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The current COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted healthcare systems worldwide. There has been a palpable increase in public avoidance of hospitals, which has interfered in timely care of critical cardiovascular conditions. Complications from late presentation of myocardial infarction, which had become a rarity, resurfaced during the pandemic. We present two such encounters that occurred due to delay in seeking medical care following myocardial infarction due to the fear of contracting COVID-19 in the hospital. Moreover, a comprehensive review of literature is performed to illustrate the potential factors delaying and decreasing timely presentations and interventions for time-dependent medical emergencies like ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We emphasise that clinicians should remain vigilant of encountering rare and catastrophic complications of STEMI during this current era of COVID-19 pandemic.

Isolated distal deep-vein thrombosis (DDVT) of the lower extremities can be associated with subsequent proximal deep-vein thrombosis (PDVT) and/or acute pulmonary embolism (PE). We aimed to develop a model predicting the probability of developing PDVT and/or PE within three months after an isolated episode of DDVT. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with symptomatic DDVT confirmed by lower extremity vein ultrasounds between 2001-2012 in the Cleveland Clinic Health System. We reviewed all the ultrasounds, chest ventilation/perfusion and computed tomography scans ordered within three months after the initial DDVT to determine the incidence of PDVT and/or PE. A multiple logistic regression model was built to predict the rate of developing these complications. The final model included 450 patients with isolated DDVT. Within three months, 30 (7 %) patients developed an episode of PDVT and/or PE. Only two factors predicted subsequent thromboembolic complications: inpatient status (OR, 6.38; 95 % CI, 2.17 to 18.78) and age (OR, 1.02 per year; 95 % CI, 0.99 to 1.05). The final model had a bootstrap bias-corrected c-statistic of 0.72 with a 95 % CI (0.64 to 0.79). Outpatients were at low risk (< 4 %) of developing PDVT/PE. Inpatients aged ≥ 60 years were at high risk (> 10 %). Inpatients aged < 60 were at intermediate risk. We created a simple model that can be used to risk stratify patients with isolated DDVT based on inpatient status and age. The model might be used to choose between anticoagulation and monitoring with serial ultrasounds.

Background: Aims and objectives of current study were to study the clinical, biochemical and hematological profiles in smear positive malaria patients and its correlation to immediate outcome of patient. To analyze the biochemical and hematological imbalances and its correlation with clinical presentation and type of malarial parasites. To elucidate the correlation of hematological and biochemical changes in children infected with malaria and their impact on immediate outcome of patients. Methods: All patients admitted with a diagnosis of malaria in department of Pediatrics at Dhiraj Hospital, Piparia, Vadodara, during the study period of January 2013 to June 2014. Sample size was 106 cases. Inclusion criteria for the study was all children under 18 years of age with smear positive malaria cases diagnosed. The study was done after obtaining a detailed history, complete general physical examination and systemic examination. The patients were subjected to relevant investigations. The data regarding patient particulars, diagnosis and investigations is collected in a specially designed case recording form and transferred to a master chart subjected to statistical methods like mean, standard deviation, proportion, percentage calculation and wherever necessary chi square test for proportion are used. Results: Total 106 patients were enrolled in study. Complications of PF (N=31): Jaundice 16%, severe anemia 23%, thrombocytopenia 29%, leukopenia in 23%, hyponatremia in 29.1%, cerebral malaria in 16% and hyperkalemia in 17%. Complications of PV (N=65): Jaundice 20%, severe anemia 20%, thrombocytopenia 18%, leukopenia in 11%, hyponatremia in 44.6%, hyperkalemia in 9%, cerebral malaria in 12.3% and hypoglycemia in 3.77%. Conclusions:The incidence of malaria is higher in males than females. Thrombocytopenia is very common in malaria, but spontaneous bleeding is not so common finding in malaria. Mixed infections behave like falciparum malaria. P. vivax malaria though traditionally considered to be a benign entity can also have a severe and complicated course, which is usually associated with P. falciparum malaria.

Background: Febrile seizures are the most common cause of convulsions in children between 6 months to 5 years, occurring in 2-5% of children. Iron deficiency is postulated as a risk factor for febrile seizures in children and it is an easily correctable condition. The objective of the study was to study the clinical profile and risk factors of febrile convulsions and to establish an association between febrile seizure and iron deficiency anemia.Methods: The study was carried out in Department of Pediatrics, Dhiraj General Hospital, Piparia, a tertiary care teaching hospital. 34 cases and 34 controls were included in the study. Controls were children of same age group presenting with short febrile illness but without any seizures. Febrile seizures were defined according to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) criteria. Iron deficiency was diagnosed by hematologic investigations of haemoglobin value < 11 g/dl, MCV <70 fL and RDW > 15.6%.Results: Iron deficiency anemia was present in 23.52% (8/34) of cases as compared to 17.64% (6/34) in the control group. Odds ratio was 1.436 (95% CI 0.439-4.669, p value 0.549), which suggest there is no significant association of iron deficiency anemia with febrile convulsions. Subgroup analysis for association of iron deficiency anemia with simple febrile convulsion cases showed Odds ratio of 1.11 (95% CI 0.298-4.138), which suggests there is poor association of iron deficiency anemia with simple febrile convulsions. Subgroup analysis for association of iron deficiency anemia with complex febrile convulsion cases showed Odds ratio of 2.809 (95% CI 0.521-15.041), which suggests there is poor association of iron deficiency anemia with complex febrile convulsions. Wide confidence interval indicates less sample size. Study with large sample size is required for reliable interpretation.Conclusions:The study reveals iron deficiency anemia is not a significant risk factor in children presenting with febrile seizures. Further study with large sample size is required.

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Background: A significant proportion of patients presenting with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM). Hypothesis: Our aim was to identify patients with previously undiagnosed DM and compare their outcomes to those with known DM and without DM after STEMI. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI at our center between Jan 2005 - Dec 2012 were included. Routinely performed admission Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was utilized to identify patients with previously undiagnosed DM (HbA1c ≥ 6.5 and no history of DM or diabetes therapy). Patients were compared for in-hospital and long-term mortality based on follow up data from our institutional PCI registry. Results: 1,734 consecutive patients underwent primary PCI for STEMI and follow up data was available for 1,566 (90%) patients. Mean age was 60 years and 67.3% were males. A quarter of the patients (24.3%, n = 382) had prior history of DM and 8% (n=95) of the remainder had undiagnosed DM. Median follow up was 35 months. Mortality was comparable in patients with known DM and newly diagnosed DM both in hospital (11.2% vs. 12.5%, p=0.87) and at long term follow up (Figure 1, 2). Mortality was significantly worse with both groups when compared with patients with no DM (In-hospital mortality 5.6%; p<0.001 for both groups). Conclusions: One in twelve patients presenting with STEMI have previously undiagnosed DM. Cardiologists have a unique opportunity for identification and initiation of diabetic therapy in this vulnerable population. Patients with newly diagnosed DM have similar short and long-term outcomes when compared with patients with a prior history of DM.