Hematologic Parameters as Predictors of Long-Term Mortality in Infective Endocarditis Patients.

BACKGROUND Infective endocarditis (IE) is an endothelial infection that is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Early and accurate risk prediction is important in patients with IE. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which is one of the hematological parameters that can be performed anywhere and is easily accessible, is a predictor of poor prognosis in many infectious and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the association between laboratory parameters and 3-year mortality in 155 patients with infective endocarditis at a single center in Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and echocardiographic data of 155 adult patients with definite IE according to the modified Duke Criteria, and we analyzed all laboratory results, such as hemoglobin, white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, platelet distribution width, NLR, urea, creatinine, albumin, procalcitonin, and blood culture results. RESULTS The median follow-up time was 341 days (range, 2-4003 days). The out-of-hospital mortality rate was 31.6%. Among the discharged patients (n=106), there were 46 non-survivors, with an out-of- hospital mortality rate of 43.4%. The overall mortality rate was 61.3%. During the follow-up, the 1-year mortality rate was 47.1% and the 3-year mortality rate was 54.8%. We detected significant differences in the admission values of NLR between the patients with and without 3-year mortality (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The NLR on admission to a tertiary center was independently associated with 3-year mortality in IE patients (P<0.001). NLR is a parameter that can be obtained from a simple, widely available and inexpensive hemagroma as a useful marker in predicting long-term mortality in IE.

Rationale, Design, and Methodology of the MORCOR-TURK Trial: Predictors of In-hospital MORtality in CORonary Care Patients in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Coronary care units are sophisticated clinics established to reduce deaths due to acute cardiovascular events. Current data on coronary care unit mortality rates and predictors of mortality in Turkey are very limited. The MORtality predictors in CORonary care units in TURKey (MORCOR-TURK) trial was designed to provide information on the mortality rates and predictors in patients followed in coronary care units in Turkey. METHODS: The MORCOR-TURK trial will be a national, observational, multicenter, and noninterventional study conducted in Turkey. The study population will include coronary care unit patients from 50 centers selected from all regions in Turkey. All consecutive patients admitted to coronary care units with cardiovascular diagnoses between 1 and 30 September 2022 will be prospectively enrolled. All data will be collected at one point in time, and the current clinical practice will be evaluated (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT05296694). In the first step of the study, admission diagnoses, demographic characteristics, basic clinical and laboratory data, and in-hospital management will be assessed. At the end of the first step, the predictors and rates of in-hospital mortality will be documented. The second step will be in cohort design, and discharged patients will be followed up till 1 year. Predictors of short- and long-term mortality will be assessed. Moreover, a new coronary care unit mortality score will be generated with data acquired from this cohort. RESULTS: The short-term outcomes of the study are planned to be shared by early 2023. CONCLUSION: The MORCOR-TURK trial will be the largest and most comprehensive study in Turkey evaluating the rates and predictors of in-hospital mortality of patients admitted to coronary care units.

Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to predict arterial hypotension caused by general anesthesia induction.

BACKGROUND: Hypotension, which may develop after anesthesia induction, may cause ischemic stroke, myocardial damage, acute kidney injury, and postoperative mortality. Various assessments can be used to predict hypotension. We aimed to test the relationship of tricuspid annular plane systolic movement (TAPSE) with hypotension. METHODS: A total of 47 patients aged 18-65 years, who were scheduled for general anesthesia for elective surgery, had ASA I-II, and had no known cardiovascular disease, were included in the study. TAPSE was calculated in an apical four-chamber view by placing an M-mode cursor along the tricuspid annulus, and measuring the longitudinal movement amount in the peak systole. TAPSE was measured 30 minutes before the surgery. The primary objective of the present study was to test the relationship between TAPSE and hypotension because of general anesthesia induction. We accepted hypotension as a decrease of 30% or more from baseline in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the first 10 minutes following induction or a decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) below 60 mmHg. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were detected in TAPSE values compared to the hypotension status after general anesthesia induction (P<0.001). The value of TAPSE had an optimal cut-off value of ≤2.48cm for the diagnostic yield of the development of hypotension after the general anesthesia induction. This cut-off value had a sensitivity and specificity of 90.00% and 95.83%. CONCLUSIONS: TAPSE predicted the development of hypotension after general anesthesia induction. Further studies are required to prove the diagnostic accuracy of TAPSE as a predictor of hypotension after general anesthesia induction.

Stellat ganglion blockage in the treatment of chronic refractory angina pectoris.

In addition to medical approaches, laser revascularization, transmyocardial laser revascularization, angiogenesis, growth factor gene therapy, thoracic epidural anesthesia, and spinal cord simulation are used to treat chronic refractory angina pectoris. A unilateral left stellate ganglion block is another alternative. It may particularly be considered as a palliative intervention in patients with a short life span. Described here is the case of a 66-year-old male patient for whom a unilateral left stellate ganglion blockade was used to treat chronic refractory angina pectoris.

Fibulin­1 and fibulin­5 as rule­out tests for non-ST­elevation myocardial infarction in the emergency setting.

BACKGROUND: Fibulin­1 and fibulin­5 are extracellular glycoproteins from the fibulin family. Both are expressed in the vessel wall and protect against vascular damage. AIMS: We aimed to investigate whether fibulin­1 and ­5 may be used to exclude non-ST­segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in the emergency setting. METHODS: The study included 48 patients in the NSTEMI group and 42 controls who presented with chest pain of noncardiac origin as confirmed by a comprehensive evaluation including coronary angiography. Blood samples for fibulin­1, fibulin­5, and troponin I measurements were drawn on admission to the emergency department. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar in patients with NSTEMI and controls. The median levels of both glycoproteins were lower in patients with NSTEMI as compared with controls: fibulin­1, 96.9 µg/ml (interquartile range [IQR], 20-503 µg/ml) vs 111.5 (IQR, 71-457 µg/ml), P = 0.01, and fibulin­5, 38 ng/ml (IQR, 15-509 ng/ml vs 57 ng/ml (IQR, 26-631 ng/ml), P <0.001. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed the cutoff value of 105.6 µg/ml for fibulin­1 and of 49.4 ng/ml for fibulin­5 to exclude NSTEMI on admission. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that fibulin­1 and -5 measurements might be used to exclude NSTEMI in patients admitted to the emergency department with acute chest pain.

A new predictor of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: HATCH score.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between HATCH score and atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. 369 patients (103 patients with AF and 266 patients without AF) undergoing isolated CABG surgery were analyzed. Complete medical records were retrospectively collected to investigate HATCH score. The median age of patients with AF was significantly higher than the median age of non-AF group (60.8±10.0 years vs 67.8±9.5 years, P<0.001). HATCH score was significantly higher in patients who developed AF after CABG surgery than the non-AF group (P=0.017). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HATCH score (OR 1.334; 95% CI 1.022 to 1.741, P=0.034) was an independent predictor of AF after CABG surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the cut-off point of HATCH score related to predict AF was >1 (two or more), with a sensitivity of 42% and specificity of 70%. Patients with elevated preoperative HATCH score may have higher risk for AF after CABG surgery.