Author: Johnson Francis

Role of devices in heart failure management: CRT for improving ventricular synchrony and ICD for managing life threatening arrhythmias.

In chronic heart failure, sympathoadrenergic system becomes counter productive and maladaptive. Hence beta blockers are useful in the treatment.

Grollman PA is an angled pigtail catheter with the curve generally on the reverse side, for right ventricular and pulmonary angiography by femoral approach.

Fallacies of assessing mitral valve area by planimetry: Inability to get a cut at the tip of the funnel and parallel to the orifice etc.

Disadvantage of using Fondaparinux as the sole agent in PCI: Catheter related thrombosis is higher due to low anti-Factor IIa activity.

Advantage of Fondaparinux: single daily dose and less bleeding with equal efficacy.

Role of heparin after streptokinase: prevention of coronary re-occlusion, mural thrombus formation and thromboembolism in those with atrial fibrillation.

Limitations of passive leg raising in assessing dynamic variation of TR murmur: no change in severe right heart failure as RV is already fully loaded.

Minimum gradient required for diagnosis of tricuspid stenosis: 2mm Hg.

Significant mitral stenosis can be asymptomatic when there is associated tricuspid stenosis, pulmonary hypertension or atrial septal defect.