Cardiac Catheterization

Sensory innervation of the femoral region which is the entry point for endovascular cardiac interventions such as coronary angiography,cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention is complex.It is thought that the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves contribute mostly.With transversus abdominis plane block(TAPB),it is planned to provide analgesia by creating a block in these nerve branches that contribute to the sensory innervation of the intervention area.In addition;it was aimed to investigate patient's and physician's satisfaction during the procedure.

The goal of this observational study is to learn if the spontaneous sedation regimen of dexmedetomidine-ketamine (KETADEX) has the comparable efficacy and safety in pediatric cardiac catheterization versus the traditional regimen. The main question it aims to answer is: Is the combined Dexmedetomidine-Ketamine spontaneous sedation regimen (KETADEX) non-inferior to the traditional general anesthesia regimen in terms of efficacy and safety? Participants would received either KETADEX regimen or general anesthesia regimen. Research members then observe the catheterization procedure and answer the questionnaire about their efficacy and safety.

The goal of this clinical data collection study is to collect raw CT scan data using a new GSI Cardiac mode on GE HealthCare's Revolution Apex CT system. Two groups of participants will be enrolled: A) Participants scheduled to undergo a Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) as part of their standard of care B) Participants scheduled to undergo a cardiac catheterization or have a history of heart attack Participants in Group A will: -Have a standard of care CCTA immediately followed by a research GSI Cardiac scan Participants in Group B will: -Have a research CCTA immediately followed by a research GSI Cardiac scan Both groups will be in the study for approximately 1 day. There are no follow-up visits after the day of scan.

The goal of this observational study is to develop and validate a multimodal artificial intelligence prediction model for treatment-related complications in children with perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) undergoing transcatheter device closure. The main question it aims to answer is: Can an AI model that integrates demographics, laboratory results, electronic health record text, echocardiography reports, chest radiographs, and electrocardiogram accurately predict the risk of complications at the individual patient level? Data will be retrospectively collected from routine clinical care records of pediatric patients who underwent transcatheter closure for pmVSD. Deep learning methods will be used to extract features from text and images to train and validate the prediction model.

The researchers are studying whether special features make it easier to see if the breathing tube is in the correct place. It is hoped that the investigational device will enable more accurate placement (depth and trachea vs. esophagus).

Background: Cardiovascular disease is considered one of the most prevalent diseases in recent times, and cardiac catheterization is widely used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. However, patients often experience significant anxiety before the procedure due to fear of the unknown, potential complications, and concern about discomfort.Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality technology to reduce anxiety and improve patient satisfaction, attitude, and usefulness in individuals undergoing first-time cardiac catheterization procedures in Oman.Method: A mixed-method randomized control trial will be used with approximately 120 patients from different tertiary hospitals in Oman. The experimental group will experience a virtual reality simulation of the catheterization process before providing informed consent, while the control group will receive the standard pre-procedure education. The Arabic version of the DASS-21 scale will be used to assess anxiety level pre- and post-intervention, while patient satisfaction will be measured through qualitative interviews with a subset of 10 participants.Result: ANOVA will be conducted to examine differences in anxiety and satisfaction scores between groups, and Pearson's correlation (r) will assess relationships between anxiety levels and satisfaction scores, while paired t-tests will be applied to compare anxiety levels before and after the intervention within groups. Additionally, multiple regression analysis will be employed to identify predictors of patient satisfaction and anxiety reduction, with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05 for all statistical tests.Conclusion: The expected outcome of this study is that virtual reality-based education will significantly reduce pre-procedure anxiety and enhance patient satisfaction compared to standard education. Findings from this research may contribute to improving patient-centered care and developing innovative strategies to optimize emotional preparedness before cardiac catheterization procedures.

More than one million cardiac catheterizations (CCs) are performed annually in the United States and the majority are elective. Current guidelines recommend no fasting prior to elective CC, however recent studies suggest that eating and drinking as desired prior to elective CCs involving moderate sedation is safe. This project will study the potential benefits of allowing patients to eat before elective CCs. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will receive pre-op instructions to fast, and the other group will be allowed to eat and drink as desired prior to their CC. Researchers will compare these groups with regards to patient satisfaction and respiratory complications.

Acupressure, one of the traditional Chinese medicine practices dating back approximately 5,000 years, is a mind-body technique that can be independently applied by nurses. This practice involves applying pressure to specific points on the body to reduce pain. The pressure stimulates the release of substances such as endorphins, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and dopamine, resulting in muscle relaxation, regulated blood circulation, and blocked pain signals at nerve endings, effectively reducing the sensation of pain. The aim of acupressure is to alleviate patient discomfort and improve quality of life by reducing the need for analgesics. Acupressure, which falls under the category of therapeutic massage, can be applied using the fingers and palms. According to its core philosophy, illness arises when the balance of energy flowing through body channels, called "meridians," is disrupted. Because acupressure does not involve needles, it is a safe, effective, and economical technique that is easy to learn and apply. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies acupressure as a supportive treatment within its list of "treatable conditions." The technique involves applying pressure to the same point for 2-5 minutes. Stimulating specific points promotes the release of cytokines, such as endorphins, which play a role in pain reduction by blocking certain receptors on sensory nerve endings and thus preventing pain perception. Additionally, stimulating acupoints helps establish sympathetic and parasympathetic balance, supporting healthy homeostasis. Studies in the literature have investigated acupressure's positive effects on children's preoperative anxiety, postoperative pain severity, chemotherapy side effects, fatigue, sleep quality, asthma symptoms, and physical stress. In a study examining the impact of acupressure on procedural pain in infants prior to parenteral vaccinations, infants who received acupressure experienced lower pain levels and shorter crying durations. Similarly, a study investigating the effect of acupressure on acute pain during venous catheter insertion in children found that pain severity was lower among children who received acupressure. A systematic review examining the effects of acupressure on child health determined that acupressure is effective in alleviating procedural pain in children. The review emphasized that nurses should incorporate acupressure, a non-pharmacological method, into care practices for effective pain management in children. Despite evidence in the literature supporting acupressure's positive effects on pediatric health, no study has specifically examined its impact on pain and physiological parameters in children undergoing cardiac catheterization. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate the effects of acupressure, applied before and after cardiac catheterization, on pain levels and physiological parameters in infants.

An animated education program about cardiac catheterization will be presented 24 hours to children in the intervention group before undergoing cardiac catheterization. While children in the control group will receive routine care. Dependent variables are (Anxiety 2 hours before undergoing cardiac catheterization, hematoma and bleeding at the catheterization site 2 hours post sheath removal, flat time post cardiac catheterization).