Background: Data on the use of emergency medical services (EMS) by patients with cardiac conditions in the Gulf region are scarce, and prior studies have suggested underutilization. Patient perception and knowledge of EMS care is critical to proper utilization of such services. Objectives: To estimate utilization, knowledge, and perceptions of EMS among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective study of consecutive patients admitted with STEMI in four government-operated hospitals in Abu Dhabi. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients to assess the rationale for choosing their prehospital mode of transport and their knowledge of EMS services. Results: Of 587 patients with STEMI (age 51 ± 11 years, male 95%), only 15% presented through EMS, and the remainder came via private transport. Over half of the participants (55%) stated that they did not know the telephone number for EMS. The most common reasons stated for not using EMS were that private transport was quicker (40%) or easier (11%). A small percentage of participants (7%) did not use EMS because they did not think their symptoms were cardiac-related or warranted an EMS call. Stated reasons for not using EMS did not significantly differ by age, gender, or primary language of the patients. Conclusions: EMS care for STEMI is grossly underutilized in Abu Dhabi. Patient knowledge and perceptions may contribute to underutilization, and public education efforts are needed to raise their perception and knowledge of EMS.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is common in North-Western Nigeria. This study aimed to describe the 1-year survival and left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in a group of patients with PPCM from three referral hospitals in Kano, Nigeria. Methods: PPCM was defined according to recommendations of the Heart Failure (HF) Association of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on PPCM. LVRR was defined as absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by ≥10.0% and decrease in left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic dimension indexed to body surface area ≤33.0 mm/m², while recovered LV systolic function as LVEF ≥55%, at 12 months follow-up. Results: A total of 54 newly diagnosed PPCM patients with mean age of 26.6 ± 6.7 years, presented with classical features of predominantly left-sided HF and 33 of them qualified for follow-up. Of the 17 survivors at 12 months, 8 patients (47.1%) satisfied the criteria for LVRR, of whom 5 (29.4%) had recovered LV systolic function (LVEF ≥55%), but LVRR was not predicted by any variable in the regression models. The prevalence of normal LV diastolic function increased from 11.1% at baseline to 35.3% at 12 months (P = 0.02). At 1-year follow-up, 41.4% of patients had died (two-thirds of them within the first 6 months), but mortality was not predicted by any variable including LVRR. Conclusions: In Kano, PPCM patients had modest LVRR but high mortality at 1-year. Further studies should be carried out to identify reasons for the high mortality and how to curb it.

Thrombotic events are relatively common in high altitude areas and known to occur in young soldiers working at high altitude without usual risk factors associated with thrombosis at sea-level. However, till now, cases with thrombotic events were reported only in lowlanders staying at high altitude. These two cases of pulmonary embolism demonstrate that thrombotic events can occur in highlanders after a prolonged stay at the extreme altitude.

We report a case of a 56-year-old Caucasian man who presented with acute onset of substernal chest pain at rest with electrocardiogram showing diffuse ST segment depression. He had coronary artery bypass graft surgery 16 years ago with a left internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending artery and saphenous vein grafts to the right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex artery. He underwent coronary angiography, which showed two large aneurysms in the saphenous venous graft (SVG) to the RCA and a venous leak from the aneurysm. The venous leak was later confirmed with computer tomographic scan to be a fistulous communication between the SVG and the right atrium. We discuss in detail about the treatment options of SVG aneurysm.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a nonatherosclerotic and noninflammatory arterial disease that commonly affects the renal and carotid arteries. The primary target in treating patients with renal artery FMD is the control of blood pressure in order to prevent end-organ damage, which can be caused by poorly controlled hypertension. Invasive endovascular treatment should be taken into consideration both when hypertension cannot be controlled with medication. According to current opinion, hypertension attributed to renal artery FMD is often successfully treated solely with percutaneous renal balloon angioplasty (PRBA), with no requirement for stent implantation under most circumstances. However, an FMD recurrence after PRBA occurs frequently in these patients.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as stress cardiomyopathy, is a syndrome that affects predominantly postmenopausal women. Despite multiple described mechanisms, intense, neuroadrenergic myocardial stimulation appears to be the main trigger. Hyperthyroidism, but rarely hypothyroidism, has been described in association with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Herein, we present a case of stress cardiomyopathy in the setting of symptomatic hypothyroidism.