The impact of peripheral arterial disease on left ventricular assist device implantation: A propensity-matched analysis of the nationwide inpatient sample database.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) candidacy screening includes evaluation for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, given current evidence, the impact of PAD on post-LVAD complications remains unknown. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2002-2017) was utilized to identify all LVAD cases. The in-hospital safety endpoints included major cardiovascular adverse events and its components. A propensity-matched analysis was used to obtain adjusted odds ratios (aOR). A subgroup analysis of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with PAD was also performed. A total of 27 424 patients with LVAD implantation (PAD: 516 [1.8%] and no-PAD 26 908 [98.2%]) were included. There were significant intergroup differences in the demographics and baseline comorbidities. A weighted sample of 1053 (no-PAD 537, PAD 516) propensity-matched population was selected. The adjusted odds for in-hospital mortality (aOR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.44, P = .004) were found to be significantly higher for LVAD-patients with PAD. There was no significant difference in the adjusted odds of MACE (aOR 1.16, 95% CI 0.87-1.5), postprocedure bleeding (aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.62-1.26, P = .54) and risk of pneumonia (aOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.44-1.15, P = .63) between the two groups. A selected cohort of DM-only population (7339) consistently showed a higher adjusted mortality rate in PAD patients with LVAD implantation (aOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.47, P = .01). The rate of MACE (P = .17), myocardial infarction (P = .12), stroke (P = .60), postprocedural (0.10), and major bleeding (P = .51) remained identical between patients with PAD and those with no-PAD. PAD confers an increased risk of in-hospital all-cause mortality in patients undergoing LVAD implantation. This risk increases further in patients with a concomitant diagnosis of DM.

Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with cardiac allograft vasculopathy: a Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database analysis.

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major cause of heart transplant failure and mortality. The role of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in these patients remains unknown.Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) (2015-2017) was queried to identify all cases of CAV. The merits of PCI were determined using a propensity-matched multivariate logistic regression model. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for in-hospital complications were calculated.Results: A total of 2,380 patients (PCI 185, no-PCI 21,95) with CAV were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference in the odds of major bleeding (OR 1.87, 95% CI 0.94-3.7, P = 0.11), post-procedure bleeding (P = 0.37), cardiogenic shock (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.45-1.69, P = 0.80), acute kidney injury (uOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.68-1.24, P = 0.64), cardiopulmonary arrest (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.34-2.11, P = 0.88), and in-hospital mortality (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.91-2.79, P = 0.14) between patients undergoing PCI compared to those treated conservatively. A propensity-matched analysis closely followed the results of unadjusted crude analysis.Conclusion: PCI in CAV may be associated with increased in-hospital complications and higher resource utilization.

Rhabdomyosarcoma from uterus to heart.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a malignant soft tissue tumor of the pediatric population which is  rarely seen in adults. Metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma is even rarer. We present an unusual case of a 49 year old female presenting with palpitations and uterine bleeding. An Echo-cardiogram revealed a large oval mass on the posterior mitral leaflet and a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen revealed a uterine growth. Surgical excision of the cardiac mass was done and histological analysis of cardiac lesion confirmed it to be rhabdomyosarcoma with a primary source in the uterus. The patient became asymptomatic from a cardiac standpoint after excision of the mass and was scheduled for chemo/radiation therapy for the primary uterine malignancy. Metastatic cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma can be confused with a myxoma or any other primary or secondary cardiac tumors resulting in delayed diagnosis. However, its aggressive nature makes it a life-threatening tumor that requires an early diagnosis to prevent fatal consequences.