Clinical Results of Left Atrial Appendage Closure with Watchman Device in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: In patient with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), over 90% of thrombus accumulation originates in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Warfarin significantly reduces risk of stroke. However, long-term anticoagulant therapy is associated with a significant risk of major bleeding, particularly in elderly. Transcatheter occlusion of left atrial appendage with Watchman device has proved to be non-inferior to warfarin in preventing stroke in non-valvular AF patients. No previous report of transcatheter occlusion of LAA was found in Thailand OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short-term results of left atrial appendage closure with the Watchman® device in patient with non-valvular AF performed at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between November 2012 and December 2014, 12 consecutives patients underwent percutaneous transcatheter left atrial appendage closure. Data included patient's characteristics, embolic risk factors, bleeding risk score, procedural finding, complications, in-hospital outcomes, and antithrombotic management were retrospectively reviewed RESULTS: Percutaneous LAA occlusion was successfully performed in all 12 patients. The mean age was 71.2 ± 8.1 years. The history of previous bleeding was seen in four patients (33%). All patients had good left ventricular systolic function. The mean CHADS2 score was 3.2 ± 1.3, the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.8 ± 1.6 and the mean HAS-BLED score was 2.5 ± 0.9. The average LAA orifice diameter was 21.7 ± 3.4 mm, and the median implant size was 27.0 mm. The compression ratio was 15.2 ± 6.2%. Three patients (25%) were performed under general anesthesia, nine patients (75%) were performed with local anesthesia. The averageprocedure time was 61.2 ± 18.5 minutes. The average fluoroscopy time was 6.8 ± 3.3 minutes. There was no device embolization or pericardial effusion. There was no periprocedural cerebral event, assess site bleeding, or death during hospital admission. Mild peridevice leak was observed in three patients (25%), and all had disappeared on TEE performed at the 45-day follow-up. The median length of stay was two days. CONCLUSION: The result of the present study showed that percutaneous LAA occlusion with the Watchman device was feasible and safe. The successfulness of the procedures and periprocedural complications were similar to standard in literature.

Reassessing heart failure therapy in Thailand: Patient insights and treatment outcomes from the Thai heart failure registry.

BACKGROUND: This research analyzed the demographics, management, and outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF) in Thailand. METHODS: The Thai Heart Failure Registry prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with HF from 36 hospitals in Thailand. Follow-up data were recorded at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. This study primarily focused on two outcomes: mortality and HF-related hospitalizations. RESULTS: The study included 2639 patients aged at least 18. Their mean age was 59.2 ± 14.5 years, and most were male (68.4%). Patients were classified as having HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, 80.7%), HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, 9.0%), or HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF, 10.3%). Guideline-directed medical therapy utilization varied. Beta-blockers had the highest usage (93.2%), followed by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (65.7%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (39.3%), angiotensin receptor blockers (28.2%), angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (16.1%), and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (8.0%). The study monitored a composite of mortality and HF incidents, revealing incidence rates of 11.74, 12.50, and 8.93 per 100 person-years for the overall, HFrEF, and HFmrEF/HFpEF populations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high guideline-directed medical therapy adherence, the Thai Heart Failure Registry data revealed high mortality and recurrent HF rates. These findings underscore limitations in current HF treatment efficacy. The results indicate the need for further investigation and improvements of HF management to enhance patient outcomes.

In-hospital and mid-term outcomes of stent implantation in patients with protected and unprotected left main coronary artery disease; King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital experiences.

BACKGROUND: Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA) disease is now uniformly treated with coronary artery by pass grafting (CABG). However some patients with LMCA disease did not receive CABG because of high operative risks as well as those who refused CABG Recent studies demonstrated the feasibility of stenting for LM stenosis, although data remain limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in-hospital and mid-term outcomes of using bare metal stent (BMS) and drug eluting stent (DES) in protected and unprotected left main coronary artery disease at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective, single-center study. The authors reviewed the outcomes of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention on left main coronary artery lesions in our hospital from July 2000 to August 2007. In-hospital data and clinical follow-up outcomes were analyzed and determined as in-hospital and mid-term mortality, major adverse cardiac event (MACE). RESULTS: In eight years the authors reviewed 64 consecutive protected and unprotected LMCA patients who underwent PCI with stent placement. Altogether left main coronary artery stents were successfully deployed in all patients. DES usage was 64%. Bifurcation technique for distal left main coronary artery was executed in 32 patients (50%), included single stent in 62 (97%), two stents in 2(3%). Final kissing ballon inflation was done in 14 (21.9%). In-hospital mortality was 4.7% (three patients), two patients died from cardiac origin. The total in-hospital major adverse cardiac event (MACE) was 4.7%. Clinical follow-up of 6 months was completed in 100% of patients. Fifty percent of patients had angiographic follow-up and in-stent restenosis rate was 9.7%. No further death was noted and MACE at 6 months was 9.4%. Moreover, overall mean and median follow-up period were 31 +/- 25 months (range, 6-93 months) and 26 months respectively. CONCLUSION: Stent Implantation was technically feasible and safely applied for the treatment ofprotected and unprotected left main coronary artery lesions in patients, with acceptable in-hospital and mid-term outcomes. More randomized and controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the long-term effects of stents for LMCA disease.

Feasibility, safety, and mid-term efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with severe heart failure and ventricular conduction delay: Chulalongkorn experience.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is a major and growing public health problem in developed and developing countries. Despite major advances in medical therapy, morbidity and mortality remain high. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been proposed as an adjunctive therapy in patients with drug-refractory heart failure and ventricular conduction delay. Short and long-term studies have demonstrated the clinical benefits of CRT. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to assess the feasibility, safety, and mid-term efficacy of CRT in patients with severe heart failure and ventricular conduction delay in the institute. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Ten patients with severe heart failure in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 35%, QRS duration >120 ms with left bundle branch block morphology received CRT At baseline, and 6 months after implantation, the following parameters were evaluated: NYHA class, QRS duration, LVEF N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) level, 6-minute walking distance, SF-36 quality-of-life (QOL) score, and number of heart failure visit. RESULTS: All clinical parameters improved significantly at 6 months. NYHA class decreased from 3.5 +/- 0.5 to 2.4 +/- 0.7 (p < 0.01). QRS duration decreased from 145 +/- 22 ms to 126 + 6 ms (p < 0.01). LVEF increasedfrom 21 +/- 6% to 31 +/- 12% (p < 0.01). NT-pro BNP level decreased from 2503 +/- 1953 pg/ml to 767 +/- 342 pg/ml (p < 0.01). The 6-minute walking distance increased from 153 +/- 122 m to 278 +/- 128 m (p < 0.01). QOL score improved from 66 +/- 14 to 98 +/- 25 (p < 0. 01). The number of heart failure visits was reduced from 3.8 +/- 3.7 per year to 0.5 +/- 0.8 visit per year (p < 0.01). Seventy percent of patients were free of heart failure visit for one year after implantation. One patient had sudden cardiac death eleven months after implantation. There was no procedure-related mortality. One patient had left ventricular lead dislodgement 3 months after implantation. CONCLUSION: In the present study, CRT was safe and effective in improving heart failure symptom, functional status, LV function, and quality of life. CRT also reduced heart failure hospitalization in the presented severe heart failure and ventricular conduction delay patients.

Depleted nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 levels are correlated with endothelial dysfunction in ß-thalassemia/HbE patients.

Mechanisms of vascular disorders in ß-thalassemia/HbE patients remain poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to determine the presence of endothelial dysfunction and its association with altered vascular mediators in this population. Forty-three ß-thalassemia/HbE patients without clinically documented vascular symptoms and 43 age-sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Endothelial function was assessed using flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) before and after administration of nitroglycerine (NTG). ß-Thalassemia/HbE patients showed a significant endothelial dysfunction using FMD. The percentage change in the brachial artery diameter before NTG was significantly lower in the thalassemia group compared to the control (5.0 ± 5.9 vs. 9.0 ± 4.0%, p < 0.01) while no significant differences after NTG (18.4 ± 8.3 vs. 17.8 ± 6.3%, p = 0.71). Plasma nitric oxide metabolites (NO x ) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were significantly decreased in ß-thalassemia/HbE (117.2 ± 27.3 vs. 135.8 ± 11.3 µmol/L, p < 0.01) and (701.9 ± 676.0 vs. 1374.7 ± 716.5 pg/mL, p < 0.01), respectively, while a significant elevation in soluble thrombomodulin levels in ß-thalassemia/HbE (3587.7 ± 1310.0 vs. 3093.9 ± 583.8 pg/mL, p = 0.028). NO x and PGE2 levels were significantly correlated with FMD (r = 0.27, p = 0.025) and (r = 0.35, p = 0.003), respectively. These findings suggest roles for endothelial mediators and a new mechanism underlying endothelial dysfunction in ß-thalassemia/HbE patients.

Feasibility and effectiveness of a novel vascular hemostatic device (Chula-clamp) after coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Chula-clamp is a newly hydraulic vascular hemostatic device. The advantages of the device are convenience, reusability, and lessen patient discomfort and vascular complication. Furthermore, the device is assembled with a recycled balloon inflator and other locally made components, which make it less expensive than other commercially available hemostatic devices. The present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of Chula-clamp with standard manual compression. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a prospective, quasi-randomized controlled clinical trial comparing effectiveness of Chula-clamp to conventional manual compression for attaining femoral artery hemostasis after coronary angiography (CAG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Effectiveness was determined by femoral vascular complications rate. The primary endpoint was severe femoral vascular complications (the formation of a groin hematoma, femoral artery thrombosis, pseudoaneurysm, and arteriovenous fistula). RESULTS: One hundred and forty patients scheduled for percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary angiogram in King Chulalongkorn Memorial hospital were enrolled (70 patients for each group). The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. There was no serious vascular complication detected in either group. In addition, there was no statistical difference in minor complications at the access site between the two groups. [e.g., swelling (1.4% in standard manual compression group vs. 2.9% in Chula-clamp, p = 0.56) and ecchymosis (8.57% in both groups)]. CONCLUSION: Chula-clamp, a novel hydraulic vascular hemostatic device, is feasible, safe, and effective for femoral artery hemostasis (after CA G or PCI via femoral artery). Its effectiveness is not different from standard manual compression.