Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension includes a diverse set of conditions defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 20 mm Hg found during right heart catheterization that can lead to right-sided heart failure and death if untreated. The most common cause of pulmonary hypertension is left-sided heart failure, followed by chronic obstructive lung disease. Pulmonary hypertension presents as unexplained dyspnea on exertion and possible findings of right-sided heart failure. The diagnosis is commonly delayed because the symptoms are often attributed to underlying heart or lung disease. Echocardiography is the initial study of choice, and findings can suggest a low, intermediate, or high risk of pulmonary hypertension. Right heart catheterization is the standard of care for diagnosing and classifying pulmonary hypertension, and the results may inform treatment. Patients with pulmonary hypertension should be referred to a center specializing in treatment. Patients with pulmonary hypertension have a high risk of perioperative complications, and detailed specialty preoperative evaluation is recommended. Physicians should counsel patients of childbearing age with pulmonary hypertension to prevent pregnancy to avoid worsening the severity of pulmonary hypertension and fetal loss. Pulmonary hypertension is severe, chronic, progressive, and challenging to treat; therefore, family physicians should update the patient's immunization status, screen for and address mental health conditions, and discuss goals of care and advance directives with patients.

Comparing outcomes of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement and medical therapy for symptomatic severe tricuspid regurgitation: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Impaired hospitalizations for heart failure (HHF) and mortality are associated with tricuspid regurgitation (TR). OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the benefit of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) over guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in patients with symptomatic severe TR. METHODS: Between May 2020 and April 2023, 88 patients with symptomatic severe TR were treated in our center. Of these, 57 patients received GDMT alone, and 31 patients underwent combined TTVR and GDMT. We collected and analyzed baseline data, and follow-up information for both groups. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and the combined endpoint (including all-cause mortality and HHF). RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 20 (IQR 10-29) months, significant improvements were shown in TR severity, right ventricular function, and dimensions in TTVR group (all P < 0.001). It also resulted in superior survival rates (75.8% vs. 48.4%, P = 0.019), improved freedom from combined endpoint (61.5% vs. 45.9%, P = 0.007) and fewer major adverse events. After stratification by TRI-SCORE, the subgroup with < 6 points in the TTVR group exhibited a significant difference in the combined endpoint compared to the other subgroups (all P < 0.05), while no significant differences were observed in the GDMT subgroups (P = 0.680). CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of LuX-Valve in TTVR effectively improves TR and is associated with lower rates of major adverse events, HHF and all-cause mortality. The TRI-SCORE may help identify higher-benefit patients with TR from TTVR. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System (NCT02917980).

Can supervised deep learning architecture outperform autoencoders in building propensity score models for matching?

PURPOSE: Propensity score matching is vital in epidemiological studies using observational data, yet its estimates relies on correct model-specification. This study assesses supervised deep learning models and unsupervised autoencoders for propensity score estimation, comparing them with traditional methods for bias and variance accuracy in treatment effect estimations. METHODS: Utilizing a plasmode simulation based on the Right Heart Catheterization dataset, under a variety of settings, we evaluated (1) a supervised deep learning architecture and (2) an unsupervised autoencoder, alongside two traditional methods: logistic regression and a spline-based method in estimating propensity scores for matching. Performance metrics included bias, standard errors, and coverage probability. The analysis was also extended to real-world data, with estimates compared to those obtained via a double robust approach. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that supervised deep learning models outperformed unsupervised autoencoders in variance estimation while maintaining comparable levels of bias. These results were supported by analyses of real-world data, where the supervised model's estimates closely matched those derived from conventional methods. Additionally, deep learning models performed well compared to traditional methods in settings where exposure was rare. CONCLUSION: Supervised deep learning models hold promise in refining propensity score estimations in epidemiological research, offering nuanced confounder adjustment, especially in complex datasets. We endorse integrating supervised deep learning into epidemiological research and share reproducible codes for widespread use and methodological transparency.

Novel interventions on the tricuspid valve: how to consider the pulmonary circulation?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review addresses treatment options for moderate to severe tricuspid valve regurgitation and the importance of right ventricular function and the pulmonary circulation. RECENT FINDINGS: Several interventional treatment options for severe tricuspid regurgitation have been developed including transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, annuloplasty and valve replacement. So far, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is most frequently used with procedural success rates of more than 95% and improvements in functional and quality of life parameters for up to 2 years. Right ventricular function as well as pulmonary artery pressure and resistance levels are important outcome predictors. Mean pulmonary artery pressure more than 30 mmHg, transpulmonary gradient more than 17 mmHg and right ventricular to pulmonary artery coupling ratio less than 0.406 indicate poor outcome. SUMMARY: Despite the remarkable safety of interventional treatment of severe tricuspid regurgitation right ventricular dysfunction and abnormal pulmonary hemodynamics are important determinants of procedural success and clinical outcome.Complete hemodynamic work-up should be an integral part of prerepair assessment although validated data predicting outcome are limited.

Navigating complex cardiac complications: A case report of alcoholic cardiomyopathy and right atrial thrombosis.

RATIONALE: Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is associated with various cardiac complications, but the development of isolated right atrial (RA) thrombus without deep vein thrombosis is rare and presents diagnostic challenges. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 53-year-old Hispanic male presented with shortness of breath, chills, cough, bilateral lower extremity edema, and distended abdomen. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with ACM, liver cirrhosis, and a large RA thrombus. Initial transthoracic echocardiography showed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction but failed to detect the RA mass. Subsequent computed tomography scan and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large oval mass in the RA, measuring 40 mm × 22 mm × 18 mm. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure and anticoagulation with enoxaparin. He underwent cardiac catheterization for mechanical thrombectomy, which was minimally successful. OUTCOMES: The patient's condition was managed with the prescribed interventions. Regular follow-up was planned to assess thrombolysis. LESSONS: RA thrombosis is an uncommon complication of ACM. A multimodal imaging approach, with a low threshold for transesophageal echocardiography, is crucial in evaluating patients with ACM who present with cardiac complications. This approach enables accurate diagnosis and management of rare conditions like isolated RA thrombosis.

Left ventricular stent-graft implantation for severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction after transcatheter mitral valve implantation.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is a rare complication following transcatheter mitral valve implantation. Diagnosing the underlying cause is mandatory to select from different treatment options. We report a case of stent-graft implantation into the left ventricular outflow tract for dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral valve leaflet (SAM).

Antithrombotic therapy for transcatheter structural heart intervention.

Percutaneous transcatheter structural heart interventions have considerably expanded within the last two decades, improving clinical outcomes and quality of life versus guideline-directed medical therapy for patients frequently ineligible for surgical treatment. Transcatheter structural heart interventions comprise valve implantation or repair and also occlusions of the patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defects and left atrial appendage. These procedures expose structural devices to arterial or venous blood flow with various rheological conditions leading to potential thrombotic complications and embolisation. Furthermore, these procedures may concern comorbid patients at high risk of both ischaemic and bleeding complications. This state-of-the-art review provides a description of the device-related thrombotic risk associated with these transcatheter structural heart interventions and of the current evidence-based guidelines regarding antithrombotic treatments. Gaps in evidence for each of the studied transcatheter interventions and the main ongoing trials are also summarised.

Determinants of adverse outcomes following patent foramen ovale closure in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure outcomes in the elderly. AIMS: Through this study, we aimed to determine the incidence and predictors of adverse events (recurrent cerebrovascular events [CVE] and atrial fibrillation [AF]) post-PFO closure in older patients with cryptogenic events. METHODS: This multicentre international study included patients over 60 years undergoing PFO closure for cryptogenic thromboembolic events. A dedicated database compiled baseline, procedural, and follow-up data. Competing risk and adjusted outcome predictor analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 689 patients were included (median age 65 years, 41.2% female, mean Risk of Paradoxical Embolism [RoPE] score 4.5). The procedural success rate was 99.4%. After a median follow-up of 2 (interquartile range 1-5) years, 66 patients (9.6%) had died. CVE and stroke rates were 1.21 and 0.55 per 100 patient-years, respectively. Diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 3.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67-9.07; p=0.002) and atrial septal aneurysm (ASA; HR 5.25, 95% CI: 1.56-17.62; p=0.007) increased the CVE risk. New-onset AF occurred at a rate of 3.30 per 100 patient-years, with 51.3% within one month post-procedure. Older age (HR 1.05 per year, 95% CI: 1.00-1.09; p=0.023) and the absence of hypertension (HR 2.04, 95% CI: 1.19-3.57; p=0.010) were associated with an increased risk of AF. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients undergoing PFO closure had a relatively low rate of CVE and new-onset AF after a median follow-up of 2 years. The presence of diabetes, ASA, and a more advanced age determined an increased risk of adverse clinical events. These factors may be considered in the clinical decision-making process regarding PFO closure in this challenging population.

Burden of Heart Failure in Patients With Tricuspid Regurgitation and Effect of Transcatheter Repair on Different Subdimensions of Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: Right-sided heart failure (HF) due to severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with reduced quality of life (QoL). Here, we analyzed the impact of TR on specific QoL dimensions and the effect of transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) on individual QoL items. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we included 174 patients with HF (49% women; median age, 79 years; 97% New York Heart Association ≥3) with baseline QoL assessment undergoing TTVI by transcatheter edge-to-edge-repair at our center between April 2016 and March 2022. QoL was assessed by the standardized Minnesota Living With HF Questionnaire. QoL change after TTVI and correlation to functional end points were analyzed. In addition, all QoL domains and the 21 individual items of the Minnesota Living With HF Questionnaire were analyzed. TTVI significantly reduced TR (TR ≥3: baseline 95%, 1-year-follow-up 7%; P<0.001). Total Minnesota Living with HF Questionnaire score improved from 37 (interquartile range, 26-50) points to 31 (interquartile range, 17-42) points (median follow-up-interval, 355 days; P<0.001). QoL improvement was associated with positive New York Heart Association class, 6-minute walking distance, and actigraphy changes (all P<0.05). The detailed analysis revealed that all items of the physical-related QoL dimension were impaired at baseline and strongly improved after TTVI. In contrast, the emotional and "social" Minnesota Living With HF Questionnaire dimensions were largely unaffected at baseline, yet specific items improved with TTVI. CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center study, we delineate the QoL-associated disease burden of TR and identify specific QoL items that improved after TTVI. Our findings support TTVI in patients with reduced QoL and may add to the development of specific tools assessing the functional status of an increasing patient population undergoing TTVI.

Percutaneous transcatheter embolization in large tortuous coronary artery fistula patient: a case report.

Coronary artery fistula is a rare anomaly involving the coronary artery and a heart chamber or vessel. Percutaneous intervention has been shown to be effective and safe in fistulas that are small and nontortuous; however, it is not an absolute contraindication in fistulas that are large and tortuous. We report a delayed diagnosis of a single, large-diameter, tortuous coronary artery fistula that manifested as myocardial ischaemia due to the steal phenomenon in a 49 year old male. The undesirable connection was successfully obliterated by percutaneous embolisation, followed by an improvement in symptoms and daily activities. Steal phenomenon is the fundamental mechanism of myocardial ischaemia in coronary artery fistula, as confirmed by improvement in symptoms and coronary artery perfusion following occlusion of the fistula. Percutaneous catheterization is safe and effective for coronary artery fistula closure, and the occlusion site should be precise to achieve complete occlusion and prevent complications.

Atrial Septal Defect secundum with inferior floppy rim in the elderly: surgical closure or transcatheter closure? A case report.

Atrial Septal Defect closure in childhood and early adulthood has a good prognosis, but in older individuals the risk-benefit ratio is not as straightforward. We report a 57-year-old man who was easily fatigued when exercising. The cardiac examination revealed a wide and fixed splitting of S2, a pulmonary ejection systolic murmur grade III/VI, and increased jugular venous pressure. The transesophageal echocardiography showed Atrial Septal Defect secundum with a diameter of 20 mm, L-to-R shunt, and 5 mm, a thin and floppy inferior rim. The patient underwent surgical Atrial Septal Defect closure. The deficient posteroinferior rim occurs only in 3.3% of patients with secundum Atrial Septal Defect. This condition will enhance the likelihood of occluder dislodgement in the transcatheter closure approach. We learn from this case that surgical Atrial Septal Defect closure may be an option for elderly patients if there is an inadequate, thin, and floppy inferior rim or no comorbidities.

Clinical outcomes and predictors of transapical transcatheter mitral valve replacement: the Tendyne Expanded Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a therapeutic option for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who are ineligible for conventional surgery. There are limited data on the outcomes of large patient cohorts treated with TMVR. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the outcomes and predictors of mortality for patients treated with transapical TMVR. METHODS: This analysis represents the clinical experience of all patients enrolled in the Tendyne Expanded Clinical Study. Patients with symptomatic MR underwent transapical TMVR with the Tendyne system between November 2014 and June 2020. Outcomes and adverse events up to 2 years, as well as predictors of short-term mortality, were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 191 patients were treated (74.1±8.0 years, 62.8% male, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality 7.7±6.6%). Technical success was achieved in 96.9% (185/191), and there were no intraprocedural deaths. At 30-day, 1- and 2-year follow-up, the rates of all-cause mortality were 7.9%, 30.8% and 40.5%, respectively. Complete MR elimination (MR <1+) was observed in 99.3%, 99.1% and 96.3% of patients, respectively. TMVR treatment resulted in consistent improvement of New York Heart Association Functional Class and quality of life up to 2 years (both p<0.001). Independent predictors of early mortality were age (odds ratio [OR] 1.11; p=0.003), pulmonary hypertension (OR 3.83; p=0.007), and institutional experience (OR 0.40; p=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated clinical outcomes in the full cohort of patients included in the Tendyne Expanded Clinical Study. The Tendyne TMVR system successfully eliminated MR with no intraprocedural deaths, resulting in an improvement in symptoms and quality of life. Continued refinement of clinical and echocardiographic risks will be important to optimise longitudinal outcomes.

Practical Guidance for Hemodynamic Assessment by Right Heart Catheterization in Management of Heart Failure.

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome characterized by the inability of the heart to meet the circulatory demands of the body without requiring an increase in intracardiac pressures at rest or with exertion. Hemodynamic parameters can be measured via right heart catheterization, which has an integral role in the full spectrum of heart failure: from ambulatory patients to those in cardiogenic shock, as well as patients being considered for left ventricular device therapy and heart transplantation. Hemodynamic data are critical for prompt recognition of clinical deterioration, assessment of prognosis, and guidance of treatment decisions. This review is a field guide for hemodynamic assessment, troubleshooting, and interpretation for clinicians treating patients with heart failure.

Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defect After MitraClip Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: To Close or Not to Close?

The evolution of percutaneous procedures that use transseptal puncture to treat left-sided structural heart disease has led to the emergence of iatrogenic atrial septal defects as a potential complication. These defects can result in hemodynamic decompensation and worsening clinical outcomes. Some iatrogenic atrial septal defects require immediate closure, others do not. This case report presents 2 patients who underwent transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair with transseptal puncture and required iatrogenic atrial septal defect closure (1 immediate and 1 delayed). The goal of this report is to highlight iatrogenic atrial septal defect assessment and the possible need for closure after transseptal puncture.

Anesthetic Choice for Percutaneous Transcatheter Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage: A National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry Analysis.

CONTEXT: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) was developed as a novel stroke prevention alternative for patients with atrial fibrillation, particularly for those not suitable for long-term oral anticoagulant therapy. Traditionally, general anesthesia (GA) has been more commonly used primarily due to the necessity of transesophageal echocardiography. AIMS: Compare trends of monitored anesthesia care (MAC) versus GA for percutaneous transcatheter LAAC with endocardial implant and assess for independent variables associated with primary anesthetic choice. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Multi-institutional data collected from across the United States using the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective data analysis from 2017-2021. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Independent-sample t tests or Mann-Whitney U tests were used for continuous variables and Chi-square tests or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess patient and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 19,395 patients underwent the procedure, and 352 patients (1.8%) received MAC. MAC usage trended upward from 2017-2021 (P < 0.0001). MAC patients were more likely to have an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of≥ 4 (33.6% vs 22.89%) and to have been treated at centers in the South (67.7% vs 44.2%), in rural locations (71% vs 39.5%), and with lower median annual percutaneous transcatheter LAAC volume (102 vs 153 procedures) (all P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, patients treated in the West had 85% lower odds of receiving MAC compared to those in the Northeast (AOR: 0.15; 95% CI 0.03-0.80, P = 0.0261). CONCLUSIONS: While GA is the most common anesthetic technique for percutaneous transcatheter closure of the left atrial appendage, a small, statistically significant increase in MAC occurred from 2017-2021. Anesthetic management for LAAC varies with geographic location.