Intracardiac vs. transesophageal echocardiography guided transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defects.

Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) can be performed with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) guidance, but data comparing both modalities in contemporary practice is lacking. Using ICD-10 codes, patients who underwent transcatheter ASD/PFO closure between 2016 and 2020 using ICE or TEE in the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) were identified. Propensity-score matching was performed to compare in-hospital adverse events, length of stay (LOS), cost, and 30-day non-elective readmissions. A total of 964 patients underwent ASD/PFO closure with ICE (38.3 %, n = 369) or TEE (61.7 %, n = 595) between 2016 and 2020. Propensity score matching yielded 327 patients in each group, which were well balanced. Median (IQR) age was 59.0 (46.0, 72.0) years and 54.7 % were female. No difference was observed in the rate of in-hospital major adverse events between groups. ICE guidance was associated with a lower median cost (ICE $20,140.1 (14,622.3, 25,027.0) vs TEE $20,740.4 (14,137.5, 33,045.3), p < 0.04). In conclusion, ICE guided ASD/PFO closure was associated with lower hospitalization cost without increasing in-hospital adverse events when compared with TEE guidance.

Cardiac thrombus in acute ischemic stroke: impact on endovascular thrombectomy utilization.

Cardiac embolism plays a very significant role in acute ischemic strokes (AIS), constituting approximately one-third of cases. The origin of these emboli often stems from intracardiac thrombi in the left atrium or left ventricle. Utilizing the National Readmission Database from 2016 to 2019, we investigate the prevalence of cardiac thrombi in AIS patients and explore their potential correlation with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) utilization, and mortality rates. Among 1,272,456 AIS patients, 0.6% had concurrent cardiac thrombus, with an increasing trend observed over the study period (P value < 0.001). The cardiac thrombus cohort showed a higher prevalence of comorbidities such as congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. After propensity-score matching, groups were well-balanced in terms of baseline characteristics. Patients within the cardiac thrombus cohort experienced a longer hospital stay (median 5 days vs. 3 days), but no significant difference in mortality was noted. Importantly, the cardiac thrombus cohort demonstrated a higher frequency of EVT utilization, suggesting a link to larger vessel occlusions. Despite matching based on atrial fibrillation, the EVT utilization in the cardiac thrombus cohort remained high, highlighting a significant association. While 30-day readmission rates were comparable, cardiac thrombus patients faced a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke, likely attributed to anticoagulation use. Limitations include potential miscoding in the administrative database and a lack of detailed imaging findings. In conclusion, this study highlights the increased likelihood of EVT in AIS patients with cardiac thrombus, possibly indicative of larger vessel occlusion associated with cardiac thrombus.

Ultrasound-Assisted Versus Standard Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Insights From National Inpatient Sample.

Background: Pulmonary embolism is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Catheter-directed therapies have emerged as a promising treatment for managing intermediate- and high-risk patients; however, data comparing standard catheter-directed thrombolysis (SCDT) and ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis (USAT) are limited. This study aimed to investigate trends, outcomes, and predictors of mortality of both modalities from a nationally representative sample. Methods: This analysis used data from the National Inpatient Sample years 2016-2020. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. A multivariable regression model was used to compare the outcomes. Results: Among 39,430 patients who received catheter-directed thrombolysis, 26,710 (76.8%) received SCDT and 8060 (23.2%) received USAT. The utilization of SCDT and USAT increased during the study years except for 2020. In-hospital mortality was lower among patients who received USAT (2.7% vs 3.8%; P = .04) compared with patients who received SCDT in the unadjusted analysis. On multivariable regression analysis, there was no difference in the incidence of in-hospital mortality between USAT and SCDT (odds ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.52-1.08; P = .13). There were no significant differences between SCDT and USAT groups in the rate of bleeding adverse events including intracranial hemorrhage (0.6% vs 0.4%; P = .47), and nonintracranial major bleeding (4.2% vs 4.1%; P = .72). Conclusions: Ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis was associated with similar in-hospital mortality and bleeding complications compared with SCDT for acute pulmonary embolism. Further studies are warranted to confirm evaluate the long-term outcomes with both modalities.

Left bundle branch area pacing in heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression.

INTRODUCTION: Left bundle branch area pacing is an alternative to biventricular pacing. In this study, we aim to summarize the available evidence on the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of left bundle branch block area pacing (LBBAP). OBJECTIVES: The study summarizes the available evidence on the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of left bundle branch block area pacing (LBBAP). BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduced mortality and hospitalizations in heart failure (HF) patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% and concomitant LBBB. Recently LBBAP has been studied as a more physiological alternative to achieve CRT. METHOD: A search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were performed to identify studies examining the role of LBBAP for CRT in heart failure. Comprehensive meta-analysis version 4 was used for meta-regression to examine variables that contribute to data heterogeneity. RESULT: Eighteen studies, 17 observational and one randomized controlled trial (RCT) were examined. A total of 3906 HF patients who underwent CRT (2036 LBBAP vs. 1870 biventricular pacing [BVP]) were included. LBBAP was performed successfully in 90.4% of patients. Compared to baseline, LBBAP was associated with a reduction in QRS duration (MD: -47.23 ms 95% confidence interval [CI]: -53.45, -41.01), an increase in LVEF (MD: 15.22%, 95% CI: 13.5, 16.94), and a reduction in NYHA class (MD: -1.23, 95% CI: -1.41, -1.05). Compared to BVP, LBBAP was associated with a significant reduction in QRS duration (MD: -20.69 ms, 95% CI: -25.49, -15.88) and improvement in LVEF (MD: 4.78%, 95% CI: 3.30, 6.10). Furthermore, LBBAP was associated with a significant reduction in HF hospitalization (odds ratio [OR]: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.56) and all-cause mortality (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.86) compared to BVP. CONCLUSION: LBBAP was associated with improved ventricular electrical synchrony compared to BVP, as well as better echocardiographic and clinical outcomes.

Site Variability in Cerebral Embolic Protection for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Association With Outcomes.

Background: The effectiveness of cerebral embolic protection devices (CEPD) in mitigating stroke after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains uncertain, and therefore CEPD may be utilized differently across US hospitals. This study aims to characterize the hospital-level pattern of CEPD use during TAVI in the US and its association with outcomes. Methods: Patients treated with nontransapical TAVI in the 2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database were included. Hospitals were categorized as CEPD non-users and CEPD users. The following outcomes were compared: the composite of in-hospital stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), in-hospital ischemic stroke, death, and cost of hospitalization. Logistic regression models were used for risk adjustment of clinical outcomes. Results: Of 41,822 TAVI encounters, CEPD was used in 10.6% (n = 4422). Out of 392 hospitals, 65.8% were CEPD non-user hospitals and 34.2% were CEPD users. No difference was observed between CEPD non-users and CEPD users in the risk of in-hospital stroke or TIA (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.99 [0.86-1.15]), ischemic stroke (adjusted OR = 1.00 [0.85-1.18]), or in-hospital death (adjusted OR = 0.86 [0.71-1.03]). The cost of hospitalization was lower in CEPD non-users. Conclusions: Two-thirds of hospitals in the US do not use CEPD for TAVI, and no significant difference was observed in neurologic outcomes among patients treated at CEPD non-user and CEPD user hospitals.

Temporal trends in the utilization of advanced therapies among patients with acute pulmonary embolism: insights from a national database.

There is a paucity of data regarding the contemporary temporal trends in the adoption of advanced pulmonary embolism (PE) therapies in the United States as well as the parallel trends in outcomes of patients with acute PE. Therefore, we queried the Nationwide Readmissions Database (years 2016-2020) to report the temporal trends in utilization of advanced PE therapies. Our final analysis included 920 770 hospitalizations with acute PE. We demonstrated an increase in the proportion of patients diagnosed with high-risk PE during the study years. Overall, there was an increase in the use of advanced PE therapies, which was mainly due to the increase in the utilization of systemic thrombolytics, and catheter-directed therapies. Also, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation showed an incremental increase over the study years. The use of inferior vena cava filter has declined, while the use of surgical embolectomy did not change during the study years. The use of advanced therapies has increased among urban teaching, but not among urban non-teaching hospitals. During the study years, there was no change in unadjusted or adjusted in-hospital mortality rates among patients with acute PE, while the 90-day unplanned readmission rate has declined.

Intracranial bleeding and associated outcomes in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion: Insights from National Inpatient Sample 2016-2020.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) has proved to be a safer alternative for long-term anticoagulation; however, patients with a history of intracranial bleeding were excluded from large randomized clinical trials. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with a history of intracranial bleeding undergoing percutaneous LAAO. Methods: National Inpatient Sample and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, codes were used to identify patients with AF who underwent LAAO during the years 2016-2020. Patients were stratified based on a history of intracranial bleeding vs not. The outcomes assessed in our study included complications, in-hospital mortality, and resource utilization. Result: A total of 89,300 LAAO device implantations were studied. Approximately 565 implantations (0.6%) occurred in patients with a history of intracranial bleed. History of intracranial bleeding was associated with a higher prevalence of overall complications and in-patient mortality in crude analysis. In the multivariate model adjusted for potential confounders, intracranial bleeding was found to be independently associated with in-patient mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-10.82); overall complications (aOR 1.74; 95% CI 1.36-2.24); prolonged length of stay (aOR 2.38; 95% CI 1.95-2.92); and increased cost of hospitalization (aOR 1.28; 95% CI 1.08-1.52) after percutaneous LAAO device implantation. Conclusion: A history of intracranial bleeding was associated with adverse outcomes after percutaneous LAAO. These data, if proven in a large randomized study, can have important clinical consequences in terms of patient selection for LAAO devices.

Thirty-Day Cardiovascular Readmissions Following Discharge with COVID-19: A US Nationwide Readmission Database Analysis from the Pandemic Year 2020.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is known to be associated with a myriad of cardiovascular (CV) complications during acute illness, but the rates of readmissions for CV complications after COVID-19 infection are less well established. METHODS: The U.S Nationwide Readmission Database was utilized to identify COVID-19 admissions from April 1st to November 30th, 2020 using ICD-10-CM administrative claims. RESULTS: A total of 521,351 admissions for COVID-19 were identified. The all-cause 30-day readmission rate was 11.6% (n=60,262). The incidence of CV readmissions was 5.1% (n=26,725), accounting for 44.3% of all-cause 30-day readmissions. Both CV and non-CV readmissions occurred at a median of 7 days. Patients readmitted with CV causes had a higher comorbidity burden with Charlson comorbidity median score of 6. The most common CV cause of readmission was acute heart failure (HF) (8.5%) followed by acute myocardial infarction (MI) (5.2%). Venous thromboembolism and stroke during 30-day readmission occurred at a rate of 4.6% and 3.6%, respectively. Stress cardiomyopathy and acute myocarditis were less frequent with an incidence of 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. CV readmissions were associated with higher mortality compared with non-CV readmissions (16.5% vs. 7.5%, p<0.01). Each 30-day CV readmission was associated with greater cost of care than each non-CV readmission ($13,803 vs. $10,310, p=<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Among survivors of index COVID-19 admission, 44.7% of all 30-day readmissions were attributed to CV causes. Acute HF remains the most common cause of readmission after COVID-19, followed closely by acute MI. CV causes of readmissions remain a significant source of mortality, morbidity, and resource utilization.

An Analysis of Telehealth in the Outpatient Management of Atrial Fibrillation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated adaption of a telehealth care model. We studied the impact of telehealth on the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) by electrophysiology providers in a large, multisite clinic. Clinical outcomes, quality metrics, and indicators of clinical activity for patients with AF during the 10-week period of March 22, 2020 to May 30, 2020 were compared with those from the 10-week period of March 24, 2019 to June 1, 2019. There were 1946 unique patient visits for AF (1,040 in 2020 and 906 in 2019). During 120 days after each encounter, there was no difference in hospital admissions (11.7% vs 13.5%, p = 0.25) or emergency department visits (10.4% vs 12.5%, p = 0.15) in 2020 compared with 2019. There was a total of 31 deaths within 120 days, with similar rates in 2020 and 2019 (1.8% vs 1.3%, p = 0.38). There was no significant difference in quality metrics. The following clinical activities occurred less frequently in 2020 than in 2019: offering escalation of rhythm control (16.3% vs 23.3%, p <0.001), ambulatory monitoring (29.7% vs 51.7%, p <0.001), and electrocardiogram review for patients on antiarrhythmic drug therapy (22.1% vs 90.2%, p <0.001). Discussions about risk factor modification were more frequent in 2020 compared with 2019 (87.9% vs 74.8%, p <0.001). In conclusion, the use of telehealth in the outpatient management of AF was associated with similar clinical outcomes and quality metrics but differences in clinical activity compared with traditional ambulatory encounters. Longer-term outcomes warrant further investigation.

Recurrent Staphylococcus capitis Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis Presenting With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report.

We report a case of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to septic emboli secondary to Staphylococcus capitis endocarditis in a 32-year-old male patient with a past medical history of infectious endocarditis requiring mechanical aortic, mitral and tricuspid valve replacement presented with sharp chest pain and shortness of breath. Electrocardiogram demonstrated an acute inferior STEMI. Coronary angiography revealed occlusion of the terminal left anterior descending (LAD) artery associated with a large apical wrap-around segment exhibiting TIMI 0 flow. Primary angioplasty was not performed given the distal location of the embolus. Clinical suspicion for septic or thrombotic coronary artery embolism was high given the patient's history of mechanical valve prosthesis and in the setting of sub-therapeutic INR. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a new mobile echodensity on the mitral prosthesis consistent with vegetation. S. capitis was isolated from blood cultures, confirming the diagnosis of endocarditis. S. capitis is a rare cause of prosthetic valve endocarditis and should remain in the differential of septic coronary artery embolism among patients with features of infectious endocarditis.

Comparison of the Safety of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Patients Aged <75 Versus Those Aged ≥75 Years (from a Nationwide Cohort Sample).

The mean age in clinical trials of percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) has been <75 years. We aimed to better understand the safety of LAAO in older patients. National Inpatient Sample and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes were used to identify patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent LAAO during the years 2016-2018. Patients were grouped by age <75 and ≥75 years. Baseline characteristics; length of stay; cost; hospital mortality; and other adverse events, including hematoma, vascular complications, perforation/tamponade, and stroke/ transient ischemic attack, were compared for the 2 groups. A total of 6,877 patients were identified, of whom 4,160 (60.4%) were aged ≥75 years. Length of stay and hospitalization costs were similar for the 2 groups. There were 10 deaths in patients aged ≥75 years and 1 death in patients aged <75 years (p = 0.059). The incidence of perforation/tamponade was 1.3% in patients aged ≥75 years versus 0.6% for those <75 years (p = 0.008). This difference persisted on multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 3.07). The risk of perforation/tamponade was also higher in female patients (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.63 to 4.59). There was a trend toward higher combined procedure-related adverse events (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.99 to 2.15) in patients ≥75 years. There was no difference in the individual components of hematoma, vascular complication, and stroke/transient ischemic attack between both groups. In conclusion, percutaneous LAAO was associated with a higher risk of perforation and tamponade in older patients, particularly women.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Presents as an Acute Encephalopathy: A Case Report of Unusual Presentation.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common thyroid disorder in the United States. Hashimoto encephalopathy is a rare presentation of Hashimoto's thyroiditis that is frequently misdiagnosed. We present the case of a 71-year-old female who had normal mental status at baseline. She presented with acute alteration in mental status. Further evaluation with brain MRI showed a hyperintense signal in the bilateral centrum. Spinal fluid analysis revealed elevated protein. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody was elevated at 59.7 and TSH was elevated at 4.9. Her mental status improved dramatically after treatment with steroids and levothyroxine. This diagnosis should be suspected when the patient develops acute encephalopathy with positive serum thyroid antibody settings with a complete return to normal mental status after treatment with steroids.

Outpatient Management of Heart Failure During the COVID-19 Pandemic After Adoption of a Telehealth Model.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether the increased use of telehealth was associated with a difference in outcomes for outpatients with heart failure. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to dramatic changes in the delivery of outpatient care. It is unclear whether increased use of telehealth affected outcomes for outpatients with heart failure. METHODS: In March 2020, a large Midwestern health care system, encompassing 16 cardiology clinics, 16 emergency departments, and 12 hospitals, initiated a telehealth-based model for outpatient care in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. A propensity-matched analysis was performed to compare outcomes between outpatients seen in-person in 2018 and 2019 and via telemedicine in 2020. RESULTS: Among 8,263 unique patients with heart failure with 15,421 clinic visits seen from March 15 to June 15, telehealth was employed in 88.5% of 2020 visits but in none in 2018 or 2019. Despite the pandemic, more outpatients were seen in 2020 (n = 5,224) versus 2018 and 2019 (n = 5,099 per year). Using propensity matching, 4,541 telehealth visits in 2020 were compared with 4,541 in-person visits in 2018 and 2019, and groups were well matched. Mortality was similar for telehealth and in-person visits at both 30 days (0.8% vs 0.7%) and 90 days (2.9% vs 2.4%). Likewise, there was no excess in hospital encounters or need for intensive care with telehealth visits. CONCLUSIONS: A telehealth model for outpatients with heart failure allowed for distanced encounters without increases in subsequent acute care or mortality. As the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic abate, these data suggest that telehealth outpatient visits in patients with heart failure can be safely incorporated into clinical practice.