Association of Intravenous Drug Use and Length of Stay Following Infective Endocarditis.

INTRODUCTION: Intravenous drug use (IVDU) and associated infective endocarditis (IE) has been on the rise in the US since the beginning of the opioid epidemic. IVDU-IE has high morbidity and mortality, and treatment can be lengthy. We aim to quantify the association between IVDU and length of stay (LOS) in IE patients. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database was used to identify IE patients, which was then stratified into IVDU-IE and non-IVDU-IE groups. Weighted values of hospitalizations were used to generate national estimates. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were applied to estimate the effects of IVDU on LOS. RESULTS: We identified 1,114,257 adult IE patients, among which 123,409 (11.1%) were IVDU-IE. Compared to non-IVDU-IE patients, IVDU-IE patients were younger, had fewer comorbidities, and had an overall longer LOS (median [interquartile range]: 10 [5-20] versus 7 [4-13] d, P < 0.001), with a greater percentage of patients with a LOS longer than 30 d (13.7% versus 5.7%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for multiple demographic and clinical factors, IVDU was independently associated with a 1.25-d increase in LOS (beta-coefficient = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95-1.54, P < 0.001) and 35% higher odds of being hospitalized for more than 30 d (odds ratio = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.27-1.44, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among IE patients, being IVDU has associated with a longer LOS and a higher risk of prolonged hospital stay. Steps toward the prevention of IE in the IVDU population should be taken to avoid an undue burden on the healthcare system.

Perivascular Adipose Tissue Inflammation in Ischemic Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVE: There is growing recognition that adipose tissue-derived proatherogenic mediators contribute to obesity-related cardiovascular disease. We sought to characterize regional differences in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) phenotype in relation to atherosclerosis susceptibility. Approach and Results: We examined thoracic PVAT samples in 34 subjects (body mass index 32±6 kg/m2, age 59±11 years) undergoing valvular, aortic, or coronary artery bypass graft surgeries and performed transcriptomic characterization using whole-genome expression profiling and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. We identified a highly inflamed region of PVAT surrounding the human aortic root in close proximity to coronary takeoff and adjoining epicardial fat. In subjects undergoing coronary artery bypass graft, we found 300 genes significantly upregulated (false discovery rate Q<0.1) in paired samples of PVAT surrounding the aortic root compared with nonatherosclerotic left internal mammary artery. Genes encoding proteins mechanistically implicated in atherogenesis were enriched in aortic PVAT consisting of signaling pathways linked to inflammation, WNT (wingless-related integration site) signaling, matrix remodeling, coagulation, and angiogenesis. Overexpression of several proatherogenic transcripts, including IL1ß, CCL2 (MCP-1), and IL6, were confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and significantly bolstered in coronary artery disease subjects. Angiographic coronary artery disease burden quantified by the Gensini score positively correlated with the expression of inflammatory genes in PVAT. Moreover, periaortic adipose inflammation was markedly higher in obese subjects with striking upregulation (≈8-fold) of IL1ß expression compared to nonobese individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Proatherogenic mediators that originate from dysfunctional PVAT may contribute to vascular disease mechanisms in human vessels. Moreover, PVAT may adopt detrimental properties under obese conditions that play a key role in the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease. Graphic Abstract: A graphic abstract is available for this article.

Right ventricular wall dissection complicating myocardial infarction.

Right ventricular wall dissection is extremely rare and can result in dismal clinical outcomes. We report a 68-year-old patient who presented with acute myocardial infarction and was found to have right ventricular wall dissection by ventriculography. At surgery, the infarcted myocardium was excised, and a two-patch technique was used to repair the ventricular septal defect.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the management of granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, also known as Wegener's granulomatosis) is a type of systematic vasculitis that primarily involves the lung and kidney. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) and associated acute respiratory failure are uncommon but devastating complications of GPA. Experience in using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to manage DAH caused by GPA is limited. We report two GPA patients with DAH that were successfully managed using ECMO support. Examining 13 cases identified in the literature and two of our own, we observed that most patients experienced rapid deterioration in respiratory function in conjunction with a precedent respiratory infection. All 15 patients received veno-venous ECMO support. The median duration of ECMO support was 11 days (interquartile range: 7.5-20.75 days). Bleeding was the most common complication, seen in four (26.7%) cases. All patients were successfully weaned off ECMO after a median length of hospital stay of 42 days (interquartile range: 30-78 days). We demonstrated that the use of ECMO is a reasonable and effective support option in the management of GPA patients with DAH. The risk of bleeding is high but maybe reduced using a lower anticoagulation goal.

Effect of Publicly Reported Aortic Valve Surgery Outcomes on Valve Surgery in Injection Drug- and Non-Injection Drug-Associated Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis (IDU-IE) is rising and valve surgery is frequently indicated. The effect of initiating public outcomes reporting for aortic valve surgery on rates of valve surgery and in-hospital mortality for endocarditis is not known. METHODS: For an interrupted time series analysis, we used data from the National Inpatient Sample, a representative sample of United States inpatient hospitalizations, from January 2010 to September 2015. We included individuals aged 18-65 with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis of endocarditis. We defined IDU-IE using a validated combination of ICD-9 codes. We used segmented logistic regression to assess for changes in valve replacement and in-hospital mortality rates after the public reporting initiation in January 2013. RESULTS: We identified 7322 hospitalizations for IDU-IE and 23 997 for non-IDU-IE in the sample, representing 36 452 national IDU-IE admissions and 119 316 non-IDU admissions, respectively. Following the implementation of public reporting in 2013, relative to baseline trends, the odds of valve replacement decreased by 4.0% per quarter (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93-0.99), with no difference by IDU status. The odds of an in-patient death decreased by 2.0% per quarter for both IDU-IE and non-IDU-IE cases following reporting (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Initiating public reporting was associated with a significant decrease in valve surgery for all IE cases, regardless of IDU status, and a reduction in-hospital mortality for patients with IE. Patients with IE may have less access to surgery as a consequence of public reporting. To understand how reduced valve surgery impacts overall mortality, future studies should examine the postdischarge mortality rate.

Neurological Complications of Endocarditis: A Multidisciplinary Review with Focus on Surgical Decision Making.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a systemic disease with many potential neurologic manifestations including ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, cerebral microbleeding, infectious intracranial aneurysms, meningitis, brain abscesses, and encephalopathy. The majority of left-sided (heart) IE patients have brain lesions that may alter management decisions, warranting the systematic use of magnetic resonance imaging. Many patients require surgical treatment of valvular disease, and central nervous system lesions weigh into decision making. Data regarding the timing of surgery are conflicting, but earlier surgery appears to be safe in most ischemic strokes, while ideally surgery should be delayed for 3 to 4 weeks in patients with hemorrhagic strokes. IE requires a multidisciplinary team to collaboratively care for the patient. In this article, we review the current understanding and management of the neurological complications of IE and their impact on the performance and timing of cardiac surgery.

Early complications of biologic extracellular matrix patch after use for femoral artery repair.

BACKGROUND: The CorMatrix (CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Roswell, Ga) biologic extracellular patch derived from porcine small intestinal mucosa provides a biologic scaffold for cellular ingrowth and eventual tissue regeneration. It has been used in a variety of applications, including cardiac and vascular repair procedures. METHODS: CorMatrix was used as a patch arterioplasty for femoral artery repair in conjunction with endarterectomy for seven separate procedures in six patients (one patient underwent staged, bilateral femoral procedures). RESULTS: Patients were a median age of 67 years (interquartile range, 3.6 years). Six of seven procedures (86%) were performed on male patients. There were no operative deaths. Three of seven procedures (43%) resulted in significant early complications. Two procedures (29%) resulted in catastrophic biologic extracellular matrix patch disruption (11 and 19 days after initial procedure), requiring emergency exploration, patch removal, and definitive repair with vein patch arterioplasty. Both patches demonstrated an absence of growth on culture. One procedure (14%) resulted in groin pseudoaneurysm formation. Use of the CorMatrix patch was suspended upon recognition of significant complications. CONCLUSIONS: Use of CorMatrix patch in the femoral artery position demonstrates a high incidence of early postoperative complications, including catastrophic patch disruption and pseudoaneurysm formation.

Altered apoptosis-related signaling after cardioplegic arrest in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion (CP/Rep) on myocardial apoptosis and key apoptotic mediators, such as apoptosis-inducing factor, caspase 3, caspase 8, caspase 9, poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins, and protein kinase C (PKC), in uncontrolled type 2 diabetic, controlled type 2 diabetic, and nondiabetic patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Right atrial tissue was harvested pre- and post-CP/Rep from uncontrolled type 2 diabetic patients (hemoglobin A1c=9.6 ± 0.25), controlled type 2 diabetic patients (hemoglobin A1c=6.5 ± 0.15), and nondiabetic patients (hemoglobin A1c=5.4 ± 0.12) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (n=8/group). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling staining was used for the identification of apoptotic cells. Total and modified apoptosis-inducing factor, Bcl-2 family proteins, phospho-PKC-α, phospho-PKC-ß1, and poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase were quantified by immunoblotting or immunohistochemistry. At baseline, the number of apoptotic cells and expression of total apoptosis-inducing factor, Bcl-2, Bak, and Bax in the pre-CP/Rep atrial tissue from uncontrolled type 2 diabetic patients were significantly increased compared with those of nondiabetic or controlled type 2 diabetic patients (P<0.05). After CP/Rep, the amount of apoptotic cells, apoptosis-inducing factor, phospho-Bad, phospho-PKC-α, phospho-PKC-ß1, and cleaved poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase in post-CP/Rep atrial tissue were increased in all 3 groups compared with pre-CP/Rep. These increases after CP/Rep were more pronounced in the uncontrolled type 2 diabetic group. In addition, there were significant increases in the expression of cleaved caspase 8 and caspase 9 in the basal and post-CP/Rep atrium of uncontrolled type 2 diabetic group compared with nondiabetic or controlled type 2 diabetic group. CONCLUSIONS: Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is associated with increases in myocardial apoptosis and expression of key apoptosis mediators at baseline and in the setting of CP/Rep.

Type A Aortic Dissection in Heart Transplantation Recipients in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Type A aortic dissection in heart transplantation recipients is rare and lethal, with limited research beyond case reports. This study aimed to analyze patient characteristics and clinical outcomes of this condition through a US national database. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database (2002-2018) was used to identify all type A aortic dissection in heart transplantation recipients aged >18 years. Incidence was quantified annually. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay and complications. RESULTS: We identified 78 cases of type A aortic dissection in heart transplantation recipients. Compared with type A aortic dissection patients without a history of solid organ transplantation (N = 70,715), our patients were younger (55.3 vs 60.7 years), less likely female (18.5% vs 33.5%), and more frequently Black or Hispanic (55% vs 23%). They had a greater prevalence of Marfan syndrome (13% vs 3%), congestive heart failure (46% vs 19%), and chronic kidney disease (19% vs 10%), as well as increased in-hospital mortality (30% vs 18%) and a longer hospital length of stay (29.5 vs 13.7 days). They experienced elevated rates of cardiac (57% vs 31%), respiratory (70. % vs 41%), renal (76% vs 30%), and bleeding complications (37% vs 14%). CONCLUSIONS: Type A aortic dissection in heart transplantation recipients appears to exhibit distinct characteristics and poorer outcomes compared with those in the general population. Heart transplantation recipients with predisposing risk factors warrant heightened attention to help prevent this devastating condition.

Sex-based outcomes in surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection: A meta-analysis and meta-regression.

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic variation with respect to sex has been established in aortic dissection. However, current literature on sex-based outcomes in patients with aortic dissection is conflicting. In this study we aimed to compare perioperative outcomes according to sex in patients treated surgically for acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for studies that reported sex-based differences in postoperative outcomes among patients with acute type A aortic dissection. The primary outcome was in-hospital/30-day mortality, and secondary outcomes included postoperative stroke, renal failure requiring dialysis, and reoperation for bleeding. Data were aggregated using the random effects model as pooled risk ratio (RR). Meta-regression was applied to identify sources of heterogeneity between studies. RESULTS: Nine of 1022 studies were included for final analysis comprising 3338 female and 5979 male participants. Compared with male sex, female sex was associated with similar in-hospital/30-day mortality (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.85-1.28; P = .67), postoperative stroke risk (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.91-1.25; P = .43), and postoperative risk of acute renal failure requiring dialysis (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.59-1.19; P = .32). A decreased risk of reoperation for bleeding (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75-0.94; P < .01) was observed in female participants. Meta-regression analysis indicated that differences in preoperative shock were a source of heterogeneity in the sex difference in in-hospital/30-day mortality across studies. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients treated surgically for acute type A aortic dissection, female sex was not associated with increased risk of short-term mortality nor with major postoperative complications. Male sex was associated with a greater risk of postoperative bleeding.

Changes in microvascular reactivity after cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with poorly controlled versus controlled diabetes.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on peripheral arteriolar reactivity and associated signaling pathways in poorly controlled (UDM), controlled (CDM), and case-matched nondiabetic (ND) patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS AND RESULTS: Skeletal muscle arterioles were harvested before and after CPB from the UDM patients (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]=9.0 ± 0.3), the CDM patients (HbA1c=6.3 ± 0.15), and the ND patients (HbA1c=5.2 ± 0.1) undergoing CABG surgery (n=10/group). In vitro relaxation responses of precontracted arterioles to endothelium-dependent vasodilators adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) and substance P and the endothelium-independent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were examined. The baseline responses to ADP, substance P, and SNP of arterioles from the UDM patients were decreased as compared with microvessels from the ND or CDM patients (P<0.05). The post-CPB relaxation responses to ADP and substance P were significantly decreased in all 3 groups compared with pre-CPB responses (P<0.05). However, these decreases were more pronounced in the UDM group (P<0.05). The post-CPB response to SNP was significantly decreased only in the UDM group, not in the other 2 groups compared with pre-CPB. The expression of protein kinase C (PKC)-α, PKC-ß, protein oxidation, and nitrotyrosine in the skeletal muscle were significantly increased in the UDM group as compared with those of ND or CDM groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Poorly controlled diabetes results in impaired arteriolar function before and after CPB. These alterations are associated with the increased expression/activation of PKC-α and PKC-ß and enhanced oxidative and nitrosative stress.

ECMO as a bridge to cardiac surgery: stabilizing unstable patients for a definitive procedure.

Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in adults has been used in post-cardiotomy patients who decline hemodynamically. Cardiogenic shock in patients with potential surgically correctable cardiac conditions are at significantly higher risk for post-operative morbidity and mortality. We present experience with a pre-emptive approach of ECMO institution pre-operatively to stabilize patients with cardiogenic shock. Materials and methods: This study expands on a pilot study with a group of twenty patients who were supported with ECMO pre-operatively in different institutions over a period between 2011 and 2021. The patients presented with cardiogenic shock. Peripheral veno-arterial (VA) ECMO support was used in all the patients. Cardiac surgery was performed via median sternotomy utilizing the in situ ECMO cannulae to institute cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Results: Seventeen patients were weaned off ECMO support following a mean duration of support of 156 h. Fifteen patients survived to discharge. The 30-day mortality and in-hospital mortality were 25% (expected 67% by European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) II). The causes of mortality included persistent bleeding in 2 patients due to liver dysfunction, and one with low platelet counts. The other two had multi-organ failure. Conclusions: Variable period of pre-operative ECMO support provides hemodynamic stability and may prevent or reverse the multi-organ dysfunction if instituted on time in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock. This strategy allows cardiac surgery to be performed with acceptable risk.

Aortic Dissection During Pregnancy and Puerperium: Contemporary Incidence and Outcomes in the United States.

Background Aortic dissection (AD) during pregnancy and puerperium is a rare catastrophe with devastating consequences for both parent and fetus. Population-level incidence trends and outcomes remain relatively undetermined. Methods and Results We queried a US population-based health care database, the National Inpatient Sample, and identified all patients with a pregnancy-related AD hospitalization from 2002 to 2017. In total, 472 pregnancy-related AD hospitalizations (mean age, 30.9±0.6 years) were identified from 68 514 000 pregnancy-related hospitalizations (0.69 per 100 000 pregnancy-related hospitalizations), with 107 (22.7%) being type A and 365 (77.3%) being type B. The incidence of AD appeared to increase over the 16-year study period but was not statistically significant (P for trend >0.05). Marfan syndrome, primary hypertension, and preeclampsia/eclampsia were found in 21.9%, 14.4%, and 11.5%, respectively. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, Marfan syndrome was associated with the highest risk of developing AD during pregnancy and puerperium (adjusted odds ratio, 3469.36 [95% CI, 1767.84-6831.75]; P<0.001). The in-hospital mortalities of AD, type A AD, and type B AD were 7.3%, 4.3%, and 8.1%, respectively. Length of hospital stay for the AD, type A AD, and type B AD groups were 7.7±0.8, 10.4±1.9, and 6.9±0.9 days, respectively. Conclusions We quantified population-level incidence and in-hospital mortality in the United States and observed an increase in the incidence of pregnancy-related AD. In contrast, its in-hospital mortality appears lower than that of non-pregnancy-related AD.

Changes in treatment patterns of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms in the United States.

Background: The introduction of endovascular repair provides an alternative to traditional open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA). Its utility is not well defined, however. Using a national database, we studied the treatment patterns and outcomes of TAAA to gain insight into its contemporary surgical practice in the United States. Methods: Records of TAAA patients who received endovascular and open repair were retrieved from the 2002 to 2018 National Inpatient Sample database. Each cohort was stratified into 4 age groups: ≤50, 51 to 60, 61 to 70, and >70 years. Patient characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared between the 2 repair modalities. Temporal trends were investigated. Results: Endovascular repair use increased steadily, whereas open repair volume remained stable until 2012, before declining by 50% by 2018. This appears to be associated with a declining number of open repairs in patients age >60 years. Patients who underwent endovascular repair were older and had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (mean, 2.8 ± 1.7 vs 2.5 ± 1.5; P < .001) but lower in-hospital mortality (mean, 8.9% vs 17.1%; P < .001), shorter length of stay (mean, 10.1 ± 12.2 days vs 17.1 ± 17.4 days; P < .001), and fewer postoperative complications. A difference in mortality between open and endovascular repair was observed for patients age >60 years but not for patients age ≤60 years. Conclusions: There has been a shift in the treatment of TAAA in the United States from open repair-dominant to endovascular repair-dominant. It has increased surgical access for older and more comorbid patients and has led to a decline in the use of open repair while lowering in-hospital mortality.

Strokes in Patients With Injection Drug Use and Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis - A Case Series.

Research Design: In this study, we describe patients from a tertiary care safety-net hospital endocarditis registry with tricuspid valve infective endocarditis (TVIE), and concomitant acute or subacute ischemic stroke predominantly associated with injection drug use (IDU). We retrospectively obtained data pertinent to neurologic examinations, history of injection drug use (IDU), blood cultures, transthoracic/transesophageal echocardiography (TTE/TEE), neuroimaging, and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at discharge. Only those patients with bacteremia, tricuspid valve vegetations, and neuroimaging consistent with acute to subacute ischemic infarction and microhemorrhages in two cases were included in this series. Results: Of 188 patients in the registry, 66 patients had TVIE and 10 of these were complicated by ischemic stroke. Neurologic symptoms were largely non-specific, eight patients had altered mental status and only 3 had focal deficits. Nine cases were associated with IDU. Two patients had evidence of a patent foramen ovale on echocardiography. Blood cultures grew S. aureus species in 9 of the patients, all associated with IDU. Three patients died during hospitalization. The mRS score at discharge for survivors ranged 0-4. Conclusions: Patients with strokes from TVIE had heterogeneous presentations and putative mechanisms. We noted that robust neuroimaging is lacking for patients with TVIE from IDU and that such patients may benefit from neuroimaging as a screen for strokes to assist peri-operative management. Further inquiry is needed to elucidate stroke mechanisms in these patients.

Left thoracotomy approach for implantation of the Abiomed left ventricular assist device.

We describe a left thoracotomy approach for implantation of the Abiomed AB5000 left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The technique is easily performed and spares the patient a sternotomy in anticipation of future transplantation or LVAD exchange.

Primary cardiac lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the population-level treatment modalities and to evaluate the survival benefits of surgical resection in primary cardiac lymphoma. METHODS: We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database, which covers 35% of the US population. Patients with a histologic diagnosis of primary cardiac lymphoma from 1973 to 2015 were included. Multivariable accelerated failure time regression was performed to evaluate the associations between clinical factors and overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients were identified. The median age was 68 years, 80% were White, and 46% were women. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (80%) was the most common histology, and the majority (65%) was low-stage lymphoma (Ann Arbor stage I or II). Median survival was 2.2 years. Seventy-three percent of patients received chemotherapy. Only 10% of patients received local resection or debulking. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that local resection or debulking was not independently associated with overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-1.48; P = .32). Instead, chemotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.69; P < .001) was independently associated with improved survival, whereas increasing age (adjusted hazard ratio of 5-year increment, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.22; P <.001) and advanced stage (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-3.56; P < .001) were independently associated with worse survival. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection was not independently associated with survival in patients with primary cardiac lymphoma. Chemotherapy was the predominant treatment option and associated with improved survival, whereas increasing age and advanced stage were independently associated with worse outcomes.