Hypertension occurs twice as commonly in diabetics than in comparable nondiabetics. Patients with both disorders have a markedly higher risk for premature microvascular and macrovascular complications. Aggressive control of blood pressure (BP) reduces both micro- and macrovascular complications. In diabetic hypertensives, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are the first line in management of hypertension, and can be replaced by angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) if patients are intolerant of them. Recent studies suggest ARBs to be on par with ACEI in reducing both macro- and microvascular risks. Adding both these agents may have a beneficial effect on proteinuria, but no extra macrovascular risk reduction. Thiazides can also be used as first line drugs, but are better used along with ACEI/ARBs. Beta-blockers [especially if the patient has coronary artery disease] and calcium channel blockers are used as second line add-on drugs. Multidrug regimens are commonly needed in diabetic hypertensives. Achieving the target BP of <130/80 is the priority rather than the drug combination used in order to arrest and prevent the progression of macro- and microvascular complications in diabetic hypertensives.
Background Mechanical mitral valve obstruction is a serious and life-threatening complication. Treatment is either thrombolysis or reoperation, with both interventions having its own merits and drawbacks. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of both interventions at a single tertiary referral center. Methods From January 2005 to December 2010, 127 patients with mechanical mitral valve obstruction were retrospectively analyzed and divided into a thrombolysis group ( n = 66) and a reoperation group ( n = 61), based on our institute’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. A heart valve team comprising a cardiologist, a surgeon, and the patient was involved in the decision-making, based on the criteria for thrombolysis and reoperation in our institute. The patients had a maximum follow-up period of 14 years (mean 11.2 years). The analysis was divided into in hospital (within 30 days) and follow-up outcomes. Results At the end of 10 years, the reoperation group had significantly greater freedom from embolism (100% vs. 95.4% ± 0.7%), bleeding events (94.5% ± 0.8% vs. 89.2% ± 0.4%), and reintervention (96.4% ± 0.5% vs. 92.3% ± 2.3%) as well as better actuarial survival (97.4% ± 1.2% vs. 92.3% ± 0.4%) compared to the thrombolysis group. The complete failure rate of thrombolysis was 12%. The thrombolysis group had shorter intensive care unit and hospital stays. Conclusion Reoperation has significant advantages over thrombolysis in terms of embolic and bleeding complications and reintervention. Hence one should consider surgery for stuck mechanical mitral valves, with thrombolysis being useful in a specific subset of patients.
Cervicothoracic thymic cysts are rare and difficult to diagnose preoperatively. We report a case of a cervicothoracic thymic cyst presenting as a lateral neck mass and mimicking a laryngocele in a 3-year-old boy and its definitive management.
Origin of the right pulmonary artery from innominate artery is an exceedingly rare anomaly. We report two cases with this anomaly that underwent surgical repair. The surgical technique described achieves tissue-to-tissue anastomosis using a pedicled flap from the main pulmonary artery.
Intramural course of a coronary artery is a rare association in patients with transposition of great arteries. Various techniques have been described for translocation of these during the arterial switch procedure, with mixed results. This report focuses on a novel technique that is reproducible and provides an alternative in this difficult subset of patients.
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