as change strategy which again proved unsuccessful. Results: During the six years study about 415 permanent pacemakers were implanted. During this time period, we received: three lead erosion, which were repositioned. There were recurrence in two cases and they were again subjected to procedure with a change strategy; by burying the leads in muscles, which proved unsuccessful., Conclusion: Leads erosion can be prevented by carefully burying leads in three layers first in muscle followed by subcutaneous tissue and then closing the wound by suturing the skin during initial implantation.

Background: Drug therapy is mostly employed in the management of supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs). However, radiofrequency catheter ablation has been found to be highly effective and safe in the treatment of SVTs. The current study is aimed at sharing our experience of 320 patients who presented with SVTs, and were treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation., Methods: This descriptive study was carried out in the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from October 2006 to December 2009. Standard 4-wire electrophysiological study was carried out to identify the mechanism of SVT in 320 consecutive patients. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was used to interrupt the tachycardia circuit., Results: Out of a total 320 patients who underwent electrophysiologic study, 168 were found to have atrioventricular nodal re-entry as underlying mechanism; 121 patients were having accessory pathway responsible for re-entry (of these 95 presented with orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia and 26 as antidromic reciprocating tachycardia); 19 patients were having focal atrial tachycardia, 4 atrial fibrillation and 8 atrial flutter as the underlying cause for SVT. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was used with an overall success of 94% and a complication risk of complete AV block in 0.3% and recurrence rate of 3%., Conclusion: Radiofrequency catheter ablation is safe and highly effective mode of treatment of SVTs.

Background: Prevention of sudden cardiac death has always been a challenge for electrophysiologists and to date, automatic implantable cardiovertor defibrillator (AICD) is found to be the only remedy. This device delivers an intracardiac shock whenever it senses a fatal ventricular arrhythmia in order to achieve sinus rhythm. If the delivery of these intracardiac shocks becomes frequent, the situation is declared as an electrical storm. This article deals with the frequency, precipitating factors and prevention of electrical storms., Methods: One hundred and ten episodes of electrical storms (a total of 668 shocks) were retrospectively analysed in 25 recipients of automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators. ECG, echocardiography, serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine were done for all the patients, and they were hospitalized for a minimum of 24 hours., Results: During the 3 year study period, all the 25 patients with an implantable cardiovertor defibrillator, on an average, received one shock per two years. However, 12 out of these 25 patients (50%) had more than two shocks within 24 hours. Most of these patients with electrical storms were having active ischemia, electrolytes imbalances or renal failure., Conclusion: Electrical storms are common in patients with coronary artery disease with impaired left ventricular functions. Ischemia, electrolytes imbalances and renal failure predispose to the electrical storms. Electrical Storms are predictors of poor prognosis.