Impacto del cateterismo derecho de ejercicio en el diagnóstico diferencial de la enfermedad tromboembólica pulmonar crónica / Value of exercise right heart catheterization in the differential diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease

Introduction and objectives Chronic thromboembolic disease refers to the presence of chronic thrombotic pulmonary vascular thrombosis without pulmonary hypertension (PH) at rest but with exercise limitation after pulmonary embolism (PE). Our aim was to evaluate the hemodynamic response to exercise in these patients and its correlation with the values reached in cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Methods We included symptomatic patients with persistent pulmonary thrombosis after PE. We excluded patients with left heart disease or significant PH (mean pulmonary arterial pressure [mPAP] >25mmHg, pulmonary vascular resistance >3 WU, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure [PCWP] >15mmHg). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and exercise right heart catheterization were performed. Exercise-induced precapillary PH was defined as mPAP/CO slope >3 and PCWP/CO slope <2mmHg/l/min. The hemodynamic response and the values obtained in cardiopulmonary exercise testing were compared between patients with and without exercise-induced precapillary PH. Results We studied 36 patients; 4 were excluded due to incomplete hemodynamic data. Out of the 32 patients analyzed; 3 developed a pathological increase in PCWP. Among the remaining 29 patients (mean age, 49.4±13.7 years, 34.5% women), 13 showed exercise-induced PH. Resting mPAP was higher in those who developed exercise-induced PH (23.3±5.4 vs 19.0±3.8mmHg; P=.012), although CO was similar in the 2 groups. Patients with exercise-induced PH exhibited data of ventilatory inefficiency with reduced values of end-tidal CO2 pressure at the anaerobic threshold (32.8±3.0 vs 36.2±3.3mmHg; P=.021) and a higher Ve/VCO2 slope (34.2±4.8 vs 30.7±5.0; P=.049). Conclusions Exercise limitation and ventilatory inefficiency could be attributable to exercise-induced precapillary PH in a subgroup of patients with persistent pulmonary thrombosis and dyspnea (AU)

Introdución y objetivos La enfermedad tromboembólica crónica se define como la trombosis crónica de la vasculatura pulmonar y disnea, sin hipertensión pulmonar (HP) en reposo tras una embolia de pulmón. El estudio evaluó la hemodinámica al esfuerzo en estos pacientes y su relación con la ergoespirometría. Métodos Se incluyó a pacientes sintomáticos con trombosis pulmonar crónica tras una embolia de pulmón. Se excluyó a los pacientes con cardiopatía izquierda o HP significativa en reposo (presión arterial pulmonar media [PAPm] >25mmHg, resistencia vascular pulmonar >3 UW y presión capilar pulmonar [PCP] >15mmHg). Se realizó una ergoespirometría y un cateterismo derecho de ejercicio. La HP precapilar al ejercicio se definió como las pendientes PAPm/gasto cardiaco >3 y PCP/gasto cardiaco <2mmHg/l/min. Se comparó la respuesta hemodinámica y ergoespirométrica entre pacientes con y sin HP precapilar al ejercicio. Resultados Se estudió a 36 pacientes, excluyéndose 4 por calidad subóptima en el registro hemodinámico. Tres pacientes presentaron una elevación patológica de la PCP. De los 29 restantes (edad, 49,4±13,7 años; el 34,5% mujeres), en 13 se halló HP precapilar al ejercicio. La PAPm basal fue mayor en aquellos con HP al ejercicio (23,3±5,4 frente a 19,0±3,8mmHg; p=0,012), con similar gasto cardiaco. Aquellos con HP al ejercicio exhibieron valores reducidos de la presión de CO2 exahalada en el umbral anaeróbico (32,8±3,0 frente a 36,2±3,3mmHg; p=0,021) y mayor pendiente Ve/VCO2 (34,2±4,8 frente a 30,7±5,0; p=0,049). Conclusiones La HP precapilar al ejercicio se asocia con limitación funcional e ineficiencia ventilatoria en un subgrupo de pacientes con trombosis arterial pulmonar crónica y disnea persistente (AU)

Value of exercise right heart catheterization in the differential diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic thromboembolic disease refers to the presence of chronic thrombotic pulmonary vascular thrombosis without pulmonary hypertension (PH) at rest but with exercise limitation after pulmonary embolism (PE). Our aim was to evaluate the hemodynamic response to exercise in these patients and its correlation with the values reached in cardiopulmonary exercise testing. METHODS: We included symptomatic patients with persistent pulmonary thrombosis after PE. We excluded patients with left heart disease or significant PH (mean pulmonary arterial pressure [mPAP] >25mmHg, pulmonary vascular resistance >3 WU, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure [PCWP] >15mmHg). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and exercise right heart catheterization were performed. Exercise-induced precapillary PH was defined as mPAP/CO slope >3 and PCWP/CO slope <2mmHg/l/min. The hemodynamic response and the values obtained in cardiopulmonary exercise testing were compared between patients with and without exercise-induced precapillary PH. RESULTS: We studied 36 patients; 4 were excluded due to incomplete hemodynamic data. Out of the 32 patients analyzed; 3 developed a pathological increase in PCWP. Among the remaining 29 patients (mean age, 49.4±13.7 years, 34.5% women), 13 showed exercise-induced PH. Resting mPAP was higher in those who developed exercise-induced PH (23.3±5.4 vs 19.0±3.8mmHg; P=.012), although CO was similar in the 2 groups. Patients with exercise-induced PH exhibited data of ventilatory inefficiency with reduced values of end-tidal CO2 pressure at the anaerobic threshold (32.8±3.0 vs 36.2±3.3mmHg; P=.021) and a higher Ve/VCO2 slope (34.2±4.8 vs 30.7±5.0; P=.049). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise limitation and ventilatory inefficiency could be attributable to exercise-induced precapillary PH in a subgroup of patients with persistent pulmonary thrombosis and dyspnea.

Pulmonary hypertension in interstitial lung disease and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: different entities?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD), classified as Group 3 PH. To which extent PH presents and behaves similarly in COPD and ILD is unclear. This review examines the similarities and differences in pathogenesis, clinical presentation, natural history and treatment response of PH in COPD and ILD. RECENT FINDINGS: The latest studies on PH in chronic lung disease have re-evaluated the role of traditionally held etiopathogenetic factors such as tobacco exposure and hypoxia, although new ones such as airborne pollutant and genetic mutations are increasingly recognized. We examine common and diverging factors involved in PH development in COPD and ILD, as well as common and diverging clinical features of presentation, natural history and response to treatment and highlight areas for future research. SUMMARY: The development of PH in lung disease significantly worsens the morbidity and mortality of patients with COPD and ILD. However, recent findings show importance of recognizing distinct patterns and behaviors of pulmonary vascular disease, taking into account the specific underlying lung disease and severity of the hemodynamic involvement. Further studies are needed to build evidence on these aspects, especially in early disease.

Effectiveness and Safety of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty for the Treatment of Patients with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension after Pulmonary Endarterectomy.

(1) Background: Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the "gold standard" treatment for operable patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PH) after PEA confers a worse prognosis. Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) could represent a useful therapy in this setting, but evidence about its effectiveness and safety in patients with previous PEA is limited. (2) Methods: A total of 14 patients with persistent PH after PEA were treated with BPA in a single PH center. Hemodynamic and clinical effects of BPA and complications of the procedure were retrospectively collected. (3) Results: After BPA, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure fell from 50.7 ± 15.3 mmHg to 38.0 ± 7.9 mmHg (25.0% decrease; 95% confidence interval (CI) 14.0-35.5%; p = 0.01). Pulmonary vascular resistances were reduced from 8.5 ± 3.6 WU to 5.3 ± 2.2 WU (37.6% decrease; 95% CI 18.8-56.5%; p = 0.01). WHO functional class was also improved with BPA. Severe BPA-related complications were infrequent and no periprocedural deaths were observed. (4) Conclusions: BPA is an effective and safe therapy for patients with CTEPH and persistent PH after PEA.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty can be an effective and safe therapeutic option in non-surgical elderly patients.

Background: Advanced age, frailty, and age-related comorbidities are the major causes of pulmonary endarterectomy disqualification in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an attractive and less invasive therapy for elderly patients. However, information about the safety, procedure tolerance, and effectiveness of BPA in elderly patients is limited. Objective and methods: We aimed to analyze the safety, tolerance, and efficacy of BPA in CTEPH patients aged ≥70 years. This observational, descriptive, and retrospective series included consecutive patients aged ≥70 years, who underwent completed or interrupted BPA programs at a pulmonary hypertension reference center between May 2013 and May 2022. Results: We enrolled 155 patients in our institution's BPA program. Among these, 33 patients were aged ≥70 years (mean age, 76.4 years; women, 75.8%) and had finished or interrupted BPA programs. In this cohort, we performed 116 BPA procedures (average, 3.6 ± 1.8 sessions/patient). Among the 33 patients, 19 (57.6%) completed treatment for all lobes, while the BPA program was interrupted in the remaining 14 (42.4%). Among all 33 patients, BPA was associated with a significant reduction in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (39.2 ± 9.3 vs. 32.8 ± 8.8 mmHg; p < 0.001) and pulmonary vascular resistance (6.7 ± 3.1 vs. 4.4 ± 2.0 WU; p < 0.001), along with an improvement in the cardiac index (2.5 ± 0.6 vs. 2.8 ± 0.7 L/min/m2; p = 0.04) with significant reductions in the N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide level (pre-BPA, 353 pg/mL [207-1,960 pg/mL] vs. post-BPA, 167 pg/mL [73-629 pg/mL]; p = 0.03). The patients' functional class improved, and pulmonary hypertension-targeting drug requirements were significantly reduced. The pulmonary injury appeared in 3.4% of the 116 procedures, of which 50% were of grade 2. No patient of ≥70 years had grade 5 pulmonary injury. One periprocedural mortality was recorded (3%), and the median follow-up period was 2.8 years. The survival rate of the entire cohort at 1 and 3 years was 90.5 and 82.8%, respectively. Conclusion: BPA is an effective and safe approach in patients aged ≥70 years. It significantly improves patients' functional class, hemodynamic, and biomarkers, and reduces their pulmonary hypertension-targeting medical therapy requirements. These successes were achieved even though a significant percentage of patients did not complete the therapy. The rates of procedural complications and periprocedural mortality were low. Survival at 1 and 3 years was good in comparison to that of younger patients undergoing BPA.

The role of bronchoscopy in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: The role of bronchoscopy in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a matter of debate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This observational multicentre study aimed to analyse the prognostic impact of bronchoscopic findings in a consecutive cohort of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Patients were enrolled at 17 hospitals from February to June 2020. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were assessed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1027 bronchoscopies were performed in 515 patients (age 61.5±11.2 years; 73% men), stratified into a clinical suspicion cohort (n=30) and a COVID-19 confirmed cohort (n=485). In the clinical suspicion cohort, the diagnostic yield was 36.7%. In the COVID-19 confirmed cohort, bronchoscopies were predominantly performed in the intensive care unit (n=961; 96.4%) and major indications were: difficult mechanical ventilation (43.7%), mucus plugs (39%) and persistence of radiological infiltrates (23.4%). 147 bronchoscopies were performed to rule out superinfection, and diagnostic yield was 42.9%. There were abnormalities in 91.6% of bronchoscopies, the most frequent being mucus secretions (82.4%), haematic secretions (17.7%), mucus plugs (17.6%), and diffuse mucosal hyperaemia (11.4%). The independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were: older age (OR 1.06; p<0.001), mucus plugs as indication for bronchoscopy (OR 1.60; p=0.041), absence of mucosal hyperaemia (OR 0.49; p=0.041) and the presence of haematic secretions (OR 1.79; p=0.032). CONCLUSION: Bronchoscopy may be indicated in carefully selected patients with COVID-19 to rule out superinfection and solve complications related to mechanical ventilation. The presence of haematic secretions in the distal bronchial tract may be considered a poor prognostic feature in COVID-19.

Incidence of pulmonary embolism in patients with non-invasive respiratory support during COVID-19 outbreak.

While the incidence of thrombotic complications in critically ill patients is very high, in patients under non-invasive respiratory support (NIS) is still unknown. The specific incidence of thrombotic events in each of the clinical scenarios within the broad spectrum of severity of COVID-19, is not clearly established, and this has not allowed the implementation of thromboprophylaxis or anticoagulation for routine care in COVID-19. Patients admitted in a semi-critical unit treated initially with NIS, especially Continuous-Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), were included in the study. The cumulative incidence of pulmonary embolism was analyzed and compared between patients with good response to NIS and patients with clinical deterioration that required orotracheal intubation. 93 patients were included and 16% required mechanical ventilation (MV) after the NIS. The crude cumulative incidence of the PE was 14% (95%, CI 8-22) for all group. In patients that required orotracheal intubation and MV, the cumulative incidence was significantly higher [33% (95%, CI 16-58)] compared to patients that continued with non-invasive support [11% (CI 5-18)] (Log-Rank, p = 0.013). Patients that required mechanical ventilation were at higher risk of PE for a HR of 4.3 (95%CI 1.2-16). In conclusion, cumulative incidence of PE is remarkably higher in critically patients with a potential impact in COVID-19 evolution. In this context, patients under NIS are a very high-risk group for developing PE without a clear strategy regarding thromboprophylaxis.