Systems of Care for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association.

The introduction of Mission: Lifeline significantly increased timely access to percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In the years since, morbidity and mortality rates have declined, and research has led to significant developments that have broadened our concept of the STEMI system of care. However, significant barriers and opportunities remain. From community education to 9-1-1 activation and emergency medical services triage and from emergency department and interfacility transfer protocols to postacute care, each critical juncture presents unique challenges for the optimal care of patients with STEMI. This policy statement sets forth recommendations for how the ideal STEMI system of care should be designed and implemented to ensure that patients with STEMI receive the best evidence-based care at each stage in their illness.

Serum biomarkers in severe refractory cardiogenic shock.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize levels of serum biomarkers in patients with severe refractory cardiogenic shock (SRCS) and to document temporal changes in these levels during restoration of circulation. BACKGROUND: Patients with SRCS have been challenging to study because of their rapidly changing clinical condition while undergoing multiple simultaneous interventions. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with SRCS received circulatory support via a percutaneously implanted ventricular assist device (PVAD). Serum samples obtained prior to PVAD support initiation, at 24 h of PVAD support, and at 7 days of PVAD support were assayed for B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (sTNFR1), soluble Fas (sFas), soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), endothelin-1, and procollagen III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP). Baseline biomarker levels were qualitatively compared to reference values; levels at 24 h of PVAD support and at 7 days of PVAD support were compared to baseline using 2-tailed Wilcoxon matched pair signed rank tests with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: These patients with SRCS had elevated serum levels of BNP, hsCRP, sTNFR1, endothelin-1, and PIIINP. Ventricular unloading and restoration of circulation via PVAD support in patients with SRCS were associated with reductions in serum BNP, sFas, and endothelin-1 levels and increases in serum sFasL and PIIINP levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study characterizes several important baseline serum biomarker levels in patients with SRCS and introduces a novel PVAD-based protocol with the potential to "reverse"-model the pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock.

Venous thromboembolism: annualised United States models for total, hospital-acquired and preventable costs utilising long-term attack rates.

Healthcare reform is upon the United States (US) healthcare system. Prioritisation of preventative efforts will guide necessary transitions within the US healthcare system. While annual deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) costs have recently been defined at the US national level, annual pulmonary embolism (PE) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) costs have not yet been defined. A decision tree and cost model were developed to estimate US health care costs for total PE, total hospital-acquired PE, and total hospital-acquired "preventable" PE. The previously published DVT cost model was modified, updated and combined with the PE cost model to elucidate the same three categories of costs for VTE. Direct and indirect costs were also delineated. For VTE in the base model, annual cost ranges in 2011 US dollars for total, hospital- acquired, and hospital-acquired "preventable" costs and were $13.5-$27.2, $9.0-$18.2, and $4.5-$14.2 billion, respectively. The first sensitivity analysis, with higher incidence rates and costs, demonstrated annual US total, hospital-acquired, and hospital-acquired "preventable" VTE costs ranging from $32.1-$69.3, $23.7-$51.5, and $11.9-$39.3 billion, respectively. The second sensitivity analysis with long-term attack rates (LTAR) for recurrent events and post-thrombotic syndrome and chronic pulmonary thromboembolic hypertension demonstrated annual US total, hospital-acquired, and hospital-acquired "preventable" VTE costs ranging from $15.4-$34.4, $10.3-$25.4, and $5.1-$19.1 billion, respectively. PE costs comprised a majority of the VTE costs. Prioritisation of effective VTE preventative strategies will reduce significant costs, morbidity and mortality within the US healthcare system. The cost models may be utilised to estimate other countries' costs or VTE-specific disease states.

Bridge to transplantation with the TandemHeart: bending the indications in a chronic aortic dissection patient with postcardiotomy shock.

Herein, we report a successful bridge to heart transplantation by use of the TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) in a chronic aortic dissection patient who was experiencing postcardiotomy shock. The patient had undergone an aortocoronary bypass to treat an acute, extensive myocardial infarction that had resulted from severe stenosis of a Cabrol-like graft to the left main coronary artery. The TandemHeart was used successfully, despite classic contraindications for pVAD support. The outcome shows that, in critically ill cardiogenic shock patients, a permissive approach to pVAD use is valuable in screening candidates for long-term ventricular assist device support or for heart transplantation. This case also reveals the validity of direct bridging to transplantation from a pVAD in carefully selected patients.

Percutaneous ventricular assist device support in a patient with a postinfarction ventricular septal defect.

Complications of acute myocardial infarction have decreased in number and severity due to the application of early thrombolytic coronary revascularization techniques. Nonetheless, the mortality rate associated with these complications remains high. Ventricular septal rupture is one of the complications that can occur after myocardial infarction. In the treatment of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture, the need for immediate closure to avoid acute hemodynamic compromise must be weighed against the need for delayed repair to enable the acutely necrotic myocardium to organize and to develop fibrotic tissue. We report the use of a minimally invasive TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device for 18 days in a 58-year-old man who experienced postinfarction ventricular rupture. The hemodynamic support provided by the device allowed time for left ventricular recovery before attempted percutaneous closure of the ventricular septal rupture and after definitive surgical repair of the septal defect. To our knowledge, this is the 1st reported use of the TandemHeart for support before and after repair of a postinfarction ventricular septal rupture.

The financial burden of destination left ventricular assist device therapy: who and when?

Heart failure continues to be an economic health care burden of profound proportion. The disease in its end stage has limited therapeutic options. Transplantation is limited by the number of available organs. Mechanical assist therapy has continued to be an increasingly feasible strategy for bridging patients to heart transplantation but is also now used in place of transplantation. The REMATCH trial was the first trial to document the failure of medical therapy in end-stage heart failure when compared with mechanical support. However, one of the primary concerns is the marked expense involved with this invasive therapy. As the cost of ventricular assist devices (VADs) for destination therapy has been appraised in the medical literature, and through examination of patients who have been implanted in the "post-REMATCH era," a subset of patients has emerged in whom VAD implantation is futile, as well as another subset that clearly benefits both in quality of life as well as in mortality. We review the current literature on VAD feasibility for destination therapy as well as ongoing trends in careful patient selection to improve outcomes and, implicitly, cost benefit of VAD therapy.