Three to four years outcomes of the absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold versus second-generation drug-eluting stent: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis sought to evaluate the outcomes of absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) compared with second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) after 3 years, the approximate time of complete polymer bioresorption. BACKGROUND: BVS were found to be inferior to second-generation DES in early and mid-term outcomes with a higher rate of target vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI) and device thrombosis (DT). Improper implantation techniques and incomplete bioresorption of the poly-l-lactide (PLLA) polymer were sighted as possible reasons. METHODS: We conducted an electronic database search for all randomized control trials that compared absorb BVS to second-generation DES and reported outcomes of interest after 3 years of absorb BVS implantation. Assuming interstudy heterogeneity, a random-effects analysis was conducted with odds ratio as the effect size of choice to compare the event rates between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of four studies (n = 3,245, BVS = 2075, DES = 1,170) were included in the final analysis. Pooled analysis revealed that there was no difference between absorb BVS and second-generation DES with respect to target lesion failure (TLF) (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.73-2.07, p = 0.44), TV-MI (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.42-2.53, p = 0.95), target lesion revascularization (TLR) (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 0.77-3.33, p = 0.20) and definite/probable DT (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.10-5.07, p = 0.74). Also, there was no difference in cardiac mortality (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.22-1.94, p = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Between 3 and 4 years of follow-up, patients receiving absorb BVS did not have significantly different outcomes, in terms of TLF, TV-MI, TLR, DT, and cardiac mortality, compared to DES.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement versus surgical aortic valve replacement in low-surgical-risk patients: An updated meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low-surgical-risk patients. BACKGROUND: TAVR is proven to be safe and effective in patients with high- and intermediate-risk aortic stenosis. However, there is limited data on the safety and efficacy of TAVR in patients with low surgical risk. METHODS: We conducted an electronic database search of all published data for studies that compared TAVR to SAVR in low-surgical-risk patients (mean society for thoracic surgery [STS] score <4% and/or logistic EuroScore <10%) and reported on subsequent all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, stroke rates, and other outcomes of interest. Event rates were compared with a forest plot of odds ratio using a random-effects model assuming interstudy heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of seven studies (n = 6,293 patients; TAVR = 2,912; and SAVR = 3,381) were included in the final analysis. There was no significant difference between TAVR and SAVR in terms of all-cause mortality (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.50-1.36, I2 = 51%), cardiac mortality (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.32-1.02, I2 = 0%), new pacemaker implantation (OR = 3.11; 95% CI 0.58-16.60, I2 = 89%), moderate/severe paravalvular leak (PVL; OR 3.50; 95% CI 0.64-19.10, I2 = 54%) and rate of stroke (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.34-1.15, I2 = 39%) at 1-year follow-up. TAVR was found to have a significantly lower incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF; OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.10-0.24, I2 = 38%) as compared to SAVR. CONCLUSION: The results of our meta-analysis demonstrate similar rates of all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and stroke at 1-year follow-up in patients undergoing TAVR and SAVR. TAVR is associated with a lower incidence of AF relative to SAVR. However, there was a significantly higher incidence of PVL with TAVR compared to SAVR.

Orthogonal beam ballistic backscatter stimulated Raman microscopy.

When the axial gain length of a stimulated Raman microscope is less than about 40% of the emission wavelength significant dipole-like ballistic backscatter will occur. Here we analyze a scanning microscope configured with orthogonal water dipping pump and probe objectives that satisfies this criterion. The pump beam focus may be a Gaussian spot or a droplet Bessel beam which minimizes the secondary Bessel beam lobes and provides multiple simultaneous pump focal spot regions. Radial and linearly polarized pump beams enable backscattered polarized signals along both transverse axes of the probe beam. Low level Mie backscatter is the primary photon noise source which should enable rapid sub-wavelength resolution 3-dimensional imaging of label-free Raman contrast for in-vivo pathology, as well as, imaging physiologic concentrations of Raman labelled metabolites and drugs.

Adenoma detection in excellent versus good bowel preparation for colonoscopy.

GOAL: To determine whether Excellent bowel cleansing is superior to Good for the detection of adenomas. BACKGROUND: High quality colonoscopy requires Adequate bowel preparation. However, it is unknown whether adenoma detection differs between subcategories of Adequate cleansing. STUDY: We utilized a retrospective, cross-sectional study design to obtain data about patients undergoing colonoscopy at a single university center between August 31, 2011 and September 1, 2012. Primary outcome was adenoma detection rate (ADR), the percentage of patients with ≥1 adenoma. Secondary outcomes included adenomas per colonoscopy, adenoma distribution (proximal vs. distal), and detection of advanced adenomas, sessile serrated polyps (SSP), and cancer. RESULTS: The electronic medical record of 5113 consecutive colonoscopies with Good or Excellent preparation was queried for preparation quality, colonoscopy indication, demographics, medical history, and history of adenoma and colon cancer. Exclusion criteria were age below 18 years, inflammatory bowel disease, or familial polyposis. Adenoma detection was not superior with Excellent cleansing as compared with Good for ADR [respectively, 26% vs. 29%, odds ratio 0.97 (0.85, 1.11), P=0.618] or adenomas per colonoscopy [respectively, 0.437 vs. 0.499, incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.98 (0.90, 1.07), P=0.705]. Excellent cleansing demonstrated superior detection of SSPs [IRR 1.66 (1.14, 2.40), P=0.008] and advanced adenomas [IRR 1.37 (1.09, 1.72), P=0.007] but not colon cancer [odds ratio 0.286 (0.083, 0.985), P=0.0474]. CONCLUSIONS: ADR is not significantly different between the Adequate subcategories of Excellent and Good. However, Excellent cleansing is associated with superior detection of advanced adenomas and SSPs. If confirmed, achieving an Excellent preparation may improve colonoscopy performance in the proximal colon where SSPs primarily occur.

Successful treatment of early bioprosthetic mitral valve fusion in a patient on VA ECMO with balloon valvuloplasty via direct cannulation of pulmonary vein.

We present a case of a 57-year-old male who underwent bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (MVR) and developed postoperative cardiogenic shock requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) and Impella 5.5 (Abiomed) hemodynamic support.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection outcomes among pregnant vs. non-pregnant women.

AIMS: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has become increasingly recognized. It accounts for <1-4% of acute coronary syndrome presentations. Overall, however, it makes up over 40% of pregnancy-associated myocardial infarction. Furthermore, pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (P-SCAD) is described to have a greater degree of clinical manifestations, including left ventricular dysfunction, shock, and left main or multivessel involvement. The findings are disconcerting, though many studies evaluating P-SCAD are based on case series data or are single centre studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: The aim of this study was to evaluate a larger national dataset to evaluate the outcomes of SCAD and specifically P-SCAD in an attempt to better characterize the severity and clinical nature of this condition. To conduct this study, we analysed the National Readmission Database from January 2016 to December 2020. Propensity matching was done using the Greedy 1:1 method. Multivariate logistics and time-to-event Cox regression analysis models were built by including all confounders significantly associated with the outcome on univariable analysis with a cut-off P-value of 0.2. In multivariate regression analysis, P-SCAD patients had a non-propensity matched odds ratio (OR) of 0.21 (0.3-1.54, P = 0.123) of dying and a propensity matched OR of 0.11 (0.02-0.61, P = 0.012) of dying. Thirty-day readmission rate for P-SCAD was 15.8% (n = 93) and for non-pregnant spontaneous coronary artery dissection (NP-SCAD) was 11.2% (n = 2286); non-propensity matched OR for readmission for PSCAD patients was 1.68 (1.24-2.29, P = 0.001) and propensity matched OR was 3.39 (1.93-5.97, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Among hospitalized patient, P-SCAD was associated with similar clinical outcomes and reduced incidence of death when compared with NP-SCAD, though had higher rates of 30-day readmission. Larger-scale observational data will be needed to ascertain the true incidence of cardiovascular complications as it relates to P-SCAD.

Dronedarone-induced digoxin toxicity: new drug, new interactions.

Dronedarone is a relatively new antiarrhythmic drug approved for paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation. Dronedarone can inhibit P-glycoprotein-mediated digoxin clearance and increase steady-state digoxin level 2.5 times. It is important to closely monitor plasma digoxin levels or administer a lower loading dose of digoxin in patients taking dronedarone concomitantly. We report a case of digoxin toxicity in a patient taking concomitant dronedarone as a result of interaction between digoxin and dronedarone.

Comparing newer oral anti-platelets prasugrel and ticagrelor in reduction of ischemic events-evidence from a network meta-analysis.

The two newer antiplatelet drugs, prasugrel and ticagrelor have both been incorporated in various national guidelines and are both under consideration for approval or have already been approved by various drug regulatory authorities. Mortality benefits with clopidogrel were comparable to newer anti-platelets, and prasugrel had great anti-ischemic potency than ticagrelor. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials' databases for randomized controlled trials conducted between 1990 and 2012 that assessed clinical outcomes with prasugrel or ticagrelor. The comparator was standard dosage of clopidogrel. Outcomes assessed were the risk of all causes mortality, TIMI non-CABG major bleeding, and a composite of stent thrombosis, recurrent ischemia and serious recurrent ischemia in the intervention groups versus the comparator groups. Event rates were compared using a forest plot of relative risk using a random effects model (Mantel-Haenszel); and Odd's ratio was calculated in the absence of significant heterogeneity. Prasugrel was indirectly compared with ticagrelor using network meta-analysis. Four studies (total N = 34,126) met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Both drugs had improved mortality and greater risk of bleeding compared to clopidogrel; but outcomes were comparable for both (p = NS). However a composite of recurrent ischemic events, including rates of stent thrombosis (p = 0.045) was reduced to a modest degree with prasugrel compared with ticagrelor. This systematic review suggests greater clinical efficacy of both prasugrel and ticagrelor compared with clopidogrel and an indirect comparison indicates prasugrel may be more effective than ticagrelor for preventing stent thrombosis and recurrent ischemic events.

Access site bleeding after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Surgical aortic valve replacement improves morbidity and mortality in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis and is treatment of choice for symptomatic patients. As high, one-third of patients with severe AS are considered inoperable due to associated high surgical risk. Recently, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been demonstrated to improve survival, quality of life, and functional status in patients who are considered inoperable due to high risk of surgery. However, access site and non-access site bleeding are major procedural complications after TAVI and are associated with worse clinical outcomes. In this review, we systematically study the access site complication associated with TAVI and approaches that can minimize these complications.

Troponins in Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.

Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy was first described in Japan in 1990. The clinical presentation of Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is similar to an acute myocardial infarction with patients having chest pain, ST segment elevations on EKG and elevated cardiac biomarkers. In TCM, however, the elevation in cardiac enzymes is usually mild. We report a case of TCM where the patient had Troponin I elevation up to 42.3 ng/ml. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in which such high troponins have been reported in a patient with Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.

Operator Radiation Exposure During Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: The level of radiation exposure received by operators performing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is not well investigated. The aim of this study is to measure the amount of radiation received by operators performing transfemoral TAVR and to identify various patient and procedural characteristics associated with increased radiation exposure. Methods: Primary (operator 1) and secondary (operator 2) operators' equivalent radiation doses in micro Sieverts (µSv) were calculated prospectively using real-time radiation dosimeters for a total of 140 consecutive transfemoral TAVRs. Corresponding eye and thorax radiation exposures between the operators were compared. Associations between various patient and procedural characteristics and the radiation exposure were tested using the t-test and Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney rank-sum test with Monte Carlo estimation. Multivariable regression analysis was also conducted. Results: Operator 1 had significantly higher cumulative equivalent radiation exposure than operator 2 (86 µSv vs 38 µSv, p-value: <0.0001) which was consistent at the level of the thorax (67 µSv vs 22 µSv, p-value: <0.0001), but not at the level of the eye (16.5 µSv vs 15 µSv, p-value: 0.30). On multivariable analysis, patient obesity and intraprocedural complications were associated with higher radiation exposure to both operators. Ad hoc percutaneous coronary intervention led to excessive radiation exposure to the secondary operator. Conclusions: Transfemoral TAVR is associated with a modest amount of radiation exposure to operators and is significantly higher for the primary operator than for the secondary operator.

Dapagliflozin and Kidney Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 Infection: An Analysis of the DARE-19 Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients who were hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection are at high risk of AKI and KRT, especially in the presence of CKD. The Dapagliflozin in Respiratory Failure in Patients with COVID-19 (DARE-19) trial showed that in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, treatment with dapagliflozin versus placebo resulted in numerically fewer participants who experienced organ failure or death, although these differences were not statistically significant. We performed a secondary analysis of the DARE-19 trial to determine the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin on kidney outcomes in the overall population and in prespecified subgroups of participants defined by baseline eGFR. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: The DARE-19 trial randomized 1250 patients who were hospitalized (231 [18%] had eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2) with COVID-19 and cardiometabolic risk factors to dapagliflozin or placebo. Dual primary outcomes (time to new or worsened organ dysfunction or death, and a hierarchical composite end point of recovery [change in clinical status by day 30]), and the key secondary kidney outcome (composite of AKI, KRT, or death), and safety were assessed in participants with baseline eGFR <60 and ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. RESULTS: The effect of dapagliflozin versus placebo on the primary prevention outcome (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 1.10), primary recovery outcome (win ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.97 to 1.22), and the composite kidney outcome (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.50 to 1.07) were consistent across eGFR subgroups (P for interaction: 0.98, 0.67, and 0.44, respectively). The effects of dapagliflozin on AKI were also similar in participants with eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.29 to 1.77) and ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.37 to 1.29). Dapagliflozin was well tolerated in participants with eGFR <60 and ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of dapagliflozin on primary and secondary outcomes in hospitalized participants with COVID-19 were consistent in those with eGFR below/above 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Dapagliflozin was well tolerated and did not increase the risk of AKI in participants with eGFR below or above 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2.

Promoting Early Mobility in Patients After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: An Evidence-Based Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Aortic stenosis is prevalent among older adults and is commonly treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Both high- and low-risk patients benefit from early mobility and discharge after this procedure; however, hospital protocols to improve patient mobility and shorten hospital stays have not been systematically implemented. OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate a post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement protocol to standardize care and efficiently advance patients from the operating room to discharge. METHODS: A prospective pre-post design was used to evaluate the effect of the new standardized protocol on length of stay, timing of mobility, time spent in intensive care, and quality of life in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement between April 2019 and March 2020. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions included team-based education and integration of an evidence-based order set into the electronic health record. Education was provided to both patients and staff. RESULTS: At 6 months after implementation of the intervention, statistically significant improvements were observed in mean overall (5.26 vs 2.45 days; P = .001) and postprocedure (3.05 vs 2.16 days; P = .004) length of stay. No significant difference was found in performance on the 5-meter walk test. Quality of life improved in both groups from baseline to 30-day follow-up (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Implementation of the post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement protocol was associated with significant improvement in overall and postprocedure length of stay and improved quality of life. Additional work is needed to examine strategies to ensure safe next-day discharge.

A unique case of recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo (stress induced) cardiomyopathy is also known as broken heart syndrome or transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome. The clinical presentation, which mimics acute myocardial infarction, is preceded by intense emotional or physical stress. Recurrence of apical ballooning syndrome seems to be rare. We present a case of recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy precipitated by relatively mild physical stress. There was full recovery with conservative management. This suggests that there are presently unknown patient-specific characteristics that predispose patients to takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Protected Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) of Cabrol Type Anastomosis of Saphenous Vein Graft (SVG) to the Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA).

The use of percutaneous left ventricular assist devices (VAD) may minimize the risk of hemodynamic compromise during such high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and allow complete revascularization, thus improving outcomes. A good understanding of cardiac hemodynamics is essential in making informed decisions during such cases. A 61-year-old male with an extensive surgical cardiac history including a modified Cabrol type anastomosis with saphenous vein (SVG) conduits to two coronary arteries presented to our hospital with severe substernal chest discomfort and was noted to have diffuse ST depressions along with subtle ST elevations in lead aVR suggestive of diffuse sub-endocardial ischemia. Diagnostic coronary angiography revealed significant stenosis in the Cabrol type SVG grafts and we opted for a protected PCI using Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) support. A significant drop in the blood pressure was noted and despite trouble-shooting, the Impella arterial line tracing remained minimally pulsatile.​ A comprehensive understanding of circulatory support physiology was ultimately crucial in making an informed decision for a successful PCI outcome.

Venous Stent Migrating to the Right Heart Causing Severe Regurgitation.

Venous stent migration to the cardiopulmonary system is a rare but serious complication. Cardiopulmonary involvement has various presentations such as valvulopathy, acute heart failure, arrhythmias, endocarditis, and tamponade. The presenting symptoms depend on the eventual location of the stent in the heart or lungs, size of the stent, and valve involvement. Extracardiac dislodgement can be managed by catheter-directed extraction or proper deployment within the containing vessel or surgical extraction. Intracardiac stents may require open surgery to prevent life-threatening complications. We present an asymptomatic patient with stent migration that lead to severe tricuspid regurgitation and required tricuspid valve replacement.

Percutaneous Closure of the Patent Foramen Ovale on Right Ventricular Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Right ventricular infarction can precipitate severe right-to-left shunting and refractory hypoxia from a previously dormant patent foramen ovale. Right ventricle mechanical circulatory support and patent foramen ovale closure can play a crucial role in the treatment of hypoxia and right ventricular recovery. We report a case of successful percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure on right ventricle mechanical circulatory support in a patient with right ventricular shock. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among patients with connective tissue disease: Propensity match analysis.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is the hallmark of coronary artery disease (CAD) and CTD. There are reports of increased prevalence of CAD among patients with CTD such as Rheumatoid Arthritis. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the outcomes of PCI among patients with CTD. METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Database, patients that underwent PCI between 2007 and 2015 were identified using ICD-9-CM codes. Propensity match analysis with 1: 3 matching of patients with and without CTD was performed. Outcomes were acute kidney injury (AKI), access site complication (ASC), ventricular fibrillation (VF), cardiogenic shock (CS), Stroke, In-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay (LOS) compared between both groups. RESULT: We identified 17,422 patients with CTD and matched with 52, 266 patients without CTD. Patients were predominantly female (63.1%) and white (77.2%), with a mean age of 63 ± 12.1 years. AKI (8.3% vs. 6.6%, p < 0.001), ASC (3.2% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.01) and hospital stay (4.2 ± 4.8 vs. 3.8 ± 5.2, p < 0.001) were higher among patients with CTD. There was no statistically significant difference in rates of VF, CS, stroke, and In-hospital mortality among the two groups. However, in subgroup analysis, rates of VF were lower among patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (1.5% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CTD undergoing PCI have a higher rate of AKI, Access site complications, and prolonged hospital stay.

Mitraclip Plus Medical Therapy Versus Medical Therapy Alone for Functional Mitral Regurgitation: A Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy of MitraClip plus medical therapy versus medical therapy alone in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). FMR caused by left ventricular dysfunction is associated with poor prognosis. Whether MitraClip improves clinical outcomes in this patient population remains controversial. METHODS: We conducted an electronic database search of PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases for randomized control trials (RCTs) and observational studies with propensity score matching (PSM) that compared MitraClip plus medical therapy with medical therapy alone for patients with FMR and reported on subsequent mortality, heart failure re-hospitalization, and other outcomes of interest. Event rates were compared using a random-effects model with odds ratio as the effect size. RESULTS: Five studies (n = 1513; MitraClip = 796, medical therapy = 717) were included in the final analysis. MitraClip plus medical therapy compared to medical therapy alone was associated with a significant reduction in overall mortality (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.44-0.99, P = 0.04) and heart failure (HF) re-hospitalization rates (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.36-0.91, P = 0.02). There was reduced need for heart transplantation or mechanical support requirement (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.25-0.91, P = 0.02) and unplanned mitral valve surgery (OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.07-0.61, P = 0.004) in the MitraClip group. No effect was observed on cardiac mortality (P = 0.42) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: MitraClip plus medical therapy improves overall mortality and reduces HF re-hospitalization rates compared to medical therapy alone in patients with FMR.