Coronary fractional flow reserve.

OBJECTIVE. This article presents the basic definitions and concepts of fractional flow reserve (FFR), a focused understanding of the need for hyperemia during assessment, key clinical studies supporting its use, and an introduction to newer noninvasive methods using FFR CT. CONCLUSION. Although it is still a new procedure, FFR CT may prove to be of tremendous use as the computational processing improves to reduce calculation times and enhance accuracy.

Implementation of a regional extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program for refractory ventricular fibrillation out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: eCPR, the modality of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) applied in the setting of cardiac arrest, has emerged as a novel therapy which may improve outcomes in select patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). To date, implementation has been mainly limited to single academic centres. Our objective is to describe the feasibility and challenges with implementation of a regional protocol for eCPR. METHODS: The Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency implemented a regional eCPR protocol in July 2020, which included coordination across multiple EMS provider agencies and hospitals to route patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation (rVF) OHCA to eCPR-capable centres (ECCs). Data were entered on consecutive patients with rVF with suspected cardiac aetiology into a centralized database including time intervals, field and in-hospital care, survival and neurologic outcome. RESULTS: From July 27, 2020 through July 31, 2022, 35 patients (median age 57 years, 6 (17%) female) were routed to ECCs, of whom 11 (31%) received eCPR and 3 (27%) treated with eCPR survived, all of whom had a full neurologic recovery. Challenges encountered during implementation included cost to EMS provider agencies for training, implementation, and purchase of automatic chest compression devices, maintenance of system awareness, hospital administrative support for staffing and equipment for the ECMO program, and interdepartmental coordination at ECCs. CONCLUSION: We describe the successful implementation of a regional eCPR program with ongoing patient enrolment and data collection. These preliminary findings can serve as a model for other EMS systems who seek to implement regional eCPR programs.

Catheter-Based Interventions for the Management of Valvular Heart Disease During Pregnancy.

Pregnancy is associated with a significant increase in hemodynamic burden. These changes can lead to maternal morbidity and mortality as well as unfavorable fetal outcomes in patients with valvular heart disease and limited cardiac reserve. Mechanical interventions may be needed for the management of severe hemodynamic deterioration not responding to medical therapy. Catheter-based percutaneous interventions can provide an alternative therapy to surgery during pregnancy. The purpose of this article is to review indications, potential advantages, and limitations of catheter-based interventions for the management of women with valvular heart disease in pregnancy.

Outcome of Pregnancy in Women With D-Transposition of the Great Arteries: A Systematic Review.

Background Information on maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancy in women with D-transposition of the great arteries is limited. We conducted a systematic literature review on pregnancies in women with transposition of the great arteries after atrial and arterial switch operations to better define maternal and fetal risk. Methods and Results A systematic review was performed on studies between 2000 and 2021 that identified 676 pregnancies in 444 women with transposition of the great arteries. A total of 556 pregnancies in women with atrial switch operation were tolerated by most cases with low mortality (0.6%). Most common maternal complications, however, were arrhythmias (9%) and heart failure (8%) associated with serious morbidity in some patients. Worsening functional capacity, right ventricular function, and tricuspid regurgitation occurred in ≈20% of the cases. Rate of fetal and neonatal mortality was 1.4% and 0.8%, respectively, and rate of prematurity was 32%. A total of 120 pregnancies in women with arterial switch operation were associated with no maternal mortality, numerically lower rates of arrhythmias and heart failure (6% and 5%, respectively), significantly lower rate of prematurity (11%; P<0.001), and only 1 fetal loss. Conclusions Pregnancy is tolerated by most women with transposition of the great arteries and atrial switch operation with low mortality but important morbidity. Most common maternal complications were arrhythmias, heart failure, worsening of right ventricular function, and tricuspid regurgitation. There was also a high incidence of prematurity and increased rate of fetal loss and neonatal mortality. Outcome of pregnancy in women after arterial switch operations is more favorable, with reduced incidence of maternal complications and fetal outcomes similar to women without underlying cardiac disease.

Pregnancy and the Risk of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: An Analysis of 120 Contemporary Cases.

BACKGROUND: Because of the rarity of this condition, information on pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection is limited. We reviewed a large number of contemporary pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection cases in an attempt to define the clinical characteristics and provide management recommendations. METHODS AND RESULTS: A literature search for cases of pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection reported between 2000 and 2015 included 120 cases; 75% presented with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and 80% had anterior myocardial infarction. Left anterior descending coronary artery was involved in 72% of cases, left main segment in 36%, and 40% had multivessel spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Ejection fraction was reduced to <40% in 44% of cases. Percutaneous coronary intervention was successful in only 50% of cases. Coronary artery bypass surgery was performed in 44 cases because of complex anatomy, hemodynamic instability, or failed percutaneous coronary intervention. Maternal complications included cardiogenic shock (24%), mechanical support (28%), urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (28%), urgent coronary artery bypass surgery (27.5%), maternal mortality (4%), and fetal mortality (2.5%). During follow-up for 305±111 days, there was a high incidence of symptoms because of persistent or new spontaneous coronary artery dissections, and 5 women needed heart transplantation or ventricular assist device implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection is commonly associated with left anterior descending, left main, and multivessel involvement, which leads to a high incidence of reduced ejection fraction, and life-threatening maternal and fetal complications. Percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with low success rate and high likelihood of complications, and coronary artery bypass surgery is often required. Recurrent ischemic events because of persistent or new spontaneous coronary artery dissection are common during long-term follow-up.

ST Segment Elevation ECG Changes During Pharmacologic Stress With Regadenoson.

Regadenoson is a pharmacologic stress agent that has been widely adopted as an alternative over other pharmacologic vasodilator agents due to its ease of use, patient tolerance, and safety profile. We report the case of dynamic ST-segment elevation electrocardiogram changes after regadenoson injection during an inpatient single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion stress test, with subsequent coronary angiography revealing the presence of hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease. Our findings confirm that transient regadenoson-induced ST-segment elevations are a marker for hemodynamically significant disease even in the setting of low-risk SPECT perfusion images.

Value of FFR in clinical practice.

Fractional flow reserve is an important tool in the cardiac catheterization lab to assess the physiological significance of coronary lesions. This article discusses the basic concepts about FFR and its utility in clinical decision making.

Impact of catheter fragmentation followed by local intrapulmonary thrombolysis in acute high risk pulmonary embolism as primary therapy.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) with more than 50% compromise of pulmonary circulation results significant right ventricular (RV) afterload leading to progressive RV failure, systemic hypotension and shock. Prompt restoration of thrombolysis, surgical embolectomy, or percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) prevents progressive hemodynamic decline. We report our single center experience in high risk PE patients treated with standard pigtail catheter mechanical fragmentation followed by intrapulmonary thrombolysis as a primary therapy. METHODS: 50 consecutive patients with diagnosis of high risk PE defined as having shock index >1 with angiographic evidence of >50% pulmonary arterial occlusion are included in the present study. All patients underwent emergent cardiac catheterization. After ensuring flow across pulmonary artery with mechanical breakdown of embolus by rotating 5F pigtail catheter; bolus dose of urokinase (4400 IU/kg) followed by infusion for 24 h was given in the thrombus. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded and follow up pulmonary angiogram was done. Clinical and echo follow up was done for one year. RESULTS: Pigtail rotational mechanical thrombectomy restored antegrade flow in all patients. The mean pulmonary artery pressure, Miller score, Shock index decreased significantly from 41 ± 8 mmHg, 20 ± 5, 1.32 ± 0.3 to 24.52 ± 6.89, 5.35 ± 2.16, 0.79 ± 0.21 respectively (p < 0.0001). In-hospital major complications were seen in 4 patients. There was a statistically significant reduction of PA pressures from 62 ± 11 mmHg to 23±6 mmHg on follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid reperfusion of pulmonary arteries with mechanical fragmentation by pigtail catheter followed by intrapulmonary thrombolysis results in excellent immediate and intermediate term outcomes in patients presenting with high risk pulmonary embolism.

Mechanical breakdown and thrombolysis in subacute massive pulmonary embolism: A prospective trial.

AIM: To assess role of combined modality of mechanical fragmentation and intralesional thrombolysis in patients with massive pulmonary embolism presenting subacutely. METHODS: Eight of 70 patients presenting in tertiary care centre of North India with massive pulmonary embolism within 4 years had subacute presentation (symptom onset more than 2 wk). These patients were subjected to pulmonary angiography with intention to treat basis via mechanical breakdown and intra lesional thrombolysis. Mechanical breakdown of embolus was accomplished with 5-F multipurpose catheter to re-establish flow, followed by intralesional infusion of urokinase (4400 IU/kg over 10 min followed by 4400 IU/kg per hour over 24 h). RESULTS: Eight patients, mean age 47.77 ± 12.20 years presented with subacute pulmonary embolism (mean duration of symptoms 2.4 wk). At presentation, mean heart rate, shock index, miller score and mean pulmonary pressures were 101.5 ± 15.2/min, 0.995 ± 0.156, 23.87 ± 3.76 and 37.62 ± 6.67 mmHg which reduced to 91.5 ± 12.2/min (P = 0.0325), 0.789 ± 0.139 (P = 0.0019), 5.87 ± 1.73 (P = 0.0000004) and 27.75 ± 8.66 mmHg (P = 0.0003) post procedurally. Mean BP improved from 80.00 ± 3.09 mmHg to 90.58 ± 9.13 mmHg (P = 0.0100) post procedurally. Minor complications in the form of local hematoma-minor hematoma in 1 (12.5%), and pseudoaneurysm (due to femoral artery puncture) in 1 (12.5 %) patient were seen. At 30 d and 6 mo follow up survival rate was 100% and all the patients were asymptomatic and in New York Heart Association class 1. CONCLUSION: Combined modality of mechanical fragmentation and intralesional thrombolysis appears to be a promising alternative to high risk surgical procedures in patients with subacute massive pulmonary embolism.

Is Primary Angioplasty the Best Treatment for AMI in the Elderly?

The elderly, particularly those over 80, are the fastest growing component of the population. Coronary artery disease accounts for 44% of all deaths in the elderly. Age is also one of the strongest predictors of mortality from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and in those that survive, long term outcome is worse. In part, the poor inhospital mortality is due to difficulty in diagnosis, but is also likely to be caused by the widespread reluctance to use reperfusion therapy to treat the elderly. Reperfusion therapy has been shown to be equally effective in the elderly, despite an overall increased mortality. The results of randomized trials comparing thrombolysis to angioplasty show an advantage of primary angioplasty over thrombolysis. In the Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded coronary Arteries in Acute Coronary Syndromes (GUSTO) IIb trial, the advantage was noted in all age groups, including the elderly. The Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (PAMI) trial supports these findings. The trials also suggest that the risks are lower with angioplasty than thrombolysis, with a significant lower risk of stroke. Today, with improved outcomes using stents and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa agents, the advantages of primary angioplasty may be even greater than those reported in prior trials. The available data strongly support the use of primary angioplasty in the elderly as an effective reperfusion therapy and, due to improved safety and greater efficacy, should be the preferred treatment in the elderly. (c)1999 by CVRR, Inc.

Continuous ultrasonic monitoring of balloon valvuloplasty.

A novel ultrasound transducer developed in our laboratory (CONTISON) was used for monitoring catheter balloon commissurotomy (CBC). The transducer was placed at the cardiac apex to obtain an apical four-chamber view and attached to the chest wall using an adhesive ring. During the procedure, the tip of the needle was imaged first in the right atrium and was seen to traverse the interatrial septum and enter the left atrium. Mitral valve gradients were measured before and after CBC.