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Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic value (total mortality + repeated hospitalization for heart failure (HF)) of ultrasound diagnostic methods in patients with acute decompensated HF (ADHF). Methods: The subjects were patients with chronic HF, who were hospitalized for ADHF. Using ultrasound methods-lung ultrasound, ultrasound assessment of hepatic venous congestion as per the venous excess ultrasound (VExUS) protocol, and indirect elastometry-we assessed the number of B-lines, hepatic venous congestion, and liver density of the patients. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a structured telephone survey method at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Combined overall mortality and readmission rates associated with HF were assessed. Threshold values for different methods for detecting congestion were set as follows: the number of B-lines in ultrasound data > 5; liver density > 6.2 kPa. Results: The subjects were 207 patients (54.1% male; mean age = 70.7 ± 12.8 years). A total of 63 (30.4%) endpoints and 23 (11.1%) deaths were detected within 364 days (IQR = 197-365). Liver density > 6.2 kPa had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.9 (95% CI: 1.0-3.3; p = 0.029). Hepatic venous congestion (VExUS protocol) had HR of 2.8 (95% CI: 1.3-5.7; p = 0.004). There was a significant increase in the risk of overall prognostic value in the presence of congestion, identified by liver fibroelastometry + lung ultrasound (HR = 10.5, 95% CI: 2.3-46.2; p = 0.002). The ultrasound assessment of hepatic venous congestion (VExUS + lung ultrasound protocol) yielded HR of 16.7 (95% CI: 3.9-70.7; p < 0.001). For all three methods combined, the overall HR was 40.1 (95% CI: 6.6-243.1; p < 0.001). Conclusions: A combination of ultrasound diagnostic methods that include the number of B-lines, presence of hepatic venous congestion according to the VExUS protocol, and liver density according to indirect elastometry at discharge may have an independent prognostic value for patients with ADHF.
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Background: Right ventricular failure (RVF) in patients with a continuous-flow left ventricle assist device (CF-LVAD) is associated with higher incidence of mortality. This systematic review aims to assess the overall proportion of RVF and the pre-operative echocardiographic parameters which are best correlating to RVF. Methods: A systematic research was conducted between 2008 and 2019 on MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED, UPTODATE, OVID, COCHRANE LIBRARY, and Google Scholar electronic databases by performing a PRISMA flowchart. All observational studies regarding echocardiographic predictors of RVF in patients undergoing CF-LVAD implantation were included. Results: A total number of 19 observational human studies published between 2008 and 2019 were included. We identified 524 RVF patients out of a pooled final population of 1741 patients. The RVF overall proportion was 28.25% with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24-0.34. The highest variability of perioperative echocardiographic parameters between the RVF and no right ventricular failure (NO-RVF) groups has been found with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), and right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS). Their standardized mean deviation (SMD) was - 0.33 (95% CI - 0.54 to - 0.11; p value 0.003), - 0.34 (95% CI - 0.53 to - 0.15; p value 0.0001), and 0.52 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.25; p value 0.0001), respectively. Conclusions: The echocardiographic predictors of RVF after CF-LVAD placement are still uncertain. However, there seems to be a trend of statistical correlation between TAPSE, FAC, and RVGLS with RVF event after CF-LVAD placement. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-022-01447-7.
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This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with acute heart failure (AHF) stratified by mitral regurgitation (MR) in the Arabian Gulf. Patients from the Gulf CARE registry were identified from 47 hospitals in seven Arabian Gulf countries (Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia) from February to November 2012. The cohort was stratified into two groups based on the presence of MR. Univariable and multivariable statistical analyses were performed. The population cohort included 5005 consecutive patients presenting with AHF, of whom 1491 (29.8 %) had concomitant MR. The mean age of patients with AHF and concomitant MR was 59.2 ± 14.9 years, and 63.1 % (n = 2886) were male. A total of 58.6 % (n = 2683) had heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF) (HFrEF), 21.0 % (n = 961) had HF with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF), and 20.4 % (n = 932) had HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). Patients with MR had a lower haemoglobin (Hb) level (12.4 vs. 12.7 g/dL; p < 0.001), and a higher prevalence of left atrial enlargement (80.2 % vs. 55.1 %; p < 0.001), cardiogenic shock (9.7 % vs. 7.3 %; p = 0.006) and atrial fibrillation (7.6 % vs. 5.6 %; p = 0.006), and HFrEF (71.0 % vs. 52.6 %; P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that MR was independently associated with increased all-cause mortality at 1-year and 3-month HF rehospitalization [1-year all-cause mortality, adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.40; 95 % confidence interval (Cl): 1.13-1.74; p = 0.002; 3-month HF rehospitalization, aOR, 1.26; 95 % Cl: 1.06-1.49; p = 0.009]. In an Arabian Gulf cohort with AHF, concomitant MR was associated with an increased risk of 1-year mortality and 3-months HF rehospitalization.
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Heart failure is an acute or chronic syndrome where the heart is unable to provide adequate amount of oxygen to body tissues. The treatment of heart failure aims to give an immediate answer in terms of regression of volume overload and restoration of hemodynamic stability and then to ensure management of clinical exacerbation, reduction in hospital stay, and increasing of survival. The pharmacological treatment of heart failure includes drugs with different strength of evidence. When the patient is no more responsive to medical therapy a non-pharmacological approach may be required. The first step is cardiac resynchronization therapy and implantable cardiac defibrillator. Then hospitalization and inotropic support may be needed. When cardiac disease reaches the end stage, the severe decrease in multi organ perfusion requires a quick therapeutic response. This is a time dependent scenario, when mechanical circulatory support (MCS) plays a crucial role. MCS may be used as temporary hemodynamic support on situations where myocardial recovery is likely, such as after revascularization and in cases of fulminant acute myocarditis. Conversion to ventricular assist devices or transplantation should be considered if longer duration of MCS is required. Advances in the treatment of cardiogenic shock patients in terms of pharmacological therapies, short term and long term MCS could provide opportunities to improve survival, but they also increase the complexity of clinical care. For this reason a multidisciplinary shock team approach is paramount for early symptom detection, to guide initial haemodynamic therapy and for the right choice of MCS device at the right time.