Abstract Introduction Evidence of benefit in the use of mechanical circulatory support devices (MCS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is scarce. We aimed to evaluate the clinicalcharacteristics, prognosis and factors associated with the use of MCS in patients with AMI due to left main (LM) occlusion. Methods We performed a retrospective multicenter study of 128 consecutive patients with AMI with ≤12h of presentation with LM occlusion submitted to immediate reperfusion between January 1, 2008, until December 31, 2020 in three terciary hospitals of Portugal. Among this cohort, we divided patients into two groups according to the use of MCS devices. Results Regarding the baseline characteristics no statistically significant differences were found, except for the presence of cerebrovascular disease (2.9% in group with vs 16.9% in group without MCS, p=0.007) and peripheral artery disease (8.8% in group with vs 22% in group without MCS, p=0.037). We observed that the use of MCS devices was statistically different between the three centers (47.8%, 42%, 8.7%, p<0.001). No differences were found at presentation for ST-segment elevation vs non-ST segment elevation AMI (p=NS). The presence of cardiogenic shock (72.4% vs 45.8%, p=0.002), cardiac arrest (27.5% vs 23.7%, p=0.034) and more severe thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow at presentation (55.1% vs 35.6%, p=0.015) were more frequent in group with MCS. The rate of 1-year cumulative mortality was high in both groups (31/59=52.5% in the group without vs 47/69=68.1%, p=NS). Also, no statistically significant differences were found in terms of survival, but we observed a trend to higher mortality in those who received MCS as Kaplan-Meier survival curves show (log rank=0.062). Finally, in multivariable analysis, older age [odds ratio (OR), 0.935; 95% CI, 0.87–0.99], the presence of diabetes (OR, 0.223; 95% CI, 0.056–0.88), peripheral artery disease (OR, 0.070; 95% CI, 0.009–0.566) and extra-hospitalar cardiac arrest (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.007–0.543) were characteristics associated with lower odds of receiving MCS. Contrarily, male sex (OR, 5; 95% CI, 1–20.4) and the presence of cardiogenic shock (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 1.42–23) were factors associated with higher use of MCS. Conclusion The use of MCS does not seem to modify prognosis in patients admitted withAMI due to left main occlusion. Only cardiogenic shock and male gender were predictors of MCS use. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.
Abstract Background Nowadays, in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR), aortic valve surgery is indicated when severe and symptomatic or those with depressed LVEF. However, clinical outcomes of patients with significant aortic regurgitation are not influenced by these factors only. Recently, a new staging system for severe aortic stenosis has been proposed by Généreux on the basis of the extent of anatomic and functional cardiac damage. If this model could be applicable to an unselected significant AR population has not been tested. Purpose The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of the different stages of extra-aortic valvular cardiac damage by the application of Généreux staging and its impact on prognosis in a large, real world cohort of significant AR patients. Methods This study retrospectively analysed the clinical, Doppler echocardiographic and outcome data in patients with grade III or greater AR between January 2014 and September 2019. According to the extent of cardiac damage on echocardiography, patients were classified as Stage 0 (no cardiac damage), Stage 1 (left ventricular damage), Stage 2 (mitral valve or left atrial damage), Stage 3 (tricuspid valve or pulmonary artery vasculature damage) or Stage 4 (right ventricular damage). Exclusion criteria were severe aortic stenosis and previous valve repair or replacement. The primary end-point was all-cause mortality. Results A total of 572 patients, aged 70.1±13.9 years, 294 (51.3%) men were enrolled. One third of patients were in NYHA I. Based on the proposed classification, 82 patients (14.3%) were classified in stage 0, 130 (22.7%) in stage 1, 276 (48.2%) in stage 2, 68 (11.8%) in stage 3 and 17 (3.0%) in stage 4. Median follow-up time was 3.3±1.9 years. There was a progressive increase in mortality rates according to staging: 8.5% in stage 0, 10.8% in stage 1, 24.9% in stage 2, 42.6% in stage 3 and 52.9% in stage 4 (p<0.001). On multivariable analysis, the extent of cardiac damage was independently associated with excess mortality (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.21) Conclusion Our study demonstrated that this new staging system studied for aortic stenosis also provides increased prognostic value to patients with significant aortic regurgitation. This staging system can be helpful to identify the degree of extra-aortic valvular cardiac damage and to optimize the time of valvular intervention. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the benefit of the applicability of this model in clinical practice. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia / Espinho Distribution of stages of cardiac damageSurvival analysis according to stage
Desmoplakin (DSP) is a desmosomal protein that plays an essential role for cell-to-cell adhesion within the cardiomyocytes. The first association between DSP genetic variants and the presence of a myocardial disease referred to patients with Carvajal syndrome. Since then, several reports have linked the DSP gene to familial forms of arrhythmogenic (ACM) and dilated cardiomyopathies. Left-dominant ACM is the most common phenotype in individuals carrying DSP variants. More recently, a new entity-"Desmoplakin cardiomyopathy"-was described as a distinct form of cardiomyopathy characterized by frequent left ventricular involvement with extensive fibrosis, high arrhythmic risk, and episodes of acute myocardial injury. The purpose of this review was to summarize the available evidence on DSP cardiomyopathy and to identify existing gaps in knowledge that need clarification from upcoming research.
Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Advanced heart failure is associated with a high rate of hospitalization due to clinical decompensating. Adding Levosimendan (LVS), an inodilatador which metabolite has long-lasting effect, to intravenous diuretic therapy (standard therapy) is a therapeutic option in these patients, although the magnitude of the short and long-term benefit still remains controversial. Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether combination of LVS with standard therapy in patients with decompensated advanced heart failure (DAHF) increases time out-of-hospital compared to standard therapy alone. The secondary endpoint was duration of hospital stay for each type of hospitalization. Methods and Results Retrospective analysis of patients with advanced heart failure who met the following criteria: at least one hospitalization with standard therapy and at least one hospitalization with standard therapy plus LVS, separated less than 6 months from each other. From a total of 71 patients who took LVS in our cardiac care unit, 7 patients met the inclusion criteria. All these patients were male, mean age was 64,1 ± 10,6 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 24,57 ± 7,3% and 71,4% had ischemic cardiomyopathy. A total of 22 hospitalizations were analysed (12 with standard therapy plus LVS and 10 with standard therapy), with 4 patients having more than two hospitalizations. The administration of LVS increased the time out-of-hospital until readmission compared to standard therapy alone (70.5 days vs 34.7 days, p = 0.023) (figure 1). The length of stay during LVS administration was longer (12.1 days vs 6.0 days, p <0.001). In 75% of cases after LVS infusion patients stay out-of-hospital more than 2 months while after standard therapy this event occurred only once (10%) (figure 2). 1-year mortality was 71,4%. Conclusion Use of Levosimendan increases time out-of-hospital in patients with DAHF. This is an opportunity to improve quality of life in patients with severe disease and recurrent hospitalizations.
The use of mechanical circulatory support is increasing in cases of cardiogenic shock (CS) and high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR-PCI). The Impella® is a percutaneous ventricular assist device that unloads the left ventricle by ejecting blood to the ascending aorta. We report our center's experience with the use of the Impella® device in these two clinical settings. We performed a single-center retrospective study including all consecutive patients implanted with the Impella® between 2007 and 2019 for CS treatment or prophylactic support of HR-PCI. Data on clinical and safety endpoints were collected and analyzed. Twenty-two patients were included: 12 were treated for CS and 10 underwent an HR-PCI procedure. In the CS-treated population, the main cause of CS was acute myocardial infarction (five patients); hemolysis was the most frequent device-related complication (63.7%). In-hospital, cumulative 30-day and one-year mortality were 58.3%, 66.6% and 83.3%, respectively. In the HR-PCI group, all patients had multivessel disease (mean baseline SYNTAX I score: 44.1±13.7). In-hospital, 30-day and one-year mortality were 10.0%, 10.0% and 20.0%, respectively. There were no device- or procedure-related deaths in either group. The short- and long-term results of Impella®-supported HR-PCI were comparable to those in the literature. In the CS group, in-hospital and short-term outcomes were poor, with high mortality and non-negligible complication rates. O uso de suporte mecânico no choque cardiogénico (CS) e intervenção coronária percutânea de alto risco (HR-PCI) tem aumentado. O Impella® é um sistema de suporte ventricular percutâneo que ejeta sangue do ventrículo esquerdo para a aorta ascendente. Reportamos a experiência do nosso centro com o Impella® nestes dois cenários clínicos. Estudo retrospetivo unicêntrico incluindo todos os doentes consecutivos submetidos a implantação de Impella® entre 2007 e 2019, para tratamento de CS ou suporte profilático para HR-PCI. Dados sobre endpoints clínicos e de segurança foram analisados. Foram incluídos 22 doentes: 12 tratados por CS e 10 submetidos a HR-PCI. Na população de CS, a principal causa de choque foi o enfarte agudo do miocárdio (5 doentes); a hemólise foi a complicação relacionada com o dispositivo mais frequente (63,7%); a mortalidade intra-hospitalar, a 30 dias e um ano, foi, respetivamente, 58,3%, 66,6% e 83,3%. No grupo da HR-PCI, todos os doentes apresentavam doença multivaso (SYNTAX I score médio: 44,1±13,7); a mortalidade intra-hospitalar, a 30 dias e um ano, foi, respetivamente, 10,0%, 10,0% e 20,0%. Não houve mortes relacionadas com o dispositivo ou procedimento em ambos os grupos. Os resultados em curto e longo prazo da HR-PCI protegida por Impella® foram comparáveis aos da literatura disponível. No grupo de CS, os resultados intra-hospitalares e em curto prazo foram desanimadores, com elevada mortalidade e taxas de complicações apreciáveis.
A 42-year-old man without cardiovascular risk factors was referred for cardiology consultation due to atypical chest pain. He had a previous history of allergic asthma, without recent exacerbations. Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography excluded coronary artery disease. However, the cardiac CT disclosed a double aortic arch (DAA) (Panels A–C: 3D volume-rendered CT scans). This DAA presented a co-dominant configuration, with the left subclavian (grey square) and left common carotid arteries (grey dot) arising from the left arch, and the right arch originating the right subclavian (black square) and right common carotid (black dot) arteries (Panels A and B). The anomalous conformation resulted in a complete vascular ring (Panel C), without producing compression of the trachea (asterisk, Panel D). A reduction of the endoluminal caliber of the oesophagus was noted, but the patient...
Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. BACKGROUND Upgrade to resynchronization therapy (CRT) is common practice in Europe. However, guideline recommendations are discordant and randomized trials are lacking. Previous studies have shown worse outcomes in upgraded patients. AIM To compare clinical outcomes in a cohort of patients receiving de novo or upgrade to CRT. METHODS Single-center retrospective study of consecutive patients submitted to CRT implantation (2007-2018). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included heart failure hospitalization or all-cause mortality. Clinical response was defined as NYHA class improvement without MACE in the 1st year of follow-up (FU). Left ventricle end-systolic volume reduction of >15% designated echocardiographic (echo) response. Survival analysis with Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test was performed. Propensity-score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to adjust for possible confounder variables. RESULTS 295 CRT patients (70.5% male, mean age 67 ± 11 years, 72.5% non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, 54.6% implanted with CRT-D) were included. Fifty-six patients (19%) underwent an upgrade: 43 (78.2%) from a pacemaker and 12 (21.8%) from a defibrillator device. Indications for upgrade were mainly pacemaker dependency or pacing-induced LV dysfunction (76.6%) and de novo left bundle branch block (23.4%). Upgraded patients were older (70 vs 66 years, p=.034), with larger baseline QRS (185 ± 25 vs 163 ± 30 ms, p<.001) and higher rates of atrial fibrillation (58.2% vs 26.7%, p<.001), coronary artery disease (41.8% vs 26.2%, p=.033), moderate to severe valve disease (42.9% vs 22.6%, p=.003) and chronic kidney disease (36.4% vs 18.7%, p=.008). Upgraded patients more frequently received CRT-P (71.4% vs 39.3%, p<.001). CRT-D were more often implanted for secondary prevention (53.3% vs 20.2%, p=.011) in the upgrade group. There were no differences in procedural complications, clinical (59.3 vs 62.6%, p=.765) or echo (72.2% vs 71.9%, p=.970) response rates. During a median FU of 3 ± 5 years, all-cause mortality was similar among groups (Log-rank test, p=.688). MACE occurred more frequently in the upgrade group (Log-rank test, p=.025). No differences emerged in lead complications (8.9% vs 8.4%, p=.892) or device infection (1.8% vs 2.9%, p=.986). PSM analysis identified 106 matched pairs (56 upgrade/50 de novo patients), without baseline statistical differences. All-cause mortality (Log-rank test, p=.555) and MACE (Log-rank test, p=.574) were comparable between groups. CONCLUSION In this cohort, upgrade to CRT was comparable to de novo implantation in terms of clinical and echo response. Moreover, upgrade to CRT was not associated with higher complication rates. All-cause mortality and MACE were similar between groups.
Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Acute heart failure (AHF) is a complex clinical condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment of AHF remains a therapeutic challenge, with inotropic agents playing an important role. Levosimendan (LVS) is distinguished from other catecholaminergic inotropic by its three mechanisms of action - inotropic, vasodilator and cardioprotection - and by the presence of a long-acting metabolite. Objective We aimed to characterize the predictors of mortality and readmission rate following AHF hospitalizations treated with LVS. Methods and Results This is a retrospective analysis of all 69 patients treated with LVS in a Cardiology Department at a Tertiary Center (84% male, mean age 65 ± 13 years and mean left ventricular ejection fraction 27 ± 12%). 30-day and 6-month mortality was 23.2% and 36.2%, respectively. Risk factors for 30-day mortality (p <0.05) were: obesity (41% vs 17%), absence of valvular heart disease (48% vs 13%) and plasma creatinine (pCr) variation after LVS infusion (+0.05 mg/dL vs -0.24 mg/dL). Patients with ischemic heart disease have higher mortality at 6 months (68% vs 25%, p=0.001). Risk factors for both 30-day and 6-month mortality (p<0.05) were: chronic kidney disease stage ≥3 (40% vs 10%; 63% vs 15%), pCr before LSV (1.97 vs 1.43mg/dL; 1.83 vs 1.48mg/dL) and pCr after LVS (1.82 vs 1.23mg/dL; 1.71 vs 1.22mg/dL). The readmission rate at 30 days and 6 months was 7.4% and 36.0%, respectively. We did not find any significant predictors for 30-day readmission. Factors associated with higher readmission rate at 6 months (p <0.05) were: pre-infusion NYHA IV class (71% vs 30%), decompensated chronic HF (44% vs 9%) and atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter rhythm (56% vs 26%). In 27 cases, pre and post treatment NT-proBNP values were available. LVS therapy significantly reduced NT-proBNP from 10467 ± 8984 ng/L to 8237 ± 9500 ng/L (p=0.012) and improvement was observed in 93% of patients. Survival at 30 days and 6 months can be predicted by percentage of NT-proBNP improvement (-84.4% vs -28.4%, p=0.047; -92.3% vs -16.3%; p=0.012). Conclusion AHF patients requiring inotropic therapy have high mortality and readmission rates. Several clinical features and analytical responses to LVS perfusion are predictors of these events. LVS significantly reduces NT-proBNP. The magnitude of this reduction is a predictor of short- and long-term mortality.
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