Thirty-Day High-Grade Aortic Valve Block Post-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients Discharged on Heart Rhythm Monitor.

Background: Conduction disease is an important and common complication post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Previously, we developed a conduction disease risk stratification and management protocol post-TAVR. This study aims to evaluate high-grade aortic valve block (HAVB) incidence and risk factors in a large cohort undergoing ambulatory cardiac monitoring post-TAVR according to conduction risk grouping. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study evaluated all patients discharged on ambulatory cardiac monitoring between 2016 and 2021 and stratified them into 3 groups based on electrocardiogram predictors of HAVB risk (group 1 [low], group 2 [intermediate], and group 3 [high]). HAVB was defined as ≥2 consecutive nonconducted P waves in sinus rhythm or bradycardia <50 beats/minute with a fixed rate for atrial fibrillation/flutter. Descriptive statistics were used to show the incidence and timeline, while logistic regression was utilized to evaluate predictors of HAVB. Results: Five hundred twenty-eight patients were included (median age 80 years [74-85]; 43.8% female). Forty-one patients (7.8%) developed HAVB during ambulatory monitoring (68% were asymptomatic). Over a median follow-up of 2 years (1.3-2.7), the overall mortality rate was 15.0% (30-day mortality rate of 0.57%, n = 3). Risk factors for HAVB were male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, p = 0.02, 95% CI = 1.21-5.43), baseline right bundle branch block (OR = 2.80, p = 0.01, 95% CI = 1.17-6.19), and post-TAVR QRS >150 â€‹ms (OR = 2.16, p = 0.03, 95% CI = 1.01-4.40). The negative predictive value for patients in groups 1 and 2 for 30-day HAVB was 95.0 and 93.8%, respectively. Conclusions: The risk of 30-day HAVB post-TAVR on ambulatory monitoring post-TAVR varies according to post-TAVR electrocardiogram findings, and a 3-group algorithm effectively identifies groups with a low negative predictive value for HAVB.

Sex-Related Differences in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Undergoing Alcohol Septal Ablation.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that women with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HCM) have worse long-term outcomes irrespective of intervention. However, the outcomes of patients undergoing alcohol septal ablation (ASA) based on sex have not been described. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate pressure changes and long-term mortality in patients with HCM undergoing ASA based on sex. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a single-center retrospective study evaluating hemodynamic changes and long-term mortality in patients with HCM treated with ASA according to sex. A total of 259 patients were included (aged 68.4±11.9 years, 62.2% women). Women had higher age and baseline pressures at the time of ASA, with a greater percent reduction in mean left atrial pressure (men versus women: 2.2% versus 15.9%, respectively; P=0.02). Women had better survival (median survival rate of men versus women: 8.6 versus 12.5 years, respectively; P=0.011). On Cox multivariable regression, predictors of mortality were age (per group change <60 years, 61-70 years, 71-80 years, and >80 years; hazard ratio [HR], 1.45 [95% CI, 1.10-1.91], P=0.008), female sex (HR, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.35-0.99], P=0.048), chronic kidney disease (HR, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.06-3.33], P=0.031), and left ventricular outflow tract gradient reduction ≤86% (HR, 1.91 [95% CI, 1.14-3.19], P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Women with HCM undergoing ASA are older and have higher left-sided baseline pressures compared with men yet have better survival. Further studies exploring the mechanisms of differential outcomes according to sex in patients with HCM undergoing ASA are needed.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global TAVR Activity: The COVID-TAVI Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected health care systems. Patients in need of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are especially susceptible to treatment delays. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global TAVR activity. METHODS: This international registry reported monthly TAVR case volume in participating institutions prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2018 to December 2021). Hospital-level information on public vs private, urban vs rural, and TAVR volume was collected, as was country-level information on socioeconomic status, COVID-19 incidence, and governmental public health responses. RESULTS: We included 130 centers from 61 countries, including 65,980 TAVR procedures. The first and second pandemic waves were associated with a significant reduction of 15% (P < 0.001) and 7% (P < 0.001) in monthly TAVR case volume, respectively, compared with the prepandemic period. The third pandemic wave was not associated with reduced TAVR activity. A greater reduction in TAVR activity was observed in Africa (-52%; P = 0.001), Central-South America (-33%; P < 0.001), and Asia (-29%; P < 0.001). Private hospitals (P = 0.005), urban areas (P = 0.011), low-volume centers (P = 0.002), countries with lower development (P < 0.001) and economic status (P < 0.001), higher COVID-19 incidence (P < 0.001), and more stringent public health restrictions (P < 0.001) experienced a greater reduction in TAVR activity. CONCLUSIONS: TAVR procedural volume declined substantially during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Africa, Central-South America, and Asia. National socioeconomic status, COVID-19 incidence, and public health responses were associated with treatment delays. This information should inform public health policy in case of future global health crises.

Neisseria elongata-mediated peritonitis in an end-stage renal disease patient on automated peritoneal dialysis: a case report and literature review.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) can result in peritonitis, which frequently causes severe and near-fatal clinical implications if left untreated. Usually, gram-positive bacteria are the most common organisms involved. Uncommonly recognized as the cause of peritonitis in PD patients, Neisseria elongata is a gram-negative nasal and oropharyngeal normal flora organism. Case presentation: We report a rare case of a 29-year-old man who had received automated PD for 6 years and had N. elongata peritonitis. Discussion: Several case reports of Neisseria-related peritonitis may point to the potential pathogenicity of such organisms and suggest that many cases of culture-negative peritonitis may have been misdiagnosed. Poor nutrition and chronic kidney disease have been suggested as potential risk factors for N. elongata peritonitis, both of which are present in our patient. With appropriate antibiotic use, most of the cases respond well to empirical treatment. Conclusion: Although rare, N. elongata can lead to PD catheter. peritonitis that, in some cases, require changing to hemodialysis.

Neisseria elongata -mediated peritonitis in an end-stage renal disease patient on automated peritoneal dialysis, A case report and literature review.

Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) can result in peritonitis, which frequently causes severe and near-fatal clinical implications if left untreated. Usually, Gram-positive bacteria are the most common organisms involved. Uncommonly recognized as the cause of peritonitis in PD patients, Neisseria Elongata is a gram-negative nasal and oropharyngeal normal flora organism. Case presentation: We report a rare case of a 29-year-old man who had received automated peritoneal dialysis for six years and had Neisseria Elongata peritonitis. Discussion: Several case Reports of niseria-related peritonitis may point to the potential pathogenicity of such organisms and suggest that many cases of culture-negative peritonitis may have been misdiagnosed. Poor nutrition and chronic kidney disease have been suggested as potential risk factors for Neisseria elongata peritonitis [8], both of which are present in our patient. With appropriate antibiotic use, most of the cases respond well to empirical treatment. Conclusion: Although rare, Neisseria Elongata can lead to Peritoneal Dialysis catheter Peritonitis that, in some cases, require changing to hemodialysis.

Safety and Outcomes of Alcohol Septal Ablation Prior to Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement.

Background: Patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) for mitral valve disease caused by severe mitral annular calcification are at risk of left ventricular outflow obstruction. Preemptive alcohol septal ablation (ASA) can potentially mitigate the risk of this complication and is well established in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods: This retrospective study compared procedural characteristics and outcomes in patients who underwent ASA for TMVR vs HCM. Results: In total, 102 patients were included, 22 in the TMVR group and 80 in the HCM group. Echocardiography demonstrated increased septal wall thickness in the HCM group (19 â€‹± â€‹3.1 â€‹mm vs 12.7 â€‹± â€‹2.0 â€‹mm; P â€‹< â€‹.001). The mean volume of ethanol injected was higher in the HCM group (1.4 â€‹± â€‹0.49 â€‹mL vs 0.8 â€‹± â€‹0.2 â€‹mL; P â€‹< â€‹.001). The average neo-left ventricular outflow tract area increased significantly after ASA in the patients undergoing TMVR (135 â€‹± â€‹89 â€‹mm2 vs 233 â€‹± â€‹111 â€‹mm2; P â€‹< â€‹.001). Six patients in the TMVR group did not achieve an adequate increase in the neo-left ventricular outflow tract area and required further procedures after ASA. The incidence of post-ASA complete heart block requiring a permanent pacemaker tended to be higher in the TMVR group (35% vs 21%; P â€‹= â€‹.195). No patients in either group had ventricular arrhythmia or stroke. Major bleeding complications were 4% in the HCM group and 0 in the TMVR group. The 30-day mortality was 4% in the HCM group and 0 in the TMVR group; however, 1 patient died at 37 â€‹days in the TMVR group, presumably from late heart block. Conclusions: Preemptive ASA in patients undergoing TMVR demonstrated safety and short-term clinical outcomes similar to patients with HCM.

Investigating the Potential and Pitfalls of EV-Encapsulated MicroRNAs as Circulating Biomarkers of Breast Cancer.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) shuttle microRNA (miRNA) throughout the circulation and are believed to represent a fingerprint of the releasing cell. We isolated and characterized serum EVs of breast tumour-bearing animals, breast cancer (BC) patients, and healthy controls. EVs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), protein quantification, western blotting, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Absolute quantitative (AQ)-PCR was employed to analyse EV-miR-451a expression. Isolated EVs had the appropriate morphology and size. Patient sera contained significantly more EVs than did healthy controls. In tumour-bearing animals, a correlation between serum EV number and tumour burden was observed. There was no significant relationship between EV protein yield and EV quantity determined by NTA, highlighting the requirement for direct quantification. Using AQ-PCR to relate miRNA copy number to EV yield, a significant increase in miRNA-451a copies/EV was detected in BC patient sera, suggesting potential as a novel biomarker of breast cancer.

Tracheostomy with thyroidectomy: indications, management and outcome: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the indications, course and outcome of pre-operative and post-thyroidectomy tracheostomy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective descriptive study conducted in Khartoum Teaching Hospital in the period between March 2000 and March 2005. Fifty-nine patients had tracheostomy out of 964 thyroidectomy patients, giving an incidence of 6%. RESULTS: The decision of doing tracheostomy was taken intra-operatively in 41 patients (69%), all presenting with strider. In 25 of those 41 patients there was intra-operative tracheal deformity with narrowing (>50% of tracheal circumference on radiology) and gland adherence to the tracheal wall; the remaining 16 patients had tracheomalacia. Of those 41 patients, 25 presented with severe strider and needed urgent surgery (5 with recurrent anaplastic carcinoma, 5 with intrathoracic goitres that necessitated median sternotomy and 15 with huge goitres (of whom 7 were recurrent goitres). In the remaining 18 patients (31%) emergency post-operative tracheostomy was done following endotracheal extubation up to 48 h post-operatively. There were 2 deaths (3.4%); one patient died due to tracheostomy care and the other from myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: Tracheostomy is a safe procedure and gives a good alternative to delayed endotracheal extubation in post-thyroidectomy patients expected to have respiratory failure in places where post-operative anaesthetic care is lacking.