Early use of intrapartum intra-aortic balloon pump support for haemodynamic stabilization of peripartum and anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy: a case report.

Background: Prior exposure to cardiotoxic cancer therapies has been associated with an increased risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). The management of PPCM in this population remains a clinical challenge. Few studies have explored the use of mechanical circulatory support in PPCM. We present a case of early implementation of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) therapy for acute stabilization and intrapartum support of PPCM. Case summary: A 36-year-old G4P2103 (4th pregnancy, two full-term, one premature birth, 0 abortions, and three living children) woman at 26 weeks and 5 days gestation with history of combined peripartum and anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy [previously left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 10-15% and recently 40-45%] presented with acute decompensated heart failure. Her clinical status deteriorated with a drop in LVEF to 15-20% with a significant increase in pulmonary pressures and worsening mitral regurgitation. A multidisciplinary decision with the cardio-obstetrics team was made to place a pulmonary artery catheter for invasive haemodynamic monitoring and IABP insertion prior to delivery. Intra-aortic balloon pump support had a profound immediate decrease in her systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance allowing for a successful repeat caesarean delivery. Her haemodynamics remained stable after IABP removal and pulmonary pressures improved. She was discharged one week following her delivery on guideline-directed medical therapy. Discussion: Our case highlights the use of prophylactic intrapartum IABP in combined anthracycline-induced and PPCM and begins to explore its safety and efficacy in this high-risk patient population.

Prediction of stent under-expansion in calcified coronary arteries using machine learning on intravascular optical coherence tomography images.

It can be difficult/impossible to fully expand a coronary artery stent in a heavily calcified coronary artery lesion. Under-expanded stents are linked to later complications. Here we used machine/deep learning to analyze calcifications in pre-stent intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) images and predicted the success of vessel expansion. Pre- and post-stent IVOCT image data were obtained from 110 coronary lesions. Lumen and calcifications in pre-stent images were segmented using deep learning, and lesion features were extracted. We analyzed stent expansion along the lesion, enabling frame, segmental, and whole-lesion analyses. We trained regression models to predict the post-stent lumen area and then computed the stent expansion index (SEI). Best performance (root-mean-square-error = 0.04 ± 0.02 mm2, r = 0.94 ± 0.04, p < 0.0001) was achieved when we used features from both lumen and calcification to train a Gaussian regression model for segmental analysis of 31 frames in length. Stents with minimum SEI > 80% were classified as "well-expanded;" others were "under-expanded." Under-expansion classification results (e.g., AUC = 0.85 ± 0.02) were significantly improved over a previous, simple calculation, as well as other machine learning solutions. Promising results suggest that such methods can identify lesions at risk of under-expansion that would be candidates for intervention lesion preparation (e.g., atherectomy).

Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) Estimation from OCT-Based CFD Simulations: Role of Side Branches.

The computational fluid dynamic method has been widely used to quantify the hemodynamic alterations in a diseased artery and investigate surgery outcomes. The artery model reconstructed based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images generally does not include the side branches. However, the side branches may significantly affect the hemodynamic assessment in a clinical setting, i.e., the fractional flow reserve (FFR), defined as the ratio of mean distal coronary pressure to mean aortic pressure. In this work, the effect of the side branches on FFR estimation was inspected with both idealized and optical coherence tomography (OCT)-reconstructed coronary artery models. The electrical analogy of blood flow was further used to understand the impact of the side branches (diameter and location) on FFR estimation. Results have shown that the side branches decrease the total resistance of the vessel tree, resulting in a higher inlet flowrate. The side branches located at the downstream of the stenosis led to a lower FFR value, while the ones at the upstream had a minimal impact on the FFR estimation. Side branches with a diameter larger than one third of the main vessel diameter are suggested to be considered for a proper FFR estimation. The findings in this study could be extended to other coronary artery imaging modalities and facilitate treatment planning.

A Feasibility Study of the DyeVert™ Plus Contrast Reduction System to Reduce Contrast Media Volumes in Percutaneous Coronary Procedures Using Optical Coherence Tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of using the DyeVert™ Plus EZ Contrast Reduction System in optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures and to assess OCT image quality. BACKGROUND: OCT is employed as a powerful intravascular imaging modality; however, it requires blood displacement via contrast injection during image acquisition, thereby posing risk of nephrotoxicity. The DyeVert System is designed to reduce and facilitate monitoring of contrast media volume (CMV) delivered, without diminishing image quality. METHODS: We conducted a prospective clinical feasibility study to determine whether the DyeVert System is non-inferior to manual contrast injection in reducing CMV without lessening image quality during OCT-guided PCI procedures. Eligible participants were ≥ 18 years of age, indicated for coronary OCT, and able to provide informed consent. The primary endpoint was CMV saved during angiography; the secondary endpoint was image quality as evaluated by operators in real time and by an independent core laboratory that also assessed images from a control group that underwent comparable procedures performed without the DyeVert System. RESULTS: Fourteen participants underwent 15 coronary OCT procedures using the DyeVert System. Mean age among participants was 67 ± 11 years, and 11 (78%) were male. Mean eGFR was 71 ± 20 mL/min/1.73m2. Mean attempted CMV administration was 342.01 ± 129.8 mL; mean CMV delivered was 216.21 ± 88.87 mL, representing CMV savings of 37.5 ± 5.3%. Results from quantified OCT analysis suggest that the clear region of interest (ROI) in the DyeVert group was non-inferior (p < .0001) to the control group. There were no device-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The DyeVert™ Plus EZ Contrast Reduction System reduced CMV and preserved an image quality that was non-inferior to OCT-guided PCI procedures without using the contrast reducing device.

Associations of cigarette smoking and burden of thoracic aortic calcification in asymptomatic individuals: A dose-response relationship.

Smoking is known as a powerful predictor of pathological coronary atherosclerosis. Thoracic aortic calcification (TAC), an alternative marker for pathological atherosclerosis, has also been shown to be associated unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes. We aimed to investigate the dose-response relationship between cigarette use and calcification burden in subjects free from clinical symptoms. Among 3109 patients enrolled in this analysis, we categorized study participants according to smoking exposure pattern as: non-smokers, ex-smokers and current smokers. Smoking dose (cigarette/day), duration (years) and pack-years were semi-quantified as smoking dose exposure variables. Thoracic aortic calcification burden (including TAC score, plaque volume and plaque density) were determined and related to smoking dose and pattern information. TAC burdens (including TAC score, plaque volume and density) were highest in current smoker compared to non-smoker group, with ex-smoker showing TAC burdens in-between (all ANOVA p<0.05). Linear regression models consistently demonstrated that TAC burdens as continuous variables were independently higher in a dose-dependent manner with smoking exposure, particularly in high-dose (> 10 cigarettes/day) and the long-duration (> 3 years) smokers, even after adjusting for baseline demographic differences (all p<0.05). By logistic regression, subjects who never smoke consistently demonstrated reduced risk of TAC existence (adjusted OR: 0.65 [95% CI: 0.48-0.86], P = 0.003) in contrary to those current smokers (adjusted OR: 1.47 [95% CI: 1.10-1.89], P = 0.009). A dose-response relationship between active cigarette use and TAC burden was observed, with those who never exposed to smoking or quitted demonstrating partial protective effects. Our data provided imaging-based evidence about the potential deleterious biological hazards of long-term and high-dose cigarette consumption.

SLICR super-voxel algorithm for fast, robust quantification of myocardial blood flow by dynamic computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging.

We created and evaluated a processing method for dynamic computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) of myocardial blood flow (MBF), which combines a modified simple linear iterative clustering algorithm (SLIC) with robust perfusion quantification, hence the name SLICR. SLICR adaptively segments the myocardium into nonuniform super-voxels with similar perfusion time attenuation curves (TACs). Within each super-voxel, an α-trimmed-median TAC was computed to robustly represent the super-voxel and a robust physiological model (RPM) was implemented to semi-analytically estimate MBF. SLICR processing was compared with another voxel-wise MBF preprocessing approach, which included a spatiotemporal bilateral filter (STBF) for noise reduction prior to perfusion quantification. Image data from a digital CT-MPI phantom and a porcine ischemia model were evaluated. SLICR was ∼ 50 -fold faster than voxel-wise RPM and other model-based methods while retaining sufficient resolution to show clinically relevant features, such as a transmural perfusion gradient. SLICR showed markedly improved accuracy and precision, as compared with other methods. At a simulated MBF of 100 mL/min-100 g and a tube current-time product of 100 mAs (50% of nominal), the MBF estimates were 101 ± 12 , 94 ± 56 , and 54 ± 24 mL / min - 100 g for SLICR, the voxel-wise Johnson-Wilson model, and a singular value decomposition-model independent method with STBF, respectively. SLICR estimated MBF precisely and accurately ( 103 ± 23 mL / min - 100 g ) at 25% nominal dose, while other methods resulted in larger errors. With the porcine model, the SLICR results were consistent with the induced ischemia. SLICR simultaneously accelerated and improved the quality of quantitative perfusion processing without compromising clinically relevant distributions of perfusion characteristics.

Effect of Pericardial Fat Volume and Density on Markers of Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by ectopic fat deposition, a persistent inflammatory state, and increased cardiometabolic risk. In this secondary analysis of a placebo controlled trial of rosuvastatin among 147 HIV+ subjects (median age 46; 78% men) on stable antiretroviral therapy, we aimed to evaluate longitudinal associations between computed tomography (CT) measures of pericardial fat (PCF) volume and density, insulin resistance, and inflammation. We measured PCF volume and density (mean attenuation in Hounsfield units) by noncontrast gated CT at baseline and week 96. Homeostatic model of insulin resistance was calculated from fasting insulin and glucose at entry, 24, 48, and 96 weeks. At baseline, insulin resistance correlated positively with PCF volume and negatively with density. Similarly divergent correlations of volume and density were observed with waist:hip ratio, nadir CD4+ count, and duration of antiretroviral therapy. In a linear mixed model, PCF density was associated with insulin resistance independent of PCF volume, body mass index, metabolic syndrome, and biomarkers of immune activation and systemic inflammation; however, baseline PCF measures were not associated with longitudinal changes in insulin resistance. Soluble CD163, a marker of monocyte activation, positively correlated with PCF volume and was associated with insulin resistance in linear models. Statin treatment assignment did not affect PCF volume or density change (both p > 0.8). In conclusion, the quantity and quality (i.e., radiodensity) of PCF are differentially related to insulin resistance and inflammation in patients with treated HIV infection.

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.

Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography for Left Atrial Appendage Closure.

Atrial fibrillation is prevalent and percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is increasingly performed worldwide. This procedure is technically challenging and the success and procedural complexities depend on anatomy of the LAA and surrounding structures. These are readily depicted on cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA), which offers unique imaging planes. CCTA allows not only preplanning anatomic LAA assessment, but can also be used to evaluate for pre-existing LAA thrombus, and done postprocedure for surveillance for device-related thrombus, residual leak, and complications. In this article, we review the practical utility of CCTA for LAA closure.

The association among MDCT-derived three-dimensional visceral adiposities on cardiac diastology and dyssynchrony in asymptomatic population.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adipose tissue, a biologically active fat depot, has been proposed as a reliable marker for visceral adiposity and metabolic abnormalities. Effects of such adiposity on LV diastolic function and dyssynchrony remained largely unknown. METHODS: We assessed pericardial fat (PCF) and thoracic peri-aortic fat (TPAF) by three-dimensional (3D) volume-vender multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) (Aquarius 3D Workstation, TeraRecon, San Mateo, CA, USA). Echo-derived diastolic parameters and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) defined mitral annular systolic (S'), early diastolic (E') velocities as well as LV filling (E/E') were all obtained. Intra-ventricular systolic (Sys-D) and diastolic (Dias-D) dyssynchrony were assessed by TDI method. RESULTS: A total of 318 asymptomatic subjects (mean age: 53.5 years, 36.8 % female) were eligible in this study. Greater PCF and TPAF were both associated with unfavorable diastolic indices and higher diastolic dyssynchrony (all p < 0.05). These associations remained relatively unchanged in multi-variate models. PCF and TPAF set at 81.68 & 8.11 ml yielded the largest sensitivity and specificity (78.6 and 60 % for PCF, 75 and 66.6 % for TPAF, respectively) in predicting abnormally high LV diastolic dyssynchrony, which was defined as Dias-D≧55 ms. CONCLUSION: Increasing visceral adiposity may be associated with adverse effects on myocardium, primarily featured by worse diastolic function and greater degree of dyssynchrony.

Longitudinal Geographic Miss (LGM) in Robotic Assisted Versus Manual Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (RA-PCI) versus manual PCI (M-PCI) on the incidence of Longitudinal Geographic Miss (LGM). BACKGROUND: The safety and feasibility of RA-PCI has been established in preclinical animal trials and human clinical trials. Patients with LGM have been shown to have worse clinical outcomes including significantly increased incidences of MACE. METHODS: Patients with significant coronary artery disease underwent RA-PCI in the PRECISE study (n=164) and standard M-PCI in the STLLR trial (n = 1,509). Longitudinal geographic miss was defined as cases where the entire length of the injured or stenotic segment was not fully covered by the total length of the stent. The incidence of LGM was compared between RA-PCI and M-PCI cohorts. RESULTS: The RA-PCI cohort had a significantly greater prevalence of previous MI, previous coronary revascularization, and unstable angina. The robotic cohort exhibited a lower incidence of LGM when compared to the M-PCI patients, 12.2% to 43.1%, respectively (P < 0.0001). To account for the differences in baseline characteristics between the two studies, a propensity score analysis was conducted. The propensity modeling showed similar rates of LGM in both a larger group of patients that met key PRECISE study inclusion/exclusion criteria adjusted for propensity score (9.3% vs 55.0%; P < 0.0001) and in a smaller, matched on propensity score, subset of patients (10.3% vs 64.1%; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted PCI had significantly lower incidence of LGM compared to standard M-PCI. Reducing LGM potentially improves long-term clinical outcomes through reduction in MACE.

Comparison of Outcomes of Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Using a Minimally Invasive Versus Conventional Strategy.

Some centers, mostly in Europe, have demonstrated the feasibility of a minimally invasive strategy (MIS; i.e., local anesthesia and conscious sedation, performed in the cath laboratory without transesophageal echocardiography guidance). Nonetheless, the experience of MIS for TAVI using both commercially available valves is lacking in the United States. We, therefore, retrospectively studied all transfemoral TAVI cases performed at our institution between March 2011 and November 2014 to assess the safety and efficacy of MIS. Patients were dichotomized according to the strategy (MIS vs conventional strategy [CS]) used for the procedure. One hundred sixteen patients were included in the MIS group and 91 patients were included in the CS group. Baseline characteristics were similar, and procedural success was comparable (99.1% in MIS and 98.9% in CS, p = 1). One intraprocedural death occurred in each group, whereas conversion rates to general anesthesia were low (3.4%). Comparable device success was obtained. Rates of complications and >mild paravalvular leak before discharge were low and comparable. Length of hospital stay was significantly reduced in the MIS (median, 3.0 [2.0 to 5.0] days) compared with than that in CS group (median 6.0 days [3.5, 8.0]). At a median follow-up of 230 days, no significant difference in survival rate was detected (89% vs 88%, p = 0.9). On average, MIS was associated with remarkable cost saving compared with CS ($16,000/case). In conclusion, TAVI through MIS was associated with a shorter postprocedural hospital stay, lower costs, and similar safety profile while keeping procedural efficacy compared with CS.

Differences determined by optical coherence tomography volumetric analysis in non-culprit lesion morphology and inflammation in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and stable angina pectoris patients.

BACKGROUND: While the current methodology for determining fibrous cap (FC) thickness of lipid plaques is based on manual measurements of arbitrary points, which could lead to high variability and decreased accuracy, it ignores the three-dimensional (3-D) morphology of coronary artery disease. OBJECTIVE: To compare, utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessments, volumetric quantification of FC, and macrophage detection using both visual assessment and automated image processing algorithms in non-culprit lesions of STEMI and stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients. METHODS: Lipid plaques were selected from 67 consecutive patients (1 artery/patient). FC was manually delineated by a computer-aided method and automatically classified into three thickness categories: FC < 65 µm (i.e., thin-cap fibroatheroma [TCFA]), 65-150 µm, and >150 µm. Minimum thickness, absolute categorical surface area, and fractional luminal area of FC were analyzed. Automated detection and quantification of macrophage was performed within the segmented FC. RESULTS: A total of 5,503 cross-sections were analyzed. STEMI patients when compared with SAP patients had more absolute categorical surface area for TCFA (0.43 ± 0.45 mm(2) vs. 0.15 ± 0.25 mm(2) ; P = 0.011), thinner minimum FC thickness (31.63 ± 17.09 µm vs. 47.27 ± 26.56 µm, P = 0.012), greater fractional luminal area for TCFA (1.65 ± 1.56% vs. 0.74 ± 1.2%, P = 0.046), and greater macrophage index (0.0217 ± 0.0081% vs. 0.0153 ± 0.0045%, respectively, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The novel OCT-based 3-D quantification of the FC and macrophage demonstrated thinner FC thickness and larger areas of TCFA coupled with more inflammation in non-culprit sites of STEMI compared with SAP.

Optical coherence tomography of the intracranial vasculature and Wingspan stent in a patient.

A 67-year-old man with medically refractory vertebrobasilar insufficiency and short segment occlusions of the intracranial vertebral arteries was treated with angioplasty and stent placement. Fifteen hours after the procedure the patient developed symptoms of posterior fossa ischemia and repeat angiography showed thrombus formation within the stent which was treated with thrombolytic and aggressive antiplatelet therapy. Angiography revealed lysis of the clot, but concerns regarding the mechanism of the thrombotic phenomenon prompted frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) assessment. FDOCT provided excellent visualization of the stent and vessel wall interactions, as well as excluding residual flow-limiting stenosis, obviating the need for further intervention. The potential utility of FDOCT in the evaluation of intracranial atherosclerotic disease and additional intracranial applications are discussed.

Left ventricular restoration devices.

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling results in continuous cardiac chamber enlargement and contractile dysfunction, perpetuating the syndrome of heart failure. With current exhaustion of the neurohormonal medical paradigm, surgical and device-based therapies have been increasingly investigated as a way to restore LV chamber architecture and function. Left ventricular restoration has been attempted with surgical procedures, such as partial left ventriculectomy, surgical ventricular restoration with or without revascularization, and devices, such as the Acorn CorCap, the Paracor HeartNet, and the Myocor Myosplint. Whereas all these techniques require surgical access, with or without cardiopulmonary bypass, a newer ventricular partitioning device (VPD) called Parachute, can be delivered percutaneously through the aortic valve. Designed to achieve LV restoration from within the ventricle, this VPD partitions the LV by isolating aneurysmal from normal myocardium thereby diminishing the functioning cavity. This review aims to critically appraise the above methods, with particular attention to device-based therapies.