Assessment of Adult Patients with Long COVID Manifestations Suspected as Cardiovascular: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Persistent symptoms affect a subset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors. Some of these may be cardiovascular (CV)-related. Objective: To assess the burden of objective CV morbidity among, and to explore the short-term course experienced by, COVID-19 patients with post-infectious symptomatology suspected as CV. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective analysis of consecutive adult patients with new-onset symptoms believed to be CV following recovery from COVID-19, who had been assessed at a dedicated 'Cardio'-COVID clinic between June 2020 and June 2021. All participants were followed for 1 year for symptomatic course and the occurrence of new CV diagnoses and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: A total of 96 patients (median age 54 (IQR, 44-64) years, 52 (54%) females) were included in the final analysis. Initial visits occurred within a median of 142 days after the diagnosis of acute COVID. Nearly all (99%) patients experienced a symptomatic acute illness, which was graded as severe in 26 (27%) cases according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria. Long-COVID symptoms included mainly dyspnea and fatigue. While the initial work-up was mostly normal, 45% of the 11 cardiac magnetic resonance studies performed revealed pathologies. New CV diagnoses were made in nine (9%) patients and mainly included myocarditis that later resolved. An abnormal spirometry was the only variable associated with these. No MACE were recorded. Fifty-two (54%) participants felt that their symptoms improved. No association was found between CV morbidity and symptomatic course. Conclusions: In our experience, long-COVID symptoms of presumed CV origin signified actual CV disease in a minority of patients who, irrespective of the final diagnosis, faced a fair 1-year prognosis.

Comparison of Simultaneous Transthoracic Versus Transesophageal Echocardiography for Assessment of Aortic Stenosis.

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the gold standard for aortic stenosis (AS) assessment. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides better resolution, but its effect on AS assessment is unclear. To answer this question, we studied 56 patients with ≥moderate AS. Initial TTE (TTE1) was followed by conscious sedation with simultaneous TEE and TTE2. Based on conservative versus actionable implication, AS types were dichotomized into group A, comprising moderate and normal-flow low-gradient, and group B, comprising high gradient, low ejection fraction low-flow low-gradient, and paradoxical low-flow low-gradient AS. Paired analysis of echocardiographic variables and AS types measured by TEE versus TTE2 and by TEE versus TTE1 was performed. TEE versus simultaneous TTE2 comparison demonstrated higher mean gradients (31.7 ± 10.5 vs 27.4 ± 10.5 mm Hg) and velocities (359 ± 60.6 vs 332 ± 63.1 cm/s) with TEE, but lower left ventricular outflow velocity-time-integral (VTI1) (18.6 ± 5.1 vs 20.2 ± 6.1 cm), all p <0.001. This resulted in a lower aortic valve area (0.8 ± 0.21 vs 0.87 ± 0.28 cm2), p <0.001, and a net relative risk of 1.86 of group A to B upgrade. TEE versus (awake state) TTE1 comparison revealed a larger decrease in VTI1 because of a higher initial awake state VTI1 (22 ± 5.6 cm), resulting in similar Doppler-velocity-index and aortic valve area decrease with TEE, despite a slight increase in mean gradients of 0.8 mm Hg (confidence interval -1.44 to 3.04) and velocities of 10 cm/s (confidence interval -1.5 to 23.4). This translated into a net relative risk of 1.92 of group A to B upgrade versus TTE1. In conclusion, TEE under conscious sedation overestimates AS severity compared with both awake state TTE and simultaneous sedation state TTE, accounted for by different Doppler insonation angles obtained in transapical versus transgastric position.

Temporal Trends Analysis of the Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes of Women With Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS): ACS Israeli Survey Registry 2000-2016.

Background Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death among women. Despite improvements in the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), women with an ACS remain at higher risk. Methods and Results We performed a time-dependent analysis of the management and outcomes of women admitted with ACS who enrolled in the prospective biennial ACS Israeli Surveys between 2000 and 2016. Surveys were divided into 3 time periods (2000-2004, 2006-2010, and 2013-2016). Outcomes included 30-day major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, stent thrombosis, urgent revascularization) and 1-year mortality. Overall, 3518 women were admitted with an ACS. Their mean age (70±12 years) was similar among the time periods. Over the time course of the study, more women were admitted with non-ST-elevation ACS (51.9%, 59.6%, and 66.1%, respectively; P<0.001), and statins and percutaneous coronary intervention were increasingly utilized (66%, 91%, 93%, and 42%, 60%, and 68%, respectively; P<0.001 for each). Among women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, more primary percutaneous coronary interventions were performed (48.5%, 84.7%, and 95.3%, respectively; P<0.001). The rate of 30-day major adverse cardiac events has significantly decreased over the years (24.6%, 18.6%, and 13.5%, respectively; P<0.001). However, 1-year mortality rates declined only from 2000 to 2004 (16.9%, 12.8%, and 12.3%; P=0.007 for the overall difference), and this change was not significant after propensity matching or multivariate analysis. Conclusions Over more than a decade, 30-day major adverse cardiac events have decreased among women with ACS. Advances in pharmacological treatments and an early invasive approach may have accounted for this improvement. However, the lack of further reduction in 1-year mortality rates among women suggests that more measures should be provided in this high-risk population.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Aortic Stenosis under Sedation Underestimates Stenosis Severity.

BACKGROUND: Sedation can impact aortic stenosis (AS) classification, which depends on left ventricular ejection fraction (<≥ [less than or greater than and/or equal to] 50%), aortic valve area (AVA<≥ 1 cm2), mean pressure gradient (<≥ 40 mm Hg), peak velocity <≥ 400 cm/sec, and stroke volume index (SVI <≥35 mL/m2). We compared AS classification by transthoracic echo (TTE) during wakefulness versus sedation. METHODS: Immediately following a baseline TTE performed during wakefulness, another TTE was done during sedation delivered for a concomitant transesophageal study in 69 consecutive patients with AS (mean age 78 ± 7 years, 32 males). AVA was calculated through the continuity equation using the relevant hemodynamic parameters measured by each TTE study and same left ventricular outflow tract. AS class was defined as moderate, severe high gradient (HG), low ejection fraction low flow low gradient (LF-LG), paradoxical LF-LG (PLFLG), and normal flow low gradient (NF-LG). Based on conservative versus invasive treatment implication, AS classes were aggregated into group A (moderate AS and NFLG) and group B (HG, low-EF LF-LG, and PLFLG). RESULTS: During sedation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 14.3 ± 29 and 8 ± 22 mm Hg, respectively, mean pressure gradient from 30.4 ± 10.9 to 27.2 ± 10.8 mm Hg, peak velocity from 345.3 ± 57.7 to 329.3 ± 64.8 cm/m2, and SVI from 41.5 ± 11.3 to 38.3 ± 11.8 mL/m2 (all P < .05). Calculated AVA was similar (delta = -0.009 ± 0.15 cm2). Individual discrepancies in hemodynamic parameters between the paired TTE studies resulted in an overall 17.4% rate of AS intergroup misclassification with sedation, with a relative risk of 1.09 of downgrade misclassification from group B to A versus upgrade misclassification (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Sedation TTE assessment downgrades AS severity in a significant proportion of patients, with a conversely smaller proportion of patients being upgraded, and therefore cannot be a substitute for wakefulness assessment.

Iliofemoral artery lumen volume assessment with three dimensional multi-detector computed tomography and vascular complication risk in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) carries a risk of Vascular Complications (VCs) at the access site. The currently used measures for assessing the risk for VCs are not accurate enough, and sometimes fail to predict them. We therefore aimed to examine whether Iliofemoral artery lumen volume (IFV) assessment with 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT) predicts VCs after transfemoral TAVR. METHODS: We identified 45/560 trans-femoral TAVR patients with VC, then performed nearest neighbor 1:1 matching for patients with no VC, matching for age, sex, TAVR year, valve size and type, closure-device, sheath size and peripheral vascular disease. IFV, minimal diameter, tortuosity, and calcification were measured, and their diagnostic performance assessed. RESULTS: The final analysis included 45 patients with and 45 patients without VCs. The two groups were well balanced. For all patients, median IFV was 8.65 ml (IQR 6.5-11.95). IFV was lower in patients with VC compared to patients without VC: 7.10 ml (IQR 5.4-9.0) vs. 10.10 ml (IQR 8.3-13.3), p < 0.001. VC risk had marginal association with iliofemoral artery minimal diameter (p = 0.06) and no association with tortuosity or calcification. Compared with other measurements, IFV had the most favorable receiver operating curve for the prediction of VC, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78. CONCLUSION: IFV measurement using 3-dimensional CT is significantly associated with VCs in transfemoral TAVR patients and might be superior to currently accepted parameters. IFV should be further studied among extended cohorts of TAVR treated patients as a novel tool for VC risk assessment prior to transfemoral TAVR.

Online Angiography Image-Based FFR Assessment During Coronary Catheterization: A Single-Center Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the diagnostic performance of angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRangio) measurements in patients with stable coronary artery disease when used online in the catheterization laboratory during routine coronary angiography. BACKGROUND: FFR, an index of the hemodynamic severity of coronary stenosis, is derived from invasive measurements using a pressure-monitoring guidewire and hyperemic stimulus. While FFR is the gold standard, it remains under-utilized. FFRangio may have several advantages owing to the reduced operator time, no wire-related or procedural complications, and no need for administration of vasodilators. METHODS: FFRangio is a novel technology that uses a patient's hemodynamic data and routine angiograms to generate FFR values at each point along the coronary tree. We present the online application of the system where FFRangio was successfully used in the catheterization laboratory during routine coronary angiography and compared to invasive FFR. Fifty-three patients (79% men) and 60 coronary lesions were analyzed. RESULTS: Values derived using FFRangio ranged from 0.58-0.96 and correlated closely (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r=0.91; P<.001) with the invasive FFR measurements (range, 0.52-0.97). The 95% limits of agreement between invasive and non-invasive FFR ranged from -0.065 to 0.07 using Bland-Altman analysis. For an FFR cut-off value of 0.80, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of FFRangio were 86%, 100%, and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of using the online application of the FFRangio system. In this single-center experience, FFRangio values showed high correlation rates to invasive FFR.

The evolving role of percutaneous ventricular assist devices in high-risk cardiac patients.

The Impella is a mechanical circulatory support device that supports ventricular function. Since 2008, when the first Impella device received Food and Drug Administration clearance, its use has become increasingly prevalent. A variety of Impella devices are available, and are differentiated by size, power, and insertion techniques. These versions of the Impella have been used in a multitude of clinical scenarios, both emergent and elective, including high-risk coronary interventions, acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock, decompensated left and right heart failure, high-risk ventricular tachycardia ablations, and aortic valvuloplasty. However, the available evidence supporting its use is less than robust, primarily consisting of case reports and registries, with a limited number of randomized-controlled trials comparing the Impella with the intra-aortic balloon pump. Although these trials show that the Impella provides better hemodynamic support compared with the intra-aortic balloon pump, they failed to show a survival benefit for the Impella. This finding may have a number of explanations, foremost the inherent difficulty of selecting appropriate patients for trials that are conducted in extreme clinical settings. In this study, we discuss the mechanism of the Impella and the different types of Impella devices available, and review the medical literature for evidence of its efficacy in treating cardiac patients. Although the Impella has become ubiquitous in certain markets, such as in the USA, it has yet to be a part of the standard of care for patients in Israel.

Case Report of First Angiography-Based On-Line FFR Assessment during Coronary Catheterization.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR), an index of the hemodynamic severity of coronary stenoses, is derived from hyperemic pressure measurements and requires a pressure-monitoring guide wire and hyperemic stimulus. Although it has become the standard of reference for decision-making regarding coronary revascularization, the procedure remains underutilized due to its invasive nature. FFRangio is a novel technology that uses the patient's hemodynamic data and routine angiograms to generate a complete three-dimensional coronary tree, with color-coded display of the FFR values at each point along the vessels. After being proven to be as accurate as invasive FFR measurements in an off-line study, this case report presents the first on-line application of the system in the catheterization lab. Here too, a high concordance between FFRangio and invasive FFR was observed. In light of the demonstrated capabilities of the FFRangio system, it should emerge as an important tool for clinical decision-making regarding revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease.

Incremental Value of Transesophageal Echocardiography Integrated with Transthoracic Echocardiography in the Assessment of Aortic Stenosis Severity.

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the standard method for evaluating the severity of aortic stenosis (AS), while transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is useful for morphologic characterization. The study aim was to assess the impact of complementary TEE to TTE in refining hemodynamic assessment of AS severity. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of sequential TTE and TEE studies performed in 100 patients with moderate or severe AS confirmed on prior TTE. The left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) velocity-time-integral (VTI1) and the aortic valve velocity-time integral (VTI2) were measured for both modalities. The highest values of VTI1 and VTI2 and mean gradients and peak velocities were selected from the sequential TTE/TEE study for indexed aortic valve area (AVAi) calculation and AS severity determination through an integrated assessment. RESULTS: AVAi determined by TTE was not significantly different from that determined by TEE (mean difference -0.008 cm2; p = 0.38). The dimensionless velocity index (DVI) was higher when assessed by TTE than by TEE (mean difference 0.0126 ± 0.04; p = 0.003). Using the integrated AS assessment, six of 13 patients with a TTE-based diagnosis of moderate AS were re-classified as severe AS. A slight lowering of the recommended TTE-derived DVI threshold for severe AS, from 0.25 to 0.24, improved the ability to discriminate moderate versus severe AS, as determined by the integrated assessment. CONCLUSIONS: TEE integrated with TTE may improve the detection of severe AS, particularly in patients with moderate AS criteria assessed by TTE, but with a DVI ratio ≤0.24.

Transcatheter Replacement of Failed Bioprosthetic Valves: Large Multicenter Assessment of the Effect of Implantation Depth on Hemodynamics After Aortic Valve-in-Valve.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter valve implantation inside failed bioprosthetic surgical valves (valve-in-valve [ViV]) may offer an advantage over reoperation. Supra-annular transcatheter valve position may be advantageous in achieving better hemodynamics after ViV. Our objective was to define targets for implantation that would improve hemodynamics after ViV. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cases from the Valve-in-Valve International Data (VIVID) registry were analyzed using centralized core laboratory assessment blinded to clinical events. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of elevated postprocedural gradients (mean ≥20 mm Hg). Optimal implantation depths were defined by receiver operating characteristic curve. A total of 292 consecutive patients (age, 78.9±8.7 years; 60.3% male; 157 CoreValve Evolut and 135 Sapien XT) were evaluated. High implantation was associated with significantly lower rates of elevated gradients in comparison with low implantation (CoreValve Evolut, 15% versus 34.2%; P=0.03 and Sapien XT, 18.5% versus 43.5%; P=0.03, respectively). Optimal implantation depths were defined: CoreValve Evolut, 0 to 5 mm; Sapien XT, 0 to 2 mm (0-10% frame height); sensitivities, 91.3% and 88.5%, respectively. The strongest independent correlate for elevated gradients after ViV was device position (high: odds ratio, 0.22; confidence interval, 0.1-0.52; P=0.001), in addition to type of device used (CoreValve Evolut: odds ratio, 0.5; confidence interval, 0.28-0.88; P=0.02) and surgical valve mechanism of failure (stenosis/mixed baseline failure: odds ratio, 3.12; confidence interval, 1.51-6.45; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: High implantation inside failed bioprosthetic valves is a strong independent correlate of lower postprocedural gradients in both self- and balloon-expandable transcatheter valves. These clinical evaluations support specific implantation targets to optimize hemodynamics after ViV.

Acute Gain in Minimal Lumen Area Following Implantation of Everolimus-Eluting ABSORB Biodegradable Vascular Scaffolds or Xience Metallic Stents: Intravascular Ultrasound Assessment From the ABSORB II Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The study compared, by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), acute gain (AG) at the site of the pre-procedural minimal lumen area (MLA) achieved by either the Absorb (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) scaffold or the Xience stent and identified the factors contributing to the acute performance of these devices. BACKGROUND: It is warranted that the acute performance of Absorb matches that of metallic stents; however, concern exists about acute expansion and lumen gain with the use of Absorb. METHODS: Of a total of 501 patients (546 lesions) in the ABSORB II (ABSORB II Randomized Controlled Trial) randomized trial, 445 patients with 480 lesions were investigated by IVUS pre- and post-procedure. Comparison of MLA pre- and post-procedure was performed at the MLA site by matching pre- and post-procedural IVUS pullbacks. RESULTS: Lower AG on IVUS (lowest tertile) occurred more frequently in the Absorb arm than in the Xience arm (3.46 mm(2) vs. 4.27 mm(2), respectively; p < 0.001; risk ratio: 3.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.94 to 4.76). The plaque morphology at the MLA cross-section was not independently associated with IVUS acute gain. The main difference in AG in MLD by angiography was observed at the time of device implantation (Xience vs. Absorb, Δ+1.50 mm vs. Δ+1.23 mm, respectively), whereas the gain from post-dilation was similar between the 2 arms (Δ+0.16 mm vs. Δ+0.16 mm) when patients underwent post-dilation, although expected balloon diameter was smaller in the Absorb arm than in the Xience arm (p = 0.003) during post-dilation. CONCLUSIONS: At the site of the pre-procedural MLA, the increase of the lumen post-procedure was smaller in the Absorb-arm than in the Xience arm. To achieve equivalent AG to Xience, the implantation of Absorb may require more aggressive strategies at implantation, pre- and post-dilation than the technique used in the ABSORB II trial. (ABSORB II Randomized Controlled Trial [ABSORB II]; NCT01425281).

Mortality prediction following transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A quantitative comparison of risk scores derived from populations treated with either surgical or percutaneous aortic valve replacement. The Israeli TAVR Registry Risk Model Accuracy Assessment (IRRMA) study.

BACKGROUND: Accurate risk stratification is pivotal for appropriate selection of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis for either surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to determine whether recent risk prediction models developed specifically in TAVR patients enhance prognostication in comparison with previous surgical scores used in clinical practice (EuroScore I, EuroScore II, STS). METHODS: The Israeli TAVR Registry Risk Model Accuracy Assessment (IRRMA) study utilized a multicenter prospective TAVR database (n=1327) to perform a quantitative comparison between previous risk scores developed in either surgical or TAVR populations, with the present registry serving as an independent external validation set. RESULTS: In the IRRMA population, 4 variables (NYHA functional class IV, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, systolic pulmonary artery pressure ≥60mmHg, vascular access other than by the femoral route) identified by cross-validation and leave-one-out analyses provided the most discriminative model (C-statistic=0.63) for predicting 30-day mortality. Previous scores developed in surgical (EuroScores I and II, STS), TAVR (FRANCE-2, OBSERVANT), or mixed (German AV score) populations were applied to the IRRMA cohort. Resultant C-statistics ranged between 0.52-0.71 (for the German AV and FRANCE-2 scores, respectively) and did not differ significantly (p=0.07 for the comparison between the lowest and highest C-statistics). The observed C-statistic for 5 of these 6 scores was lower than originally reported when applied to the IRRMA population. CONCLUSION: Available TAVR risk scores showed limited accuracy when applied to an independent validation set and did not enhance prognostication in comparison to previous surgical scores.

Insights from 2D and 3D Quantitative Angiographic Assessment of Bioresorbable Everolimus-Eluting Vascular Scaffolds.

BACKGROUND: Bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) is a promising technology that potentially offers several advantages over contemporary coronary drug-eluting stents (DES). Crucial to BVS implantation is the correct choice of scaffold size (diameter and length) in order to avoid "geographic miss" in length, provide the maximal support to the vessel wall, and avoid leaving "free-floating" foreign material in the coronary vasculature. OBJECTIVES: To assess the optimal method for measuring coronary stenosis prior to BVS implantation. METHODS: We compared the performance of two quantitative coronary angiography assessment (QCA) techniques: two dimensional real-time QCA (2D-QCA) and offline 3D QCA (3D-QCA) for the evaluation of coronary lesions in patients enrolled in a multicenter randomized controlled trial of BVS vs. metallic stents, by calculating the weighted kappa value for agreement regarding optimal BVS size with the reference method - CoreLab offline 2D-QCA measurements..In addition, we collected 2 year clinical outcomes (death/myocardial infarction/repeat revascularization/scaffold thrombosis) in BVS-implanted patients. RESULTS: In 17 patients with available CoreLab data, the weighted kappa for agreement for 3D-QCA was significantly better than for 2D-QCA (0.90, 95%CI 0.72-1.00 vs. 0.439, 95%CI 0.16-0.77). The rate of clinical events at 2 years was low (9.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Initial experience in a small group of carefully selected patients at our institution, suggests that the use of BVS for coronary revascularization is associated with a low rate of adverse events in suitable patients. 3D-QCA may be superior to 2D-QCA analysis in terms of reproducibility, and results in more patients receiving optimal size BVS.

Sex-based differences in bleeding and long term adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction: three year results from the HORIZONS-AMI trial.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown sex-based disparities in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) management and prognosis. We sought to compare women and men undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI in a large, prospective, contemporary context. METHODS: The Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) trial randomized 3,602 patients (23.4% women and 76.6% men) with STEMI presenting within 12 hr of onset of symptoms to bivalirudin or heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and to PCI with drug-eluting or bare metal stents. RESULTS: Compared with men, women presented later after symptom onset and were more often treated with medical management alone (6.9% vs. 4.7%; P = 0.01). Women had significantly higher rates of 3-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and major bleeding. After adjusting for baseline differences, female sex remained an independent predictor of major bleeding (hazard ratio [HR] 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41-2.33; P < 0.0001) but not of MACE (HR 1.09; 95% CI 0.91-1.32; P = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that women with STEMI are at increased risk of bleeding as compared to men. While female sex may not directly contribute to increased risk of MACE, it is, however, associated with the presence of comorbidities that increase the risk of ischemic events long-term. Further dedicated studies are needed to confirm these findings and to assess strategies to optimize both the initial emergent treatment and long-term management in this high-risk subset. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comprehensive prospective cognitive and physical function assessment in elderly patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is occasionally associated with stroke and silent cerebral ischemia, which may affect cognitive and functional performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in cognitive performance and functional status following TAVI. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive prospective functional, cognitive and quality of life (QOL) evaluation in consecutive patients who underwent TAVI using the CoreValve device (Medtronic Inc.). The evaluation was performed at baseline and 1 month after the procedure and included the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey for QOL assessment, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), quantitative clock drawing test (Rouleau), color trails test, Cognistat evaluation, Barthel Index and Duke Activity Status Index. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients completed the full pre- and post-TAVI evaluation. Mean age was 82.2 ± 4.2 years (52.8% men); 94.5% of patients had low functional class (New York Heart Association III/IV), and 13.9% had prior stroke. After the procedure, all patients had improved functional status and valve hemodynamics. At 1 month, there was a significant improvement in the MMSE and Cognistat evaluations (from 25.9 ± 3.3 to 27.6 ± 2.4, p < 0.001, and from 5 ± 1 to 5.7 ± 0.7, p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results of a comprehensive assessment of patients undergoing TAVI indicate favorable results for both functional performance and cognitive function early after the procedure.

The prognostic utility of the SYNTAX score on 1-year outcomes after revascularization with zotarolimus- and everolimus-eluting stents: a substudy of the RESOLUTE All Comers Trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the ability of the SYNTAX score (SXscore) to stratify risk in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using zotarolimus-eluting or everolimus-eluting stents. BACKGROUND: The SXscore can identify patients treated with PCI who are at highest risk of adverse events. METHODS: The SXscore was calculated prospectively in 2,033 of the 2,292 patients enrolled in the RESOLUTE All Comers study (RESOLUTE III All Comers Trial: A Randomized Comparison of a Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent With an Everolimus-Eluting Stent for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention). Clinical outcomes in terms of a patient-oriented composite endpoint (POCE) of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and repeat revascularization; the individual components of POCE; target lesion failure (TLF) (a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel MI, and clinically driven target lesion revascularization); and stent thrombosis were subsequently stratified according to SXscore tertiles: SXscore(LOW) ≤ 9 (n = 698), 9 17 (n = 659). RESULTS: At 12-month follow-up, rates of POCE, MI, repeat revascularization, TLF, and the composite of death/MI were all significantly higher in patients in the highest SXscore tercile. Rates of stent thrombosis were all highest in the SXscore(HIGH) tertile (p > 0.05). After multivariate adjustment, the SXscore was identified as an independent predictor of POCE, MI, repeat revascularization, and TLF (p < 0.05 for all). At 12-month follow-up, the SXscore, ACEF score, and Clinical SXscore had C-statistics of 0.57, 0.78, and 0.67, respectively, for mortality and of 0.62, 0.56, 0.63, respectively, for POCE. No significant between-stent differences were observed for TLF or POCE in any of the SXscore tertiles. CONCLUSIONS: The SYNTAX score is able to stratify risk amongst an all-comers population treated with PCI with second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES); however, improvements can be made with the inclusion of clinical variables. (RESOLUTE III All Comers Trial: A Randomized Comparison of a Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent With an Everolimus-Eluting Stent for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; NCT00617084).

Influence of orthostatic hypotension on mortality among patients discharged from an acute geriatric ward.

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common finding among older patients. The impact of OH on mortality is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term effect of OH on total and cardiovascular mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 471 inpatients (227 males and 244 females), with a mean age of 81.5 years who were hospitalized in an acute geriatric ward between the years 1999 and 2000 were included in the study. Orthostatic tests were performed 3 times during the day on all patients near the time of discharge. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a fall of at least 20 mmHg in systolic blood pressure (BP) and/or 10 mmHg in diastolic BP upon assuming an upright posture at least twice during the day. Patients were followed until August 31, 2004. Mortality data were taken from death certificates. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-one patients (34.2%) experienced OH at least twice. Orthostatic hypotension had no effect on all cause and cause specific mortality. Over a follow-up of 3.47+/-1.87 years 249 patients (52.8%) had died 83 of whom (33.3%) had OH. Age-adjusted mortality rates in those with and without OH were 13.4 and 15.7 per 100 person-years, respectively. Cox proportional hazards model analysis demonstrated that male gender, age, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure increased and high body mass index decreased total mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Orthostatic hypotension is relatively common in elderly patients discharged from acute geriatric wards, but has no impact on vascular and nonvascular mortality.

Correlation between endocardial voltage mapping and myocardial perfusion: implications for the assessment of myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical studies using a non-fluoroscopic three-dimensional (3D) left ventricular (LV) mapping system suggested reduced endocardial voltage amplitudes measured in zones sustaining myocardial ischemia or infarction. However, the direct relationship between myocardial perfusion and endomyocardial voltage amplitudes has not been fully elucidated. METHODS: In a pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia (n = 20), LV endocardial unipolar voltage (UpV) mapping was performed using the Biosense 3D navigation system (Johnson and Johnson, Warren, New Jersey, USA) 4 weeks after ameroid constrictor placement around the left circumflex coronary artery. Echocardiography was used to assess regional changes in myocardial wall thickening (MT) and fluorescent microspheres (4 x 10/injection) were used to quantify rest regional myocardial blood flow (MBF) in ischemic (left circumflex) and remote non-ischemic (left anterior descending) regions. RESULTS: UpV measurements were reduced in ischemic compared to non-ischemic zones (9.9+/-3.3 compared with 13.3+/-3.3 mV, P = 0.03). This corresponded to changes in endocardial MBF and MT, which were both noted to be significantly reduced in the ischemic compared to the non-ischemic area (MBF, 0.50+/-0.16 compared with 0.74+/-0.15 ml/g per min, P = 0.001; MT, 26.1+/-12.0 compared with 37.4+/-10.1%, P=0.003). A positive linear correlation was found between UpV at rest and endomyocardial (but not epicardial) perfusion: UpV (mV) = 7.8+5.9xMBFendocardial (r = 0.32, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic myocardial ischemia, resulting in reduced perfusion and function at rest (that is, hibernating myocardium), is characterized by a significant reduction ( approximately 25%) in endocardial UpV potentials, which correlates with reduced endomyocardial blood flow and tissue perfusion at rest.

Validation of viability assessment by electromechanical mapping by three-dimensional reconstruction with dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with coronary artery disease.

We evaluated the ability of electromechanical mapping (EMM) to discriminate between normal, viable, and nonviable (scarred) myocardium in patients with coronary artery disease versus dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) when the correspondence between the test and reference data sets is established via a common 3-dimensional reconstruction of the left ventricle. We studied 21 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent angiography, biplane ventriculography, and EMM within 1 month of DSE. A 3-dimensional left ventricular (LV) reconstruction was prepared from the ventriculogram and spatially aligned with EMM. EMM measurements of unipolar voltage, bipolar voltage, and local linear shortening were projected onto the three-dimensional left ventricle, averaged in each of 16 segments, and compared with DSE viability (normal, viable, scar) assessed at a core laboratory. All of the EMM measurements varied significantly (p <0.001) between the normal, viable, and scarred myocardium as assessed by DSE. Local linear shortening for normal, viable, and scarred segments was 10.4 +/- 6.5%, 7.8 +/- 5.6%, and 4.8 +/- 4.4%, respectively. In discriminating between these 3 groups, local linear shortening was more powerful than unipolar voltage or bipolar voltage (F = 20.765, F = 10.655, F = 4.795, respectively). Local linear shortening correlated best with viability, perhaps because it shares the same cognitive function as DSE. Three-dimensional analysis provides an anatomic framework that enables direct comparison of data from multiple imaging modalities rather than assuming segmental correspondence. Our results show that EMM provides significant on-line, diagnostic information on myocardial viability assessed by DSE on a segment-by-segment basis.