Percutaneous Cardiac Chambers and Pulmonary Artery Aspiration.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The clinical guidelines and current practice in the field of removable cardiovascular pathologies are not aligned and are in fluctuation. The purpose of this review manuscript is to propose adjustments and forecast changes in clinical practice in this field ahead of irrefutable evidence. Percutaneous aspiration devices may be used in case of pulmonary embolism, endocarditis, cardiac thrombi, and tumors. The rationale of treatment includes prevention of emboli, endocarditis debulking and modification, sampling of tissue, and salvage therapy. We are describing the contemporary treatments that are occurring in practice outside and above guidelines. RECENT FINDINGS: The current standard therapy for the above-mentioned entities is not supported by robust data. Moreover, evidence suggesting priority for the use of percutaneous aspiration devices as first-line therapy-before turning to or in lieu of surgery or thrombolysis-continues to accumulate. However, guidelines still mention percutaneous aspiration only as an alternative to standard treatment. In the current review, we discuss the pathophysiology that supports percutaneous cardiac and pulmonary artery aspiration, the commonly used devices for that purpose, their clinical evidence, and accordingly propose a modified approach to patient management. In addition, this review highlights fluid dynamic principles important in matter extraction in order to better define the utility of catheter-based technologies in different cardiovascular territories. The target diseases encompassed in this review are pulmonary embolism, cardiac masses, and vegetations.

Implications of Indeterminate and Determined Etiologies Leading to Small Left Atria.

BACKGROUND: Small left atria (LA) is associated with an increased risk of mortality. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the attributed risk of mortality is influenced by the underlying etiologies leading to decreased volumes. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients with an available LA volume index (LAVI) as measured by echocardiography who came to our institution between 2011 and 2016. Individuals with small LA (LAVI < 16 ml/m2) were included and divided according to the etiology of the small LA (determined or indeterminate) and investigated according to the specific etiology. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 288 patients with a mean age of 56 ± 18 years. An etiology for small LA was determined in 84% (n=242). The 1-year mortality rate of the entire cohort was 20.5%. Patients with indeterminate etiology (n=46) demonstrated a lower mortality rate compared with determined etiologies (8.7% vs. 22.7%, P = 0.031). However, following propensity score adjustments for baseline characteristics, there was no significant difference between the groups (P = 0.149). The only specific etiology independently associated with 1-year mortality was the presence of space occupying lesions (odds ratio 3.26, 95% confidence interval 1.02-10.39, P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Small LA serve as a marker for negative outcomes, and even in cases of undetected etiology, the prognosis remains poor. The presence of small LA should alert the physician to a high risk of mortality, regardless of the underlying disease.

Multi-Vessel Disease in Metabolically Healthy Obese Patients Presenting with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: The extent and impact of obesity as an isolated risk factor for coronary artery disease is not clear since co-morbidities serve as confounders and may mask this association. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether obesity is associated with extensive coronary artery disease among metabolically healthy patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and to explore the outcomes according to body mass index (BMI). METHODS: We stratified STEMI patients who had a metabolically healthy phenotype and available weight and height data according to BMI: 18.5-25 kg/m² (lean), 25.01-30 kg/m² (overweight), and > 30 kg/m² (obese). RESULTS: Overall 381 patients were included, 42% lean, 41% overweight, and 17% obese. Patients with increased BMIs had higher levels of low-density proteins and triglycerides (P < 0.05). Obese patients presented with the lowest rates of multi-vessel disease (12.9% vs. 22.9% for overweight and 28% for lean). In a univariable analysis, obese patients were 60% less likely to be diagnosed with multi-vessel disease (odds ratio 0.4, 95% confidence interval 0.2-0.9, P = 0.021) compared to lean patients. The association remained significant in a multivariable model adjusted for baseline characteristics (P = 0.029). There were no differences in 30-day or long-term mortality (median follow-up 3.2 years) among the groups (P > 0.1 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolically healthy phenotype obesity was associated with lower rates of multi-vessel disease despite higher levels of triglycerides. However, this association did not translate into increased mortality.

Diastolic function as an early marker for systolic dysfunction and all-cause mortality among cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Increased survival among active cancer patients exposes a wide range of side effects, including cardiotoxicity, manifested by systolic dysfunction and associated with morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of subclinical function changes and cardiac damage is essential in the management of these patients. Diastolic dysfunction is considered common among cancer patients; however, its effect on systolic dysfunction or mortality is still unknown. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the Israel Cardio-Oncology Registry, enrolling and prospectively following all patients evaluated in the cardio-oncology clinic in the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. All patients underwent echocardiographic examinations including evaluation of diastolic parameters and global longitudinal strain (GLS). Systolic dysfunction was defined as either an absolute reduction >10% in left ventricular ejection fraction to a value below 53% or GLS relative reduction >10% between the 1st and 3rd echocardiography examinations. RESULTS: Overall, 190 active cancer patients were included, with a mean age of 58 ± 15 years and a female predominance (78%). During a median follow-up of 243 days (interquartile ranges [IQR]: 164-401 days), 62 (33%) patients developed systolic dysfunction. Over a median follow-up of 789 days (IQR: 521-968 days), 29 (15%) patients died. There were no significant differences in baseline cardiac risk factors between the groups. Using multivariate analysis, E/e' lateral and e' lateral emerged as significantly associated with systolic dysfunction development and all-cause mortality (P = .015). CONCLUSION: Among active cancer patients, evaluation of diastolic function may provide an early marker for the development of systolic dysfunction, as well as all-cause mortality.

Impact of preprocedural left ventricle hypertrophy and geometrical patterns on mortality following TAVR.

BACKGROUND: In contrast to surgical aortic valve replacement, left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) had not been clearly associated with mortality following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients enrolled in the Israeli multicenter TAVR registry for whom preprocedural LV mass index (LVMI) data were available. Patients were divided into categories according to LVMI: normal LVMI and mild, moderate, and severe LVH. Mild LVH was regarded as the reference group. Additionally, LV geometry patterns were examined (concentric and eccentric LVH, and concentric remodeling). RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 1,559 patients, 46.5% male, with a mean age of 82.2 (±6.8) years and mean LVMI of 121 (±29) g/m2. Rates of normal LVMI and mild, moderate, and severe LVH were 31% (n = 485), 21% (n = 322), 18% (n = 279), and 30% (n = 475), respectively. Three-year mortality rates for normal LVMI and mild, moderate, and severe LVH were 19.8%, 18.3%, 23.7%, and 24.4%, respectively. Compared to mild LVH, moderate LVH and severe LVH were independently associated with an increased risk for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.58, 95% CI 1.15-2.18, P = .005; HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.1-1.95, P = .009; respectively). Concentric LVH was independently associated with a decreased risk for mortality compared to normal LV geometry (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63-0.89, P = .001). Compared to concentric LVH, eccentric LVH was independently associated with a 33% increased risk for mortality (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.11-1.60, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Mild concentric LVH confers a protective effect among patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR. However, hypertrophy becomes maladaptive, and an increased baseline LVMI, eccentric pattern particularly, may be associated with all-cause mortality in this population.

Cardio-toxicity among patients with sarcoma: a cardio-oncology registry.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy induced cardio-toxicity has been recognized as a serious side effect since the first introduction to anthracyclines (ANT). Cardio-toxicity among patients with breast cancer is well studied but the impact on patients with sarcoma is limited, even though they are exposed to higher ANT doses. The commonly used term for cardio-toxicity is cancer therapeutics related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD), defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction of > 10%, to a value below 53%. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of CTRCD in patients diagnosed with sarcoma and to describe the baseline risk factors and echocardiography parameters among that population. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the Israel Cardio-Oncology Registry (ICOR), enrolling all patients evaluated in the cardio-oncology clinic at our institution. The registry was approved by the local ethics committee and is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02818517). All sarcoma patients were enrolled and divided into two groups - CTRCD group vs. non-CTRCD group. RESULTS: Among 43 consecutive patients, 6 (14%) developed CTRCD. Baseline cardiac risk factors were more frequent among the non-CTRCD group. Elevated left ventricular end systolic diameter and reduced Global Longitudinal Strain were observed among the CTRCD group. During follow-up, 2 (33%) patients died in the CTRCD group vs. 3 (8.1%) patients in the non-CTRCD group. CONCLUSIONS: CTRCD is an important concern among patients with sarcoma, regardless of baseline risk factors. Echocardiography parameters may provide an early diagnosis of cardio-toxicity.

Diastolic strain time as predictor for systolic dysfunction among patients with active breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although diastolic dysfunction is common among patients treated with cancer therapy, no clear evidence has been shown that it predicts systolic dysfunction. This study evaluated the correlation of diastolic strain time (Dst) with the routine echocardiography diastolic parameters and estimated its role in the early detection of cardiotoxicity among patients with active breast cancer. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the Israel Cardio-Oncology Registry (ICOR), a prospective registry enrolling all adult patients referred to the cardio-oncology clinic. All patients with breast cancer, planned for Doxorubicin therapy, were included. Echocardiography, including global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) and Dst, was assessed at baseline before chemotherapy (T1), during Doxorubicin therapy (T2) and after the completion of Doxorubicin therapy (T3). Cardiotoxicity was determined by GLS relative reduction of ≥15%. Dst was assessed as the time measured (ms) of the myocardium lengthening during diastole. RESULTS: Among 69 patients, 67 (97.1%) were females with a mean age of 52 ± 13 years. Dst was significantly associated with the routine diastolic parameters. Significant GLS reduction was observed in 10 (20%) patients at T3. Both in a univariate and a multivariate analyses, the change in Ds basal time from T1 to T2 emerged to be significantly associated with GLS reduction at T3 (P < .04). CONCLUSIONS: Among breast cancer patients, Dst showed high correlation to the routine diastolic echocardiography parameters. Change in Ds basal time emerged associated with clinically significant systolic dysfunction as measured by GLS reduction.

Cancer Therapeutics-Related Cardiac Dysfunction among Patients with Active Breast Cancer: A Cardio-Oncology Registry.

BACKGROUND: Progress in the treatment of breast cancer has led to substantial improvement in survival, but at the cost of increased side effects, with cardiotoxicity being the most significant one. The commonly used definition is cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD), defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction reduction of > 10%, to a value below 53%. Recent studies have implied that the incidence of CTRCD among patients with breast cancer is decreasing due to lower doses of anthracyclines and low association to trastuzumab and pertuzumab treatment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of CTRCD among patients with active breast cancer and to identify significant associates for its development. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the Israel Cardio-Oncology Registry, which enrolls all patients who are evaluated at the cardio-oncology clinic at our institution. Patients were divided to two groups: CTRCD and no-CTRCD. RESULTS: Among 103 consecutive patients, five (5%) developed CTRCD. There were no significant differences in the baseline cardiac risk factors between the groups. Significant correlations of CTRCD included treatment with trastuzumab (P = 0.001) or pertuzumab (P < 0.001), lower baseline global longitudinal strain (GLS) (P = 0.016), increased left ventricular end systolic diameter (P < 0.001), and lower e' septal (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CTRCD is an important concern among patients with active breast cancer, regardless of baseline risk factors, and is associated with trastuzumab and pertuzumab treatment. Early GLS evaluation may contribute to risk stratification and allow deployment of cardioprotective treatment.

Safety outcomes of new versus old generation transcatheter aortic valves.

OBJECTIVE: To compare procedural outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) patients who were implanted with older versus newer generation valves. BACKGROUND: The current evidence base for improved safety of the newer commercially available TAVI valves is limited. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the Israeli multicenter TAVI registry was performed. Patients were stratified by valve generation of four commercially available devices: Edwards Sapien (ESX) Edwards Sapien S3 (ES3), Medtronic CoreValve (MCV), and Medtronic Evolut R (MER). RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 737 patients with new generation valves (NGVs; ES3 n = 223; MER n = 514) and 1,869 with old generation valves (OGVs; MCV n = 1,181; ESX n = 688). Device success rates were significantly higher in NGV (97.5 versus 95.4%), with less post-procedural paravalvular leak (3 versus 5.8%), and valve mal-positioning (1.2 versus 3.4%); all P-values<0.05. There were no differences in rates of permanent pacemaker implantation, stroke or acute kidney injury (AKI) of any stage between the groups, although stage ≥2 AKI was more prevalent in NGV. After adjustment to significant differences in baseline patient and procedural characteristics, device success was higher (OR 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-3.18, P = 0.023) and the 1-month safety outcome was significantly lower (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55-0.96, P = 0.025) for NGV. Device success was driven mainly by improved rates of PVL of ES3, while the safety outcome was mainly driven by improved rates of life-threatening bleeding and valve mal-positioning of MER. CONCLUSION: As compared to OGV, use of NGV for TAVI was associated with higher rates of device success and lower rates of adverse events.

Association of pre-admission statin therapy and the inflammatory response in ST elevation myocardial infarction patients.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the possible association of statin therapy with C reactive protein (CRP) serial measurements in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: STEMI patients between 2008 and 2016 with available CRP data from admission were divided into two groups according to pre-admission statin therapy. A second CRP measurement was noted following primary coronary intervention (within 24 h from admission). The difference between the two measurements was designated ΔCRP. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 1134 patients with a median age of 61 (IQR52-70), 81% males. Patients on statins prior to admission (336/1134, 26%) were more likely to have CRP levels within normal range (≤5 mg/l) compared to patients without prior treatment, both at admission (75 vs. 24%, p = 0.004) and at 24 h (70 vs. 48%, p = 0.029). The prevalence of patients with pre-admission statin therapy decreased as ΔCRP increased (p = 0.004; n = 301). The likelihood of ΔCRP to be above 5 mg/l in patients with pre-admission statin therapy was reduced after age and gender adjustments (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.32-0.92, p = 0.023) and in multivariate (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.33-0.99, p = 0.048) analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-admission statin therapy is associated with a less robust inflammatory response in STEMI patients, highlighting statin's pathophysiological importance.