Early time-course of respiratory mechanics, mechanical power and gas exchange in ARDS patients.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical course of ARDS during the first three days of mechanical ventilation, to compare ventilatory setting, respiratory mechanics and gas exchange variables collected during the first three days of mechanical ventilation between patients who survived and died during intensive care unit (ICU) stay and to investigate the variables associated with mortality at ICU admission and throughout the first three days of mechanical ventilation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study. Mechanically ventilated ARDS patients were studied at ICU admission and for the following three days. Univariate logistic regression models were performed for PaO2/FiO2 ratio, driving pressure and alveolar dead space fraction and for mechanical power and mechanical power ratio. RESULTS: Mechanical power ratio was higher in non survivors at ICU admission and over time; PaO2/FiO2 ratio was higher in survivors with a similar behavior over time in the two groups while alveolar dead space fraction was similar at ICU admission and over time between groups. Mechanical power ratio was the only physiological variable which remained consistently associated with ICU mortality throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: The alteration in oxygenation, dead space, and mechanical power ratio should be assessed not at intensive care admission, but during the first days of mechanical ventilation to better predict outcome.

[Changes in cardiac implantable electronic device follow-up induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: report of a single-centre experience]. / Variazioni del follow-up dei dispositivi elettronici cardiaci impiantabili indotte dalla pandemia COVID-19 nel 2020: esperienza di un singolo centro.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has greatly modified outpatient follow-ups. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the organizational modalities and clinical effects of rearrangements of pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) outpatient visits performed in our centers at Ravenna and Lugo Hospitals, Italy, during the pandemic outbreak in 2020. METHODS: All scheduled in-person device follow-up visits in March-December 2020 have been considered. On the basis of documented past functioning of each device and of remote monitoring (RM) capabilities, in-person visits were either performed or postponed at variable times. The characteristics of the follow-ups and the device-related clinically relevant events were analyzed, the latter being further divided into serious malfunction and problems to be corrected by device reprogramming. RESULTS: Overall, 27% of in-person visits were postponed (n = 576) (36% of ICDs and 25% of PMs), peaking 62% in March-May 2020. RM compensated nearly all hold-ups in ICDs and just 63% of postponements in PMs. The postponement-caused delay between in-person visits was 5.6 ± 1.1 months for ICDs and 4.7 ± 1.2 months for PMs; in 24% of ICDs the time interval between in-person visits was ≥18 months. Clinically relevant events were 56 (18 [4.4%] in ICDs, 38 [2.1%] in PMs), with no deaths and 21 serious malfunctions (4 [1%] in ICDs, 15 [0.8%] in PMs). RM identified all ICD malfunctions, while it was not available in the affected PMs. In comparison with the year 2019, serious malfunctions increased, though the difference was not significant. Monthly RM transmissions increased by 2.3 fold. CONCLUSIONS: In our single-center experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous in-person PM/ICD follow-up visits were postponed, and delays were well beyond the previously recommended time limits. However, device-related malfunctions did not increase, notably, when RM capabilities were used.

Incidence and Predictors of Infections and All-Cause Death in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: The Italian Nationwide RI-AIAC Registry.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of infections associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and patient outcomes are not fully known. AIM: To provide a contemporary assessment of the risk of CIEDs infection and associated clinical outcomes. METHODS: In Italy, 18 centres enrolled all consecutive patients undergoing a CIED procedure and entered a 12-months follow-up. CIED infections, as well as a composite clinical event of infection or all-cause death were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 2675 patients (64.3% male, age 78 (70-84)) were enrolled. During follow up 28 (1.1%) CIED infections and 132 (5%) deaths, with 152 (5.7%) composite clinical events were observed. At a multivariate analysis, the type of procedure (revision/upgrading/reimplantation) (OR: 4.08, 95% CI: 1.38-12.08) and diabetes (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.02-4.84) were found as main clinical factors associated to CIED infection. Both the PADIT score and the RI-AIAC Infection score were significantly associated with CIED infections, with the RI-AIAC infection score showing the strongest association (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.60-3.55 for each point), with a c-index = 0.64 (0.52-0.75), p = 0.015. Regarding the occurrence of composite clinical events, the Kolek score, the Shariff score and the RI-AIAC Event score all predicted the outcome, with an AUC for the RI-AIAC Event score equal to 0.67 (0.63-0.71) p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: In this Italian nationwide cohort of patients, while the incidence of CIED infections was substantially low, the rate of the composite clinical outcome of infection or all-cause death was quite high and associated with several clinical factors depicting a more impaired clinical status.

Impedance mapping with constant contact force on 3D electroanatomic map to characterize tissues at pulmonary veno-atrial junction.

PURPOSE: Generator impedance (Im) mapping with constant contact force (CF) by tip catheter at PV isolation (PVI) was assessed for a proposal of tissue characterization at PV-LA junction (PV-LAJ). METHODS: In this observational, prospective, single-center study, Im mapping at constant CF = 10 g (± 2 g) was performed before PVI at PV-LAJ. PV in-vein, PV ostium (PVos), and antrum (PVan) contours were manually traced based on the 3D electroanatomic map (3DEAM) integrating intracardiac echocardiography and computerized tomography. PVan contour-methods based on Im mapping was defined on 3DEAM as the atrial-like Im contour closest to PVos, and its distance from anatomical PVan contour > 5 mm was assumed as the non-concordance marker between contour and methods. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (62 ± 9 years; 43 males) were enrolled, and 244 PV-LAJ were assessed. From in-vein PV to LA and, less prominently, from PVos to PVan and LA, Im showed a unidirectional decrease with highly variable individual-specific distribution and values. PVan non-concordance was found in 59/665 segments (8.8%), 18% of PV-LAJs, and 53% of pts; it prevailed in superior PV-LAJ and measured on average 7.2 ± 1.1 mm. Im decrease patterns and non-concordance were not associated with any clinical or anatomical feature, including PV dimensions and shape. CONCLUSIONS: Im mapping of LA-PVJ at constant CF added to 3DEAM may consistently track the tissue transition from PV to LA. PVan identified by Im was often located more toward LA than the 3D anatomical PVan, particularly in LSPV, suggesting the potential advantage of avoiding ablation of venous-like tissue. Im mapping can deserve further investigation for target characterization at LA-PVJ.

Coronary thrombus in patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI: Prognostic significance and management.

Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) usually results from coronary atherosclerotic plaque disruption with superimposed thrombus formation. Detection of coronary thrombi is a poor prognostic indicator, which is mostly proportional to their size and composition. Particularly, intracoronary thrombi impair both epicardial blood flow and myocardial perfusion, by occluding major coronary arteries and causing distal embolization, respectively. Thus, although primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the preferred treatement strategy in STEMI setting, the associated use of adjunctive antithrombotic drugs and/or percutaneous thrombectomy is crucial to optimize therapy of STEMI patients, by improving either angiographical and clinical outcomes. This review article will focus on the prognostic significance of intracoronary thrombi and on current antithrombotic pharmacological and interventional strategies used in the setting of STEMI to manage thrombotic lesions.

Pacing transmural scar tissue reduces left ventricle reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

BACKGROUND: In patients with ischemic heart failure undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) the underlying myocardial substrate at the left ventricle (LV) pacing site may affect CRT response. However, the effect of delivering the pacing stimulus remote, adjacent to or over LV transmural scar tissue (TST) identified by echocardiography is still unknown. METHODS: First, 35 patients with healed myocardial infarction (57 ± 11 years) were prospectically studied to demonstrate the capability of echocardiographic end-diastolic wall thickness (EDWT) to identify LV-TST as defined by delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI). Subsequently, in 136 patients (65 ± 10 years) who underwent CRT, EDWT was retrospectively evaluated at baseline. The LV catheter placement was defined over, adjacent to and remote from TST if pacing was delivered at a scarred segment, at a site 1 segment adjacent to or remote from scarred segments. CRT response was defined as LV end-systolic volume (ESV) decrease by at least 10% after 6 months. RESULTS: A EDWT ≤ 5mm identified TST at DE-MRI with 92% sensitivity and 96% specificity. In the 76 CRT responders, less overall and posterolateral TST segments and more segments paced remote from TST areas were found. At the multivariate regression analysis, the number of TST segments and scar/pacing relationship showed a significant association with CRT response. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to LV global scar burden, CRT response relates also to the myocardial substrate underlying pacing site as evaluated by standard echocardiography. This information may expand the role of echocardiography to guide pacing site avoiding pacing at TST areas.

[Perivalvular leak assessment and closure: role of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography]. / Valutazione e chiusura dei leak periprotesici: ruolo dell'ecocardiografia transesofagea tridimensionale in tempo reale.

Perivalvular leak following implant of aortic or mitral prosthetic valves or rings is a relatively common complication, sometimes leading to significant clinical and hemodynamic consequences, such as severe valvular insufficiency, heart failure and hemolysis. In these cases, a second surgical operation, which typically involves the replacement of the dehiscent prosthesis, is the procedure of choice, but sometimes it cannot be performed. The alternative to reoperation can be the percutaneous closure of the perivalvular leak guided by transesophageal echocardiography before and during the closure procedure. In this review, the current role of echocardiography in the study of perivalvular leaks, with particular reference to guiding percutaneous transcatheter closure, is discussed. Also, the advantages and limitations of conventional two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography are compared.

Echocardiographic myocardial scar burden predicts response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in ischemic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Because echocardiography is routinely applied for left ventricle (LV) evaluation before cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), it is important to know whether echocardiographic assessment of myocardial scar burden may also help to predict CRT response in patients with drug-refractory systolic heart failure of ischemic origin. METHODS: Seventy-one patients with ischemic heart failure who underwent CRT were retrospectively analyzed. The number of LV scar segments was evaluated in each patient, defining transmural scar as an end-diastolic wall thickness < or = 5 mm associated with increased acoustic reflectance. CRT response was defined by LV end-systolic volume decrease by at least 10% after 6 months of treatment. The role of pacing site with respect to scar location was also assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients (55%) were responders and 32 patients (45%) were nonresponders to CRT. At baseline, responders had a lower number of scar segments (1.7 +/- 1.6 vs 3.5 +/- 2.5, P = .001). The number of scar segments was significantly associated with CRT response and correlated significantly with end-systolic volume variation (r = 0.57, P = .0001). The presence of 3 or more scar segments allowed the identification of nonresponders with a sensitivity of 62% and specificity of 71%. In responders, the pacing stimulus was more frequently delivered remote from scar segments, whereas in nonresponders it was more often delivered over the scar segments. CONCLUSION: Echocardiographic evaluation of transmural scar burden predicts CRT response after 6 months of treatment and should be performed in all candidates for CRT with ischemic heart failure before biventricular pacemaker implantation.

[Beyond dyssynchrony: what are the factors determining the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy?]. / Oltre la dissincronia quali fattori determinano la risposta alla terapia di resincronizzazione cardiaca?

Although cardiac resynchronization therapy is currently used for treatment of refractory heart failure in patients with low ejection fraction and cardiac dyssynchrony, there is a substantial number of non-responders. This indicates that, in addition to cardiac dyssynchrony, there are other factors affecting response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Pre-implant identification of these factors appears of crucial importance in order to finalize the resynchronization treatment to those patients who have the highest probability of a positive response. In this review the main non-dyssynchrony determinants of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy are presented and discussed.