Reply to Kataoka, N.; Imamura, T. How to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy. Comment on "Katz et al. Long-Term Outcomes of Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy Compared with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 1412".

In a letter to the editor titled "How to improve clinical outcomes in patients with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy", Dr. Naoya Kataoka and Dr. Teruhiko Imamura [...].

Complicated Pocket Infection in Patients Undergoing Lead Extraction: Characteristics and Outcomes.

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection can present with pocket or systemic manifestations, both necessitating complete device removal and pathogen-directed antimicrobial therapy. Here, we aim to characterize those presenting with both pocket and systemic infection. A retrospective analysis of CIED extraction procedures included 300 patients divided into isolated pocket (n = 104, 34.7%), complicated pocket (n = 54, 18%), and systemic infection (n = 142, 47.3%) groups. The systemic and complicated pocket groups frequently presented with leukocytosis and fever > 37.8, as opposed to the isolated pocket group. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen in the systemic and complicated pocket groups (43.7% and 31.5%, respectively), while Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) predominated (31.7%) in the isolated pocket group (10.6%, p < 0.001). No differences were observed in procedural success or complications rates. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis found that at three years of follow-up, the rate of all-cause mortality was significantly higher among patients with systemic infection compared to both pocket groups (p < 0.001), with the curves diverging at thirty days. In this study, we characterize a new entity of complicated pocket infection. Despite the systemic pattern of infection, their prognosis is similar to isolated pocket infection. We suggest that this special category be presented separately in future publications of CIED infections.

Long-Term Outcomes of Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy Compared with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: data on the natural course and prognosis of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TICMP) and comparison with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathies (IDCM) are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical presentation, comorbidities, and long-term outcomes of TICMP patients with IDCM patients. METHODS: a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with new-onset TICMP or IDCM. The primary endpoint was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, thromboembolic events, assist device, heart transplantation, and ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF). The secondary endpoint was recurrent hospitalization due to heart failure (HF) exacerbation. RESULTS: the cohort was comprised of 64 TICMP and 66 IDCM patients. The primary composite endpoint and all-cause mortality were similar between the groups during a median follow-up of ~6 years (36% versus 29%, p = 0.33 and 22% versus 15%, p = 0.15, respectively). Survival analysis showed no significant difference between TICMP and IDCM groups for the composite endpoint (p = 0.75), all-cause mortality (p = 0.65), and hospitalizations due to heart failure exacerbation. Nonetheless, the incidence of recurrent hospitalization was significantly higher in TICMP patients (incidence rate ratio 1.59; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: patients with TICMP have similar long-term outcomes as those with IDCM. However, it portends a higher rate of HF readmissions, mostly due to arrhythmia recurrences.

Occluded vein as a predictor for complications in non-infectious transvenous lead extraction.

Background: The use of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) is steadily increasing, and complications include venous occlusion and fractured leads. Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) can facilitate the re-implantation of new leads. Aims: This study aims to explore predictors and complications of non-infectious TLE. Methods: This study involves a retrospective analysis and comparison of characteristics, complications, and outcomes of patients with and without occluded veins (OVs) undergoing TLE at our center. Results: In total, eighty-eight patients underwent TLE for non-infectious reasons. Indications for TLE were lead malfunction (62; 70.5%) and need for CIED upgrade (22; 25%). Fourteen patients referred due to lead malfunction had an OV observed during venography. The OV group (36 patients) were significantly older (65.7 ± 14.1 vs. 53.8 ± 15.9, p = 0.001) and had more comorbidities. Ejection fraction (EF) was significantly lower for the OV group (27.5 vs. 57.5%, p = 0.001) and had a longer lead dwelling time (3,226 ± 2,324 vs. 2,191 ± 1,355 days, p = 0.012). Major complications were exclusive for the OV group (5.5% vs. none, p = 0.17), and most minor complications occurred in the OV group as well (33.3 vs. 4.1%, p < 0.001). Laser sheath and mechanical tools for TLE were frequently used for OV as compared to the non-occluded group (94.4 vs. 73.5%, respectively, p = 0.012). Procedure success was higher in the non-occluded group compared to the OV group (98 vs. 83.3%, respectively, p = 0.047). Despite these results, periprocedural mortality was similar between groups. Conclusion: Among the TLE for non-infectious reasons, vein occlusion appears as a major predictor of complex TLE tool use, complications, and procedural success. Venography should be considered prior to non-infectious TLE to identify high-risk patients.

Predictors of short-term mortality in patients undergoing a successful uncomplicated extraction procedure.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with untreated cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection is poor. Whether removal of all leads by a successful transvenous lead extraction (TLE) procedure changes the prognosis is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of mortality in patients with CIED infection despite successful TLE. METHODS: Retrospective single-center analysis of prospectively collected database from consecutive patients undergoing TLE at our center. Predictors for mortality were identified and a score predicting high mortality rate was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 371 consecutive patients underwent TLE, of whom 337 (90.8%) had complete hardware removal. Most were extracted due to infectious causes (81.3%). Approximately one-third (35%) died during a mean follow-up of 1056 ± 868 days. There was significantly higher mortality observed in the infectious group. Multivariate logistic regression models for infectious group only identified creatinine and albumin measurements as risk markers for 30 days mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-2.38; P = .003 and OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.16-0.97; P = .039, respectively). A risk score was created based on cutoff values of creatinine ≥2md/dL (1 point) and albumin ≤3.5 g/dL (1 point). A value of 2 points predicted a 50% chance of 30-day mortality and a 75% chance of 1-year mortality (P < .0001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Creatinine and albumin can be used as a combined risk score to successfully identify patients at risk of death despite undergoing a successful TLE procedure for infectious reasons. This score could help decision making when contemplating on conservative antibiotic treatment vs TLE.

Transvenous lead extraction with laser reduces need for femoral approach during the procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) trans venous lead extraction (TLE) is technically challenging. Whether the use of a laser sheath reduces complications and improves outcomes is still in debate. We therefore aimed at comparing our experience with and without laser in a large referral center. METHODS: Information of all patients undergoing TLE was collected prospectively. We retrospectively compared procedural outcomes prior to the introduction of the laser sheath lead extraction technique to use of laser sheath. RESULTS: During the years 2007-2017, there were 850 attempted lead removals in 407 pts. Of them, 339 (83%) were extracted due to infection, device upgrade/lead malfunction in 42 (10%) cases, and other (7%). Complete removal (radiological success) of all leads was achieved in (88%). Partial removal was achieved in another 6% of the patients. Comparison of cases prior to and after laser technique introduction, showed that with laser, a significantly smaller proportion of cases required conversion to femoral approach [31/275 (6%) laser vs. 40/132 (15%) non-laser; p<0.001]. However, success rates of removal [259/275 (94%) vs. 124/132 (94%) respectively; p = 0.83] and total complication rates [35 (13%) vs. 19 (14%) respectively; p = 0.86] did not differ prior to and after laser use. In multivariate analysis, laser-assisted extraction was an independent predictor for no need for femoral extraction (OR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.23-0.69; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Introduction of laser lead removal resulted in decreased need to convert to femoral approach, albeit without improving success rates or preventing major complications.