Back to Basics: Key Physical Examinations and Theories in Patients with Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of hospitalization. Suitable pharmacologic management is critical. Distinct physical findings such as congestion and peripheral hypoperfusion need to be considered in selecting pharmacologic therapy. By applying the pretest probability and likelihood ratios of unique physical findings of HF to a Markov model, a definite posttest probability can be obtained. This article focuses on the findings of S3, jugular venous pressure, proportional pulse pressure, bendopnea, trepopnea, and various heart murmurs. Incorporating statistical precision in physical assessments, diagnoses of HF can be further refined, providing a sophisticated approach to evaluate patients hemodynamics status noninvasively.

Management of Common Cardiovascular Emergencies in Critically Ill Patients.

This article reviews treatment and management of common cardiovascular emergencies in critically ill patients, focusing on acute decompensated heart failure, cardiogenic shock, pulmonary embolism, and hypertensive crisis management with inotropes, vasopressors, diuretics, and antiarrhythmic drugs. Clinicians frequently come across challenging clinical scenarios, and there is a gap between evidence-based medicine and clinical practice. Inotropic and vasopressor agents are useful in the acute setting but must be weaned off or used as a bridge for mechanical circulation support devices. Clinicians should aim to lower complications by choosing medications with respect to comorbidities and close the gap between evidence-based medicine and clinical practice.

Acute Mitral Regurgitation and Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair in an Emergency Case: Focus on the Mechanical Disorder of Mitral Valve Complex.

Acute mitral regurgitation is an uncommon, challenging disease that requires emergent care and proper management. To evaluate its etiology, echocardiography is essential. However, echocardiography findings in these patients are often different from that of chronic mitral regurgitation owing to the acute elevation of left atrial and pulmonary artery pressure derived from the small left ventricle and atrium with low compliance. Although surgical correction is usually required owing to the hemodynamic instability, many patients are considered to be at high surgical risk. Transcatheter mitral valve repair using MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) may be a solution as a bail-out therapy.

Case report: management of refractory cardiogenic shock with Impella 5.5 in patients with transcatheter aortic valves.

Background: Impella is a transaortic valvular pump commonly utilized in patients with cardiogenic shock. However, its use with transcatheter aortic valves (TAVI) remains rare. We present two cases where surgical Impella 5.5 was placed across both Sapien 3 Ultra and Evolute Pro+ valves. Case summary: Patient 1: A 74-year-old male with history of ischaemic cardiomyopathy with ejection fraction 20-25% status post-cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator, severe aortic stenosis (AS) status post-recent Sapien 3 Ultra TAVI presented with cardiogenic shock. Due to persistent unstable haemodynamic status, Impella 5.5 was placed and was utilized as a bridge to left ventricular assist device. Patient 2: A 74-year-old male with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis and AS underwent Evolute Pro+ TAVI at outside facility. The implantation was complicated by left main coronary artery occlusion, leading to cardiogenic shock. Patient required femoral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support and emergent single vessel coronary bypass of a saphenous venous graft to the left anterior descending artery. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was decannulated on Day 20 and Impella 5.5 was placed as a bridge to recovery. In both cases, there were no procedural complications or residual aortic or perivalvular regurgitation. Discussion: Impella 5.5 implanted via the axillary surgical cutdown is safe and feasible approach to manage refractory cardiogenic shock in patients with TAVI including different types of valves, Sapien 3 Ultra, and Evolute Pro+. As it can provide full haemodynamic support, Impella 5.5 can be used as bridge to recovery or durable mechanical support.

1 Year HIIT and Omega-3 Fatty Acids to Improve Cardiometabolic Risk in Stage-A Heart Failure.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine whether 1 year of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) supplementation would improve fitness, cardiovascular structure/function, and body composition in obese middle-aged adults at high-risk of heart failure (HF) (stage A). BACKGROUND: It is unclear if intensive lifestyle interventions begun in stage A HF can improve key cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors. METHODS: High-risk obese adults (n = 80; age 40 to 55 years; N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide >40 pg/mL or high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T >0.6 pg/mL; visceral fat >2 kg) were randomized to 1 year of HIIT exercise or attention control, with n-3 FA (1.6 g/daily omega-3-acid ethyl esters) or placebo supplementation (olive oil 1.6 g daily). Outcome variables were exercise capacity quantified as peak oxygen uptake (V.O2), left ventricular (LV) mass, LV volume, myocardial triglyceride content (magnetic resonance spectroscopy), arterial stiffness/function (central pulsed-wave velocity; augmentation index), and body composition (dual x-ray absorptiometry scan). RESULTS: Fifty-six volunteers completed the intervention. There was no detectible effect of HIIT on visceral fat or myocardial triglyceride content despite a reduction in total adiposity (Δ: -2.63 kg, 95% CI: -4.08 to -0.46, P = 0.018). HIIT improved exercise capacity by ∼24% (ΔV.O2: 4.46 mL/kg per minute, 95% CI: 3.18 to 5.56; P < 0.0001), increased LV mass (Δ: 9.40 g, 95% CI: 4.36 to 14.44; P < 0.001), and volume (Δ: 12.33 mL, 95 % CI: 5.61 to 19.05; P < 0.001) and reduced augmentation index (Δ: -4.81%, 95% CI: -8.63 to -0.98; P = 0.009). There was no independent or interaction effect of n-3 FA on any outcome. CONCLUSIONS: One-year HIIT improved exercise capacity, cardiovascular structure/function, and adiposity in stage A HF with no independent or additive effect of n-3 FA administration. (Improving Metabolic Health in Patients With Diastolic Dysfunction [MTG]; NCT03448185).

Masson Tumor in the Left Atrial Appendage Presenting as Cardioembolic Cerebral Infarction.

A 70-year-old woman presented with aphasia caused by acute infarction in the left middle cerebral artery. Cardiac investigation revealed progressively increasing mobile mass in the left atrial appendage over 2 months (from 9 to 15 mm). Decision was made to proceed with mass resection, and pathological evaluation confirmed Masson tumor. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery in a Middle-Aged Woman.

A 53-year-old female patient presented for evaluation of a murmur. The examination revealed a 2/6 systolic ejection murmur in the left upper sternal border. Transthoracic echocardiography with color Doppler showed increased blood flow around the apex of the right ventricle. Further imaging revealed the right coronary artery emerging from the pulmonary artery. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).