Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in ARDS Patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible presence of diastolic dysfunction and its possible effects in terms of respiratory mechanics, gas exchange and lung recruitability in mechanically ventilated ARDS. METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) with ARDS were enrolled. Echocardiographic evaluation was acquired at clinical PEEP level. Lung CT-scan was performed at 5 and 45 cmH2O. In the study, 2 levels of PEEP (5 and 15 cmH2O) were randomly applied. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were enrolled with a mean PaO2/FiO2 and a median PEEP of 137 ± 52 and 10 [9-10] cmH2O, respectively. Of those, 9 patients (30%) had a diastolic dysfunction of grade 1, 2 and 3 in 33%, 45% and 22%, respectively, without any difference in gas exchange and respiratory mechanics. The total lung weight was significantly higher in patients with diastolic dysfunction (1669 [1354-1909] versus 1554 [1146-1942] g) but the lung recruitability was similar between groups (33.3 [27.3-41.4] versus 30.6 [20.0-38.8] %). Left ventricular ejection fraction (57 [39-62] versus 60 [57-60]%) and TAPSE (20.0 [17.0-24.0] versus 24.0 [20.0-27.0] mL) were similar between the two groups. The response to changes of PEEP from 5 to 15 cmH2O in terms of oxygenation and respiratory mechanics was not affected by the presence of diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: ARDS patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction presented a higher amount of lung edema and worse outcome.

Prevalence of left atrial thrombus by real time three-dimensional echocardiography in patients undergoing electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: A contemporary cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of left atrial thrombi in patients scheduled for electrical cardioversion (ECV) of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unknown in contemporary real-life practice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients scheduled for ECV underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) regardless of AF duration and type of anticoagulant. Of 277 consecutive patients (65% men, mean age 71 ± 10 years, CHA2 DS2 -VASc 3.1 ± 1.4), 92 were on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and 99 on antivitamin K (AVK) oral agents for at least 3 weeks before and 4 after ECV. Eighty-five patients with paroxysmal AF on low-molecular-weight heparin were also considered. Real time three-dimensional TEE detected left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in 7% of patients, without significant difference among three groups (P = .334). Anticoagulation was ineffective in eight patients on AVK oral agents, two of them had thrombus. Eight patients assumed incorrectly DOACs, four of them had thrombus. Among the 175 patients on effective anticoagulation, five showed thrombus, three on AVK oral agents, and two on DOACs (P = .716). Effective anticoagulation was associated with reduced risk of thrombosis (OR: 0.16, 95%CI: 0.06-0.45, P = .001). In patients with correct anticoagulation, predictors of thrombus were CHA2 DS2 VASc (for each point of increment OR: 1.97, 95%CI: 1.08-3.61, P = .029), low left ventricular ejection fraction (OR: 0.92, 95%CI: 0.86-0.99, P = .026), and degree of spontaneous echo-contrast (for each point increase OR: 10, 95%CI: 2-39, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Patients with AF, on effective anticoagulation, had a prevalence of thrombus not negligible regardless of type of anticoagulant. TEE is prudent before ECV and mandatory if unsuccessful anticoagulation is proved or suspected.

SARS-CoV-2-related ARDS in a maintenance hemodialysis patient: case report on tailored approach by daily hemodialysis, noninvasive ventilation, tocilizumab, anxiolytics, and point-of-care ultrasound.

Without rescue drugs approved, holistic approach by daily hemodialysis, noninvasive ventilation, anti-inflammatory medications, fluid assessment by bedside ultrasound, and anxiolytics improved outcomes of a maintenance hemodialysis patient affected by severe COVID-19.

Arrhythmic event prediction in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.

AIMS: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is an effective treatment to reduce mortality in patients with symptomatic heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 35% or less. LVEF presents a low sensitivity for predicting arrhythmic events. Aim of this study was to identify predictors of sustained ventricular arrhythmias (SVAs), overall and according to the cause of heart failure. METHODS: Single-center, retrospective, cohort study of 193 patients (51 nonischemic and 142 ischemic) with chronic heart failure and LVEF less than 35% who had received ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. We collected clinical data, echocardiographic parameters and SVAs detected by the ICD. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 1440 days, 32 (16.2%) patients had SVAs. SVAs incidence was similar in patients with nonischemic (15.6%) and ischemic cause of heart failure (16.9%). Hypertension, diabetes, chronic renal failure, atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, New York Heart Association class at least III were predictors at univariate analysis of SVAs. A clinical score, assigning one point to each of these variables, was associated with a significantly increased risk of SVAs [odds ratio for each point increase = 1.92, 95% confidence interval 1.40-2.65, P < 0.0001, area under the curve (AUC) 0.73], with 72% sensitivity and 60% specificity for a cutoff at least three and remained significant in nonischemic (AUC 0.84) and ischemic (AUC 0.68) patients. CONCLUSION: Our study shows the benefit of ICD implantation in primary prevention and its independency of cause. A simple clinical score, based on comorbidities, identifies patients with more benefits from ICD implantation.

Diastolic dysfunction grade in acute coronary syndromes: Application of 2016 American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis and grading of diastolic dysfunction (DD) is challenging, with different studies using heterogeneous criteria and guidelines not routinely applied in clinical practice. Our aim was to apply the 2016 American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging classification of DD among a contemporary population of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) by analyzing its correlation with N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and impact on clinical outcomes. METHODS: Independent investigators blinded to each other and to the clinical history reviewed digitally stored images to apply 2016 and 2009 DD definitions to 380 patients (mean age 66 ± 13 years, 75% men) with ACS admitted to the coronary care unit between January 2016 and March 2018. RESULTS: DD was frequent with both definitions, yet the concordance was weak (kappa =0.21, p < 0.01). Inter-observer reliability was greater by applying the 2016 algorithm (kappa = 0.89, p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between NT-proBNP and worsening DD (Spearman's rho r = 0.54 for 2016 and r = 0.24 for 2009 algorithms, both p < 0.001). Worse DD was associated with worse clinical presentation and increased risk of events (HR for the cumulative incidence of heart failure and death during follow-up 2.15 [95% CI 1.66-2.78, p < 0.001] and 1.82 [95% CI 1.39-2.40, p < 0.001] for 2016 and 2009 classifications, respectively, all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The agreement between 2016 and 2009 DD definitions was poor, with newer guidelines having grater interobserver reliability. The positive graded association between 2016 DD classification and NT-proBNP and its association with clinical outcomes provide a validation of the latest guideline algorithm in ACS patients.

[Postural effect in patients with patent foramen ovale: evaluation of right-to-left shunt with transcranial Doppler and transthoracic echocardiography and correlation with arterial oxygen saturation]. / L'effetto della postura nei pazienti con forame ovale pervio: valutazione dello shunt destro-sinistro con Doppler transcranico ed ecocardiografia transtoracica e correlazione con la saturazione arteriosa di ossigeno.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial Doppler echocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography may detect with high accuracy right-to-left shunt (RLS) due to patent foramen ovale (PFO). However, a standardized diagnostic protocol has never been established. It has been suggested that standing or sitting positions may improve sensitivity of transcranial Doppler due to increased LRS in such positions. We aimed to test efficacy of the sitting position in addition to the supine position in the grading of RLS in patients with PFO. We have also evaluated whether an increase in RLS is associated with a fall in oxygen saturation (SaO2). METHODS: From September 2015 to February 2016, 70 consecutive patients with suspected PFO underwent transcranial Doppler echocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography with microbubble count and evaluation of SaO2. RESULTS: RLS due to PFO was diagnosed in 58 patients (82.9%). An increase in RLS grade in the sitting position was observed in 28 out of 58 patients (48.3%) (group 1), whereas no increase was detected in 30 patients (51.7%) (group 2). Among the clinical and echocardiographic variables considered, group 1 and group 2 differed only in the prevalence of atrial septal aneurysm (35.7 vs 3.3%, p=0.002). Postural changes were not associated with a fall in SaO2. CONCLUSIONS: RLS increases in about half of patients with PFO in the sitting position compared with the supine position, whereas no changes occur in SaO2.