Prophylactic LVAD for high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) is associated with poor prognosis. Medical therapy with afterload reduction, contractility optimization and systemic vasopressors often fails, and mechanical support is required. The aim of this study was to propose a strategy of prophylactic left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Between 2013 and 2019, 12 consecutive patients at high risk for PCS underwent cardiac surgery (valve surgery and/or coronary artery bypass grafting) with preplanned, prophylactic implantation of LVAD (CentriMag or Rotaflow). We reviewed patient characteristics and outcomes. RESULTS: Eight patients underwent a valve corrective surgery and seven patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Eleven of 12 patients had successful LVAD insertion, support and wean, and survival to hospital discharge. Left ventricular function was stable perioperatively and improved at follow-up. Patients required low doses of inotropic support and no patients required extracorporeal membranous oxygenation. Major complications included, prolonged mechanical ventilation (n = 7), intra-aortic balloon pump (n = 1), temporary dialysis (n = 2), stroke (n = 1), bleeding requiring reoperation (n = 3), infection requiring mediastinal washout (n = 1). At a mean follow-up of, 660 ± 460.6 days all patients had either NYHA Class 1 (n = 6) or 2 (n = 4). There were two late mortalities (after 1 year). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic LVAD is a viable technique in select cardiac surgery patients who are high-risk for postcardiotomy shock. Further prospective study is warranted.

Bidirectional Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient With Fulminant Myocarditis Secondary to Cardiac Sarcoidosis Mimicking Giant Cell Myocarditis.

Differentiating between sarcoidosis and giant cell myocarditis (GCM) based on clinical presentation is difficult. We present the case of a 57-year-old woman who was initially diagnosed with GCM based on endomyocardial biopsy. The patient was refractory to standard management for GCM and went on to develop bidirectional ventricular tachycardia, a finding suggestive of sarcoidosis. Unfortunately, the patient eventually needed cardiac transplantation. The explanted heart demonstrated cardiac sarcoidosis. Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia has not been demonstrated in GCM, and its presence may help in distinguishing between GCM and cardiac sarcoidosis.

La distinction entre la sarcoïdose et la myocardite à cellules géantes (MCG) fondée sur le tableau clinique est difficile. Nous présentons le cas d'une femme de 57 ans qui avait initialement reçu un diagnostic de MCG à la suite de la biopsie endomyocardique. Comme la MCG diagnostiquée chez la patiente était réfractaire à la prise en charge thérapeutique habituelle, elle a continué à souffrir de tachycardie ventriculaire bidirectionnelle, un signe évocateur de sarcoïdose. Malheureusement, la patiente a finalement eu besoin d'une transplantation cardiaque. Le cœur explanté a démontré une sarcoïdose cardiaque. Bien que la tachycardie ventriculaire bidirectionnelle n'ait pas été démontrée lors de MCG, sa présence peut aider à distinguer la MCG de la sarcoïdose cardiaque.

CCS/CHFS Heart Failure Guidelines: Clinical Trial Update on Functional Mitral Regurgitation, SGLT2 Inhibitors, ARNI in HFpEF, and Tafamidis in Amyloidosis.

In this update, we focus on selected topics of high clinical relevance for health care providers who treat patients with heart failure (HF), on the basis of clinical trials published after 2017. Our objective was to review the evidence, and provide recommendations and practical tips regarding the management of candidates for the following HF therapies: (1) transcatheter mitral valve repair in HF with reduced ejection fraction; (2) a novel treatment for transthyretin amyloidosis or transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis; (3) angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibition in patients with HF and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF); and (4) sodium glucose cotransport inhibitors for the prevention and treatment of HF in patients with and without type 2 diabetes. We emphasize the roles of optimal guideline-directed medical therapy and of multidisciplinary teams when considering transcatheter mitral valve repair, to ensure excellent evaluation and care of those patients. In the presence of suggestive clinical indices, health care providers should consider the possibility of cardiac amyloidosis and proceed with proper investigation. Tafamidis is the first agent shown in a prospective study to alter outcomes in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis. Patient subgroups with HFpEF might benefit from use of sacubitril/valsartan, however, further data are needed to clarify the effect of this therapy in patients with HFpEF. Sodium glucose cotransport inhibitors reduce the risk of incident HF, HF-related hospitalizations, and cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A large clinical trial recently showed that dapagliflozin provides significant outcome benefits in well treated patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%), with or without type 2 diabetes.

Stroke risk and atrial mechanical dysfunction in cardiac amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis is associated with poor prognosis, and patients with cardiac involvement have especially poor outcomes. Cardiac amyloidosis leads to higher rates of atrial arrhythmia and an increased risk of intracardiac thrombus formation. However, atrial mechanical dysfunction due to protein deposition in amyloidosis may lead to thrombus formation in the absence of atrial arrhythmia. We present a 42-year-old male patient with familial transthyretin amyloidosis who suffered an embolic stroke that originated from a left atrial appendage thrombus in the absence of any documented atrial fibrillation. This case highlights atrial mechanical dysfunction in patients with cardiac amyloidosis and the need to better stratify thrombotic risk in this population with integration of echocardiographic parameters and transesophageal echocardiography.

Prophylactic Right Ventricular Assist Device for High-Risk Patients Undergoing Valve Corrective Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular failure (RVF) after cardiac surgery is associated with poor outcomes. Treatment commonly consists of afterload reduction, contractility optimization, and systemic vasopressors. The aim of this study was to propose a novel strategy of prophylactic right ventricular assist device (RVAD) insertion during valve corrective surgery for patients at high risk for RVF. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2017, 10 consecutive patients at high risk for RVF (severe baseline right ventricular dysfunction or systemic pulmonary artery pressures) underwent valve reconstructive surgery with prophylactic RVAD insertion. We reviewed patient characteristics and outcomes. RESULTS: All 10 patients had successful RVAD insertion, support and wean, and survival to hospital discharge. Generally, the right ventricle showed echocardiographic evidence of worsening function perioperatively but recovery of function at the time of follow-up. Patients required minimal inotropic support, and no patients required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Major complications included prolonged mechanical ventilation (n = 4), metabolic encephalopathy (n = 1), and sternal wound infection (n = 2). At a mean follow-up of 445.1 ± 230.9 days, 7 of 8 patients had clinically New York Heart Association functional class 1 (n = 7), and 1 patient had New York Heart Association functional class 2 (n = 1). There were 2 late mortalities. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic RVAD insertion may be useful in supporting patients at high risk for RVF perioperatively when undergoing high-risk valve corrective surgery. Further investigation is warranted.

INTRODUCTION: L'insuffisance ventriculaire droite (IVD) après l'intervention chirurgicale au cœur est associée à une évolution médiocre. Le traitement consiste généralement dans la réduction de la postcharge, l'optimisation de la contractilité et les vasopresseurs systémiques. L'objectif de la présente étude était de proposer une nouvelle stratégie d'implantation d'un dispositif d'assistance ventriculaire droite (DAVD) à visée prophylactique durant l'intervention de correction valvulaire chez les patients exposés à un risque élevé d'IVD. MÉTHODES: Entre 2014 et 2017, 10 patients consécutifs exposés à un risque élevé d'IVD (dysfonction initiale grave du ventricule droit ou pressions artérielles pulmonaires systémiques) ont subi une intervention de reconstruction valvulaire accompagnée de l'implantation d'un DAVD à visée prophylactique. Nous avons passé en revue les caractéristiques et l'évolution des patients. RÉSULTATS: Les 10 patients ont eu l'implantation d'un DAVD, l'assistance et le sevrage, et la survie jusqu'à la sortie de l'hôpital. Généralement, le ventricule droit montrait des signes échocardiographiques de détérioration de la fonction en phase périopératoire, mais un rétablissement de la fonction au moment du suivi. Les patients ont eu besoin d'un traitement inotrope minimal, mais aucun patient n'a eu besoin d'une oxygénation par membrane extracorporelle. Les principales complications étaient les suivantes : la ventilation mécanique prolongée (n = 4), l'encéphalopathie métabolique (n = 1) et l'infection de plaie sternale (n = 2). Au suivi moyen de 445,1 ± 230,9 jours, 7 des 8 patients étaient cliniquement dans la catégorie 1 selon la clase fonctionnelle de la New York Heart Association (n = 7), et 1 patient était dans la catégorie 2 selon la clase fonctionnelle de la New York Heart Association (n = 1). Le taux de mortalité tardive était de 2. CONCLUSION: L'implantation d'un DVAD à visée prophylactique peut être utile chez les patients exposés à un risque élevé d'IVD en phase périopératoire lorsqu'ils subissent une intervention de correction valvulaire à risque élevé. D'autres études sont justifiées.

2017 Comprehensive Update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure.

Since the inception of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society heart failure (HF) guidelines in 2006, much has changed in the care for patients with HF. Over the past decade, the HF Guidelines Committee has published regular updates. However, because of the major changes that have occurred, the Guidelines Committee believes that a comprehensive reassessment of the HF management recommendations is presently needed, with a view to producing a full and complete set of updated guidelines. The primary and secondary Canadian Cardiovascular Society HF panel members as well as external experts have reviewed clinically relevant literature to provide guidance for the practicing clinician. The 2017 HF guidelines provide updated guidance on the diagnosis and management (self-care, pharmacologic, nonpharmacologic, device, and referral) that should aid in day-to-day decisions for caring for patients with HF. Among specific issues covered are risk scores, the differences in management for HF with preserved vs reduced ejection fraction, exercise and rehabilitation, implantable devices, revascularization, right ventricular dysfunction, anemia, and iron deficiency, cardiorenal syndrome, sleep apnea, cardiomyopathies, HF in pregnancy, cardio-oncology, and myocarditis. We devoted attention to strategies and treatments to prevent HF, to the organization of HF care, comorbidity management, as well as practical issues around the timing of referral and follow-up care. Recognition and treatment of advanced HF is another important aspect of this update, including how to select advanced therapies as well as end of life considerations. Finally, we acknowledge the remaining gaps in evidence that need to be filled by future research.

The 2014 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Heart Failure Management Guidelines Focus Update: anemia, biomarkers, and recent therapeutic trial implications.

The 2014 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Heart Failure Management Guidelines Update provides discussion on the management recommendations on 3 focused areas: (1) anemia; (2) biomarkers, especially natriuretic peptides; and (3) clinical trials that might change practice in the management of patients with heart failure. First, all patients with heart failure and anemia should be investigated for reversible causes of anemia. Second, patients with chronic stable heart failure should undergo natriuretic peptide testing. Third, considerations should be given to treat selected patients with heart failure and preserved systolic function with a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist and to treat patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction with an angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor, when the drug is approved. As with updates in previous years, the topics were chosen in response to stakeholder feedback. The 2014 Update includes recommendations, values and preferences, and practical tips to assist the clinicians and health care workers to best manage patients with heart failure.

The prevalence of cardiac risk factors in women 45 years of age or younger undergoing angiography for evaluation of undiagnosed chest pain.

BACKGROUND: Relatively little is known about the prevalence of cardiac risk factors, the use of noninvasive testing and the medical management of younger women (younger than 45 years of age) undergoing evaluation for chest pain. OBJECTIVES: To determine the rate of angiographically critical coronary artery disease (CAD) in women under the age of 45 years who were sent for first-time evaluation of chest pain requiring cardiac catheterization, and to determine the prevalence of cardiac risk factors, the role of noninvasive testing and the quality of medical management in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on all female patients aged 45 years or younger from February 1997 to December 2000 (n=187) without prior known CAD referred for diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Chart information was studied, including catheterization results, cardiac risk factors, noninvasive testing done before catheterization (within six months) and medications at discharge. RESULTS: Angiographically critical CAD was found in 55 of 187 patients (29%), of whom 52% had single-vessel disease. One hundred twenty-one patients (65%) had completely normal coronary arteries. The most prominent cardiac risk factor for all study patients was a family history of premature CAD (67%), followed by smoking (55%) and dyslipidemia (55%). When compared with people without CAD, women with CAD had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (72% versus 47%, P=0.002), diabetes (29% versus 9%, P<0.001) and smoking (67% versus 50%, P=0.03). Noninvasive testing including exercise stress testing (calculated sensitivity of 44% and a specificity of 73%), and stress sestamibi scintigraphy (sensitivity of 67%, specificity of 30%) were both found to be poor predictors of those with CAD. Of all patients diagnosed as having critical CAD (n=55), 40% were discharged on an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, 73% on acetylsalicylic acid and 69% on a beta-blocker. CONCLUSIONS: The present study implies that younger women with CAD may have a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia, diabetes and smoking. The high percentage of women with minimally diseased or normal coronary arteries emphasizes the importance of confirmatory testing and poor use of noninvasive testing. The medical management of young women diagnosed with CAD is seemingly suboptimal, which may have important implications in later years of life.