Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is typically a disease that affects the elderly. Neurosurgical evacuation is generally indicated for hematomas that are wider than the thickness of the skull. The available guidelines do not address the common clinical issue of the proper management of antithrombotic drugs that the patient has been taking up to the time of diagnosis of the cSDH. Whether antithrombotic treatment should be stopped or continued depends on whether the concern about spontaneous or postoperative intracranial bleeding, and a presumably higher rate of progression or recurrence, with continued medication outweighs the concern about a possibly higher rate of thrombotic complications if it is stopped. METHODS: In this article, we review publications from January 2015 to October 2020 addressing the issue of the management of antithrombotics in patients with cSDH that were retrieved by a selective search in the Pubmed and EMBASE databases, and we present the findings of a cohort study of 395 patients who underwent surgery for cSDH consecutively between October 2014 and December 2019. RESULTS: The findings published in the literature are difficult to summarize concisely because of the heterogeneity of study designs. Among the seven studies in which a group of patients on antithrombotics was compared with a control group, four revealed significant differences with respect to the risk of thromboembolic complications depending on previous antithrombotic use and the duration of discontinuation, while three others did not. In our own cohort, discontinuation of antithrombotics (including both plasmatic and antiplatelet drugs) was associated with thrombotic complications in 9.1% of patients. CONCLUSION: These findings imply that the management of antithrombotics should be dealt with critically on an individual basis. In patients with cSDH who are at elevated risk, an early restart of antithrombotic treatment or even an operation under continued antithrombotic therapy should be considered.

Empagliflozin does not change cardiac index nor systemic vascular resistance but rapidly improves left ventricular filling pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: In the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial (Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial) treatment with the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin significantly reduced heart failure hospitalization (HHF) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and established cardiovascular disease. The early separation of the HHF event curves within the first 3 months of the trial suggest that immediate hemodynamic effects may play a role. However, hitherto no data exist on early effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on hemodynamic parameters and cardiac function. Thus, this study examined early and delayed effects of empagliflozin treatment on hemodynamic parameters including systemic vascular resistance index, cardiac index, and stroke volume index, as well as echocardiographic measures of cardiac function. METHODS: In this placebo-controlled, randomized, double blind, exploratory study patients with T2D were randomized to empagliflozin 10 mg or placebo for a period of 3 months. Hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters were assessed after 1 day, 3 days and 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were not different in the empagliflozin (n = 22) and placebo (n = 20) group. Empagliflozin led to a significant increase in urinary glucose excretion (baseline: 7.3 ± 22.7 g/24 h; day 1: 48.4 ± 34.7 g/24 h; p < 0.001) as well as urinary volume (1740 ± 601 mL/24 h to 2112 ± 837 mL/24 h; p = 0.011) already after one day compared to placebo. Treatment with empagliflozin had no effect on the primary endpoint of systemic vascular resistance index, nor on cardiac index, stroke volume index or pulse rate at any time point. In addition, echocardiography showed no difference in left ventricular systolic function as assessed by left ventricular ejections fraction and strain analysis. However, empagliflozin significantly improved left ventricular filling pressure as assessed by a reduction of early mitral inflow velocity relative to early diastolic left ventricular relaxation (E/e') which became significant at day 1 of treatment (baseline: 9.2 ± 2.6; day 1: 8.5 ± 2.2; p = 0.005) and remained apparent throughout the study. This was primarily attributable to reduced early mitral inflow velocity E (baseline: 0.8 ± 0.2 m/s; day 1: 0.73 ± 0.2 m/sec; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Empagliflozin treatment of patients with T2D has no significant effect on hemodynamic parameters after 1 or 3 days, nor after 3 months, but leads to rapid and sustained significant improvement of diastolic function. Trial registration EudraCT Number: 2016-000172-19; date of registration: 2017-02-20 (clinicaltrialregister.eu).

Detection of Acute Changes in Left Ventricular Function by Myocardial Deformation Analysis after Excessive Alcohol Ingestion.

BACKGROUND: The effects of acute excessive alcohol ingestion on echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular (LV) function are unclear. METHODS: One hundred ninety-nine healthy subjects (44 ± 5 years, 71% male) were prospectively examined within 6 hours after excessive alcohol ingestion as well as after 4 weeks with strict alcohol abstinence. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and follow-up for conventional parameters (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], transmitral E and A Doppler flow velocities, E/A ratio, tissue Doppler velocity lateral and septal (é), E/é ratio, deceleration time of E, and isovolumic relaxation time) and myocardial deformation data (such as global radial and global and layer-specific circumferential [endo and epi global CS] and longitudinal [endo and epi global LS] strain). Multivariate regression was used to assess the impact of independent variables on echocardiographic parameters. RESULTS: Alcohol levels were 1.2 ± 0.3 g/L at the time of drinking cessation. After alcohol ingestion endo CS (30% ± 2% vs 37% ± 3%, P = .008) and endo LS (27% ± 4% vs 33% ± 3%, P = .002) were significantly lower at baseline versus follow-up. Blood pressure, LVEF and heart rate, and other echocardiographic parameters did not differ between the two examinations. Alcohol levels were modestly, negatively associated with change in endo CS and endo LS (r = -0.54, 95% CI, -0.63 to -0.43, P < .001; and r = -0.26, 95% CI, -0.39 to -0.14; P < .003, respectively). Alcohol levels were the strongest predictor for endo CS (ß = -4.84; 95% CI, -6.31 to -3.37) and endo LS (ß = -2.50; 95% CI, -4.32 to -0.68). CONCLUSIONS: Acute alcohol ingestion effects endocardial CS and LS, suggesting an acute and transient toxic effect on myocardial deformation, an effect that remains undetected by conventional echocardiographic parameters. The current findings may help clinicians to gain more understanding into the mechanism of developing an alcohol cardiomyopathy and to detect early persistent alcohol-induced myocardial disturbances for an effective therapy in time to prevent harm.

Detection of coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women: the significance of integrated stress imaging tests in a 4-year prognostic study.

BACKGROUND: The present prospective study investigated whether a combined approach integrating two different stress imaging modalities may improve the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic impact of non-invasive coronary artery disease (CAD) tests in postmenopausal women. In women non-invasive tests for detecting CAD are less accurate than in men, leading to a high proportion of unnecessary coronary angiographies (CAs). METHODS: 424 consecutive postmenopausal women (mean 61 ± 7 years, mean Reynolds Risk Score 13 ± 3 %) with symptoms suggestive of CAD were prospectively included and followed up for 4 ± 1 years. Each patient underwent CA, stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) by adenosine, dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) within 7 ± 3 days. RESULTS: Anatomically obstructive coronary artery disease (≥50 % diameter stenosis) was present in 157 women (37 %). The combination of two stress imaging modalities significantly increased the positive predictive values (PPV) to 90 ± 3, 88 ± 3 and 87 ± 2 % for CMR/DSE, DSE/SPECT and CMR/SPECT, respectively. For patients with negative combined test results, the survival analysis showed a 4-year cumulative event-free survival rate of 96-97 % for all combinations. This new approach is cost effective due to the resulting reduction in unnecessary CAs (with potential side effects and corresponding therapies) as well as reducing hospitalization time. CONCLUSIONS: In symptomatic postmenopausal women, combination of two negative stress imaging results significantly increases the PPV for detection of CAD and excludes future cardiovascular events with high accuracy. This approach may be applied to improve the prognostic precision of non-invasive CAD tests and to avoid unnecessary CAs.

Closure of a paravalvular leak with real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for accurate sizing and guiding.

Although closure of paravalvular leaks with Amplatzer occluders has been described in patients with increased perioperative risk, beneficial outcomes have not been consistently reported. Recent reports have described real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) for facilitated guidance of the closure procedure. However, they did not focus on the critical issue of defect sizing. We report a case in which 3D TEE with off-line analysis of images to generate en face views of the mitral valve dehiscence allowed a simplified interrogation and definition of defect dimensions. 3D TEE was used for selection of the device size. The improved sizing was an important means to prevent device embolization as well as secure complete defect closure. Surprises with regard to the device size or the ability to anchor the device in a stable position were reduced.

Thirty-day outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with surgical valve replacement in patients with high-risk aortic stenosis: a matched comparison.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a therapeutic alternative to surgery for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis in high-surgical risk patients. The aim of this study was to compare 30-day mortality of high-risk patients treated by TAVI versus surgical aortic valve replacement. METHODS: A total of 175 patients (60 men; mean age, 80±6 years; Euroscore 21±13%) having undergone TAVI were compared with 175 matched patients (76 men; mean age, 79±3 years; Euroscore 17±9%), which have undergone conventional aortic valve replacement and were deemed to be high-risk patients by the cardiothoracic surgeons. Thirty-day mortality and major adverse events were recorded in both groups. Patients' characteristics were analyzed for predictors of mortality in the TAVI group. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (12%) in the TAVI group and 13 patients (8%) in the surgical group died within 30 days of the procedure (P=0.165). Two patients (1%) in the TAVI group and one patient (0.5%) in the conventional surgery group had a major stroke (P=1.0). Seven patients (4%) in the TAVI group and 25 patients (14%) in the conventional surgery group required dialysis post procedure (P=0.0013). The average length of stay in the intensive care unit was lower in the TAVI group compared with the conventional surgical group (3.3±3.1 vs. 6.6±10.5 days; P<0.001). Age was the only independent predictor of mortality in the TAVI group (odds ratio=1.009; 95% confidence interval: 1.001-1.018 per additional year; P=0.0186) and in the total study population (odds ratio=1.007; 95% confidence interval: 1.001-1.013 per additional year; P=0.0186). CONCLUSION: In high-surgical risk patients, TAVI can be performed at a mortality risk comparable with conventional surgery with a reduced length of post interventional intensive care unit stay and less need for dialysis.

[Echocardiography in interventional mitral valve reconstruction]. / Echokardiographische Diagnostik bei interventioneller Mitralklappenrekonstruktion.

Interventional treatment of mitral insufficiency has recently become possible on a limited basis. The developed percutaneous procedures aim at minimizing the trauma in high-risk surgical candidates. Echocardiography has a major role in the preinterventional evaluation, during the interventional procedure, and in the postinterventional follow-up. The preinterventional analysis is focused on the assessment of valvular morphology and mitral insufficiency severity. This allows definition of patients potentially treatable by percutaneous therapy as well as the most suitable interventional approach. During interventional treatment, echocardiography is used as the integral tool to guide the procedure and for immediate assessment of the obtained therapeutic effect. Immediately post intervention, echocardiography should be performed to define the obtained status, allowing detection of subsequent changes in left ventricular function and mitral insufficiency severity.

[Idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia - a diagnostic challenge]. / Die chronische idiopathische eosinophile Pneumonie - eine diagnostische Herausforderung.

CASE REPORT: A 43-year-old woman with clinical signs of a febrile respiratory infection with cough and dyspnea despite several antecedent antibiotic treatments was admitted to hospital because of persistent bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. DIAGNOSIS, THERAPY, AND COURSE: In the diagnostic work-up, the most striking laboratory abnormality was an eosinophilia of 31% within the differential blood count. Specimen obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage showed an abnormally high level of eosinophils as well. In the absence of other known causes of an eosinophilic pulmonary disease the diagnosis of idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia was made. After initiation of corticosteroid medication the abnormal laboratory results, the clinical signs, and the radiologic findings almost completely normalized within 1 week. CONCLUSION: If an apparent pneumonia fails to respond to conventional antibiotic treatment, a blood eosinophil count should be obtained. If blood eosinophils are abnormally high, diagnosis of idiopathic acute or chronic eosinophilic pneumonia should be considered and confirmed by demonstrating an excess of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Due to prognostic and therapeutic consequences idiopathic acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia should be distinguished from one another. A rapid response to glucocorticoid therapy supports the diagnosis. In order to avoid relapses, patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia have to complete a 6-month treatment.