Modelled impact of virtual fractional flow reserve in patients undergoing coronary angiography (VIRTU-4).

BACKGROUND: The practical application of 'virtual' (computed) fractional flow reserve (vFFR) based on invasive coronary angiogram (ICA) images is unknown. The objective of this cohort study was to investigate the potential of vFFR to guide the management of unselected patients undergoing ICA. The hypothesis was that it changes management in >10% of cases. METHODS: vFFR was computed using the Sheffield VIRTUheart system, at five hospitals in the North of England, on 'all-comers' undergoing ICA for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). The cardiologists' management plan (optimal medical therapy, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass surgery or 'more information required') and confidence level were recorded after ICA, and again after vFFR disclosure. RESULTS: 517 patients were screened; 320 were recruited: 208 with ACS and 112 with CCS. The median vFFR was 0.82 (0.70-0.91). vFFR disclosure did not change the mean number of significantly stenosed vessels per patient (1.16 (±0.96) visually and 1.18 (±0.92) with vFFR (p=0.79)). A change in intended management following vFFR disclosure occurred in 22% of all patients; in the ACS cohort, there was a 62% increase in the number planned for medical management, and in the CCS cohort, there was a 31% increase in the number planned for PCI. In all patients, vFFR disclosure increased physician confidence from 8 of 10 (7.33-9) to 9 of 10 (8-10) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The addition of vFFR to ICA changed intended management strategy in 22% of patients, provided a detailed and specific 'all-in-one' anatomical and physiological assessment of coronary artery disease, and was accompanied by augmentation of the operator's confidence in the treatment strategy.

A Systematic Review of 4D-Flow MRI Derived Mitral Regurgitation Quantification Methods.

Background: Four-dimensional flow cardiac magnetic resonance (4D flow CMR) is an emerging non-invasive imaging technology that can be used to quantify mitral regurgitation (MR) volume. Current methods of quantification have demonstrated limitations in accurate analysis, particularly in difficult cases such as complex congenital heart disease. 4D flow CMR methods aim to circumvent these limitations and allow accurate quantification of MR volume even in complex cases. This systematic review aims to summarize the available literature on 4D flow CMR MR quantification methods and examine their ability to accurately classify MR severity. Methods: Structured searches were carried out on Medline and EMBASE in December 2018 to identify suitable research outcome studies. The titles and abstracts were screened for relevance, with a third adjudicator utilized when study suitability was uncertain. Results: Seven studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. The most widely used 4D flow MRI method was retrospective valve tracking (RVT) which was examined in five papers. The key finding of these papers was that RVT is a reliable and accurate method of regurgitant volume quantification. Conclusions: MR quantification through 4D flow MRI is both feasible and accurate. The evidence gathered suggests that for MR assessment, 4D flow MRI is potentially as accurate and reliable to echocardiography and may be complementary to this technique. Further work on MR quantification 4D flow image analysis is needed to determine the most accurate analysis technique and to demonstrate 4D flow MRI as a predictor of clinical outcome. PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42019122837, http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019122837.

Pulmonary hypertension in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: differential diagnosis and management.

The most common cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left heart disease (LHD) was previously rheumatic mitral valve disease. However, with the disappearance of rheumatic fever and an aging population, nonvalvular LHD is now the most common cause of group 2 PH in the developed world. In this review, we examine the challenge of investigating patients who have PH and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF-pEF), where differentiating between pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and PH-LHD can be difficult, and also discuss the entity of combined precapillary and postcapillary PH. Given the proven efficacy of targeted therapy for the treatment of PAH, there is increasing interest in whether these treatments may benefit selected patients with PH associated with HF-pEF, and we review current trial data.

High prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory abnormalities in advanced, intensively treated (transplanted) myeloma: The case for 'late effects' screening and preventive strategies.

OBJECTIVES: Modern management of myeloma has significantly improved survival, with increasing numbers of patients living beyond a decade. However, little is known about the long-term cardiovascular and respiratory status of intensively treated and multiply relapsed survivors. METHODS: We performed detailed cardiovascular and respiratory evaluations in patients with intensively treated, advanced but stable myeloma. All patients had received at least two lines of treatment, including at least one haematopoietic stem cell transplantation procedure, but had stable, controlled disease and were off active treatment at the time of evaluation. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with a median duration of 6 years (range 2-12) from original diagnosis of myeloma and three lines (range 2-6) of treatment were evaluated. Despite normal physical examination in the majority, there was a high prevalence of sub-clinical cardiac and respiratory dysfunction, reflected by abnormalities of electrocardiography (45%), echocardiography (50%), serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level (NT-pro-BNP, 50%), and pulmonary function testing (45%). NT-pro-BNP level correlated negatively with quality of life (P = 0.012) and positively with serum ferritin (P = 0.027). Dyspnoea score correlated with BMI (P = 0.001). Risk factors for cardiovascular disease (obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and hyperinsulinaemia) were common. DISCUSSION: Even in the absence of overt clinical features, the majority of intensively treated long-term survivors of myeloma have established cardiovascular and/or respiratory dysfunction, above levels expected in the general population of a similar age. CONCLUSION: This study supports routine screening and lifestyle modification combined with primary and secondary preventive strategies to reduce cardiovascular and respiratory disease and to preserve quality of life in transplanted myeloma patients.

Minimal access mitral valve repair in a patient with a right pneumonectomy for Scimitar syndrome.

A 61-year old man known with chronic atrial fibrillation was referred to our unit via the multidisciplinary team meeting, with severe mitral regurgitation secondary to prolapse of anterior mitral leaflet. In 1968, he had undergone right pneumonectomy due to Scimitar syndrome. Dense adhesions due to previous interventions, such as thoracotomy, make it difficult to insert ports, and this is therefore considered a relative contraindication to port access approach to the mitral valve. The anatomical position of the heart in the mediastinum was completely distorted due to the shift of the mediastinum to the right following previous surgery. Our report illustrates the operative success that can be achieved in such complex situations. Computed tomography scanning and on table transoesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography were the tools used in conjunction to achieve the best possible approach. This case promotes the use of minimal access approach in the experienced hands so that such complex procedures can be carried out without any complication and yield good results.

Large, mobile, transmitral metastastic osteosarcoma presenting as cardiac arrest.

UNLABELLED: The present case is an unusual one of a 21-year-old female with a primary osteosarcoma and left lung metastasis presenting following a witnessed pulseless electrical activity cardiac arrest. The electrocardiogram was unremarkable. A computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) demonstrated a tumour within the left inferior pulmonary veins. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a severely hypokinetic left ventricle and a multi-lobulated, mobile mass arising from one of the left pulmonary veins which prolapsed to varying degrees on a beat-to-beat basis back and forth through the mitral valve into the left ventricle (during ventricular diastole) and retracted back into the left atrium (during ventricular systole). The present case demonstrates the importance of performing TTE in an emergency presentation, its influence on diagnosis and, in the present case, its usefulness in aiding the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatments. It also highlights the importance of considering urgent intervention for a tumour seen to prolapse through the mitral valve because of the real risk of acute obstruction. LEARNING POINTS: The present case emphasises the importance of thorough clinical assessment in triggering TTE assessment in a critical care setting.TTE is a portable, radiation-free imaging modality that can aid rapid diagnosis in a deteriorating patient and guide an informed management plan.Many district general hospitals in the UK lack cardiology support and access to echocardiography 'out-of-hours'. TTE, in the hands of an experienced operator, is an invaluable tool in the emergency assessment and management of critically unwell patients and should be available 24 h a day, 7 days a week.Echosonographers and physicians seeing similar dynamic tumour pathology with variable transmission through the mitral valve should bear in mind acute obstruction as a potential consequence and thus consider urgent intervention.

State primary stroke center policies in the United States: rural health issues.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between state primary stroke center (PSC) designation policy implementation and access to optimal stroke care for residents of rural areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary data were collected during the period September 2008-August 2009. Following content analysis of state PSC policies, four case study states were selected for fieldwork, in part for state rural healthcare access challenges. Variables included the barriers and facilitators to PSC designation policy implementation. More than 100 semistructured stakeholder interviews were conducted by teams of researchers. Large-group meetings were also observed. Interview summaries were reviewed by stakeholders for accuracy and completeness. RESULTS: The consistent finding in all study states was that PSC designation and state policy implementation in rural areas are unlikely for a variety of reasons, including lack of financial resources for telemedicine, difficulty maintaining neurology coverage, and emergency departments unable to administer thrombolytics. Findings indicate recognition by states about the need for stroke-care public policy specific to telemedicine in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Although state PSC designation policies raise awareness of rural issues, designation policy alone cannot overcome the obstacle of rural access to optimal stroke care. States must be technology-ready, and providers need to embrace e-health and telemedicine to ensure coordination of care for stroke victims in rural areas. More important is that state policy makers should provide rules and regulations to encourage PSC hospitals to use telemedicine and "proxy credentialing" to support their affiliated rural facilities.

Barriers and facilitators to implementing primary stroke center policy in the United States: results from 4 case study states.

OBJECTIVES: We identified barriers and facilitators to the state-level implementation of primary stroke center (PSC) policies, which encourage the certification or designation of specialized stroke treatment facilities and may address concerns such as transportation bypass, telemedicine, and treatment protocols. METHODS: We studied the experiences of 4 states (Florida, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and New York) selected from the 18 states that had enacted PSC policies or were actively considering doing so. We conducted semistructured interviews during fieldwork in each case study state. RESULTS: Our results showed that system fragmentation, gaps in human and financial resources, and complexity at the interorganizational and operational levels are common barriers and that policy champions, stakeholder support and communication, and operational adaptation are essential facilitators in the adoption and implementation of PSC policies. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of barriers and facilitators reveals the contextual elements that can help or hinder policy implementation and may be useful in informing policy formulation and implementation in other jurisdictions. Proactively identifying jurisdictional challenges and opportunities may help facilitate the policy process for PSC designation and allow jurisdictions to develop more effective stroke systems of care.

Angina (chronic stable).

INTRODUCTION: Stable angina is usually caused by coronary atherosclerosis, and affects up to 16% of men and 10% of women aged 65-74 years in the UK. Risk factors include hypertension, elevated serum cholesterol levels, smoking, physical inactivity, and overweight. People with angina are at increased risk of other cardiovascular events and mortality compared with people without angina. Among people not thought to need coronary artery revascularisation, annual mortality is 1-2% and the annual non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) rate is 2-3%. METHODS AND OUTCOMES: We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are effects of long-term drug treatment for stable angina? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to June 2007 (BMJ Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). RESULTS: We found nine systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions. CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review we present information relating to the long-term effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, long-acting nitrates, potassium channel openers, combinations of these anti-anginal drug treatments and the use of these anti-anginal drug treatment as an adjunct to existing therapies.