Evaluating the quality of implantation of percutaneous ventricular restoration device (Parachute®) by cardiac computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: The Parachute is a novel percutaneously implanted ventricular partitioning device (VPD) that has emerged as a safe and feasible treatment option for patients with heart failure following anterior wall myocardial infarction. VPD efficacy is likely dependent on optimal device placement, but to date there are no published data examining the effect of device positioning on patient outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively identified 32 patients successfully implanted with the Parachute device, all of whom underwent cardiac computed tomography (CCT) at baseline and after 6 months of follow-up. Patients were divided into two groups based on self-reported improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class: "not improved NYHA" (n = 12) and "improved NYHA" (n = 20). There were significant differences between both groups with regard to device positioning on follow-up CCT. Compared to patients with "improved NYHA," patients with "not improved NYHA" had longer distances from device foot to left ventricular apex (8.0 ± 4.9 vs. 2.9 ± 4.6 mm; P = 0.01), and higher lateral angles (18.0 ± 14 vs. 9.1 ± 6.8 degrees; P = 0.02), respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in landing zone (45.4 ± 7. vs. 45.1 ± 6.9 mm; P = 0.92) and inferior angle (14.0 ± 11.9 vs. 14.3 ± 10.1 degrees; P = 0.95). There was a numerically larger malapposition area in the "not improved NYHA" group (5.1 ± 4.5 vs. 3.2 ± 2.2 cm2; P = 0.12). CONCLUSION: Quality of Parachute implant impacted clinical outcome, these findings should be applied prospectively in helping operators to achieve optimal implant. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Predictors of complete heart block after alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the timing of pacemaker implantation.

Catheter-based alcohol septal ablation has recently been introduced for the treatment of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. It is associated with various conduction disturbances and may lead to transient or persistent complete heart block (CHB). Electrocardiographic (ECG) changes and predictors of developing CHB and the timing of permanent pacemaker implantation have been variable among the different studies. Among 50 patients studied, we found that a new right bundle branch pattern was the most common new ECG change after septal ablation and that baseline left bundle branch block was strongly associated with the development of CHB (P = 0.004); 9 patients (18%) required permanent pacemaker implantation of whom 7 (78%) remained pacemaker dependent at 14 days with no delayed recovery of atrioventricular conduction. This favors an early pacemaker implantation strategy.