Cardiac Function Before Sepsis and Clinical Outcomes.

This cohort study characterizes heterogeneity in cardiac function prior to sepsis and describes associations with hospitalization outcomes and mortality.

Improvement in electrocardiographic parameters of repolarization related to sudden death in patients with ventricular dysfunction and left bundle branch block after cardiac resynchronization through His bundle pacing.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) through permanent His bundle pacing (p-HBP) normalizes interventricular conduction disorders and QRS. Similarly, there are immediate and long-term changes in repolarization, which could be prognostic of a lower risk of sudden death (SD) at follow-up. We aimed to compare the changes in different electrocardiographic (ECG) repolarization parameters related to the risk of SD before and after CRT through p-HBP. METHODS: In this prospective, descriptive single-center study (May 2019 to December 2021), we compared the ECG parameters of repolarization related to SD in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, left bundle branch block (LBBB), and CRT indications, at baseline and after CRT through p-HBP. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were included. Compared to baseline, after CRT through p-HBP, there were immediate significant changes in the QT interval (ms): 445 [407.5-480] vs 410 [385-440] (p = 0.006), QT dispersion (ms): 80 [60-100] vs 40 [40-65] (p < 0.001), Tp-Te (ms): 90 [80-110] vs 80 [60-95] (p < 0.001), Tp-Te/QT ratio: 0.22 [0.19-0.23] vs 0.19 [0.16-0.21] (p < 0.001), T wave amplitude (mm): 6.25 [4.88-10] vs - 2.5 [- 7-2.25] (p < 0.001), and T wave duration (ms): 190 [157.5-200] vs 140 [120-160] (p = 0.001). In the cases of the corrected QT (Bazzett and Friederichia) and the Tp-Te dispersion, changes only became significant at 1 month post-implant (468.5 [428.8-501.5] vs 440 [410-475.25] (p = 0.015); 462.5 [420.8-488.8] vs 440 [400-452.5] (p = 0.004), and 40 [30-52.5] vs 30 [20-40] (p < 0.001), respectively) (Table 1). Finally, two parameters did not improve until 6 months post-implant: the rdT/JT index, 0.25 [0.21-0.28] baseline vs 0.20 [0.19-0.23] 6 months post-implant (p = 0.011), and the JT interval, 300 [240-340] baseline vs 280 [257-302] 6 months post-implant (p = 0.027). Additionally, most of the parameters continued improving as compared with immediate post-implantation. CONCLUSIONS: After CRT through His bundle pacing and LBBB correction, there was an improvement in all parameters of repolarization related to increased SD reported in the literature.

Conduction system pacing vs. biventricular pacing in patients with ventricular dysfunction and AV block.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether His-Purkinje conduction system pacing (HPCSP), as either His bundle or left bundle branch pacing, could be an alternative to cardiac resynchronization therapy (BiVCRT) for patients with left ventricular dysfunction needing ventricular pacing due to atrioventricular block. The aim of the study is to compare the echocardiographic response and clinical improvement between HPCSP and BiVCRT. METHODS: Consecutive patients who successfully received HPCSP were compared with a historical cohort of BiVCRT patients. Patients were 1:1 matched by age, LVEF, atrial fibrillation, renal function and cardiomyopathy type. Responders were defined as patients who survived, did not require heart transplantation and increased LVEF ≥5 points at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: HPCSP was successfully achieved in 92.5% (25/27) of patients. During follow-up, 8% (2/25) of HPCSP patients died and 4% (1/25) received a heart transplant, whereas 4% (1/25) of those in the BiVCRT cohort died. LVEF improvement was 10% ± 8% HPCSP versus 7% ± 5% BiVCRT (p = .24), and the percentage of responders was 76% (19/25) HPCSP versus 64% (16/25) BiVCRT (p = .33). Among survivors, the percentage of patients who improved from baseline II-IV mitral regurgitation (MR) to 0-I MR was 9/11 (82%) versus 2/8 (25%) (p = .02). Compared to those with BiVCRT, patients with HPCSP achieved better NYHA improvement: 1 point versus 0.5 (OR 0.34; p = .02). CONCLUSION: HPCSP in patients with LVEF ≤45% and atrioventricular block improved the LVEF and induced a response similar to that of BiVCRT. HPCSP significantly improved MR and NYHA functional class. HPCSP may be an alternative to BiVCRT in these patients. (Figure 1. Central Illustration). [Figure: see text].

Usefulness of Multisite Ventricular Pacing in Nonresponders to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment for heart failure patients with myocardial dysfunction and delayed ventricular activation, but approximately 25% to 40% of patients do not respond to CRT. Left ventricular (LV) multisite pacing (MSP) has been proposed as a tool to improve CRT response. The goal of this study is to examine the safety and efficacy of LV MSP in CRT nonresponders. Between January 2018, and September 2019, the Strategic Management to Improve CRT Using Multi-Site Pacing trial prospectively enrolled 584 CRT-defibrillator recipients for established indications at 52 sites across the United States and evaluated their response at 6 months using the clinical composite score (CCS). Of the nonresponders, 102 patients had the LV MSP feature turned on and 78 patients completed the 12-month CCS evaluation. The LV MSP feature-related complication-free rate was 99.0% with a lower 95% confidence interval limit of 94.9%, which was higher than the performance goal of 90%. The proportion of nonresponders with an improved CCS from 6 to 12 months was 51.3% with a lower 95% confidence interval limit of 41.4%, which was higher than the performance goal of 5%. The estimated mean reduction in battery longevity with the LV MSP feature was about 3.6 months (estimated battery longevity of 8.87 ± 2.08 years at 6 months and 8.07 ± 2.23 years at 12 months). In conclusion, in CRT nonresponders, the use of the LV MSP feature is safe and associated with a ∼50% conversion rate with a small projected reduction in CRT-defibrillator battery longevity. LV MSP should be considered in the management of CRT nonresponders.

Atrial Fibrillation-Mediated Cardiomyopathy.

AF-mediated cardiomyopathy (AMC) is an important reversible cause of heart failure that is likely underdiagnosed in today's clinical practice. AMC describes AF either as the sole cause for ventricular dysfunction or exacerbating ventricular dysfunction in patients with existing cardiomyopathy or heart failure. Studies suggest that irreversible ventricular and atrial remodeling can occur in AMC, making timely diagnosis and intervention critical to optimize clinical outcome. Clinical correlation between AF onset/burden and progression of cardiomyopathy/heart failure symptoms provides strong evidence for the diagnosis of AMC. Cardiac MRI, continuous cardiac monitoring, and biomarkers are important diagnostic tools. From the therapeutic standpoint, early data suggest that AF ablation may improve long-term outcomes in AMC patients compared with medical rate and rhythm control. Patients with more AF burden and less severe underlying structural heart disease are more likely to experience left ventricle function recovery with successful AF ablation. Despite recent advances, significant knowledge gaps exist in our understanding of the epidemiology, mechanisms, diagnosis, management strategies, and prognosis of AMC.

Optimising pacemaker therapy and medical therapy in pacemaker patients for heart failure: protocol for the OPT-PACE randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Permanent artificial pacemaker implantation is a safe and effective treatment for bradycardia and is associated with extended longevity and improved quality of life. However, the most common long-term complication of standard pacemaker therapy is pacemaker-associated heart failure. Pacemaker follow-up is potentially an opportunity to screen for heart failure to assess and optimise patient devices and medical therapy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study is a multicentre, phase-3 randomised trial. The 1200 participants will be people who have a permanent pacemaker for bradycardia for at least 12 months, randomly assigned to undergo a transthoracic echocardiogram with their pacemaker check, thereby tailoring their management directed by left ventricular function or the pacemaker check alone, continuing with routine follow-up. The primary outcome measure is time to all-cause mortality or heart failure hospitalisation. Secondary outcomes include external validation of our risk stratification model to predict onset of heart failure and quality of life assessment. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial design and protocol have received national ethical approval (12/YH/0487). The results of this randomised trial will be published in international peer-reviewed journals, communicated to healthcare professionals and patient involvement groups and highlighted using social media campaigns. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01819662.

[Premature ventricular beats: are they always benign? Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects]. / Extrasistolia ventricolare: è sempre benigna? Aspetti diagnostici e terapeutici.

Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are usually benign, and commonly only severely symptomatic patients are treated. In the literature, frequent PVCs have been reported to cause ventricular dysfunction, which may improve after PVC treatment. PVCs can also worsen the prognosis in patients with structural heart disease. Catheter PVC ablation is often the treatment of choice considering the high success rates. Ventricular dysfunction due to frequent PVCs is not always easy to identify as patients can be asymptomatic and the interpretation of imaging tests may be challenging in the presence of frequent PVCs. Treatment of patients with mild ventricular dysfunction is still a matter of debate.

Outcomes of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation accompanied by slow ventricular response.

It remains unclear as to whether cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) would be as effective in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) accompanied by slow ventricular response (AF-SVR, < 60 beats/min) as in those with sinus rhythm (SR). Echocardiographic reverse remodeling was compared between AF-SVR patients (n = 17) and those with SR (n = 88) at six months and 12 months after CRT treatment. We also evaluated the changes in QRS duration; New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class; and long-term composite clinical outcomes including cardiac death, heart transplantation, and heart failure (HF)-related hospitalization. Left ventricular pacing sites and biventricular pacing percentages were not significantly different between the AF-SVR and SR groups. However, heart rate increase after CRT was significantly greater in the AF-SVR group than in the SR group (P < 0.001). At six and 12 months postoperation, both groups showed a comparable improvement in NYHA class; QRS narrowing; and echocardiographic variables including left ventricular end-systolic volume, left ventricular ejection fraction, and left atrial volume index. Over the median follow-up duration of 1.6 (interquartile range: 0.8-2.2) years, no significant between-group differences were observed regarding the rates of long-term composite clinical events (35% versus 24%; hazard ratio: 1.71; 95% confidence interval: 0.23-12.48; P = 0.60). CRT implantation provided comparable beneficial effects for patients with AF-SVR as compared with those with SR, by correcting electrical dyssynchrony and increasing biventricular pacing rate, in terms of QRS narrowing, symptom improvement, ventricular reverse remodeling, and long-term clinical outcomes.

Updates on His bundle pacing: The road more traveled lately.

His bundle pacing (HBP) has continued to evolve over the past decade and has started to become a global phenomenon. Evidence is mounting of its clinical benefits as compared to both right ventricular and left ventricular pacing. In this paper, we review recent data in support of His bundle pacing and some of the challenges facing us as we advocate its increasing role in clinical practice.

Pre-excitation induced ventricular dysfunction and successful berlin heart explantation after accessory pathway ablation.

A 13 kg, 20 month-old, Caucasian girl, presented with cardiomyopathy, biventricular dysfunction and pre-excitation on electrocardiogram. She had normal intracardiac anatomy with severely dilated left ventricle and severely diminished biventricular function (Fig. 1). She was treated with milrinone and epinephrine infusions, mechanical ventilation and listed for heart transplant. She underwent Berlin Heart EXCOR biventricular assist device (BiVAD) placement (30 ml LVAD and 25 ml RVAD pumps). No supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) was inducible or noted during her hospitalization. First ablation attempt without BiVAD support was unsuccessful; however, 18 days post BiVAD implantation, another electrophysiology study and successful radiofrequency ablation of a right anterolateral accessory pathway was performed on BiVAD support. After successful ablation and loss of pre-excitation, the cardiac dysfunction rapidly improved with initial improvement noted as early as 48 h after the successful ablation. Due to recovery of cardiac function, a BiVAD wean protocol was initiated and BiVAD explantation was performed 48 days after the implant (30 days after the successful ablation). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of successful BiVAD explantation.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Natriuretic Peptide Testing and Specialist Management in Patients with Suspected Acute Heart Failure.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the cost-effectiveness of natriuretic peptide (NP) testing and specialist outreach in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) residing off the cardiology ward. METHODS: We used a Markov model to estimate costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for patients presenting to hospital with suspected AHF. We examined diagnostic workup with and without the NP test in suspected new cases, and we examined the impact of specialist heart failure outreach in all suspected cases. Inputs for the model were derived from systematic reviews, the UK national heart failure audit, randomized controlled trials, expert consensus from a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline development group, and a national online survey. The main benefit from specialist care (cardiology ward and specialist outreach) was the increased likelihood of discharge on disease-modifying drugs for people with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, which improve mortality and reduce re-admissions due to worsened heart failure (associated with lower utility). Costs included diagnostic investigations, admissions, pharmacological therapy, and follow-up heart failure care. RESULTS: NP testing and specialist outreach are both higher cost, higher QALY, cost-effective strategies (incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of £11,656 and £2,883 per QALY gained, respectively). Combining NP and specialist outreach is the most cost-effective strategy. This result was robust to both univariate deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: NP testing for the diagnostic workup of new suspected AHF is cost-effective. The use of specialist heart failure outreach for inpatients with AHF residing off the cardiology ward is cost-effective. Both interventions will help improve outcomes for this high-risk group.

Ventricular assist devices for the failing univentricular circulation.

INTRODUCTION: Improved survival following single ventricle palliation has led to a large population of patients with a univentricular circulation, many of whom develop heart failure. Increasing experience with ventricular assist devices (VAD) in children has paved the way for VAD support in those with failing univentricular circulation. Areas covered: The use of VADs to support the failing univentricular circulation is a relatively new concept. Most studies have focused on supporting patients with the failing systemic ventricle. There are limited reports of VAD support of the pulmonary circulation in patients with Fontan failure despite preserved ventricular function. None of the current VADs have been designed to support the pulmonary circulation. Novel low-pressure, high-flow pumps, specifically designed to support the pulmonary circulation, are under development. Expert commentary: The failing univentricular circulation is one of the great challenges in the field of congenital heart disease. While current VADs are designed to support the systemic circulation, many patients require support of the pulmonary circulation. A fully implantable VAD for support of the pulmonary circulation as destination therapy would be beneficial for patients with preserved systolic function, but must have low energy requirements, negligible risk of stroke and low risk of device thrombosis and failure.

Intracoronary Cardiac Progenitor Cells in Single Ventricle Physiology: The PERSEUS (Cardiac Progenitor Cell Infusion to Treat Univentricular Heart Disease) Randomized Phase 2 Trial.

RATIONALE: Patients with single ventricle physiology are at high risk of mortality resulting from ventricular dysfunction. The preliminary results of the phase 1 trial showed that cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) may be effective against congenital heart failure. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intracoronary delivery of autologous CDCs improves cardiac function in patients with single ventricle physiology. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a phase 2 randomized controlled study to assign in a 1:1 ratio 41 patients who had single ventricle physiology undergoing stage 2 or 3 palliation to receive intracoronary infusion of CDCs 4 to 9 weeks after surgery or staged reconstruction alone (study A). The primary outcome measure was to assess improvement in cardiac function at 3-month follow-up. Four months after palliation, controls had an alternative option to receive late CDC infusion on request (study B). Secondary outcomes included ventricular function, heart failure status, somatic growth, and health-related quality of life after a 12-month observation. At 3 months, the absolute changes in ventricular function were significantly greater in the CDC-treated group than in the controls (+6.4% [SD, 5.5] versus +1.3% [SD, 3.7]; P=0.003). In study B, a late CDC infusion in 17 controls increased the ventricular function at 3 months compared with that at baseline (38.8% [SD, 7.7] versus 34.8% [SD, 7.4]; P<0.0001). At 1 year, overall CDC infusion was associated with improved ventricular function (41.4% [SD, 6.6] versus 35.0% [SD, 8.2]; P<0.0001) and volumes (P<0.001), somatic growth (P<0.0001) with increased trophic factors production, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 and hepatocyte growth factor, and quality of life, along with a reduced heart failure status (P<0.0001) and cardiac fibrosis (P=0.014) relative to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Intracoronary infusion of CDCs after staged palliation favorably affected cardiac function by reverse remodeling in patients with single ventricle physiology. This impact may improve heart failure status, somatic growth, and quality of life in patients and reduce parenting stress for their families. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01829750.

Lead extraction outcomes in patients with congenital heart disease.

AIMS: Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk for intracardiac device malfunction and infection that may necessitate extraction; however, the risk of extraction is poorly understood. This study addresses the safety of extraction in patients with structural heart disease and previous cardiac surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective study included 40 CHD and 80 matched control patients, who underwent transvenous lead extractions between 2001 and 2014. Only leads >12 months were included. There were 77 leads in CHD patients and 146 in controls. The mean age was 38 ± 16 years in CHD patients. Ninety per cent of CHD patients had ≥1 cardiac surgeries when compared with 21% of controls (P < 0.001). The number of abandoned leads was significantly different (17 vs. 3, P < 0.001). Lead age was similar with an average duration of 83 ± 87 months in CHD patients and 62 ± 65 months in controls (P = 0.24). There was no significant difference in extraction techniques. Manual traction was successful in 40% of CHD patients and 47% of controls, and advanced techniques were used in 60 and 53% of CHD patients and controls, respectively. Complete extraction was achieved in 94% of the patients in both groups. There was no significant difference in complications. CONCLUSION: Lead extraction can be safely performed in patients with CHD. Despite anatomic abnormalities and longer implantation times, the difficulty of lead extraction in patients with CHD is comparable with controls.

Atrial fibrillation with high ventricular rate in emergency room: What's the best strategy for treatment?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice and can lead to significant decline in functional status and quality of life among affected patients. The risk of developing AF increases with age and the presence of structural heart disease. Thus, the attendance of patients with high ventricular response to AF is common, which makes knowledge of its management mandatory. In this context, the choice of heart rate and/or rhythm control therapy is fundamental and complex, with multiple possibilities. Thus, this review aims to assist in the management of these patients, systematizing their care.

Abordagem das arritmias na Doença de Chagas Crônica / Approach of arrhythmias in chronic Chagas Disease

As arritmias na cardiopatia chagásica (CCH) são responsáveis por incapacitação física e morte em indivíduos adultos em faixa etária precoce e produtiva, decorrendo daí a necessidade de sua abordagem criteriosa e, às vezes, mais agressiva para se obter controle completo. As arritmias cardíacas mais encontradas na CCH são as bradiarritmias e as taquicardias. Entre as bradicardias estão as alterações sinoatriais e os bloqueios atrioventriculares, cujo tratamento padrão é o emprego de implante de marcapasso definitivo. Entre as taquiarritmias, encontram-se as supraventriculares ­ extrassístoles atriais, taquicardia atrial ectópica, "flutter" atrial e fibrilação atrial ­ que provocam morbidades como progressão para disfunção ventricular esquerda e fenômenos tromboembólicos, e as ventriculares, cujo desfecho pode ser a morte súbita instantânea. A abordagem deve ser, inicialmente, por meio de eletrocardiograma de 12 derivações, pela gravação ambulatorial (Holter), ecocardiograma, teste ergométrico, e por fim, o estudo eletrofisiológico e a ressonância nuclear magnética. O tratamento farmacológico pode ser conduzido com o uso dos fármacos existentes em nosso mercado, como amiodarona, propafenona e sotalol. O tratamento invasivo, pode consistir em ablação por cateter, embora com resultados ainda abaixo de índices confortadores, devido à possibilidade de recidivas. O uso de cardiodesfibrilador implantável é a última alternativa, que também tem suas limitações

Arrhythmias in Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) are responsible for physical disability and death in adults in early and productive age group, from which arises the need for a judicious and sometimes more aggressive approach to achieve the complete control. The arrhythmias most common in CCM are bradyarrhythmias and tachycardias. Among the bradycardias are the sinoatrial changes and atrioventricular blocks, whose standard treatment is the use of permanent pacemaker implantation. Among tachyarrhythmias are the supraventricular ones - atrial extrasystoles, ectopic atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation - causing morbidity and progression of left ventricular dysfunction and thromboembolic events, and the ventricular ones, whose outcome can be the instantaneous sudden death. The approach should be initially through 12-lead electrocardiogram, by ambulatory ECG recording (Holter), echocardiogram, stress testing, and finally the electrophysiological study and magnetic resonance imaging. Pharmacological treatment can be conducted with the use of marketed drugs such as amiodarone, propafenone and sotalol. The invasive treatment may consist of catheter ablation, although the results are still below comforting rates due to the possibility of recurrence. The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillator is the last alternative, which also has its limitations