Coronary Artery Anomalies - State of the Art Review.

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) comprise a wide spectrum of anatomic entities, with diverse clinical phenotypes. We present a case of an anomalous right coronary artery arising from the left aortic sinus with an interarterial course, a potentially fatal condition that can precipitate ischemia and sudden cardiac death. CAAs are increasingly detected in adults, mostly as incidental findings in the course of cardiac evaluation. This is due to the expanding use of invasive and noninvasive cardiac imaging, usually in the work-up for possible CAD. The prognostic implications of CAAs in this group of patients remain unclear. In AAOCA patients, appropriate work-up with anatomical and functional imaging should be performed for risk stratification. An individualized approach to management should be adopted, considering symptoms, age, sporting activities and the presence of high-risk anatomical features and physiologic consequences (such as ischemia, myocardial fibrosis, or cardiac arrhythmias) detected on multimodality imaging or other functional cardiac investigations. This comprehensive and up to date review seeks to crystallize current data in the recent literature, and proposes a clinical management algorithm for the clinician faced with the conundrum of managing such conditions.

Comparison of Functional Health Status and Health Related Quality of Life Between Adult Patients With Fontan Procedure and Noncongenital Heart Diseases.

To compare functional health status and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) between Fontan and non-congenital heart disease (CHD) patients in an Asian population. Functional health status and HRQoL (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), HeartQol and EQ-5D-5L) were measured. A total of 65 patients (twenty Fontan patients, mean age 28 ± 5; and 45 age-matched non-CHD patients, mean age 33 ± 5) were recruited. After adjustment for age, gender and ethnicity, there were no significant differences in functional health status and HRQoL between groups. In an Asian population, Fontan patients have similar functional health status and Health Related Quality of Life compared to non-CHD patients.

Aeromedical Transportation of the Critically Ill Cardiac Patient: In-flight Considerations and Management.

The aeromedical transportation (AMT) of critically ill cardiac patients can enable access to advanced specialized medical attention, or provide improved care for operational, psychosocial, political, or economic reasons. However, AMT is a complex undertaking necessitating extensive clinical, operational, administrative, and logistical planning to ensure that the patient receives an equivalent level of critical care monitoring and management in the air as on the ground. This paper is the second of a 2-part series. Part 1 focused on the preflight planning and preparation for critically ill cardiac patients during AMT aboard commercial platforms, while this current part aims to provide an overview of in-flight considerations for the same population.

Approach to Cardiac Masses Using Multimodal Cardiac Imaging.

Incidental cardiac masses can pose diagnostic challenges given the numerous differentials, and difficulty in obtaining tissue confirmation without invasive procedures. With recent advancements in cardiac imaging technology, noninvasive efforts to diagnose the intracardiac lesions have become more surmountable. In this paper, we report a case of a patient incidentally found to have an intracardiac mass during routine evaluation. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a small mass attached to the tricuspid valve, which was not visualized on follow up cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Here, we review the currently available cardiac imaging modalities and discuss their values and limitations. From this, we also propose a workflow in the approach to utilizing different imaging modalities to reach a conclusive diagnosis of undifferentiated cardiac masses.

Utility of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test in Mitral Valve Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair.

The growing utility of mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for minimally invasive treatment of severe mitral regurgitation has seen an attendant need to identify patients that can best benefit from this treatment. To ensure that the most appropriate patients are selected for the percutaneous procedure, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) had been incorporated into our centre's workflow for patients undergoing evaluation for mitral TEER. CPET can be a useful diagnostic and prognostic tool in the management of patients with severe MR undergoing percutaneous valve repair, especially when complemented with appropriately timed echocardiographic examinations, and should be integrated as a part of all percutaneous MV TEER programs as a standard investigation pre- and post-intervention.

Aeromedical Transportation of the Critically Ill Cardiac Patient: Pre-flight Planning and Preparation.

The aeromedical transportation (AMT) of patients had evolved from evacuation of injured combatants in wartime conflicts to peacetime movement of the critically ill patients. From short range hops to transcontinental transfers, the operational and logistical support to enable such AMTs have also evolved and advanced in tandem, making it now possible to shift intensive care unit level patients across long distances over a relatively short span of time. AMT is a complex undertaking necessitating close coordination and planning, layered upon dynamic aeromedical decision making processes. This paper aims to capture the essence of AMT mission planning and pre-flight preparations, to provide a holistic overview of the key considerations for aeromedevac of critically ill cardiac patients aboard commercial AMT flights.

Outpatient Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Scan for a Low-Risk Chest Pain Cohort From the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Analysis.

Chest pain accounts for a significant attendances at emergency departments (ED). We examined the utility of early stress myocardial perfusion imaging (SMPI) for stratification of low-risk patients post-ED discharge. A retrospective audit was conducted of patients with chest pain and normal troponin-T (<30Ng/L), who were discharged with outpatient SMPI (median = 3 days post-ED discharge) between January 2018 to January 2020. 880 patients were included and followed up for 12 months. Outcomes measured were: 1) Cardiac events (CE) within 1 year of visit or 2) Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) - coronary angiography demonstrating ≥70% stenosis of epicardial vessels or coronary revascularization procedures performed. In the SMPI negative group, 2 of 802 patients (0.25%) had significant CEs and 11 patients (1.37%) were diagnosed with significant CAD. Of the 78 SMPI positive patients, 1 (1.28%) had a significant CE, while 24 had significant CAD. SMPI had a sensitivity of 65.8%, specificity of 93.7%, positive predictive value of 32.1% and a negative predictive value of 98.4% for predicting adverse CE. Early SMPI post-ED discharge demonstrated high negative predictive value in predicting CEs or significant CAD diagnosis at up to 1 year, suggesting that low-risk patients discharge from ED with early outpatient SMPI is a safe management option.

Cardiac evaluation for end-stage kidney disease patients on the transplant waitlist: a single-center cohort study.

Background: Cardiac evaluation before deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT) remains a matter of debate. Data on Asian countries and countries with prolonged waiting times are lacking. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of patients referred for DDKT after a cardiac evaluation at an Asian tertiary transplant center. Methods: This single-center retrospective review analyzed patients who were referred for waitlist placement and underwent cardiac stress testing between January 2009 and December 2015. Patients with cardiac symptoms were excluded. The primary outcome was three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and cardiovascular death. Results: Of 468 patients referred for DDKT, 198 who underwent cardiac stress testing (myocardial perfusion studies in 159 patients and stress echocardiography in 39 patients) were analyzed. MACE occurred in 20.7% of the patients over a median follow-up of 4.6 years. Cardiac stress tests were positive for ischemia in 19.7% of the patients. Coronary angiography was performed in 63 patients, including 29 patients with diabetic kidney disease and negative cardiac stress tests. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was detected in 27 patients (42.8%), of whom 18 underwent revascularization. MACE was associated with significant CAD on coronary angiography in the multivariable analysis. Cardiac stress test results were not associated with MACE. Amongst diabetic patients who had negative cardiac stress tests, 37.9% had significant CAD on coronary angiography. Conclusions: The cardiovascular disease burden is significant amongst DDKT waitlist candidates. Pretransplant cardiac screening may identify patients with significant CAD at higher risk of MACE.

Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Consensus Recommendations for Pre-participation Screening in Young Competitive Athletes.

Sports-related sudden cardiac death is a rare but devastating consequence of sports participation. Certain pathologies underlying sports-related sudden cardiac death could have been picked up pre-participation and the affected athletes advised on appropriate preventive measures and/or suitability for training or competition. However, mass screening efforts - especially in healthy young populations - are fraught with challenges, most notably the need to balance scarce medical resources and sustainability of such screening programmes, in healthcare systems that are already stretched. Given the rising trend of young sports participants across the Asia-Pacific region, the working group of the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC) developed a sports classification system that incorporates dynamic and static components of various sports, with deliberate integration of sports events unique to the Asia-Pacific region. The APSC expert panel reviewed and appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. Consensus recommendations were developed, which were then put to an online vote. Consensus was reached when 80% of votes for a recommendation were agree or neutral. The resulting statements described here provide guidance on the need for cardiovascular pre-participation screening for young competitive athletes based on the intensity of sports they engage in.

Commercial Air Travel for Passengers With Cardiovascular Disease: Recommendations for Less Common Conditions, Considerations for Venous Thromboembolism, and General Guidance.

The accelerated growth of commercial flights has resulted in a huge upswing of air travelers over the last few decades, including passengers with a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. Notwithstanding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has set back the aviation industry for the next 1-2 years, air travel is expected to rebound fully by 2024. Guidelines and evidence-based recommendations for safe air travel in this group vary, and physicians often encounter situations where opinions and assessments on fitness for flights are sought. This article aims to provide an updated suite of recommendations for the aeromedical disposition of passenger with uncommon cardiovascular conditions, such as congenital heart diseases, inflammatory cardiac conditions (endocarditis/pericarditis/myocarditis), pulmonary hypertension, and venous thromboembolism. In addition, the article also aims to provide practical general guidance for the aeromedical examiner in evaluating, preparing, and optimizing the cardiac status of the patient with cardiovascular ailments for air travel.

Commercial Air Travel for Passengers With Cardiovascular Disease: Stressors of Flight and Aeromedical Impact.

The exponential growth of commercial flights has resulted in a sharp rise of air travellers over the last 2 decades, including passengers with a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. Notwithstanding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that had set back the aviation industry for the next 1 to 2 years, air travel is expected to rebound fully by 2023-2024. Guidelines and evidence-based recommendations for safe air travel in this group vary, and physicians often encounter situations where opinions and assessments on fitness for flights are sought. This article aims to provide an overview of the stressors of commercial passenger flights with an impact on cardiovascular health for the general cardiologist and family practitioner, when assessing the suitability of such patients for flying fitness.

Commercial Air Travel for Passengers With Cardiovascular Disease: Recommendations for Common Conditions.

The exponential growth of commercial flights has resulted in an explosion of air travelers over the last few decades, including passengers with a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. Notwithstanding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that had set back the aviation industry for the next 1-2 years, air travel is expected to rebound fully by 2024. Guidelines and evidence-based recommendations for safe air travel in this group vary, and physicians often encounter situations where opinions and assessments on fitness for flights are sought. This article aims to provide an updated suite of recommendations for the aeromedical disposition of passenger with common cardiovascular conditions, such as ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and common arrhythmias.

Coronary Artery Disease Screening Using CT Coronary Angiography.

BACKGROUND: The increased utility of CT coronary angiography (CTCA) in cardiovascular screenings of aircrew has led to the increased detection of asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). A systematic review of studies relevant to the interpretation of CTCA for the occupational fitness assessment of high-risk vocations was performed, with findings used to describe the development of a pathway for the aeromedical disposition of military aviators with asymptomatic CAD.METHODS: Medline was searched using the terms CT coronary angiogram and screening and prognosis. The inclusion criteria were restricted to study populations ages > 18 yr, were asymptomatic, were not known to have CAD, had undergone CTCA, and with their associations with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and other relevant cardiac outcomes reported.RESULTS: Included in this systematic review were 10 studies. When compared to subjects with no or nonobstructive CAD, those with obstructive CAD on CTCA had hazard ratios (HR) for cardiac events ranging from 1.42 to 105.48. Comparing subjects with nonobstructive CAD and those without CAD on CTCA, a lower HR of 1.19 for cardiac events was found. The annual event rates of subjects with no CAD on CTCA were extremely low, ranging from 0 to 0.5%.CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings, we suggest that CTCA should only be performed in aircrew with higher cardiac risk profiles. Those found to have no CAD or minimal CAD (i.e., 25% stenosis) in a non-left main coronary artery on CTCA can be returned to flying duties. All other results should be further evaluated with an invasive angiogram.Cheong RWL, See B, Tan BBC, Koh CH. Coronary artery disease screening using CT coronary angiography. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(10):812817.

Outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction due to unprotected left main thrombosis: The Asia-Pacific Left Main ST-Elevation Registry (ASTER).

INTRODUCTION: Prior studies of ULM STEMI have been confined to small cohorts. Recent registry data with larger patient cohorts have shown contrasting results. We aim to study the outcomes of patients with unprotected left main (ULM) ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: The Asia-pacific left main ST-Elevation Registry (ASTER) is a multicenter retrospective registry involving 4 sites in Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. The registry included patients presenting with STEMI due to an ULM coronary artery culprit lesion who underwent emergency PCI. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients (mean age 64.2 ± 12.8 years, 53 [79.1%] males) were included. The distal left main bifurcation was most commonly involved (85%, n = 57). Fifty one (76%) patients had TIMI 3 flow post-PCI. The in-hospital mortality rate was 47.8% (n = 32); 61% (n = 41) had cardiac failure, 4% (n = 3) had emergency coronary artery bypass grafting, 1% (n = 1) had a re-infarction, 3% (n = 2) had stroke and 55% (n = 37) had malignant ventricular arrhythmias. On multivariate analysis, predictors of in-hospital mortality included older age (odds ratio (OR) 1.085 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.002-1.175), P = 0.044), diabetes mellitus (OR 10.882 (95%CI 11.074-110.287), P = 0.043) and absence of post-PCI TIMI 3 flow (OR 71.429 (95%CI 2.985-1000), P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: STEMI from culprit unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Emergency PCI provides an important treatment option in this high-risk group, but in-hospital mortality remains high.

Transient acute left ventricular dysfunction post-pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade.

A rare but serious complication of pericardiocentesis is the development of transient left ventricular dysfunction. In this report, we present a case of a 65-year-old male patient with cardiac tamponade who suffered from acute left ventricular heart failure post-pericardiocentesis. .

Contact urticaria from an oxygen mask in a military pilot.

Contact urticaria is a transient, wheal-and-flare response at the site of contact with a substance. We report a case of a military fighter pilot, with a background history of seborrheic dermatitis and steroid-induced facial skin atrophy, who subsequently developed contact urticaria from an oxygen facemask. Skin protection products such as barrier creams were used to try and minimize the provocation of contact urticaria from the oxygen mask whenever he flew, but without success. He was eventually permanently restricted from flying fighter aircraft.