Aims The Mayo Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Admission Risk Score (M-CARS) had excellent performance in predicting in-hospital mortality in the US population. We sought to validate the M-CARS for in-hospital and post-discharge mortality in Asian patients admitted to the cardiac care unit (CCU). Methods and results Patients admitted to the CCU of a tertiary care centre between July 2015 and December 2019 were included into the study. Patients with intra-hospital transfer to the CCU due to intensive care unit overflow, postoperative cardiac surgery, or for monitoring after elective procedures were excluded. Cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, respiratory failure, Braden skin score, blood urea nitrogen, anion gap, and red cell distribution width, were used to calculate the M-CARS. Patients were stratified into three groups, according to the M-CARS (<2, 2–6, >6). Of 1988 patients in the study, 30.1% were female with a median age of 65 years. Prevalence of cardiogenic shock and respiratory failure at admission were 2.8% and 4.5%, respectively. One hundred and seventeen patients died during the admission (mortality rate of 5.9%). The in-hospital mortality rate in patients with M-CARS of <2, 2–6, and >6 was 1.1%, 9.8%, and 35.5%, respectively. C-statistic of M-CARS for in-hospital mortality was 0.840 (95% CI 0.805–0.873); whereas, it was 0.727 (95% CI 0.690–0.761) for 1-year post-discharge mortality. Calibration plot showed good agreement between predicted and observed in-hospital mortality in the majority of patients. Conclusions The M-CARS was useful in our study, in terms of discrimination and calibration. M-CARS identified high-risk patients in CCU, who had unacceptably high mortality rate during hospital stay and thereafter.

Background: Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) is contraindicated in mitral stenosis (MS) with moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) according to the European guidelines. However, small-sized studies have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of PBMV in these patients. We aimed to study the procedural success and mid-term outcomes of PBMV in MS patients with moderate MR.Methods: The present study was a retrospective cohort study in consecutive patients with severe rheumatic MS who underwent PBMV with the Inoue technique in Songklanagarind hospital. The severity of mitral regurgitation was assessed with qualitative Doppler. The patients were grouped according to their MR severity before PBMV into moderate MR or less-than-moderate MR. Procedural success and a composite of all-cause death, mitral valve surgery or re-PBMV were compared between the two groups.Results: Of 618 patients with rheumatic MS who underwent PBMV in Songklanagarind hospital between January 2003 and October 2020, 598 patients (96.8%) had complete information of pre-PBMV MR severity and procedural success. Forty-nine patients (8.2%) had moderate MR before PBMV. Moderate MR before PBMV was not associated with a lower chance of PBMV success (moderate MR vs. less-than-moderate MR before PBMV; adjusted OR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.32-1.29, P=0.22). Survival probability of all-cause death, MV surgery or re-PBMV in the group with moderate MR before PBMV was not different from the group with less-than-moderate MR (adjusted HR 1.30, 95% CI: 0.98-1.62, P=0.10).Conclusions: PBMV is an effective and safe treatment in rheumatic MS with moderate MR.

Objectives: To compare both the knowledge and self-reported confidence levels between medical students as the team leaders and followers in shock resuscitation simulation training. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with all fifth-year medical students participating in a shock resuscitation simulation-based training between May 2017 and March 2018. The simulation class was a 3-hour session that consisted of 4 shock type scenarios as well as a post-training debriefing. Medical students were assigned into groups of 4-5 members, in which they freely selected a leader, and the rest filled the roles of followers. Of 139 medical students, 32 students were leaders. A 10-question pre-test and post-test determined knowledge assessment. At the end of the class, the students completed a 5-point Likert scale confidence level evaluation questionnaire. A t-test was applied to compare knowledge scores and confidence levels between the leaders and followers. Results: At the end of the class, the knowledge scores between the leaders (M=6.72, SD=1.51) and followers (M=6.93, SD=1.26) were not different (t(137)=-0.81, p=0.42). In addition, the student confidence levels were also similar between the leaders (M=3.63, SD=0.55) and followers (M=3.41, SD=0.64) after training (t(137)=1.70, p=0.09). Conclusions: The knowledge and confidence levels were not different between either the leaders or followers in simulated resuscitation. With time-limit simulation training, we suggested every student may not need to fulfil the leadership role, but a well-designed course and constructive debriefing are recommended. Future studies should evaluate skills and longitudinal effects of the leader role.

Background: The prevalence and predictors of in-hospital mortality in the unselected patients with STsegment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after reperfusion therapy with fibrinolytic or primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in developing country have not well established. Methods:We conducted a retrospective cohort study design. All admission records of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction at Suratthani hospital between October 2015 and September 2017. Results:The finding between October 2015 and September 2017, a total of 431 patients received reperfusion therapy and were included in the present study. Majority of the patient were male (80.5%), almost half of the population had anterior wall MI, 32 patients died (7.4%), and 399 survived during the index hospitalization. The prevalence of chronic kidney disease, anterior wall MI, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest in non-survived group was higher than the survived group. Echocardiogram was performed in 299 patient (69.4%) and the median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in overall population was 51%.After adjustment for baseline variables, LVEF (aOR 0.91, 95% CI, 0.83-0.98, P=0.02) and cardiac arrest at presentation (aOR 22, 95% CI, 1.22-410.05, P=0.036) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality.Conclusions: LVEF and cardiac arrest at presentation were independently associated with in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients receiving reperfusion therapy either fibrinolytic therapy or primary PCI.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest results in a high mortality rate. The 2015 American Heart Association guideline for post-cardiac arrest was launched and adopted into our institutional policy. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate post-cardiac arrest care and compare the results with the 2015 American Heart Association guideline and clinical outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Methods Included in this study were all adult patients who survived out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and were admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit of Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand. The retrospective review was from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017. Results: From a total of 161 post-cardiac arrest patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit, 69 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were identified. The most common cause of arrest was presumed cardiac in origin (45.0%) in which the majority was acute myocardial infarction (67.8%). Coronary intervention and targeted temperature management were performed in 27.5% and 13% of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, respectively. Survival to hospital discharge was 42%. Independent factors associated with survival to discharge were shockable rhythms, lower adrenaline doses, and the absence of hypotension at medical intensive care unit admission. Conclusion: Compliance with the 2015 American Heart Association post-cardiac arrest care guideline was low in our institution, especially in coronary intervention and targeted temperature management.