Introduction Mishandled endotracheal cuff pressure may either make ventilation difficult or cause damage to the airway. Therefore, the aim of this audit was to assess the knowledge about endotracheal cuff pressure monitoring with a manometer and manual palpation of pilot balloon among critical care providers. Methods This audit includes 150 critical care providers having experience of handling endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff at critical care area of National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi from April 2017 to June 2017. Knowledge about endotracheal cuff pressure monitoring with the manometer and deleterious effects of mishandled ETT cuff was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Enrolled healthcare providers were asked to palpate the patient and cuff pressure was recorded and categorized. Results Out of 150 participants, 66 (44.0%) were doctors. Only 46 (30.67%) participants had prior knowledge about ETT cuff manometer and 110 (73.33%) had never used a manometer. Similarly only 42 (28.0%) had knowledge of hazardous effects of mishandled ETT cuff. Kappa coefficient of 0.155 with p=0.015 showed significant yet low agreement between participant prediction and the actual amount of air in cuff balloon. Agreement level was comparatively higher for staff as compared to doctors with a Kappa coefficient of 0.210 (p=0.018) vs. 0.133 (p=0.099). Conclusion In this study of knowledge and practice of ETT tube cuff pressure monitoring, we observed low levels of knowledge (30.67%), poor adherence to standard practice (73.33%) and were able to demonstrate poor agreement (Kappa coefficient 0.155; p=0.015) between the palpation method and cuff manometer measurements for assessing cuff pressure.

Open Access Original Article

Abstract Objectives: To determine the role of heart fatty acid-binding protein in early detection of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and its comparison with two other cardiac markers. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, from June 2012 to June 2014, and comprised patients presenting at the emergency department within two hours of chest pain and who were subsequently referred to the cardiology department with a provisional diagnosis of either unstable angina or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.  Relevant history was taken on a specific proforma and electrocardiogram as well as routine investigations were done in the emergency department. Blood samples from the subjects were tested for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction through detection of heart fatty acid-binding protein, Troponin-I and Creatine kinase-myocardial band. Sensitivity and specificity of the three markers were calculated keeping coronary angiography as the gold standard. Data was analysed using SPSS 17. Results: Out of 250 patients, 153(61.2%) were males. The overall mean age was 54.45±13.92 years. Sensitivity and specificity of heart fatty acid-binding protein were 80.6% and 78.5% (p<0.05), for Troponin-I, 37.7% and 75% (p>0.05), and for Creatine Kinase-myocardial band, 29.5% and 67.8% (p>0.05). Conclusion: Heart fatty acid-binding protein was found to be a good diagnostic tool for the detection of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Key Words: Non ST-elevation myocardial infarct, Cardiac markers, Heart fatty acid-binding protein, Troponin-I, Creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, Angiography. Continuous...

Objectives: Premature coronary artery disease (CAD) is on the rise in our population, and multivessel disease (MVD) is no longer an uncommon finding in young patients. Therefore, aim of this study was to determine the predictors of MVD in young patients who presented with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Methodology: For this study, we enrolled 294 young adult (18-40 years) patients with STEMI. MVD was diagnosed based on angiography. Demographic characteristics and baseline risk profiles were considered for the univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the predictors of MVD. Results: Out of 294 patients, 90.5% (266) were males, and the mean age was 35.45 ± 4.07 years. Our 24.1% (71) patients were hypertensive (HTN), and 36.1% (106) were smokers. A total of 94 patients had MVD. Patients with MVD were older and more likely to have diabetes (DM) and HTN than their counterparts. Only age and DM were found to be significant independent predictors of MVD. The risk of developing MVD was higher in diabetics, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) [95% CI] of 2.47 [1.23-4.97; p=0.011]. Conclusion: In conclusion, we showed that age and DM are independent predictors of MVD in a young Pakistani adult population presenting with STEMI. However, none of the other risk factors, such as obesity, male gender or smoking, were found to be significantly associated with MVD in Pakistani adults with premature CAD. Although significantly associated, HTN does not prove to be an independent predictor of multivessel CAD in young adults.