Same day discharge versus overnight observation following chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the PROGRESS-CTO registry.

BACKGROUND: Same day discharge (SDD) following chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has received limited study. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics of patients discharged the same day versus those kept for overnight observation in the Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention (PROGRESS-CTO, NCT02061436). RESULTS: Of the 7181 patients who underwent CTO PCI, 943 (13%) had SDD. The SDD rate increased from 3% in 2015 to 21% in 2022. Patients with SDD were less likely to have a history of heart failure (21% vs. 26%, p = 0.005), chronic lung disease (10% vs. 15%, p = 0.001), or anemia (12% vs. 19%, p < 0.001). Technical success (87% vs. 88%, p = 0.289) was similar, but in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (0.0% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.041) were lower in SDD. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, prior myocardial infarction odds ratio (OR): 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.87, p = 0.001), chronic lung disease OR: 0.64 (95% CI: 0.47-0.88, p = 0.006), and increasing procedure time OR: 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91-0.95, p < 0.001, per 10-min increase) were associated with overnight observation, while radial-only access OR: 2.45 (95% CI: 2.03-2.96, p < 0.001) had the strongest association with SDD. In the SDD, 2 (0.4%) of 514 patients were readmitted, due to retroperitoneal bleeding (n = 1) and ischemic stroke (n = 1). CONCLUSION: The overall frequency of SDD after CTO PCI was 13% and has been increasing over time. SDD is feasible in select patients following CTO PCI, and radial-only access had the strongest association with SDD.

External validation of the PROGRESS-CTO perforation risk score: Individual patient data pooled analysis of three registries.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery perforation is one of the most feared and common complications of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: To assess the usefulness of the recently developed PROGRESS-CTO (NCT02061436) perforation risk score in independent cohorts. Individual patient-level data pooled analysis of three registries was performed. RESULTS: Of the 4566 patients who underwent CTO PCI at 25 centers, 196 (4.2%) had coronary artery perforation. Patients with perforations were older (69 ± 10 vs. 65 ± 10, p < 0.001), more likely to be women (19% vs. 13%, p = 0.009), more likely to have a history of prior coronary artery bypass graft (34% vs. 20%, p < 0.001), and unfavorable angiographic characteristics such as blunt stump (62% vs. 48%, p < 0.001), proximal cap ambiguity (52% vs. 34%, p < 0.001), and moderate-severe calcification (60% vs. 49%, p = 0.002). Technical success was lower in patients with perforations (73% vs. 88%, p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the PROGRESS-CTO perforation risk model was 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-0.79), with good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow p = 0.97). We found that the CTO PCI perforation risk increased with higher PROGRESS-CTO perforation scores: 0.3% (score 0), 2.3% (score 1), 3.1% (score 2), 5.5% (score 3), 7.5% (score 4), 14.6% (score 5). CONCLUSION: Given the good discriminative performance, calibration, and the ease of calculation, the PROGRESS-CTO perforation score may facilitate assessment of the risk of perforation in patients undergoing CTO PCI.

Outcomes of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the success and safety of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has received limited study. METHODS: We examined the clinical characteristics and outcomes of CTO PCI in the Prospective Global Registry for the Study of CTO Intervention (PROGRESS-CTO) after stratifying patients by LVEF (≤35%, 36%-49%, and ≥50%). RESULTS: A total of 7827 CTO PCI procedures with LVEF data were included. Mean age was 64 ± 10 years, 81% were men, 43% had diabetes mellitus, 61% had prior PCI, 45% had prior myocardial infarction, and 29% had prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Technical success was similar in the three LVEF strata: 85%, 86%, and 87%, p = 0.391 for LVEF ≤35%, 36%-49%, and ≥50%, respectively. In-hospital mortality was higher in lower LVEF patients (1.1%, 0.4%, and 0.3%, respectively, p = 0.001). In-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were numerically higher in lower EF patients (2.7%, 2.1%, and 1.9%, p = 0.271). At a median follow-up of 2 months (interquartile range: 19-350 days), patients with lower LVEF continued to have higher mortality (4.9%, 3.2%, and 1.4%, p < 0.001) while the MACE rates were similar (9.3%, 9.6%, and 7.4%, p = 0.172). CONCLUSION: CTO PCI can be performed with high technical success in patients with reduced LVEF but is associated with higher in-hospital and post-discharge mortality.

Radial access for chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the PROGRESS-CTO registry.

Use of radial access for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been increasing. We examined the clinical characteristics and procedural outcomes of patients who underwent CTO PCI with radial versus femoral access in the Prospective Global Registry for the Study of CTO Intervention (PROGRESS-CTO, NCT02061436). Of 10,954 patients who underwent CTO PCI at 55 centers in 7 countries between 2012 and 2022, 2578 (24%) had a radial only approach. Patients who underwent radial only access were younger (63 ± 10 vs. 65 ± 10, years, p &lt; 0.001), more likely to be men (84% vs. 81%, p = 0.001), and had significantly lower prevalence of comorbidities compared with the femoral access group including diabetes mellitus (39% vs. 45%, p &lt; 0.001) and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (57% vs. 64%, p &lt; 0.001). In addition, radial only cases had lower angiographic complexity with lower J-CTO and PROGRESS-CTO scores. After adjusting for potential confounders, radial only access was associated with lower risk of access site complications (odds ratio [OR]: 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22-0.91), similar technical success (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.74-1.04) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.40-1.07), compared with the femoral access group. Radial only access was used in 24% of CTO PCIs and was associated with lower access site complications, and similar technical success and MACE as compared with the femoral access group.

Antegrade dissection and re-entry versus parallel wiring in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the PROGRESS-CTO registry.

BACKGROUND: The comparative efficacy and safety of parallel wiring versus antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is controversial. METHODS: We compared the clinical and angiographic characteristics and outcomes of parallel wiring versus ADR after failed antegrade wiring in a large, multicenter CTO PCI registry. RESULTS: A total of 1725 CTO PCI procedures with failed antegrade wiring with a single wire were approached with parallel wiring (692) or ADR (1033) at the discretion of the operator. ADR patients were older (65 ± 10 vs. 62 ± 10, years, p < 0.001) and had higher prevalence of comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus (43% vs. 32%, p < 0.001), prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (31% vs. 19%, p < 0.001), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (50 ± 14 vs. 53 ± 11%, p < 0.001). The ADR group had higher J-CTO (2.8 ± 1.1 vs. 2.1 ± 1.3, p < 0.001) and PROGRESS-CTO (1.6 ± 1.1 vs. 1.2 ± 1.0, p < 0.001) scores. Equipment use including guidewires, balloons, and microcatheters was higher, and the procedures lasted longer in the ADR group. Technical success (78% vs. 75%, p = 0.046) and major adverse cardiovascular events (composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, emergency surgery or re-PCI, and pericardiocentesis) (3.7% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.029) were higher in the ADR group, with similar procedural success (75% vs. 73%, p = 0.166). CONCLUSION: In lesions that could not be crossed with antegrade wiring, ADR was associated with higher technical but not procedural success, and also higher MACE compared with parallel wiring.

Predictors of success in primary retrograde strategy in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from the PROGRESS-chronic total occlusion registry.

BACKGROUND: An upfront (primary) retrograde strategy is often used in complex chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the clinical, angiographic characteristics, and procedural outcomes of CTO PCIs that were approached with a primary retrograde strategy in the Prospective Global Registry for the Study of CTO Intervention (PROGRESS-CTO, NCT02061436). RESULTS: Of 10,286 CTO PCIs performed between 2012 and 2022, a primary retrograde strategy was used in 1329 (13%) with an initial technical success of 66%, and a final success of 83%. Patients who underwent successful versus unsuccessful primary retrograde cases had similar characteristics: age (65 ± 10 vs. 65 ± 9, years, p = 0.203), men (83% vs. 87%, p = 0.066), prior PCI (71% vs. 71%, p = 0.809), and prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (52% vs. 53%, p = 0.682). The PROGRESS-CTO score (1.3 ± 0.9 vs. 1.6 ± 0.9, p < 0.001), air kerma radiation (3.9 ± 2.8 vs. 3.4 ± 2.6, gray, p = 0.013), and contrast use (294 ± 148 ml vs. 248 ± 128, ml, p < 0.001) were higher in the unsuccessful group, whereas the presence of interventional collaterals (95% vs. 72%, p < 0.001) and Werner collateral connection grade 2 (43% vs. 31%, p < 0.001) were higher in the successful group. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the only variable associated with a successful primary retrograde strategy was the presence of interventional collaterals: odds ratio: 6.52 (95% confidence intervals; 3.5-12.1, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Presence of interventional collaterals is independently associated with higher success rates with a primary retrograde strategy in CTO PCI.

Outcomes of retrograde chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: A report from the OPEN-CTO registry.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess in-hospital and long-term outcomes of retrograde compared with antegrade-only percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion (CTO PCI). BACKGROUND: Procedural and clinical outcomes following retrograde compared with antegrade-only CTO PCI remain unknown. METHODS: Using the core-lab adjudicated OPEN-CTO registry, we compared the outcomes of retrograde to antegrade-only CTO PCI. Primary endpoints included were in-hospital major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction [MI], emergency cardiac surgery, or clinically significant perforation) and MACCE at 1-year (all-cause death, MI, stroke, target lesion revascularization, or target vessel reocclusion). RESULTS: Among 885 single CTO procedures from the OPEN-CTO registry, 454 were retrograde and 431 were antegrade-only. Lesion complexity was higher (J-CTO score: 2.7 vs. 1.9; p < .001) and technical success lower (82.4 vs. 94.2%; p < .001) in retrograde compared with antegrade-only procedures. All-cause death was higher in the retrograde group in-hospital (2 vs. 0%; p = .003), but not at 1-year (4.9 vs. 3.3%; p = .29). Compared with antegrade-only procedures, in-hospital MACCE rates (composite of all-cause death, stroke, MI, emergency cardiac surgery, and clinically significant perforation) were higher in the retrograde group (10.8 vs. 3.3%; p < .001) and at 1-year (19.5 vs. 13.9%; p = .03). In sensitivity analyses landmarked at discharge, there was no difference in MACCE rates at 1 year following retrograde versus antegrade-only CTO PCI. Improvements in Seattle Angina Questionnaire Quality of Life scores at 1-year were similar between the retrograde and antegrade-only groups (29.9 vs 30.4; p = .58). CONCLUSIONS: In the OPEN-CTO registry, retrograde CTO procedures were associated with higher rates of in-hospital MACCE compared with antegrade-only; however, post-discharge outcomes, including quality of life improvements, were similar between technical modalities.

Improvement in left ventricular function following higher-risk percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Surgical revascularization is associated with improved ventricular function and clinical outcomes among patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. There are less extensive data on changes in ventricular function among patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Accordingly, we sought to assess the extent and predictors of change in left ventricular ejection fraction (ΔLVEF) among patients undergoing hemodynamically-supported PCI. METHODS: We assessed ΔLVEF following hemodynamically-supported PCI (with Impella or intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation) among patients enrolled in the PROTECT II trial and cVAD registry. The ΔLVEF was compared among patients with paired echocardiography at baseline and at least 30 days of follow-up. Independent correlates of ΔLVEF (modeled continuously and with an absolute ΔLVEF≥5%) were assessed using multivariable models. RESULTS: Among the 689 patients with paired echocardiographic data included in the analysis, the mean LVEF improved from 24.8 ± 9.9% to 31.4 ± 13.3% after PCI, for a net increase of 6.5 ± 10.8% (p < .001). A total of 395 (57%) patients had ΔLVEF ≥ 5% following hemodynamically-supported PCI. The number of vessels treated was associated with ΔLVEF (ΔLVEF 5.5% with 1 vessel, 6.6% with 2 vessels, and 8.3% with 3 vessels, p for trend = .046). A lower baseline LVEF, absence of a history of congestive heart failure or aldosterone receptor antagonist use, and a greater number of vessels treated were independent correlates of LVEF improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and paired echocardiographic assessments, an improvement in LVEF was observed following hemodynamically-supported PCI.

Transcatheter or Surgical Aortic-Valve Replacement in Intermediate-Risk Patients.

BACKGROUND: Previous trials have shown that among high-risk patients with aortic stenosis, survival rates are similar with transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic-valve replacement. We evaluated the two procedures in a randomized trial involving intermediate-risk patients. METHODS: We randomly assigned 2032 intermediate-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, at 57 centers, to undergo either TAVR or surgical replacement. The primary end point was death from any cause or disabling stroke at 2 years. The primary hypothesis was that TAVR would not be inferior to surgical replacement. Before randomization, patients were entered into one of two cohorts on the basis of clinical and imaging findings; 76.3% of the patients were included in the transfemoral-access cohort and 23.7% in the transthoracic-access cohort. RESULTS: The rate of death from any cause or disabling stroke was similar in the TAVR group and the surgery group (P=0.001 for noninferiority). At 2 years, the Kaplan-Meier event rates were 19.3% in the TAVR group and 21.1% in the surgery group (hazard ratio in the TAVR group, 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73 to 1.09; P=0.25). In the transfemoral-access cohort, TAVR resulted in a lower rate of death or disabling stroke than surgery (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.00; P=0.05), whereas in the transthoracic-access cohort, outcomes were similar in the two groups. TAVR resulted in larger aortic-valve areas than did surgery and also resulted in lower rates of acute kidney injury, severe bleeding, and new-onset atrial fibrillation; surgery resulted in fewer major vascular complications and less paravalvular aortic regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: In intermediate-risk patients, TAVR was similar to surgical aortic-valve replacement with respect to the primary end point of death or disabling stroke. (Funded by Edwards Lifesciences; PARTNER 2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01314313.).

Intravascular ultrasound analysis of intraplaque versus subintimal tracking in percutaneous intervention for coronary chronic total occlusions: One year outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the 1-year outcomes of patients receiving successful chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures comparing subintimal versus intraplaque wire tracking patterns. BACKGROUND: CTO PCI utilizes both intraluminal and subintimal wire tracking to achieve successful percutaneous revascularization. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can be used to precisely determine the path of wire tracking. METHODS: From 2014 to 2016, data from patients undergoing CTO PCI were collected in a single-center database. The primary composite endpoint was target vessel failure (TVF) defined as cardiovascular death, target vessel myocardial infarction (MI), or target vessel revascularization (TVR). RESULTS: In total 157 patients with successful CTO PCI and concomitant IVUS imaging completed 1-year follow-up. Subintimal tracking was detected in 53.5% of cases and those patients had a higher incidence of prior PCI, prior coronary artery bypass grafting, and higher J-CTO score. At 1-year, the unadjusted rate of TVF in the subintimal tracking group was higher than the intraplaque group (17.9 vs. 6.9%, HR 2.74, 95% CI 1.00-7.54, P = 0.04), driven by numerically higher rates of TVR and peri-procedural MI. After multivariable adjustment, no significant differences in the rates of the TVF between subintimal vs. intraplaque groups were present at 1-year (TVF: HR 1.51, 95% CI 0.38-6.00, P = 0.55). Landmark analysis excluding in-hospital events showed no significant differences in TVF to 1-year. CONCLUSIONS: IVUS-detected subintimal tracking was observed in over half of successful CTO PCI cases and correlated with baseline and angiographic factors that contributed to the overall rate of TVF at 1-year.

The "double stingray technique" for recanalizing chronic total occlusions with bifurcation at the distal cap.

Antegrade dissection re-entry is often discouraged for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) with a bifurcation at the distal cap due to risk of side branch occlusion that can lead to periprocedural myocardial infarction and incomplete revascularization. Antegrade dissection re-entry, however, is often needed, especially in complex cases. We present the novel "double Stingray technique" for CTOs involving bifurcations, in which the Stingray system is used twice for re-entry into both vessel branches, followed by two-stent bifurcation stenting to maintain the patency of both branches.

Impella-assisted chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary interventions: A multicenter retrospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) often have concurrent higher-risk anatomy and physiology (significant calcium, left ventricular dysfunction, multivessel disease) that increase their procedural risk. We present a retrospective multicenter case series describing use of the Impella percutaneous ventricular assist device (p-VAD) during CTO PCI. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of self-reported data from five large referral centers from 2013 to 2017 and identified patients that underwent elective, hemodynamically supported CTO PCI with the Impella p-VAD device (2.5 or CP). Preprocedural demographics, procedural invasive hemodynamics and characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes were reported. RESULTS: About 57 patients (2% of the overall CTO volume of these centers) were included in this retrospective cohort. The primary indication in the majority (78.9%) of cases was chronic angina; in 21.1% the primary indication was for chronic congestive heart failure because of an ischemic cardiomyopathy. The median LVEF was 20% (15%, 30%) and 63.2% were surgical turndowns. Significant proportions of the group underwent multivessel PCI (91.2%), intervention on an unprotected left main or last remaining conduit vessel (35.1%), and/or atherectomy (17.5%). Technical success was 87.7%. In-hospital procedural complications included: vascular injury (5.3%), all-cause death (5.3%), major bleeding (3.5%), stroke (1.8%), and coronary perforation resulting in tamponade (1.8%). CONCLUSION: Impella-assisted CTO PCI can be performed with high technical success rates. However, assiduous attention to appropriate case selection is critical, given the periprocedural complication rates reported in this patient population.

Treatment of Higher-Risk Patients With an Indication for Revascularization: Evolution Within the Field of Contemporary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Patients with severe coronary artery disease with a clinical indication for revascularization but who are at high procedural risk because of patient comorbidities, complexity of coronary anatomy, and/or poor hemodynamics represent an understudied and potentially underserved patient population. Through advances in percutaneous interventional techniques and technologies and improvements in patient selection, current percutaneous coronary intervention may allow appropriate patients to benefit safely from revascularization procedures that might not have been offered in the past. The burgeoning interest in these procedures in some respects reflects an evolutionary step within the field of percutaneous coronary intervention. However, because of the clinical complexity of many of these patients and procedures, it is critical to develop dedicated specialists within interventional cardiology who are trained with the cognitive and technical skills to select these patients appropriately and to perform these procedures safely. Preprocedural issues such as multidisciplinary risk and treatment assessments are highly relevant to the successful treatment of these patients, and knowledge gaps and future directions to improve outcomes in this emerging area are discussed. Ultimately, an evolution of contemporary interventional cardiology is necessary to treat the increasingly higher-risk patients with whom we are confronted.

Management strategies and future challenges for aortic valve disease.

The management of aortic valve disease has been improved by accurate diagnosis and assessment of severity by echocardiography and advanced imaging techniques, efforts to elicit symptoms or objective markers of disease severity and progression, and consideration of optimum timing of aortic valve replacement, even in elderly patients. Prevalence of calcific aortic stenosis is growing in ageing populations. Conventional surgery remains the most appropriate option for most patients who require aortic valve replacement, but the transcatheter approach is established for high-risk patients or poor candidates for surgery. The rapid growth of transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been fuelled by improved technology, evidence-based clinical research, and setting up of multidisciplinary heart teams. Aortic regurgitation can be difficult to diagnose and quantify. Left ventricular dysfunction often precedes symptoms, needing active surveillance by echocardiography to determine the optimum time for aortic valve replacement. Development of transcatheter approaches for aortic regurgitation is challenging, owing to the absence of valvular calcification and distortion of aortic root anatomy in many patients.

Sex-Specific Differences at Presentation and Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Female sex is associated with poorer outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Data on sex-specific differences after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: To examine sex-specific differences in patients undergoing TAVR in the PARTNER (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves) trial. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the randomized and nonrandomized portions of the PARTNER trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00530894). SETTING: 25 hospitals in the United States, Canada, and Germany. PATIENTS: High-risk and inoperable patients (1220 women and 1339 men). INTERVENTION: TAVR. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic characteristics, cardiac and noncardiac comorbidities, mortality, stroke, rehospitalization, vascular complications, bleeding complications, and echocardiographic valve parameters. RESULTS: At baseline, women had lower rates of hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, and renal disease but higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality scores (11.9% vs. 11.1%; P < 0.001). After TAVR, women had more vascular complications (17.3% vs. 10.0%; difference, 7.29 percentage points [95% CI, 4.63 to 9.95 percentage points]; P < 0.001) and major bleeding (10.5% vs. 7.7%; difference, 2.8 percentage points [CI, 0.57 to 5.04 percentage points]; P = 0.012) but less frequent moderate and severe paravalvular regurgitation (6.0% vs. 14.3%; difference, -8.3 percentage points [CI, -11.7 to -5.0 percentage points]; P < 0.001). At 30 days, the unadjusted all-cause mortality rate (6.5% vs. 5.9%; difference, 0.6 percentage point [CI, -1.29 to 2.45 percentage points]; P = 0.52) and stroke incidence (3.8% vs. 3.0%; difference, 0.8 percentage point [CI, -0.62 to 2.19 percentage points]; P = 0.28) were similar. At 1 year, all-cause mortality was significantly lower in women than in men (19.0% vs. 25.9%; hazard ratio, 0.72 [CI, 0.61 to 0.85]; P < 0.001). LIMITATION: Secondary analysis that included nonrandomized trial data. CONCLUSION: Despite a higher incidence of vascular and bleeding complications, women having TAVR had lower mortality than men at 1 year. Thus, sex-specific risk in TAVR is the opposite of that in SAVR, for which female sex has been shown to be independently associated with an adverse prognosis. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Edwards Lifesciences.

Cardiovascular Simulation of Heart Failure Pathophysiology and Therapeutics.

Mathematical modeling and simulation allows for an in-depth examination of the cardiovascular system and provides the opportunity to develop deeper understanding. This review summarizes recent efforts at modeling the cardiovascular system and how these models have been useful in providing greater comprehension of the pathophysiology of heart failure, explaining the hemodynamic impact of various heart failure devices, predicting the hemodynamic effects and clinical outcomes of certain heart failure clinical trials, and perhaps aiding in patient selection for new therapies. The potential future use of these models in clinical research and clinical practice are also discussed.

Paravalvular regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the Edwards sapien valve in the PARTNER trial: characterizing patients and impact on outcomes.

AIM: The impact of paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains uncertain. In this analysis, we sought to evaluate the impact of varying degrees of PVR on both mortality and changes in ventricular geometry and function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of patients who underwent TAVR from the randomized cohorts and continued access registries in the PARTNER trial were analysed after stratifying by severity of post-implant PVR, which was graded as none/trace in 52.9% (n = 1288), mild in 38.0% (n = 925), and moderate/severe in 9.1% (n = 221). There were significant differences in baseline clinical and echocardiographic characteristics. After TAVR, all the patients demonstrated increase in left ventricular (LV) function and reduction in the LV mass index, although the magnitude of mass regression was lower in the moderate/severe PVR group. The 30-day mortality (3.1 vs. 3.4 vs. 4.5%, P = 0.56) and stroke (3.4 vs. 3.7 vs. 2.3%, P = 0.59) were similar in all groups (none/trace, mild, and moderate/severe). At 1 year, there was increased all-cause mortality (15.9 vs. 22.2 vs. 35.1%, P < 0.0001), cardiac mortality (6.1 vs. 7.4% vs. 16.3%, P < 0.0001) and re-hospitalization (14.4 vs. 23.0 vs. 31.3%, P < 0.0001) with worsening PVR. A multivariable analysis indicated that the presence of moderate/severe PVR (HR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.57-3.02, P < 0.0001) or mild PVR (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.14-1.90, P = 0.012) was associated with higher late mortality. CONCLUSION: Differences in baseline characteristics in patients with increasing severities of PVR may increase the risk of this complication. Despite these differences, multivariable analysis demonstrated that both mild and moderate/severe PVR predicted higher 1-year mortality.

Catching Dengue Early: Clinical Features and Laboratory Markers of Dengue Virus Infection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dengue fever is one of the most common tropical diseases worldwide. Early diagnosis of dengue helps in patient triage and timely management of dengue virus infection.This study was undertaken to note the early clinical features supported by detection of NS1 antigen for diagnosis of dengue virus infection. METHODOLOGY: In this study a total of 100 adult patients presenting with clinical features of dengue infection from January 2012 to December 2012 were studied.The diagnosis was confirmed with NS1 rapid diagnostic test (RDT) whose efficacy was later tested with IgM ELISA. RESULTS: In this study young males were predominantly affected. NS1 positivity was 68%. The sensitivity of NS1 in predicting dengue infection compared to IgM was 92.86% and specificity was 90% with strength of agreement considered to be 'very good' based on Kappa statistics. Clinical features like retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, rashes and bleeding manifestations were significantly associated with NS1 positivity. Similarly icterus, oedema, hypotension, altered sensorium, thrombocytopenia and raised creatinine were significantly more in NS1 positive patients. Anomalously, SGOT was more than SGPT, which can help in differentiating dengue virus infection from other viral infections early in the course. CONCLUSION: We conclude that dengue infection, which possesses serious public health problem, can be diagnosed early with the help of clinical features like retro-orbital pain, myalgia, bleeding manifestations, thrombocytopenia and anomalously SGOT greater than SGPT that is supported by detection of NS1 antigen.