Overview of Optimal Techniques for Pericardiocentesis in Contemporary Practice.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes the optimal techniques for the performance of pericardiocentesis in contemporary practice, highlighting the indications, contraindications, and techniques used. Routine pericardial catheter management and the diagnostic role of pericardial fluid analysis are described. RECENT FINDINGS: Echocardiographic-guided pericardiocentesis should be considered the therapy of choice in current clinical practice and may be performed safely despite the presence of coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia in the hands of expert operators. Computed tomography (CT)-guided techniques may provide a useful adjunctive tool in patients with poor acoustic windows or complex loculated effusions. Conservative management utilizing pericardiocentesis may be considered in select patients with device lead and interventional-related pericardial effusions. Echocardiographic-guided pericardiocentesis with extended pericardial drainage (goal output < 50 mL/24 h) should be considered the standard of care in contemporary practice. Pericardial fluid analysis should be tailored based on the clinical history and appearances of the pericardial fluid.

Prognostic Value of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients With Troponin Elevation and Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries.

OBJECTIVE: To define the diagnostic yield of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in differentiating the underlying causes of myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) and to determine the long-term prognostic implications of such diagnoses. METHODS: Cardiac magnetic resonance evaluation was performed in 227 patients (mean age, 56.4±14.9 years; 120 [53%] female) with a "working diagnosis" of MINOCA as defined by presentation with a troponin-positive acute coronary syndrome (troponin I >0.04 µg/L) and nonobstructed coronary arteries between January 1, 2007, and February 28, 2013. Follow-up was performed to assess the primary composite end point of myocardial infarction, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Cardiac magnetic resonance identified nonstructural cardiomyopathies in 97 (43%) patients, myocardial infarction in 55 (24%) patients, structural cardiomyopathies in 27 (12%) patients, and pulmonary embolism in 1 patient. No CMR abnormalities were identified in the remaining patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated the ability of a CMR diagnosis to predict the risk of the primary composite end point (P=.005) at 5-year follow-up. Worse outcomes were seen among patients with "true" MINOCA and a normal CMR image compared with those with CMR-confirmed myocardial infarction (P=.02). Use of antiplatelets (78% [37/45] vs 95% [52/55]; P=.01), beta blockers (56% [25/45] vs 82% [45/55]; P=.004), and statins (64% [29/45] vs 85% [47/55]; P=.01) was significantly lower in patients with true MINOCA with normal CMR imaging compared with those with CMR-confirmed myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac magnetic resonance carries a high diagnostic yield in patients with MINOCA and predicts long-term prognosis. Patients with MINOCA with normal CMR imaging had an increased rate of major adverse cardiac events and lower use of guideline-recommended myocardial infarction therapy compared with those with CMR-confirmed myocardial infarction.

Safety and efficacy of microwave ablation for medically inoperable colorectal pulmonary metastases: Single-centre experience.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for colorectal pulmonary metastases. METHODS: Retrospective review of CT-guided lung MWA at a single tertiary institution. Adverse events within 30 days of MWA were considered procedure-related complications. Imaging follow-up was with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and contrast-enhanced CT. Response of index tumours was assessed using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumours (mRECIST). RESULTS: The CT-guided lung MWA was performed in 14 patients with treatment of 20 colorectal pulmonary metastases during 19 procedures. Mean follow-up from completion of the treatment protocol was 24.4 ± 11.8 months. Primary and secondary technique effectiveness rates were 75% and 50% respectively. Mean pre- and post-procedural carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) levels were 7.9 ± 10.8 µg/L and 2.5 ± 2.1 µg/L respectively. Procedure-related complications were major in three procedures (15.8%) and minor in six procedures (31.6%). No procedure-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: Microwave ablation is safe and efficacious in the local control of colorectal pulmonary metastases. The frequent systemic disease progression despite local control would favour a minimally invasive treatment option over invasive surgery in the setting of oligometastatic disease.

Usefulness of Mitral Valve Prosthetic or Bioprosthetic Time Velocity Index Ratio to Detect Prosthetic or Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve Dysfunction.

This study aimed to investigate the utility of transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) Doppler-derived parameters in detection of mitral prosthetic dysfunction and to define optimal cut-off values for identification of such dysfunction by valve type. In total, 971 TTE studies (647 mechanical prostheses; 324 bioprostheses) were compared with transesophageal echocardiography for evaluation of mitral prosthesis function. Among all prostheses, mitral valve prosthesis (MVP) ratio (ratio of time velocity integral of MVP to that of left ventricular outflow tract; odds ratio [OR] 10.34, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 6.43 to 16.61, p<0.001), E velocity (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.61 to 6.47, p<0.001), and mean gradient (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.25, p=0.02) provided good discrimination of clinically normal and clinically abnormal prostheses. Optimal cut-off values by receiver operating characteristic analysis for differentiating clinically normal and abnormal prostheses varied by prosthesis type. Combining MVP ratio and E velocity improved specificity (92%) and positive predictive value (65%) compared with either parameter alone, with minimal decline in negative predictive value (92%). Pressure halftime (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.00, p=0.04) did not differentiate between clinically normal and clinically abnormal prostheses but was useful in discriminating obstructed from normal and regurgitant prostheses. In conclusion, cut-off values for TTE-derived Doppler parameters of MVP function were specific to prosthesis type and carried high sensitivity and specificity for identifying prosthetic valve dysfunction. MVP ratio was the best predictor of prosthetic dysfunction and, combined with E velocity, provided a useful parameter for determining likelihood of dysfunction and need for further assessment.