Background: One of the main causes of post-operative morbidity in cardiac surgical patient is excessive bleeding requiring transfusion of blood component after CPB. Re-exploration due to bleeding occurs in 2% to 7% of post bypass patient and 50% to 80% of these patients not having any identifiable surgical bleeding source. Tranexamic acid is competitive inhibitor of plasminogen activator and at higher concentration a non-competitive inhibitor of plasmin. It is 10 times more potent than Epsilone Aminocaproic Acid in preventing post-operative haemorrhage following CPB. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Dhaka, Bangladesh between January 2009 and December 2010. The Study population was divided into two groups. Group A comprised of 35 patients, who had received Tranexamic Acid 10 mg /kg after induction and then 1 mg/kg/hour till time of protamin infusion and Group B comprised of 35 patients who had received same amount of normal saline 0.9% NaCl as placebo. Results: The postoperative bleeding during both 1 to 4 hours and 4 to 24 hours was significantly lower in the Tranexamic Acid group as compared to the placebo group (p value <0.001). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of platelet count and prothrombin time. Conclusion: From the study, we conclude that “Perioperative Administration of Tranexamic acid reduces post operative bleeding and also reduces the need for postoperative blood transfusion in CABG patents using Cardiopulmonary bypass”. Therefore it is recommended that routine prophylactic use of Tranexamic Acid should be carried out to decrease the postoperative hemorrhage and requirement blood transfusion. Cardiovasc. j. 2019; 12(1): 20-23

Background: Current cardioplegic technique during conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) does not consistently avoid myocardial ischemic damage in high risk patients. Alternatively revascularization without CPB is not always technically feasible. The on-pump beating technique eliminates global myocardial ischemia and thus reduce the mortality and morbidity in high risk patients. This study evaluates the early surgical outcomes of on-pump beating-heart CABG in comparison to conventional CABG. Methods: In this prospective study 60 high risk patients with EURO-SCORE of 6 and above were prospectively allocated into two groups in non-randomized way. Among them 30 patients underwent on-pump beating-heart CABG and 30 patients underwent conventional CABG. The early surgical clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: On-pump beating heart CABG significantly reduced the duration of operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, postoperative ventilation time and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Total blood loss and transfusion requirement were less with reduced Peak Creatine-Kinase level in On-pump beating heart CABG. 30 day mortality was less in On-pump beating heart CABG group (6.7% versus 13.3%). No significant differences between the groups were found in morbidity regarding stroke, renal failure, mediastinitis and atrial arrhythmia. Conclusion: On-pump beating heart CABG can be performed safely in high risk patients. It is still associated with the detrimental effect of CPB but eliminates intra-operative global myocardial ischemia. Cardiovasc. j. 2019; 12(1): 13-19

Background: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia occurring after cardiac surgery and its peak incidence is between second or third postoperative day. It occurs in 40% to 50% of patients after valve surgery alone or combined valve and CABG surgery respectively. Among all the anti-arrhythmic drugs evaluated for AF, amiodarone has shown the most promising results with successful conversion and maintenance of normal sinus rhythm achieved in 50%–70% of patients. Methods: Sixty diabetic patients purposively selected who underwent isolated off pump coronary artery bypass procedure in NICVD. Group A – 30 patients receiving loading dose of amiodarone intra-operatively before establishment of CPB during valve replacement surgery and Group B- 30 patients without receiving loading dose of amiodarone intra-operatively during valve replacement surgery. Incidence of atrial fibrillation in postoperative period was evaluated. Results: Atrial fibrillation was observed in 8 (26.7%) patients in group A and 18 (60%) patients in group B (p=0.009). Ventricular tachycardia developed in 6.7% patients in group B and none in group A (p=0.47). Mean duration of ICU stay was 2.04±0.30 days in Group A and Group B was 2.98±0.77 days (p=0.03). Mean duration of post-operative stay was 7.20±0.66 days in Group A and Group B was 7.85±0.60 days (p=0.10). Conclusion: A single intra operative dose of intravenous amiodarone increases the incidence of conversion of AF to normal sinus rhythm. When AF persisted, use of amiodarone reduces the frequency of need for cardioversion and the energy required for it. Cardiovasc. j. 2020; 12(2): 102-108

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus has been associated with an increased risk of adverse outcome after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. HbA1c is a reliable measure of long-term glucose control. It is unknown whether adequacy of diabetic control, measured by hemoglobin A1c, is a predictor of adverse outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting. The predictive role of HbA1c on short term outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery has not been evaluated. Diabetes mellitus has become a major health issue and contributes to morbidity and mortality from coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the predictive role of preoperative elevated HbA1c on post-operative outcome in CABG patients. Objectives: This study evaluates the early postoperative outcomes of CABG in terms of mortality and major postoperative morbidities like deep sternal wound infection, sepsis, stroke, renal failure, bleeding, arrhythmia, and mediastinitis in patients with preoperative elevated level of HbA1c. Methods: This prospective study was done in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD). Patients of coronary artery disease (CAD) with DM referred for CABG were enrolled for the study. Total 60 patients were allocated into two groups. Among them 30 patients with preoperative HbA1c of <7% and another 30 patients with preoperative HbA1c of > 7 % underwent CABG surgery from January, 2009 to December, 2010. The early postoperative outcomes were compared between two groups. Both groups were matched with no significant difference that could influence the postoperative outcome. Results: In-hospital mortality was high in patients with preoperative elevated level of HbA1c. An elevated hemoglobin A1c level predicted in-hospital mortality after CABG surgery. Our study revealed that HbA1c greater than 7 % was associated with increase in mortality. For each unit increase hemoglobin A1c , there was a significantly increase risk of myocardial infarction and deep sternal wound infection. By using receiver operating characteristic value thresholds, renal failure, cerebrovascular accident and deep sternal wound infection occurred more commonly in patients with elevated hemoglobin A1c. Morbidity, infections and the composite outcomes occurred more commonly in patients with elevated HbA1c. Conclusion: Elevated HbA1c is strongly associated with adverse events after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Preoperative HbA1c measurement may allow for more accurate risk stratification in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Bangladesh Heart Journal 2019; 34(2) : 92-99

A 36 years old married female with children from a district of Bangladesh had been suffering from mitral stenosis with atrial fibrillation ( AF) with left atrial (LA) thrombus & active pulmonary tuberculosis under anti-TB drugs. She presented with shortness of breath ( SOB), blood mixed sputum & right lower limb pain for 14 days which was later diagnosed as thromboembolism with acute limb ischemia. LA clot was removed by open heart surgery. Three masses of clots were removed, one ball thrombus, another irregular mass taking the shape of LA appendage and the other is a mixture of old and fresh thrombus. Patient underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR). One side of the irregular thrombus showed the impression of a human face (? Ghost). Histopathology confirmed them as thrombi. Patient was discharged home on the 8th post operative day. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v5i1.12283 Cardiovasc. j. 2012; 5(1): 120-122