Systems of care for ambulatory management of decompensated heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) represents a worldwide health burden and the annual per patient cost to treat HF in the US is estimated at $24,383, with most of this expense driven by HF related hospitalizations. Decompensated HF is a leading cause for hospital admissions and is associated with an increased risk of subsequent morbidity and mortality. Many hospital admissions for decompensated HF are considered preventable with timely recognition and effective intervention.Systems of care that include interventions to facilitate early recognition, timely and appropriate intervention, intensification of care, and optimization to prevent recurrence can help successfully manage decompensated HF in the ambulatory setting and avoid hospitalization.

Contemporary approach to cardiogenic shock care: a state-of-the-art review.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a time-sensitive and hemodynamically complex syndrome with a broad spectrum of etiologies and clinical presentations. Despite contemporary therapies, CS continues to maintain high morbidity and mortality ranging from 35 to 50%. More recently, burgeoning observational research in this field aimed at enhancing the early recognition and characterization of the shock state through standardized team-based protocols, comprehensive hemodynamic profiling, and tailored and selective utilization of temporary mechanical circulatory support devices has been associated with improved outcomes. In this narrative review, we discuss the pathophysiology of CS, novel phenotypes, evolving definitions and staging systems, currently available pharmacologic and device-based therapies, standardized, team-based management protocols, and regionalized systems-of-care aimed at improving shock outcomes. We also explore opportunities for fertile investigation through randomized and non-randomized studies to address the prevailing knowledge gaps that will be critical to improving long-term outcomes.

Cardiogenic Shock From Heart Failure Versus Acute Myocardial Infarction: Clinical Characteristics, Hospital Course, and 1-Year Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about clinical characteristics, hospital course, and longitudinal outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) related to heart failure (HF-CS) compared to acute myocardial infarction (AMI; CS related to AMI [AMI-CS]). METHODS: We examined in-hospital and 1-year outcomes of 520 (219 AMI-CS, 301 HF-CS) consecutive patients with CS (January 3, 2017-December 31, 2019) in a single-center registry. RESULTS: Mean age was 61.5±13.5 years, 71% were male, 22% were Black patients, and 63% had chronic kidney disease. The HF-CS cohort was younger (58.5 versus 65.6 years, P<0.001), had fewer cardiac arrests (15.9% versus 35.2%, P<0.001), less vasopressor utilization (61.8% versus 82.2%, P<0.001), higher pulmonary artery pulsatility index (2.14 versus 1.51, P<0.01), lower cardiac power output (0.64 versus 0.77 W, P<0.01) and higher pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (25.4 versus 22.2 mm Hg, P<0.001) than patients with AMI-CS. Patients with HF-CS received less temporary mechanical circulatory support (34.9% versus 76.3% P<0.001) and experienced lower rates of major bleeding (17.3% versus 26.0%, P=0.02) and in-hospital mortality (23.9% versus 39.3%, P<0.001). Postdischarge, 133 AMI-CS and 229 patients with HF-CS experienced similar rates of 30-day readmission (19.5% versus 24.5%, P=0.30) and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (23.3% versus 28.8%, P=0.45). Patients with HF-CS had lower 1-year mortality (n=123, 42.6%) compared to the patients with AMI-CS (n=110, 52.9%, P=0.03). Cumulative 1-year mortality was also lower in patients with HF-CS (log-rank test, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HF-CS were younger, and despite lower cardiac power output and higher pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, less likely to receive vasopressors or temporary mechanical circulatory support. Although patients with HF-CS had lower in-hospital and 1-year mortality, both cohorts experienced similarly high rates of postdischarge major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and 30-day readmission, highlighting that both cohorts warrant careful long-term follow-up. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT03378739.

Thoracic enhanced recovery with ambulation after surgery: a 6-year experience.

OBJECTIVES: Our institution implemented a protocol known as thoracic enhanced recovery with ambulation after surgery (T-ERAS) in thoracic operations. The objective was early ambulation starting in the postoperative ambulatory care unit. METHODS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy patients are placed on a chair in the preoperative area and then walked to the operating room. Postoperatively, patients are placed on a chair as soon as possible. Our target ambulation goal was 250 feet within 1 h of extubation. Patients then walk to their hospital room. T-ERAS adoption and outcomes were compared to a pre-T-ERAS period, in addition to the comparing early and late T-ERAS cohorts. RESULTS: Over 6 years, 304 patients on T-ERAS underwent a planned video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy. Median age was 67 years (range 41-87 years). The target goal was achieved in 187 of 304 (61.5%) patients and 277 of 304 (91.1%) patients ambulated 250 feet at any time in the postoperative ambulatory care unit. The T-ERAS period had a median length of stay of 1 day vs 2 days in the pre-T-ERAS period (P < 0.001). There were low rates of pneumonia (2/304, 0.7%), atrial fibrillation (12/304, 4.0%) and no postoperative mortalities for T-ERAS. The target goal was achieved at a greater rate in the late (92/132, 72.0%) versus early (28/75, 37%) T-ERAS cohort. The mean time to ambulation was reduced in the late cohort (46-81 min). CONCLUSIONS: Early postoperative ambulation was feasible and considered key in achieving low morbidity after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy. Adoption of T-ERAS improved over time. Further studies will help define adoptability at other sites and validate impact on improving outcomes.