The Clinical Applications of Left Atrial Strain: A Comprehensive Review.

Left atrial (LA) strain imaging, which measures the deformation of the LA using speckle-tracing echocardiography (STE), has emerged recently as an exciting tool to help provide diagnostic and prognostic information for patients with a broad range of cardiovascular (CV) pathologies. Perhaps due to the LA's relatively thin-walled architecture compared with the more muscular structure of the left ventricle (LV), functional changes in the left atrium often precede changes in the LV, making LA strain (LAS) an earlier marker for underlying pathology than many conventional echocardiographic parameters. LAS imaging is typically divided into three phases according to the stage of the cardiac cycle: reservoir strain, which is characterized by LA filling during systole; conduit strain, which describes LA deformation during passive LV filling; and booster strain, which provides information on the LA atrium during LA systole in late ventricular diastole. While additional large-population studies are still needed to further solidify the role of LAS in routine clinical practice, this review will discuss the current evidence of its use in different pathologies and explore the possibilities of its applications in the future.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in mitral valve disease: A Nationwide Readmission Database analysis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) has emerged as a non-pharmacologic alternative to oral anticoagulation in reducing stroke risk in AF patients. However, patients with mitral valve disease (MVD), who are expected to have a significantly greater risk of left atrium (LA) thrombus formation and embolic stroke were excluded from randomized trials examining percutaneous LAAO. To address this gap, we present a national registry analysis of the use of LAAO among patients with MVD. METHODS: Using the National Readmissions Database, we performed a retrospective review of all hospitalizations for LAAO identified between September 2015 and November 2019. Of these, patients with ICD-10 codes for MVD were identified. Propensity matched (PSM) analysis was used to compare patients with MVD with a matched sample of patients undergoing LAAO with non-valvular AF. Outcomes examined included all-cause mortality, stroke, major bleeding, pericardial effusion (PE), and tamponade. RESULTS: 51,540 patients who underwent LAAO without a history of MVD and 3777 with a history of MVD were identified. Crude analysis demonstrated the odds of mortality, PE, and cardiac tamponade during index hospitalization to be higher in the MVD group. The length of stay and cost of index hospitalization were also slightly greater for the MVD group. A sample of 7649 patients (MVD: 3777 MVD and no MVD: 3872) were selected for PSM analysis with similar comorbidities across the two groups. In the PSM comparison, MVD was associated with higher risk of PE. The MVD group had a slightly higher rate of readmissions the association with PE remained at 30-day readmission (OR: 2.099 [1.360-3.238], p-value: <0.001). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study examining the use of LAAO among MVD patients. Our findings suggest that patients with MVD who underwent LAAO had a higher risk of post-procedural PE without an increase in mortality, stroke, or major bleeding. These results provide a rationale for considering LAAO as part of the stroke prevention strategy among patients with valvular AF.

Body Fat Distribution, Diabetes Mellitus, and Cardiovascular Disease: an Update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Specific measures of body fat distribution may have particular value in the development and treatment of cardiometabolic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Here, we review the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and recent advances in the identification and management of body fat distribution as it relates to DM and CVD risk. RECENT FINDINGS: Accumulation of visceral and ectopic fat is a major contributor to CVD and DM risk above and beyond the body mass index (BMI), yet implementation of fat distribution assessment into clinical practice remains a challenge. Newer imaging-based methods offer improved sensitivity and specificity for measuring specific fat depots. Lifestyle, pharmacological, and surgical interventions allow a multidisciplinary approach to reduce visceral and ectopic fat. A focus on implementation of body fat distribution measurements into clinical practice should be a priority over the next 5 to 10 years, and clinical assessment of fat distribution can be considered to refine risk evaluation and to develop improved and effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for high-risk obesity.

Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody (ANCA)-Associated Vasculitis With Mucosal Involvement Following COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are a group of inflammatory disorders in which autoantibodies damage small arteries throughout the body, including in the upper and lower respiratory system, kidneys, as well as the skin. AAV may be precipitated by a variety of causes, including infections. In this report, we examine the case of a patient who developed AAV that was suspected primarily based on mucocutaneous hemorrhagic bullae, elevated ANCA levels, and subsequently confirmed by kidney biopsy, while recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. AAV and COVID-19 infections may present with similar symptoms, rendering an accurate diagnosis challenging. Additionally, only a few other cases describing a similar onset of AAV post-COVID-19 infection have been described in the literature. Initial presenting features of AAV in such cases have varied considerably, which makes the diagnosis even more challenging. We also engage in a review of such cases to assess key similarities, different treatment options, and outcomes. Lastly, the fact that several mechanisms have been proposed for AAV highlights the need for continued research to help clarify the pathophysiology while also identifying the optimal therapy.

"Robotic fatigue?" - The impact of case order on positive surgical margins in robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: Multiple robotic-assisted surgeries are often performed within a single operating day; however, the impact of this practice on patient outcomes has not been examined. We aim to determine whether outcomes for robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) differed when performed sequentially. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-institutional, retrospective cohort study was conducted involving a total of 8 academic centers between years 2015 and 2018. Participants were adult males undergoing RALP for localized prostate cancer on operative days in which 2 RALP cases were performed sequentially by the same resident-attending team. The primary outcome of the study was presence of positive surgical margin (PSM). Secondary outcomes were lymph node yield, operative time, and estimated blood loss. The primary analysis was a random effects meta-analysis model for PSM. RESULTS: Overall, 898 RALP cases (449 sequential pairs) were included in the study. There was no significant difference in PSM rate (27.2% vs. 30.3%, P= 0.338) between first and second case groups, respectively. Utilizing random effects meta-analysis, the second case cohort had no increased risk of PSM (OR 0.761.231.97, P= 0.40). Higher blood loss was noted in the second case cohort (186.7 ml vs. 221.7 ml, P = 0.002). Additionally, factors associated with PSM were increasing prostate specific antigen, higher percent tumor involvement, extraprostatic extension, and seminal vesicle invasion. CONCLUSION: Case sequence was not associated with PSM, lymph node yield, or operative time for RALP. Disease specific factors and institutional experience are associated with increased risk for positive surgical margin which can aid providers in scheduling of patients.