Cardiogenic Shock Intravascular Cooling Trial (CHILL-SHOCK).

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock (CS) is complicated by high mortality rates. Targeted temperature control (TTC) has been proposed as an adjunct therapy in CS. This study aims to examine the safety of TTC in patients presenting with CS. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this open-label, randomized controlled pilot trial, 20 patients with hemodynamic criteria for CS were assigned to standard of care plus TTC vs standard of care alone. The primary outcome was a composite safety outcome, including well-described complications of TTC. Secondary outcomes included mortality at 90 days, invasive hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters, electrocardiographic measurements, and inotrope dosing. There were no significant differences in the composite analysis of prespecified safety outcomes (3 events in the TTC group vs 0 events in the control group; P = 0.24). Patients randomized to TTC demonstrated a statistically significant increase in cardiac index and cardiac power index compared to the control group at 48-96 hours after randomization (3.6 [3.1, 3.9] L/min/m2 vs 2.6 [2.5, 3.15] L/min/m2; P = 0.029 and 0.61 [0.55, 0.7] W/m2 vs 0.53 [0.435, 0.565] W/m2; P = 0.029, respectively). CONCLUSION: TTC may be a safe adjunct therapy for patients presenting with CS and may yield improvement in specific hemodynamic parameters.

Lipoprotein(a) as a cardiovascular risk factor among patients with and without diabetes Mellitus: the Mass General Brigham Lp(a) Registry.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and Lp(a) are well-established predictors of coronary artery disease (CAD) outcomes. However, their combined association remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between elevated Lp(a) and DM with CAD outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the MGB Lp(a) Registry involving patients ≥ 18 years who underwent Lp(a) measurements between 2000 and 2019. Exclusion criteria were severe kidney dysfunction, malignant neoplasms, and prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The primary outcome was a combination of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction (MI). Elevated Lp(a) was defined as > 90th percentile (≥ 216 nmol/L). RESULTS: Among 6,238 patients who met the eligibility criteria, the median age was 54, 45% were women, and 12% had DM. Patients with DM were older, more frequently male, and had a higher prevalence of additional cardiovascular risk factors. Over a median follow-up of 12.9 years, patients with either DM or elevated Lp(a) experienced higher rates of the primary outcome. Notably, those with elevated Lp(a) had a higher incidence of the primary outcome regardless of their DM status. The annual event rates were as follows: No-DM and Lp(a) < 90th% - 0.6%; No-DM and Lp(a) > 90th% - 1.3%; DM and Lp(a) < 90th% - 1.9%; DM and Lp(a) > 90th% - 4.7% (p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, elevated Lp(a) remained independently associated with the primary outcome among both patients with DM (HR = 2.66 [95%CI: 1.55-4.58], p < 0.001) and those without DM (HR = 2.01 [95%CI: 1.48-2.74], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated Lp(a) constitutes an independent and incremental risk factor for CAD outcomes in patients with and without DM.

First-Line Catheter Ablation of Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in Cardiomyopathy Concurrent With Defibrillator Implantation: The PAUSE-SCD Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation as first-line therapy for ventricular tachycardia (VT) at the time of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation has not been adopted into clinical guidelines. Also, there is an unmet clinical need to prospectively examine the role of VT ablation in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy, an increasingly prevalent population that is referred for advanced therapies globally. METHODS: We conducted an international, multicenter, randomized controlled trial enrolling 180 patients with cardiomyopathy and monomorphic VT with an indication for ICD implantation to assess the role of early, first-line ablation therapy. A total of 121 patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to ablation plus an ICD versus conventional medical therapy plus an ICD. Patients who refused ICD (n=47) were followed in a prospective registry after stand-alone ablation treatment. The primary outcome was a composite end point of VT recurrence, cardiovascular hospitalization, or death. RESULTS: Randomly assigned patients had a mean age of 55 years (interquartile range, 46-64) and left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% (interquartile range, 30%-49%); 81% were male. The underlying heart disease was ischemic cardiomyopathy in 35%, nonischemic cardiomyopathy in 30%, and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in 35%. Ablation was performed a median of 2 days before ICD implantation (interquartile range, 5 days before to 14 days after). At 31 months, the primary outcome occurred in 49.3% of the ablation group and 65.5% in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.35-0.96]; P=0.04). The observed difference was driven by a reduction in VT recurrence in the ablation arm (hazard ratio, 0.51 [95%CI, 0.29-0.90]; P=0.02). A statistically significant reduction in both ICD shocks (10.0% versus 24.6%; P=0.03) and antitachycardia pacing (16.2% versus 32.8%; P=0.04) was observed in patients who underwent ablation compared with control. No differences in cardiovascular hospitalization (32.0% versus. 33.7%; hazard ratio, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.43-1.56]; P=0.55) or mortality (8.9% versus 8.8%; hazard ratio, 1.40 [95% CI, 0.38-5.22]; P=0.62]) were observed. Ablation-related complications occurred in 8.3% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with cardiomyopathy of varied causes, early catheter ablation performed at the time of ICD implantation significantly reduced the composite primary outcome of VT recurrence, cardiovascular hospitalization, or death. These findings were driven by a reduction in ICD therapies. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT02848781.

Improved Prognostic Performance of Cardiac Power Output With Right Atrial Pressure: A Subanalysis of the ESCAPE Trial.

BACKGROUND: The initial derivation of cardiac power output (CPO) included the difference between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and right atrial pressure (RAP) in the numerator, before multiplying by cardiac output (CO). We hypothesized that the inclusion of RAP (CPO-RAP) would enhance the prognostic performance of this parameter in those with an elevated RAP. METHODS AND RESULTS: We obtained patient-level data from the ESCAPE trial via the Biolincc database. Participants with full final hemodynamics were included in the analysis. The CPO-RAP was calculated as [(MAP - RAP) × CO)]/451 Watts (W), and the CPO was calculated as (MAP × CO)/451. The primary outcome was freedom from left ventricular assist device, heart transplant, or death at 6 months. Included participants (n = 157) were a median of 58 years of age (interquartile range [IQR] 49-67 years), 27% were women, and 59% had ischemic cardiomyopathy. The median CPO was 0.70 W (IQR 0.50-0.90 W), and the median CPO-RAP was 0.62 W (IQR 0.47-0.79 W). In univariable logistic regressions, the CPO was not associated with the primary outcome (odds ratio 0.32, 95% confidence interval 0.08-1.29, P = .11), but the CPO-RAP was (odds ratio 0.10, 95% confidence interval 0.02-0.54, P < .01). In Kaplan-Meier analyses, there were no significant difference in outcomes with CPO (76% vs 64%, P = .08), but for CPO-RAP, there were significant differences in outcomes (81% vs 63%, P = .01). When further delineating CPO-RAP by RAP above or below the median, there was no significant difference in the outcome for participants with a RAP 8 or less (94% vs 79%, P = .07), but a significant difference in participants with a RAP of more than 8 mm Hg (66% vs 45%, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of RAP resulted in a significant association with the primary outcome; CPO alone was not.

Safe and rapid radial hemostasis achieved using a novel topical hemostatic patch: Results of a first-in-human pilot study using hydrophobically modified polysaccharide-chitosan.

BACKGROUND: The transradial approach (TRA) for catheter interventions decreases vascular complications and bleeding versus transfemoral approach. Reducing time to hemostasis and preventing radial artery occlusion (RAO) following TRA are important and incompletely realized aspirations. OBJECTIVES: This first-in-human study sought to evaluate the efficacy of a novel, topically applied compound (hydrophobically modified polysaccharide-chitosan, hm-P) plus minimal required pneumatic compression, to achieve rapid radial arterial hemostasis in post-TRA procedures compared with de facto standards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 50 adult patients undergoing 6 French diagnostic TRA procedures were prospectively enrolled. At procedure completion, a topical hm-P impregnated patch was placed over the dermotomy and TR Band (TRB) compression was applied to the access site. This patch was used as part of a novel rapid deflation protocol with a primary outcome of time to hemostasis. Photographic and vascular ultrasound evaluation of the radial artery was performed to evaluate the procedural site. RESULTS: Time to hemostasis was 40.5 min (IQR: 38-50 min) with the majority of patients (n = 39, 78%) not requiring reinflation. Patients with bleeding requiring TRB reinflation were more likely to have low body weight and liver dysfunction, with absence of hypertension and LV dysfunction. The rate of RAO was 0% with predischarge radial artery patency documented in all patients using vascular ultrasound. One superficial hematoma was noted. No late bleeding events or cutaneous reactions were reported in the study follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of hm-P in conjunction with pneumatic compression was safe and resulted in rapid and predictable hemostasis at the arterial puncture site.

Anemia and outcomes following left ventricular assist device implantation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with concomitant anemia and congestive heart failure have poor outcomes. The prevalence and clinical risk of anemia in patients receiving durable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) remain unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent LVAD implantation between 2014 and 2018. The association between hemoglobin level at the time of index discharge and the one-year composite endpoint of heart failure readmissions or hemocompatibility-related adverse events was investigated. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients (57 [48, 66] years old, 123 males) were included and stratified into a classification of anemia (hemoglobin <9.7 g/dl, N = 99) or non-anemia (N = 69). The anemia group had a higher one-year incidence of the composite endpoint (56% vs 36%, p = .013) with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.83 (95% confidence interval 1.08-2.82). Patients with anemia also experienced suboptimal bi-ventricular unloading. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia was prevalent in LVAD patients and associated with a greater risk of heart failure and hemocompatibility-related adverse events. The optimal threshold for therapeutic intervention in response to post-LVAD anemia needs further investigation.

Prognostic Implications of Mitral Valve Inflow Pattern Overlap during Ivabradine Therapy.

The prognostic impact of mitral inflow wave overlap during ivabradine therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains to be unknown. Thus, in this study, we have retrospectively examined consecutive inpatients with HFrEF admitted with decompensated heart failure who continued ivabradine following the index discharge. Ideal heart rate (HR), at which echocardiographic mitral inflow wave overlap is theoretically 0, was retrospectively calculated as follows: 96 - 0.13 × (deceleration time [msec]). HR difference was then calculated as follows: actual HR - ideal HR. The association between the HR difference at index discharge and a composite outcome of cardiovascular death and heart failure readmissions was investigated. In total, 16 patients (68 [47, 75] years old, 11 men, median left ventricular ejection fraction 28% [22%, 35%]) were included in this study for analysis. Baseline actual HR was determined to be 88 (81, 93) bpm, whereas the ideal HR was calculated as 75 (73, 76) bpm. Following the initiation of ivabradine, actual HR at index discharge was 75 (64, 84) bpm. Patients with optimal HR (actual HR - ideal HR < ± 10 bpm; n = 9) were found to have experienced a lower incidence of the composite endpoint (40% versus 100%, P = 0.013) compared with those with sub-optimal HR (n = 7) with a hazard ratio of 0.10 (95% confidence interval 0.01-0.91) adjusted for actual HR at index discharge. In conclusion, HR modulation therapy using ivabradine may improve outcomes in patients with HFrEF if individualized ideal HR was achieved.

Aortic Pulsatility Index: A Novel Hemodynamic Variable for Evaluation of Decompensated Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Right heart catheterization for invasive hemodynamics has shown only modest correlation with clinical outcomes. We designed a novel hemodynamic variable that incorporates ventricular output and filling pressure. We anticipated that the aortic pulsatility index (API) would correlate with clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients undergoing right heart catheterization with milrinone drug study at our institution (February 2013 to November 2019). The API was calculated as (systolic blood pressure - diastolic blood pressure)/pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. The primary outcome was freedom from advanced therapies, defined as the need for inotropes, temporary mechanical circulatory support, a left ventricular assist device, or orthotopic heart transplantation, or death at 30 days. A total of 224 patient encounters, age 57 years (48-66 years; 34% women; 31% ischemic cardiomyopathy) were included. In univariable analysis, lower baseline API was significantly associated with progression to advanced therapies or death at 30-days (odds ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.30-0.61; P < .001) compared with those on continued medical management. Receiver operator characteristic analysis specified an optimal cutpoint of 1.45 for API. A Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated an association of API with the primary outcome (79% for API ≥ 1.45 vs 48% for API < 1.45). In multivariable analysis, higher API was strongly associated with freedom from advanced therapies or death (odds ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.65, P ≤ .001), even when adjusted for baseline characteristics and routine right heart catheterization measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The API is a novel invasive hemodynamic measurement that is associated independently with freedom from advanced therapies or death at 30-day follow-up.

Impact of Wideband Late Gadolinium Enhancement Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Device-Related Artifacts in Different Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Types.

BACKGROUND: Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) is limited by device-related artifacts (DRA). The use of wideband (WB) LGE protocols improves LGE images, but their efficacy with different ICD types is not well known. PURPOSE: To assess the effects of WB LGE imaging on DRA in different non-MR conditional ICD subtypes. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: A total of 113 patients undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with three ICD subtypes: transvenous (TV-ICD, N = 48), cardiac-resynchronization therapy device (CRT-D, N = 48), and subcutaneous (S-ICD, N = 17). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 5 T scanner, standard LGE, and WB LGE imaging with a phase-sensitive inversion recovery segmented gradient echo sequence. ASSESSMENT: DRA burden was defined as the number of artifact-positive short-axis LGE slices as percentage of the total number of short-axis slices covering the left ventricle from based to apex, and was determined for WB and standard LGE studies for each patient. Additionally, artifact area on each slice was quantified. STATISTICAL TESTS: Shapiro-Wilks, Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance, Dunn tests with Bonferroni correction, and Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: In patients with TV-ICD, DRA burden was significantly reduced and nearly eliminated with WB LGE compared to standard LGE imaging (median [interquartile range]: 0 [0-7]% vs. 18 [0-50]%, P < 0.05), but WB imaging had less of an impact on DRA in the CRT-D (8 [0-23]% vs. 16 [0-45]%, p = 0.12) and S-ICD (60 [15-71]% vs. 67 [50-92]%, P = 0.09) patients. Residual DRA was significantly greater (P < 0.05) for S-ICD compared to other device types with WB LGE imaging, despite the generators of all three ICD types having similar proximity to the heart. The area of S-ICD associated DRA was smaller with WB LGE (P < 0.001) than with standard LGE imaging and the artifacts had different characteristics (dark signal void instead of a bright hyperenhancement artifact). DATA CONCLUSION: Although WB LGE imaging reduced the burden of DRA caused by S-ICD, the residual artifact was greater than that observed with TV-ICD and CRT-D devices. Further developments are needed to better resolve S-ICD artifacts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: STAGE: 5.

A retrospective analysis of high sensitivity cardiac troponin-T ranges in non-myocardial infarction emergency department visits.

INTRODUCTION: Current evidence suggests that high sensitivity cardiac troponin-T (hs-cTnT) values differ based on sex, race, age, and kidney function. However, most studies examining the relationship of hs-cTnT and these individual factors are in healthy participants, leading to difficulty in interpreting hs-cTnT values in the Emergency Department (ED) setting. We seek to examine the relationship between hs-cTnT values and sex, race, age, and kidney function in a contemporary, urban academic setting. METHODS: ED visits from June 2018 through April 2019 with at least 1 hs-cTnT and no diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at an academic medical center in the south side of Chicago were retrospectively analyzed. Median hs-cTnT values were stratified by sex (male or female), race (African American or Caucasian), age, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and stage of chronic kidney disease. RESULTS: 9679 encounters, representing 7989 distinct patients, were included for analysis (age 58 ± 18 years, 59% female, 85% black). Males had significantly higher median hs-cTnT values than females (16 [8-34] vs. 9 [6-22] ng/L, p < 0.001), African Americans had a significantly lower median value than Caucasians (10 [6-24] vs. 15 [6-29] ng/L, p < 0.001), and those with atrial fibrillation (27 [16-48] vs. 9 [6-19] ng/L, p < 0.001) and heart failure (28 [14-48] vs. 8 [6-15] ng/L, p < 0.001) had higher median values than those without. Median hs-cTnT values increased significantly with increased age and decreased eGFR. All relationships continued to be significant even after multivariable regression of sex, age, race, eGFR, presence of atrial fibrillation, and presence of heart failure (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of hs-cTnT in non-AMI patients during ED encounters showed that males have higher values than females, African Americans have lower values than Caucasians, those with atrial fibrillation and heart failure have higher values than those without, and that older age and lower eGFR were associated with higher median values.

Social determinants of health and hospital readmissions: can the HOSPITAL risk score be improved by the inclusion of social factors?

BACKGROUND: The HOSPITAL Risk Score (HRS) predicts 30-day hospital readmissions and is internationally validated. Social determinants of health (SDOH) such as low socioeconomic status (SES) affect health outcomes and have been postulated to affect readmission rates. We hypothesized that adding SDOH to the HRS could improve its predictive accuracy. METHODS: Records of 37,105 inpatient admissions at the University of Chicago Medical Center were reviewed. HRS was calculated for each patient. Census tract-level SDOH then were combined with the HRS and the performance of the resultant "Social HRS" was compared against the HRS. Patients then were assigned to 1 of 7 typologies defined by their SDOH and a balanced dataset of 14,235 admissions was sampled from the larger dataset to avoid over-representation by any 1 sociodemographic group. Principal component analysis and multivariable linear regression then were performed to determine the effect of SDOH on the HRS. RESULTS: The c-statistic for the HRS predicting 30-day readmission was 0.74, consistent with published values. However, the addition of SDOH to the HRS did not improve the c-statistic (0.71). Patients with unfavorable SDOH (no high-school, limited English, crowded housing, disabilities, and age > 65 yrs) had significantly higher HRS (p < 0.05 for all). Overall, SDOH explained 0.2% of the HRS. CONCLUSION: At an urban tertiary care center, the addition of census tract-level SDOH to the HRS did not improve its predictive power. Rather, the effects of SDOH are already reflected in the HRS.

Two-year follow-up of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds in severe infra-popliteal arterial disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety, efficacy, and durability of the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold in predominantly complex, infra-popliteal lesions for the management of chronic limb ischemia at two-year clinical follow-up. Bioresorbable vascular scaffold are biodegradable scaffolds that provide short-term vascular support before undergoing intravascular degradation. A recent trial reported excellent 36-month vessel patency rates in simple infrapopliteal arterial lesions treated with Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study evaluated the use of the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (everolimus impregnated poly-L-lactic scaffold) in patients with infra-popliteal peripheral arterial disease (PAD) with respect to safety (thrombosis and TIMI bleeding), technical success, and freedom from clinically driven target vessel failure at 24 months. RESULTS: 31 patients (51.6% male) with a median age of 67 years with predominantly advanced infra-popliteal disease were treated with 49 bioresorbable vascular scaffold in 41 vessels. The mean stenosis was 94% (80-100), with 49% of lesions being chronic thrombotic occlusions. No scaffold thrombosis or peri-procedural bleeding was observed. Procedural success was achieved in all patients; 93.5% of patients experienced freedom from clinically driven target vessel failure at 24 months, driven by one revascularization and one amputation. Primary patency was 96.7% at 12 months and 87.1% at 24 months. All patients were alive at 12 and 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: At 24 months, our study found that patients with predominantly advanced infra-popliteal PAD who were treated with Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold reported improved clinical status and a low and durable rate of clinically driven target vessel failure extending out to 24 months.

The implication of optimal heart rate in patients with systolic dysfunction following TAVR.

Heart rate reduction therapy using ivabradine has demonstrated its prognostic implication in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. However, the target heart rate with optimal clinical outcomes, particularly for those with systolic dysfunction following a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), remains unknown. Consecutive patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% and sinus rhythm following TAVR received transthoracic echocardiography at index discharge. The ideal heart rate was calculated using a formula: 93 - 0.13 × (deceleration time [ms]). Those whose actual heart rates at discharge were within 10 bpm of the calculated ideal heart rate were assigned to the optimal heart rate group, and their prognosis was compared with those without. Twenty-four patients (83 [78, 85] years old, LVEF 41% [35%, 44%], 16 males) were included. The median difference between actual heart rate and ideal heart rate was 12 (0, 16) bpm and 11 patients were assigned to the optimal heart rate group. One year later, the optimal heart rate group achieved more improvement in LVEF (24% [15%, 28%] vs. 7% [7%, 12%], p = .003) and had lower heart failure readmission rates (0.059 vs. 0.116 events/year; p = .49). In conclusion, an optimal heart rate might be associated with cardiac reverse remodeling and prevention of heart failure recurrences in patients with systolic dysfunction following TAVR. The implication of deceleration time-guided heart rate optimization therapy for such cohorts remains the next concern.

Chronotropic Assessment in Patients with Constrictive Pericarditis.

Management of constrictive pericarditis is often clinically challenging. Heart rate (HR) modulation using ivabradine is associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure, although it remains uninvestigated for other clinical purposes. We aimed to assess the impact of HR control in patients with constrictive pericarditis. In this retrospective study, consecutive patients who were diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis were included. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at index discharge (day 0). The impact of HR difference between actual HR and ideal HR, which was calculated using a formula consisting of deceleration time, on heart failure readmission rates was investigated. A total of 15 patients (73 years old on median, 11 men) with constrictive pericarditis were included. On median, actual HR was 71 bpm and ideal HR was 81 bpm. Heart failure readmission rates were stratified into three groups by the HR difference: (1) optimal HR group satisfying "-10 bpm ≤ HR difference ≤ 10 bpm" (n = 4, 0.067 events per year); (2) lower HR group satisfying "HR difference < -10 bpm" (n = 7, 0.118 events per year, incidence rate ratio 1.98, 95% confidence interval 0.06-61.6); (3) higher HR group satisfying "HR difference > 10 bpm" (n = 4, 0.231 events per year, incidence rate ratio 9.22, 95% confidence interval 0.36-237.8). In conclusion, non-optimized HR was associated with an increased risk of heart failure recurrence in patients with constrictive pericarditis. Prospective assessment of deceleration time-guided HR optimization in patients with constrictive pericarditis is needed.

Targeted Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia Guided by Wavefront Discontinuities During Sinus Rhythm: A New Functional Substrate Mapping Strategy.

BACKGROUND: Accurate and expedited identification of scar regions most prone to reentry is needed to guide ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation. We aimed to prospectively assess outcomes of VT ablation guided primarily by the targeting of deceleration zones (DZ) identified by propagational analysis of ventricular activation during sinus rhythm. METHODS: Patients with scar-related VT were prospectively enrolled in the University of Chicago VT Ablation Registry between 2016 and 2018. Isochronal late activation maps annotated to the latest local electrogram deflection were created with high-density multielectrode mapping catheters. Targeted ablation of DZ (>3 isochrones within 1cm radius) was performed, prioritizing later activated regions with maximal isochronal crowding. When possible, activation mapping of VT was performed, and successful ablation sites were compared with DZ locations for mechanistic correlation. Patients were prospectively followed for VT recurrence and mortality. RESULTS: One hundred twenty patients (median age 65 years [59-71], 15% female, 50% nonischemic, median ejection fraction 31%) underwent 144 ablation procedures for scar-related VT. 57% of patients had previous ablation and epicardial access was employed in 59% of cases. High-density mapping during baseline rhythm was performed (2518 points [1615-3752] endocardial, 5049±2580 points epicardial) and identified an average of 2±1 DZ, which colocalized to successful termination sites in 95% of cases. The median total radiofrequency application duration was 29 min (21-38 min) to target DZ, representing ablation of 18% of the low-voltage area. At 12±10 months, 70% freedom from VT recurrence (80% in ischemic cardiomyopathy and 63% in nonischemic cardiomyopathy) was achieved. The overall survival rate was 87%. CONCLUSIONS: A novel voltage-independent high-density mapping display can identify the functional substrate for VT during sinus rhythm and guide targeted ablation, obviating the need for extensive radiofrequency delivery. Regions with isochronal crowding during the baseline rhythm were predictive of VT termination sites, providing mechanistic evidence that deceleration zones are highly arrhythmogenic, functioning as niduses for reentry.

Discordance Between Clinical Assessment and Invasive Hemodynamics in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Historically, invasive hemodynamic guidance was not superior compared to clinical assessment in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). This study assessed the accuracy of clinical assessment vs invasive hemodynamics in patients with ADHF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients admitted with ADHF. Prior to right-heart catheterization (RHC), physicians categorically predicted right atrial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index and hemodynamic profile (wet/dry, warm/cold) based on physical examination and clinical data evaluation (warm = cardiac index > 2.2 L/min/m2; wet = pulmonary capillary wedge pressure > 18 mmHg). We collected 218 surveys (of 83 cardiology fellows, 55 attending cardiologists, 45 residents, 35 interns) evaluating 97 patients. Of those patients, 46% were receiving inotropes prior to RHC. The positive and negative predictive values of clinical assessment compared to RHC for the cold and wet subgroups were 74.7% and 50.4%. The accuracy of categorical prediction was 43.6% for right atrial pressure, 34.4% for pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and 49.1% for cardiac index, and accuracy did not differ by clinician (P > 0.05 for all). Interprovider agreement was 44.4%. Therapeutic changes following RHC occurred in 71.1% overall (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical assessment of patients with advanced heart failure presenting with ADHF has low accuracy across all training levels, with exaggerated rates of misrecognition of the most high-risk patients.

High sensitivity Troponin-T for prediction of adverse events in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: High sensitivity cardiac troponin-T (hs-TnT) has been associated with mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We aimed to determine if hs-TnT levels and their timing are independent predictors of adverse events in these patients. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review was performed for all patients hospitalized at our institution between 23 March 2020 and 13 April 2020 who were found to be COVID-19-positive. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory variables including initial and peak hs-TnT were recorded. Univariable and multivariable analyses were completed for a primary composite endpoint of in-hospital death, intubation, need for critical care, or cardiac arrest. RESULTS: In the 276 patients analysed, initial hs-TnT above the median (≥17 ng/L) was associated with increased length of stay, need for vasoactive medications, and death, along with the composite endpoint (OR 3.92, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that elevated initial hs-TnT was independently associated with the primary endpoint (OR 2.92, p = 0.01). Late-peaking hs-TnT (OR 2.19 for each additional day until peak, p < 0.001) was also independently associated with the composite endpoint. CONCLUSIONS: In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, hs-TnT identifies patients at high risk for adverse in-hospital events, and trends of hs-TnT over time, particularly during the first day, provide additional prognostic information.

Performance of the right ventricular outflow tract/aortic diameter as a novel predictor of risk in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Right ventricular (RV) enlargement, determined via the ratio of the right to left ventricular diameters (RV/LV) by CT imaging is used to classify the severity of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and impacts treatment decisions. The RV/LV ratio may be an unreliable marker of RV dysfunction, due in part to the complex RV geometry. This study compared the RV/LV ratio to a novel metric, the ratio of the right ventricular to aortic outflow tract diameters (RVOT/Ao) in patients with acute PE treated with catheter-directed therapies (CDT). RVOT/Ao and RV/LV ratios were measured on CT images from 103 patients who received CDT for acute submassive or massive PE and were compared to RV dysfunction severity determined by transthoracic echocardiography. Ratios and biomarkers on admission were assessed for correlation with invasively-measured hemodynamics [right atrial (RA) pressure, mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, cardiac output (CO)]. RVOT/Ao but not RV/LV ratios were increased in patients with moderate or severe RV dysfunction compared to those without RV dysfunction (p < 0.05). Neither ratio showed significant correlation with RA (r = 0.09 vs 0.055, p > 0.05), mean PA pressure (r = 0.167 vs 0.146, p > 0.05), or CO (r = 0.021 vs - 0.183, p > 0.05). proBNP correlated with mean PA pressure (r = 0.377, p < 0.05). The RVOT/Ao ratio may be better at assessing RV dysfunction than the RV/LV ratio in patients presenting with acute PE. Although currently accepted protocols rely on the RV/LV ratio in determining when CDT are of benefit, the RVOT/Ao ratio may be a more useful tool in identifying high risk patients.

Sex difference in the impact of smoking on left ventricular assist device outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Active smoking is associated with worse clinical outcomes following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. However, the effect of sex differences in conjunction with smoking status remains uninvestigated. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent LVAD implantation between January 2013 and September 2018 were included. Clinical outcomes were retrospectively compared between the current smokers and never smokers among male cohorts and female cohorts separately. RESULTS: About 130 patients, with a median age of 56 years, were included. Among the male cohort (N = 85), the current smokers (N = 25/85) had a higher total readmission rate than the never smokers (N = 60/85) with an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 2.38 (95% confidence interval, 1.16-3.85, P = .014), dominantly due to higher rates of gastrointestinal bleeding, stroke, and hemolysis. Among the female cohorts (N = 45), never smokers (N = 36/45) had a statistically comparable total readmission rate (2.80 vs 2.50 events per year; P = .37) compared with current smokers (N = 9/45). CONCLUSION: Among male patients with LVAD, active smoking was associated with higher rates of adverse events. Female patients with LVAD had a high rate of adverse events irrespective of smoking status. Gender-specific therapeutic approaches might be required to prevent LVAD-related comorbidities.

Single arm retrospective study of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds to treat patients with severe infrapopliteal arterial disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety and efficacy of the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) in complex, infrapopliteal lesions for the management of chronic limb ischemia. BACKGROUND: The interventional management of infrapopliteal PAD remains challenging due to high restenosis rates with metallic drug-eluting stents and balloon angioplasty. Metallic stents are associated with impaired vessel vasomotor tone, remodeling, autoregulation, and long-term inflammation. BVSs are biodegradable scaffolds that provide short-term vascular support before degrading to allow restoration of vasomotor tone and endothelial function. A recent trial reported excellent 12-month vessel patency rates in simple infrapopliteal arterial lesions treated with Absorb BVS. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study evaluated the use of the Absorb BVS (everolimus impregnated poly-L-lactic scaffold) in patients with infrapopliteal PAD with respect to safety (thrombosis and TIMI bleeding), technical success, and clinically driven target vessel failure (CD-TVF) at 12 months. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (51.6% male) with a median age of 67 years with advanced infrapopliteal disease were treated with 49 BVS in 41 vessels. The mean stenosis was 94% (80-100), with 49% of lesions being CTOs. No scaffold thrombosis or periprocedural bleeding was observed. Procedural success was achieved in all patients. Freedom from CD-TVF was 95.1% at 12 months driven by one revascularization and one amputation. Primary patency was 96.7% at 12 months. All patients were alive at 12 months, and 96.8% of patients improved their Rutherford-Becker classification. CONCLUSIONS: At 12 months, our study found that patients with advanced infrapopliteal PAD who were treated with Absorb BVS reported improved clinical status and a low rate of CD-TVF.