Coronary perfusion pressure is associated with adverse outcomes in advanced heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion is an important determinant of cardiac function. We hypothesized that low coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) would be associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure. Myocardial perfusion impacts the contractile efficiency thus a low CPP would signal low myocardial perfusion in the face of increased cardiac demand as a result of volume overload. METHODS: We analyzed patients with complete hemodynamic data in the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness trial using Cox Proportional Hazards regression for the primary outcome of the composite risk of death, heart transplantation, or left ventricular assist device [(LVAD). DT × LVAD] and the secondary outcome of the composite risk of DT × LVAD and heart failure hospitalization (DT × LVADHF). CPP was calculated as the difference between diastolic blood pressure and pulmonary artery wedge pressure. Heart failure categories (ischemic vs non-ischemic) were also stratified based on CPP strata. RESULTS: The 158 patients (56.7 ± 13.6 years, 28.5% female) studied had a median CPP of 40 mmHg (IQR 35-52 mmHg). During 6 months of follow-up, 35 (22.2%) had the composite primary outcome and 109 (69.0%) had the composite secondary outcome. When these outcomes were then stratified based on the median, CPP was associated with these outcomes. Increasing CPP was associated with lower risk of both the primary outcome of DT × LVAD (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99 p = .002) and as well as the secondary outcome of DT × LVADHF (p = .0008) There was significant interaction between CPP and ischemic etiology (p = .04). CONCLUSION: A low coronary artery perfusion pressure below (median) 40mmHg in patients with advanced heart failure undergoing invasive hemodynamic monitoring with a pulmonary artery catheter was associated with adverse outcomes. CPP could useful in guiding risk stratification of advanced heart failure patients and timely evaluation of advanced heart failure therapies.

Systemic arterial pulsatility index (SAPi) predicts adverse outcomes in advanced heart failure patients.

Ventriculo-arterial (VA) coupling has been shown to have physiologic importance in heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that the systemic arterial pulsatility index (SAPi), a measure that integrates pulse pressure and a proxy for left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, would be associated with adverse outcomes in advanced HF. We evaluated the SAPi ([systemic systolic blood pressure-systemic diastolic blood pressure]/pulmonary artery wedge pressure) obtained from the final hemodynamic measurement in patients randomized to therapy guided by a pulmonary arterial catheter (PAC) and with complete data in the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness (ESCAPE) trial. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed for the outcomes of (a) death, transplant, left ventricular assist device (DTxLVAD) or hospitalization, (DTxLVADHF) and (b) DTxLVAD. Among 142 patients (mean age 56.8 ± 13.3 years, 30.3% female), the median SAPi was 2.57 (IQR 1.63-3.45). Increasing SAPi was associated with significant reductions in DTxLVAD (HR 0.60 per unit increase in SAPi, 95% CI 0.44-0.84) and DTxLVADHF (HR 0.81 per unit increase, 95% CI 0.70-0.95). Patients with a SAPi ≤ 2.57 had a marked increase in both outcomes, including more than twice the risk of DTxLVAD (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.11-4.30) over 6 months. Among advanced heart failure patients with invasive hemodynamic monitoring in the ESCAPE trial, SAPi was strongly associated with adverse clinical outcomes. These findings support further investigation of the SAPi to guide treatment and prognosis in HF undergoing invasive hemodynamic monitoring.

Transverse sinus fat pad may masquerade as left atrial appendage thrombus.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a commonly utilized investigation in patients with atrial fibrillation to study the left atrial appendage (LAA) and exclude an appendage thrombus before proceeding with cardioversion. Although TEE is considered the procedure of choice for this purpose, it may sometimes offer a limited specificity due to common anatomical variations associated with either the LAA or the adjoining cardiac structures. We herewith present a patient with atrial fibrillation who underwent TEE and was found to have an echodensity in the vicinity of left atrial appendage that mimicked a thrombus. A careful further evaluation however confirmed that the echodensity actually was consistent with a dense epicardial fat pad. TEE imaging evaluation in different planes and angulations is thus paramount in establishing a correct diagnosis. Supplemental information from other imaging modalities such as cardiac computed tomography may sometimes offer an additional value, especially if the diagnosis remains unclear.

Attenuation of the side effect profile of regadenoson: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study with aminophylline in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging. "The ASSUAGE trial".

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether the standardized intravenous aminophylline administration following regadenoson-stress can prevent the gastrointestinal and other adverse effects associated with regadenoson. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial we compared the frequency and severity of regadenoson adverse effects in those who received 75 mg of intravenous aminophylline versus a matching placebo administered 2 minutes after regadenoson or 90 seconds post-radioisotope injection. RESULTS: 248 patients [44.8% women, mean age 62.2 (± 13.3) years] were randomized to receive aminophylline (124) or placebo (124). In the aminophylline arm, there was 50% reduction in the incidence of the primary endpoint of diarrhea and abdominal discomfort [11 (8.9%) vs 22 (17.7%), P = .04] and 70% reduction in the incidence of diarrhea [4 (3.2%) vs 13 (10.5%), P = .02]. Additionally, aminophylline use was associated with 34% reduction in the secondary endpoint of any regadenoson adverse effects [55 (44.4%) vs 83 (66.9%), P < .001] and 71% reduction in headache [9 (7.3%) vs 31 (25%), P < .001]. The stress protocol was better tolerated in the aminophylline group (P = .007). The quantitative summed difference score was similar in both study groups (P = .92). There were no excess adverse events in the aminophylline arm. CONCLUSIONS: This trial supports the routine administration of IV-aminophylline to reduce the frequency and severity of adverse effects associated with regadenoson-stress.

Catecholamine-induced reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a syndrome characterized by transient left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction, similar to an acute myocardial infarction but in the absence of significant obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. This disease manifests predominantly in postmenopausal women in the presence of stressful triggers. We present a case of reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy involving apical sparing, resulting from an iatrogenic overdose of epinephrine in a young man who was treated for anaphylaxis and angioedema.

Unexpected Silicone Breast Implant Rupture After Implantation of Insertable Loop Recorder.

Complications of insertable loop recorder (ILR) are rare. The ILR is a cardiac monitoring device placed subcutaneously in the left parasternal region. It is commonly used for continuous monitoring in patients with unexplained and recurrent episodes of palpitations and syncope. We report a rare complication of subacute breast implant rupture in a patient after ILR placement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such reported case in the literature.