Transcatheter closure of sinus venosus defect: First-in-human implant of a dedicated self-expanding VB stent system.

The paper describes the first-in-human use of a dedicated, self-expandable covered stent system (VB stent) for closure of sinus venosus defects.

Evaluation of left atrial remodeling using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated left atrial (LA) remodeling using cardiac MRI (CMR) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer during and after trastuzumab therapy. METHODS: In this prospective 2-center longitudinal study, 41 women with HER2-positive breast cancer received adjuvant trastuzumab for 12 months, in addition to standard chemotherapy. Serial CMRs were performed at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months after initiation of trastuzumab. LA volumes were measured by a blinded reader. Linear mixed model was used to evaluate longitudinal changes. RESULTS: Of 41 women (mean age 52 ± 11 [SD] years; 56% received anthracycline), one patient experienced trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity (TIC) for which trastuzumab was interrupted for one cycle. Mean baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 68.0 ± 5.9% and LA ejection fraction (LAEF) was 66.0 ± 6.6%. Compared to baseline, LAEF decreased significantly at 6 months (62.7 ± 5.7%, p = 0.027) and 12 months (62.2 ± 6.1%, p = 0.003), while indexed LA minimum volume (LAmin) significantly increased at 12 months (11.6 ± 4.9 ml/m2 vs 13.8 ± 4.5 ml/m2, p = 0.002). At 18 months, all changes from baseline were no longer significant. From baseline to 6 months, change in LAEF correlated with change in LVEF (Spearman's r = 0.41, p = 0.014). No significant interactions (all p > 0.10) were detected between time and anthracycline use for LA parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Among trastuzumab-treated patients with low incidence of TIC, we observed a small but significant decline in LAEF and increase in LAmin that persisted for the duration of therapy and recovered 6 months after therapy cessation. These findings suggest that trastuzumab has concurrent detrimental effects on atrial and ventricular remodeling. KEY POINTS: • In trastuzumab-treated breast cancer patients evaluated by cardiac MRI, left atrial ejection fraction declined and minimum volume increased during treatment and recovered to baseline after trastuzumab cessation. • Changes in left atrial ejection fraction correlated with changes in left ventricular ejection fraction in the first 6 months of trastuzumab treatment. • Trastuzumab therapy is associated with concurrent detrimental effects on left atrial and ventricular remodeling.

Intracardiac mass in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a neoplastic disorder of myeloid cell lines and is a less aggressive disease compared to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although cardiovascular complications are not uncommon, intracardiac thrombosis in CML is rarely reported. Herein, we report a case of CML presenting with an intracardiac thrombus attached to the posterior mitral leaflet, and subsequently resulting in peripheral embolization.

Free-breathing whole-heart 3D cine magnetic resonance imaging with prospective respiratory motion compensation.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate a new prospective respiratory motion compensation algorithm for free-breathing whole-heart 3D cine steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging. METHODS: In a 3D cine SSFP sequence, 4 excitations per cardiac cycle are re-purposed to prospectively track heart position. Specifically, their 1D image is reconstructed and routed into the scanner's standard diaphragmatic navigator processing system. If all 4 signals are in end-expiration, cine image data from the entire cardiac cycle is accepted for image reconstruction. Prospective validation was carried out in patients (N = 17) by comparing in each a conventional breath-hold 2D cine ventricular short-axis stack and a free-breathing whole-heart 3D cine data set. RESULTS: All 3D cine SSFP acquisitions were successful and the mean scan time was 5.9 ± 2.7 min. Left and right ventricular end-diastolic, end-systolic, and stroke volumes by 3D cine SSFP were all larger than those from 2D cine SSFP. This bias was < 6% except for right ventricular end-systolic volume that was 12%. The 3D cine images had a lower ventricular blood-to-myocardium contrast ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, mass, and subjective quality score. CONCLUSION: The novel prospective respiratory motion compensation method for 3D cine SSFP imaging was robust and efficient and yielded slightly larger ventricular volumes and lower mass compared to breath-hold 2D cine imaging. Magn Reson Med 80:181-189, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Association between conversion to in-center nocturnal hemodialysis and right ventricular remodeling.

Background: In-center nocturnal hemodialysis (INHD) is associated with favorable left ventricular (LV) remodeling. Although right ventricular (RV) structure and function carry prognostic significance, the impact of dialysis intensification on RV is unknown. Our objectives were to evaluate changes in RV mass index (MI), end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), end-systolic volume index (ESVI) and ejection fraction (EF) after conversion to INHD and their relationship with LV remodeling. Methods: Of 67 conventional hemodialysis (CHD, 4 h/session, three times/week) patients, 30 continued on CHD and 37 converted to INHD (7-8 h/session, three times/week). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed at baseline and 1 year using a standardized protocol; an experienced and blinded reader performed RV measurements. Results: At 1 year there were significant reductions in RVMI {-2.1 g/m2 [95% confidence interval (CI) -3.8 to - 0.4], P = 0.017}, RVEDVI [-9.5 mL/m2 (95% CI - 16.3 to - 2.6), P = 0.008] and RVESVI [-6.2 mL/m2 (95% CI - 10.9 to - 1.6), P = 0.011] in the INHD group; no significant changes were observed in the CHD group. Between-group comparisons showed significantly greater reduction of RVESVI [-7.9 mL/m2 (95% CI - 14.9 to - 0.9), P = 0.03] in the INHD group, a nonsignificant trend toward greater reduction in RVEDVI and no significant difference in RVMI and RVEF changes. There was significant correlation between LV and RV in terms of changes in mass index (MI) (r = 0.46), EDVI (r = 0.73), ESVI (r = 0.7) and EF (r = 0.38) over 1 year (all P < 0.01). Conclusions: Conversion to INHD was associated with a significant reduction of RVESVI. Temporal changes in RV mass, volume and function paralleled those of LV. Our findings support the need for larger, longer-term studies to confirm favorable RV remodeling and determine its impact on clinical outcomes.

Longitudinal assessment of right ventricular structure and function by cardiovascular magnetic resonance in breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the effects of trastuzumab on the right ventricle (RV). Therefore, we sought to evaluate the temporal changes in right ventricular (RV) structure and function as measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), and their relationship with left ventricular (LV) structure and function in breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab. METHODS: Prospective, longitudinal, observational study involving 41 women with HER2+ breast cancer who underwent serial CMR at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months after initiation of trastuzumab. A single blinded observer measured RV parameters on de-identified CMRs in a random order. Linear mixed models were used to investigate temporal changes in RV parameters. RESULTS: Of the 41 women (age 52 ± 11 years), only one patient experienced trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity. Compared to baseline, there were small but significant increases in the RV end-diastolic volume at 6 months (p = 0.002) and RV end-systolic volume at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.001 for both), but not at 18 months (p = 0.82 and 0.13 respectively). RV ejection fraction (RVEF), when compared to baseline (58.3%, 95% CI 57.1-59.5%), showed corresponding decreases at 6 months (53.9%, 95% CI 52.5-55.4%, p < 0.001) and 12 months (55%, 95% CI 53.8-56.2%, p < 0.001) that recovered at 18 months (56.6%, 95% CI 55.1-58.0%, p = 0.08). Although the temporal pattern of changes in LVEF and RVEF were similar, there was no significant correlation between RVEF and LVEF at baseline (r = 0.29, p = 0.07) or between their changes at 6 months (r = 0.24, p = 0.17). CONCLUSION: In patients receiving trastuzumab without overt cardiotoxicity, there is a subtle but significant deleterious effect on RV structure and function that recover at 18 months, which can be detected by CMR. Furthermore, monitoring of LVEF alone may not be sufficient in detecting early RV injury. These novel findings provide further support for CMR in monitoring early cardiotoxicity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01022086 . Date of registration: November 27, 2009.

Left sided Scimitar syndrome.

The images depict a rare case of Scimitar syndrome involving the left lower pulmonary vein.

Congenital portosystemic shunt with multiple splenic artery aneurysms: Reversing pulmonary hypertension and preventing aneurysm rupture.

We report an unusual occurrence of multiple splenic artery aneurysms and splenomegaly in a young woman with severe pulmonary hypertension, secondary to a congenital portosystemic shunt (CPS). The splenic artery was occluded using an Amplatzer Duct Occluder-II device, and closure of the large intrahepatic CPS was achieved using a muscular ventricular septal defect occluder. There was resolution of splenomegaly with normal pulmonary artery pressures, a few months after the procedure.

Inadequate response to adenosine infusion during cardiac stress magnetic resonance imaging.

Aim: To determine the factors associated with an inadequate response to adenosine infusion during cardiac stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Study Design: It is a retrospective cohort study. Introduction: Stress cardiac MRI is a highly accurate and non-invasive method to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD). Stress MRI is performed by inducing stress with adenosine infusion. There is an increase in systemic and myocardial blood flow (MBF) with vasodilator agents. Capillaries are maximally dilated in a diseased artery and cannot sustain increased myocardial oxygen demand. It results in delayed delivery of contrast, which leads to an area of perfusion defect in the myocardium. These perfusion defects can be accurately seen by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and help in the prognosis of patients. Methods: A retrospective study on patients subjected to cardiac stress MRI was conducted in a Tertiary Care Cardiac Center from January 2019 to January 2022. In total, 99 patients underwent adenosine stress perfusion cardiac MRI. All patients received an adenosine infusion of 140 mcg/kg/min for 2 min. Subsequently, the dosage was increased by 20 mcg/kg/min every 2 min to a maximum of 210 mcg/kg/min until an adequate stress response was achieved. Adequate stress was defined as two or more of the following criteria: 1) Increase in heart rate >/= 10 beats per minute. 2) Decrease in systolic blood pressure SBP by >/= 10 mm Hg Symptoms like chest discomfort, breathlessness, and headache. Patients who satisfied two or more of the above criteria were labeled as responders and the patients who did not satisfy the above criteria with the maximum dose of 210 mcg/kg/min of adenosine infusion were labeled as non-responders. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with forward and backward stepwise selection was used to identify predictors in non-responders. Basic demographic variables with P value

Congenital systemic arteriovenous fistulas: Interventional strategies and embryological perspectives.

Background: Data on congenital systemic arteriovenous fistulas are largely based on individual case reports. A true systemic arteriovenous fistula needs to be differentiated from other vascular malformations like capillary or venous hemangiomas, which are far more common. Objectives: We sought to identify the varied symptoms, diagnostic challenges, describe interventional treatment options, and postulate an embryological basis for this uncommonly described entity. Methods: This is a descriptive study of a cohort of systemic arteriovenous fistulas seen in the department of pediatric cardiology at a tertiary cardiac institute from 2010 to 2020, with prospective medium-term follow-up. A total of seven cases were identified. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomographic imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, or conventional angiography. Results: All were successfully closed using duct occluders or embolization coils with no recurrence in six cases over a median duration of follow-up of 48 months (interquartile range: 16; 36-52 months). Four of the seven cases underwent follow-up imaging using echocardiography or ultrasound. Conclusion: The incidence of congenital systemic arteriovenous fistulas is low and accounted for 0.009% of pediatric outpatients seen over 10 years at our institute. The spectrum of clinical presentation varies from an innocuous swelling or a pulsating mass to frank heart failure. Strong clinical suspicion and advanced imaging modalities have helped identify some hitherto undescribed connections. Large malformations with multiple communications may persist or recur despite transcatheter closure.

Computed radiography image artifacts revisited.

OBJECTIVE: Computed radiography (CR) has provided a ready cost-effective transition from screen film to digital radiography and a convenient entrance to PACS. This article revisits artifacts encountered in CR systems. These artifacts may obscure abnormalities, mimic a clinical entity, or hamper image quality. CONCLUSION: With the new-generation CR systems, software- and hardware-related artifacts have decreased, making operator errors more evident. The purpose of this study is to establish the current trend of CR artifacts and the new facets in identifying and resolving problems quickly that will help prevent future occurrences. This article also brings to light the importance of constant review required of this extensively studied topic to avoid diagnostic misadventures.

Cerebrovascular Events Complicating Cardiac Catheterization - A Tertiary Care Cardiac Centre Experience.

Background: Cerebrovascular events (CVEs) are one of the rare complications of cardiac catheterization. This prospective single-center study was conducted to assess the incidence, presentations, and outcomes of CVEs in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Methods: Patients undergoing cardiac catheterization who developed CVEs within 48 h of procedure were analyzed prospectively with clinical assessment and neuroimaging. Results: Out of 55,664 patients, 35 had periprocedural CVEs (0.063%). The incidence of periprocedural CVEs with balloon mitral valvotomy, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary angiography was 0.127%, 0.112%, and 0.043%, respectively. A larger proportion of periprocedural CVEs occurred in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS, 77.1%) than in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). The majority of CVEs were ischemic type (33 patients, 94.3%). It was most commonly seen in the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. Hemorrhagic CVEs were very rare (2 patients, 5.7%). The majority of the CVEs manifested during or within 24 h of the procedure (31 patients, 88.6%). Neurodeficits persisted during the hospital stay in 20 patients (57.2%), who had longer duration of procedure compared to those with recovered deficits (P = 0.0125). In-hospital mortality occurred in three patients (8.5%) and post-discharge mortality in another 3 (8.5%). Conclusions: Periprocedural CVEs are rare and have decreased over time. They occur in a greater proportion in patients with ACS than in patients with stable CAD, more with interventional than diagnostic procedures. Ischemic event in the left MCA territory is the most common manifestation, commonly seen within 24 h of the procedure. Longer duration of procedure was a risk factor for larger infarcts and hence persistent neurodeficit at discharge. Although a substantial number of patients recover the neurodeficits, periprocedural CVEs are associated with adverse outcomes.

Effects of Dose Reduction on Diagnostic Image Quality of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Children Using a Third-Generation Dual-Source Computed Tomography Scanner.

Performing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) using third-generation dual source computed tomography (3G-DSCT) scanners results in radiation dose reduction without sacrificing image quality in adults. The largest dose reductions have been reported with prospectively gated, high-pitch imaging. However, there are limited data to determine if these benefits extend to pediatric patients. We evaluated image quality and radiation dose range of CCTA performed in children using a 3G-DSCT scanner. A retrospective review of 44 children (median age 10years, range 0.6 to 17) who underwent imaging to evaluate coronary artery origins (n = 27), Kawasaki disease (n = 12) or other coronary abnormalities (n = 5) were performed. General anesthesia was used in 9/44 (20%) patients and a ß blocker was administered in 19/44 (43%). Prospectively gated high-pitch scanning was most frequently used (n = 24). Other techniques used included prospectively-gated "step and shoot" (n = 14), retrospectively gated (n = 2) and nongated high-pitch scan (n = 4). Median effective radiation doses were lowest for prospectively gated high-pitch scans (0.5mSv, range 0.4 to 0.7). Overall coronary artery image quality grade (1-excellent and 4-nondiagnostic) was acceptable for all electrocardiography-gated techniques, with no significant differences between high-pitch and "step-and-shoot" scan types (median 1, range 1 to 3 vs median 1, range 1 to 4, p = 0.22). Image quality grade was diagnostic (1 to 3) for all proximal coronary segments but rare distal segments were nondiagnostic (0.8% segments for gated high-pitch scan). In conclusion, CCTA can be performed in children using 3G-DSCT scanners withacceptable image quality. Prospectively gated high-pitch scans deliver the lowest radiation dose without reduction in image quality compared with conventional scan techniques.