Tolerability and efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Sacubitril/valsartan has demonstrated reductions in HF hospitalisation, and all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. AIMS: To assess the tolerability and efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in an intention to treat patient cohort. METHODS: Sixty-five patients who were commenced on sacubitril/valsartan in 2017 at a major metropolitan centre in Victoria were retrospectively audited. Clinical outcomes and quality of life scores were obtained pre and post sacubitril/valsartan commencement through phone and regular clinic follow up, 6-12 months after commencement of sacubitril/valsartan. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of patients were able to achieve maximal dose (97/103 mg twice daily) whilst 37% remained on 49/51 mg and 23% on 24/26 mg. The mean systolic blood pressure reduced from 118 ± 18 mmHg to 109 ± 15 mmHg with symptomatic hypotension (30%) being the most common side-effect leading to dose reduction or drug cessation. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 29.1 ± 9.7% to 33.8 ± 9.9% (P < 0.05) on drug. There was also a significant improvement in quality of life scores; EQ5D-VAS 40 pre versus 67 post sacubitril/valsartan (P < 0.05), and New York Heart Association class (P < 0.05). Importantly, 10 patients lost an existing indication for device based therapy after treatment with sacubitril/valsartan. CONCLUSIONS: Sacubitril/valsartan is a much needed therapeutic advancement in the treatment of HF. Our study indicates it is well tolerated with improvements in cardiac function and symptoms. Sacubitril/valsartan could redefine the definition of 'optimal medical therapy' when assessing patients for device based therapies.

The Applicability of the American College of Cardiology Appropriate Use Criteria for Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy in Australia.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Cardiology (ACC) Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for radionuclide myocardial perfusion scans (MPS) was developed to promote its rational use in the assessment of stable ischaemic heart disease (IHD). We sought to validate the applicability of this document in the Australian context. METHODS: 1009 consecutive patients who underwent MPS were retrospectively audited at a single major metropolitan hospital in Victoria, Australia. Appropriateness was assigned based on the 2013 ACC AUC, and common indications and predictors of positive scan results were examined. RESULTS: The AUC was successfully applied (99.1%) retrospectively. A large proportion of scans were deemed appropriate (82.7%), whilst 7.8% were maybe appropriate. Positive detection rates in these groups were 17.0% and 17.9% respectively. Eighteen patients (1.8%) were unclassifiable, but had a detection rate of 44.4%. Positive predictors of an abnormal MPS result included prior history of coronary artery disease, typical angina, and following the conservative management of an acute coronary syndrome. Scans that were rarely appropriate had a detection rate of 0%. CONCLUSION: The retrospective application of the 2013 ACC AUC is feasible. Whilst the majority of the scans were appropriate, a group of unclassifiable patients was observed to have a high detection rate. Scans that were rarely appropriate could potentially be rationalised to reduce radiation risk.

Improved outcomes of conduction system pacing in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Conduction system pacing (CSP)-His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP)-are emerging alternatives to biventricular pacing (BVP) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in heart failure. However, evidence is largely limited to small and observational studies. We conducted a meta-analysis including a total of 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs that compare CSP (HBP and LBBAP) with BVP in patients with CRT indications. We assessed the mean differences in QRS duration (QRSd), pacing threshold, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class score. CSP resulted in a pooled mean QRSd improvement of -20.3 ms (95% confidence interval [CI] -26.1 to -14.5 ms; P < .05; I2= 87.1%) vs BVP. For LVEF, a weighted mean increase of 5.2% (95% CI 3.5%-6.9%; P < .05; I2 = 55.6) was observed after CSP vs BVP. The mean NYHA score was reduced by -0.40 (95% CI -0.6 to -0.2; P < .05; I2 = 61.7) after CSP vs BVP. A subgroup analysis of outcomes stratified by LBBAP and HBP demonstrated statistically significant weighted mean improvements of QRSd and LVEF with both CSP modalities compared with BVP. LBBAP resulted in NYHA improvement compared with BVP, without differences between CSP subgroups. LBBAP is associated with a significantly lowered mean pacing threshold of -0.51 V (95% CI -0.68 to -0.38 V) while HBP had increased the mean threshold (0.62 V; 95% CI -0.03 to 1.26 V) compared with BVP; however, this was associated with significant heterogeneity. Overall, both CSP techniques are feasible and effective CRT alternatives for heart failure. Further RCTs are needed to establish long-term efficacy and safety.

Pacing: a new look. Don't be deceived.

CLINICAL INTRODUCTION: A 78-year-old man presents following a syncopal episode in the setting of intermittent sinus bradycardia and left bundle branch block (LBBB). With symptoms likely due to documented intermittent sinus node dysfunction, and finding of a diseased left bundle, a pacemaker was inserted (online supplementary figure 1 shows the electrode position in a PA fluroscopy view). His baseline ECG is shown in figure 1A, with a QRS width of 160 ms, and his echocardiogram revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45%. His ECG day 1 postdevice insertion is shown in figure 1B. His device check confirmed excellent function. His QRS width on ECG postdevice insertion is now normalised to 80 ms.DC1SP110.1136/heartjnl-2018-313392.supp1Supplementary file 1 QUESTION: What type of device therapy has this patient received?Biventricular pacing.Right ventricular outflow septal pacing.His bundle pacing.Right ventricular apical pacing. heartjnl;104/18/1491/F1F1F1Figure 1(A) Baseline ECG and (B) day 1 postpacemaker implantation.

An unusual finding in the right atrium.

CLINICAL INTRODUCTION: A 66-year-old asymptomatic patient underwent a routine transthoracic echocardiogram prior to commencement of clozapine, and was found to have a mobile echogenic structure in the right atrium, which was later confirmed on transoesophageal echocardiogram to be adjacent to the insertion of inferior vena cava.Follow-up cardiovascular MRI (CMR) revealed a mobile, avascular 2.1×2.2 cm2 mass with regular and smooth borders, adjacent to the eustachian valve (Figure 1 panel A: coronal view; online supplementary movie 1). Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE; panel B) demonstrated heterogeneity, and T1-imaging demonstrated mild hyperintensity (panel C). There was no evidence of obstructive haemodynamic compromise.The mass was subsequently resected, and the histology (H&E staining, magnification ×100) is shown in panel D. QUESTION: The diagnosis of this mass is: Aberrant liverAngiosarcomaAtrial myxomaRenal cell carcinomaThrombus.