Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the management of nonculprit lesions in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Outcomes from the pan-London heart attack centers.

BACKGROUND: The impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and management of nonculprit lesions remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the management and outcomes of patients with nonculprit lesions during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational analysis of consecutive primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) pathway activations across the heart attack center network in London, UK. Data from the study period in 2020 were compared with prepandemic data in 2019. The primary outcome was the rate of nonculprit lesion percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events. RESULTS: A total of 788 patients undergoing PPCI were identified, 209 (60%) in 2020 cohort and 263 (60%) in 2019 cohort had nonculprit lesions (p = .89). There was less functional assessment of the significance of nonculprit lesions in the 2020 cohort compared to 2019 cohort; in 8% 2020 cohort versus 15% 2019 cohort (p = .01). There was no difference in rates of PCI for nonculprit disease in the 2019 and 2020 cohorts (31% vs 30%, p = .11). Patients in 2020 cohort underwent nonculprit lesion PCI sooner than the 2019 cohort (p < .001). At 6 months there was higher rates of unplanned revascularization (4% vs. 2%, p = .05) and repeat myocardial infarction (4% vs. 1%, p = .02) in the 2019 cohort compared to 2020 cohort. CONCLUSION: Changes to clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with reduced rates of unplanned revascularization and myocardial infarction at 6-months follow-up, and despite the pandemic, there was no difference in mortality, suggesting that it is not only safe but maybe more efficacious.

Predictors of post-TAVI conduction abnormalities in patients with bicuspid aortic valves.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates predictors of conduction abnormalities (CA) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV). BACKGROUND: TAVI is associated with CA that commonly necessitate a permanent pacemaker. Predictors of CA are well established among patients with tricuspid aortic valves but not in those with BAV. METHODS: This is a single-centre, retrospective, observational study of patients with BAV treated with TAVI. Pre-TAVI ECG and CT scans and procedural characteristics were evaluated in 58 patients with BAV. CA were defined as a composite of high-degree atrioventricular block, new left bundle branch block with a QRS >150 ms or PR >240 ms and right bundle branch block with new PR prolongation or change in axis. Predictors of CA were identified using regression analysis and optimum cut-off values determined using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: CA occurred in 35% of patients. Bioprosthesis implantation depth, the difference between membranous septum (MS) length and implantation depth (δMSID) and device landing zone (DLZ) calcification adjacent to the MS were identified as univariate predictors of CA. The optimum cut-off for δMSID was 1.25 mm. Using this cut-off, low δMSID and DLZ calcification adjacent to MS predicted CA, adjusted OR 8.79, 95% CI 1.88 to 41.00; p=0.01. Eccentricity of the aortic valve annulus, type of BAV and valve calcium quantity and distribution did not predict CA. CONCLUSIONS: In BAV patients undergoing TAVI, short δMSID and DLZ calcification adjacent to MS are associated with an increased risk of CA.

Usefulness of the NULL-PLEASE Score to Predict Survival in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

PURPOSE: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) carries a very high mortality rate even after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Currently, information given to relatives about prognosis following resuscitation is often emotive and subjective, and varies with clinician experience. We aimed to validate the NULL-PLEASE score to predict survival following OHCA. METHODS: A multicenter cohort study was conducted, with retrospective and prospective validation in consecutive unselected patients presenting with OHCA. The NULL-PLEASE score was calculated by attributing points to the following variables: Nonshockable initial rhythm, Unwitnessed arrest, Long low-flow period, Long no-flow period, pH <7.2, Lactate >7.0 mmol/L, End-stage renal failure, Age ≥85 years, Still resuscitation, and Extracardiac cause. The primary outcome was in-hospital death. RESULTS: We assessed 700 patients admitted with OHCA, of whom 47% survived to discharge. In 300 patients we performed a retrospective validation, followed by prospective validation in 400 patients. The NULL-PLEASE score was lower in patients who survived compared with those who died (0 [interquartile range 0-1] vs 4 [interquartile range 2-4], P < .0005) and strongly predictive of in-hospital death (C-statistic 0.874; 95% confidence interval, 0.848-0.899). Patients with a score ≥3 had a 24-fold increased risk of death (odds ratio 23.6; 95% confidence interval, 14.840-37.5; P < .0005) compared with those with lower scores. A score ≥3 has a 91% positive predictive value for in-hospital death, while a score <3 predicts a 71% chance of survival. CONCLUSION: The easy-to-use NULL-PLEASE score predicts in-hospital mortality with high specificity and can help clinicians explain the prognosis to relatives in an easy-to-understand, objective fashion, to realistically prepare them for the future.

Animation-supported consent for urgent angiography and angioplasty: a service improvement initiative.

OBJECTIVE: Patient understanding of angiography and angioplasty is often incomplete at the time of consent. Language barriers and time constraints are significant obstacles, particularly in the urgent setting. We introduced digital animations to support consent and assessed the effect on patient understanding. METHODS: Multi-language animations explaining angiography and angioplasty (www.explainmyprocedure.com/heart) were introduced at nine district hospitals for patients with acute coronary syndrome before urgent transfer to a cardiac centre for their procedure. Reported understanding of the reason for transfer, the procedure, its benefits and risks in 100 consecutive patients were recorded before introduction of the animations into practice (no animation group) and in 100 consecutive patients after their introduction (animation group). Patient understanding in the two groups was compared. RESULTS: Following introduction, 83/100 patients reported they had watched the animation before inter-hospital transfer (3 declined and 14 were overlooked). The proportions of patients who understood the reason for transfer, the procedure, its benefits and risks in the no animation group were 58%, 38%, 25% and 7% and in the animation group, 85%, 81%, 73% and 61%, respectively. The relative improvement (ratio of proportions) was 1.5 (95% CI 1.2 to 1.8), 2.1 (1.6 to 2.8), 2.9 (2.0 to 4.2) and 8.7 (4.2 to 18.1), respectively (p<0.001 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: Use of animations explaining angiography and angioplasty is feasible before urgent inter-hospital transfer and was associated with substantial improvement in reported understanding of the procedure, its risks and its benefits. The approach is not limited to cardiology and has the potential to be applied to all specialties in medicine.