Cardiovascular journal of Africa
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The aim of the study was to assess the midterm results of left atrial bipolar radiofrequency ablation combined with a mitral valve procedure in patients with mitral valve disease and persistent atrial fibrillation. ⋯ Our midterm follow-up results suggest that the addition of left atrial bipolar radiofrequency ablation to mitral valve surgery is an effective and safe procedure to restore sinus rhythm in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.
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It has been hypothesised that rural sub-Saharan Africa is at an early stage of epidemiological transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases (NCD). Limited information exists about the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the adult Nigerian population, especially in the rural setting. ⋯ The results obtained from this study strongly suggest a high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors in this rural population and that the epidemiological transition is not restricted to the urban population. This serves as a wake-up call for action in the planning of health services for the management of CVD and other chronic NCDs.
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After open-heart surgery, a percentage of patients have impaired renal function. This deterioration is even seen in patients with serum creatinine (s-creatinine) values that fall within the normal laboratory range, therefore s-creatinine is not an accurate reflection of renal function. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a better indication of renal status. GFR can be calculated with the simplified modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation - a formula that takes age, gender, race and s-creatinine level into account. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between estimated GFR pre-operatively and renal impairment postoperatively. ⋯ Patients with chronic kidney disease before CABG have a six times greater chance of developing further renal impairment postoperatively than those with reasonable renal function beforehand. There is therefore a significant relationship between estimated GFR before CABG and deterioration of kidney function after surgery. The GFR, as calculated with the simplified MDRD, is a predictor of the risk of having renal dysfunction after CABG.
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Albumin is used routinely as a plasma volume expander in cardiopulmonary bypass operations. The effect of two different concentrations of albumin in Ringer's lactate on blood viscosity was explored in this study. ⋯ Albumin is used as a plasma volume expander in priming solutions for cardiopulmonary bypass operations, but its effect on blood viscosity depends on the concentration of albumin used.