N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and pulmonary echography are predictors of acute heart failure needing early mechanical ventilation in acute coronary syndrome.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the best clinical predictors of acute heart failure needing mechanical ventilation (MV) in the first 48 h of evolution of patients admitted because of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: We analyzed a cohort of patients admitted for ACS between February 2017 and February 2018. A pulmonary ultrasound was performed on admission and was considered positive (PE+) when there were three or more B-lines in two quadrants or more of each hemithorax. It was compared with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), peak troponin T-us value GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events), CRUSADE (Can Rapid risk stratification of Unstable angina patients Suppress ADverse outcomes with Early implementation of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines - Bleeding Score), CACS (Canada Acute Coronary Syndrome risk score), and HAMIOT (Heart Failure after Acute Myocardial Infarction with Optimal Treatment score) scores, shock index, ejection fraction, chest X-ray, and Killip class at admission as predictors of MV in the first 48 h of admission. RESULTS: A total of 119 patients were included: 54.6% with ST elevation and 45.4% without ST elevation. Twelve patients (10.1%) required MV in the first 48 h of evolution. The sensitivity of PE+ was 100% (73.5-100%), specificity 91.6% (84.6-96.1%), and area under the curve was 0.96 (0.93-0.96). The sensitivity of an NT-proBNP value more than 3647 was 88.9% (51.9-99.7%), specificity 92.1% (84.5-96.8%), and area under the curve was 0.905 (0.793-1). The κ statistic between both predictors was 0.579. All the other scores were significantly worse than PE + . CONCLUSION: Lung ultrasound and a high NT-proBNP (3647 ng/L in our series) on admission are the best predictors of acute heart failure needing MV in the first 48 h of ACS. The agreement between both tests was only moderate.

Utility of pulmonary echography with a handheld ultrasound device in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

The objectives of this study are to establish the usefulness of lung ultrasound with a handheld device to predict the risk of developing heart failure with the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This is a prospective study of consecutive patients admitted because of ACS-type myocardial infarction, without data of HF at admission in a tertiary hospital, between February 2017 and February 2018. Lung ultrasounds were performed with a handheld cardiologic device in the first 24 h, and defined as echo-positive (PE+) when exams revealed 3 or more B-lines in 2 or more bilateral quadrants. We related this finding to the need for MV during admission. We included 119 patients (65.1 ± 12.8 year; 75.6% male, 24.4% female; 87.4% in Killip class I, 12.6% in Killip class II). Pulmonary echography was positive (PE+) in 21 patients (17.6%). The sensitivity of PE+ to predict MV was 93.3%, the specificity 93.3%, and the area under the curve 0.93. In Cox regression analysis adjusted by CRUSADE score and Killip class, PE+ patients had a hazard ratio of 64.55 (CI 7.87; 529.25, p < 0.001) of needing MV. PE+ was associated with more frequent use of inotropes and mortality. Pulmonary ultrasonography with a handheld echocardiograph was predictive of severe heart failure and the need for mechanical ventilation in ACS with high specificity and sensitivity.

Fondaparinux versus enoxaparin in the contemporary management of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes. Insights from a multicenter registry.

BACKGROUND: Fondaparinux is thought to have the most favorable risk-benefit profile among all anticoagulants in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). However, conflicting findings exist whether this holds true in current clinical practice. We aimed to assess the net clinical benefit of fondaparinux versus enoxaparin in the contemporary management of NSTE-ACS. METHODS: Analysis of prospective multicenter registry data of NSTE-ACS patients who received fondaparinux or enoxaparin from February 2015, through December 2017. Survival models within a competing risks framework including site-specific random effects, were used to assess the composite of clinically relevant bleedings and major adverse cardiovascular events at 30 days. RESULTS: Of 2094 patients, 1724 (82%) received enoxaparin and 370 (18%) fondaparinux. Both groups were comparable except for a lower prevalence of diabetes and renal impairment, and greater use of transradial approach in the fondaparinux group. Multivariate analysis revealed a net clinical benefit in favour of fondaparinux versus enoxaparin (Subhazard Ratio [SHR] 0.59; 95%CI 0.37-0.92), mainly driven by a reduction in bleeding (SHR 0.57; 95%CI 0.37-0.89). Exploratory analysis suggested greater reductions in bleeding with fondaparinux among patients undergoing transradial approach, revealing a significant interaction between treatment and vascular access on the multiplicative scale (Pinteraction = 0.0056), but not on an additive scale (P = 0.457). Propensity-score-matching analysis yielded similar results. CONCLUSIONS: In contemporary management of NSTE-ACS, fondaparinux seems to provide a favorable net clinical benefit compared with enoxaparin, primarily driven by a bleeding reduction. Effect modification on the safety profile of fondaparinux by the vascular access approach warrants further investigation.

Identification of the culprit artery in inferior myocardial infarction through the 12-lead ECG.

BACKGROUND: Identification of the culprit artery can be helpful in the management of inferior infarction with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Some studies suggest that previously published algorithms intended to help identify the infarct-related artery are suboptimal. Our aim is to develop a better method to localise the culprit artery on the basis of the 12-lead ECG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed the ECG and coronary angiograms of two different cohorts of patients with inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Patients from the first cohort were labelled the derivative cohort (group A), whereas patients in the second cohort were labelled the validation cohort (group B). ST-segment elevation was measured in each lead, and a multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the best equation to predict the culprit artery. A derived algorithm was then applied to the validation cohort. Next, our algorithm was applied to the total cohort of both groups and compared with four different previously published algorithms. We analysed differences in sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: We included 252 patients in the derivative group and 90 in the validation group. The multiple models analysis concluded that the best model should include five leads. This model was validated by internal bootstrapping with 1000 repetitions in group A and externally in group B. The resultant algorithm was as follows: (ST-elevation in III + aVF + V3) - (ST-elevation in II + V6) less than 0.75 mm means that the culprit artery is the left circumflex artery (Cx). If the result is at least 0.75, the culprit artery is the right coronary artery. The total group of both cohorts comprised 342 patients, aged 61.2 ± 12.4 years, of whom 19.6% were female and 80.4% were male. The Cx was the culprit artery in 67 (19.6%) patients. Our algorithm had a sensitivity of 72.3, a specificity of 80.9 and an AUC of 0.766. The AUC value was better compared with the other algorithms. CONCLUSION: The best algorithm to localise the culprit artery includes ST-elevation in leads II and V6 related to Cx, and ST-elevation in leads III, aVF and V3 related to right coronary artery. Our algorithm has been validated internally and externally, and works better than other previously published algorithms.