Severe Aortic Stenosis in a Pregnant Patient Displaced by the Ukrainian-Russian War.

We describe the complex case of a 32-year-old pregnant woman with known severe aortic stenosis, who was displaced by the Ukrainian-Russian War. She arrived in the United Kingdom at 32 weeks' gestation speaking minimal English, but requiring urgent multidisciplinary care to facilitate appropriate antenatal, peripartum, and postpartum care.

Cone reconstruction for Ebstein anomaly: Late biventricular function and possible remodeling.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate late-term tricuspid valve competence and biventricular function following cone reconstruction for Ebstein anomaly, and to explore biventricular remodeling. METHODS: Consecutive adult and pediatric patients who underwent cone reconstruction from 2009 to 2019 were reviewed for inclusion in this retrospective cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study. Tricuspid valve competence was assessed with tricuspid regurgitation fraction. Biventricular systolic function was assessed by ejection fraction, cardiac index, indexed stroke volume, and indexed aortic and pulmonary artery beat volume. Biventricular remodeling was assessed by planimetered areas (right atrium, functional right ventricle, left heart), and indexed end-diastolic and end-systolic ventricular volumes. Paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for analyses. RESULTS: Of 58 included patients, 50 underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Twelve patients had both preoperative and late postoperative cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with a median follow-up of 5.11 years (interquartile range, 3.12-6.07 years). Focusing on these, tricuspid regurgitation fraction decreased (from 69% to 10%; P = .014), right ventricle ejection fraction remained stable, and antegrade pulmonary artery beat volume increased (from 26.7 to 41.6 mL/beat/m2; P = .037). The left ventricle stroke volume (from 30.4 to 44.1 mL/m2; P = .015) and antegrade aortic beat volume (from 28.5 to 41.1 mL/beat/m2; P = .014) also increased, and the left ventricle stroke volume improved progressively with time since surgery (P = .048). Whereas the right atrium area decreased (P = .004), the functional right ventricle and left heart area increased (cm2, P = .021 and P = .004). Right ventricle volumes showed a tendency to normalize and left ventricle indexed end-diastolic volume increased (from 50 to 69 mL/m2; P = .03) over time. CONCLUSIONS: Cone valve integrity was sustained. Biventricular function improved progressively during follow-up, and there are positive signs of biventricular remodeling late after cone reconstruction.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with history of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy outcomes in women with pre-existing coronary artery disease (CAD) are poorly described. There is a paucity of data therefore on which to base clinical management to counsel women, with regard to both maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective multicentre study of women with established CAD delivering at 16 UK specialised cardiac obstetric clinics. We included pregnancies of 24 weeks' gestation or more, delivered between January 1998 and October 2018. Data were collected on maternal cardiovascular, obstetric and neonatal events. RESULTS: 79 women who had 92 pregnancies (94 babies including two sets of twins) were identified. 35.9% had body mass index >30% and 24.3% were current smokers. 18/79 (22.8%) had prior diabetes, 27/79 (34.2%) had dyslipidaemia and 21/79 (26.2%) had hypertension. The underlying CAD was due to atherosclerosis in 52/79 (65.8%), spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) in 11/79 (13.9%), coronary artery spasm in 7/79 (8.9%) and thrombus in 9/79 (11.4%).There were six adverse cardiac events (6.6% event rate), one non-ST elevation myocardial infarction at 23 weeks' gestation, two SCAD recurrences (one at 26 weeks' gestation and one at 9 weeks' postpartum), one symptomatic deterioration in left ventricular function and two women with worsening angina. 14% of women developed pre-eclampsia, 25% delivered preterm and 25% of infants were born small for gestational age. CONCLUSION: Women with established CAD have relatively low rates of adverse cardiac events in pregnancy. Rates of adverse obstetric and neonatal events are greater, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary care.

Device closure for patent foramen ovale following cryptogenic stroke: a survey of current practice in the UK.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure for cryptogenic stroke remains controversial due to a lack of conclusive randomised controlled data. Many experts feel PFO closure is indicated in selected cases; however, national and international guideline recommendations differ. We surveyed the UK cardiologists, stroke physicians and neurologists, seeking to determine specialist interpretation of the evidence base, and to gain an insight into the current UK practice. The British Cardiac Society and British Society of Stroke physicians distributed our survey which was performed using an online platform. 120 physicians (70 stroke physicians, 23 neurologists, 27 cardiologists) completed the survey. Most (89%) felt PFO closure should be considered in selected patients. Atrial fibrillation (86.6%), significant carotid stenosis (86.6%), diabetes (38.4%) and hypertension (36.6%) were considered exclusion criteria for cryptogenic stroke diagnosis. More stroke physicians than cardiologists considered an age cut-off when considering PFO as the stroke aetiology (70.4%vs 54.5%p=0.04). Anatomical features felt to support PFO closure were aneurysmal septum (89.6%), shunt size (73.6%), prominent Eustachian valve (16%). 60% discuss patients in multidisciplinary meetings prior to PFO closure, with more cardiologists than stroke physicians/neurologists favouring this approach (76.9% vs 54.8%; p=0.05). After PFO closure, patients receive Clopidogrel (72.3%), aspirin (50%) or anticoagulants (17%). 63.2% continue therapy for a limited period after PFO closure, while 34% prefer life-long therapy (14.8% cardiologists vs 40.5% non-cardiologists; p=0.02). While experts support selective PFO closure in cryptogenic stroke, current practice remains variable with significant differences in perceptions of cardiologists and neurologists/stroke physicians.

Pregnancy outcome in women with congenital heart disease and residual haemodynamic lesions of the right ventricular outflow tract.

AIMS: To determine pregnancy outcome and risk factors for adverse events in women with congenital heart disease (CHD) and residual haemodynamic right ventricular (RV) outflow tract (RVOT) lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pregnancy outcome data for women with CHD and residual RVOT lesions have been recorded since 2001. There were 76 pregnancies in 47 women that continued beyond 24 weeks gestation. At conception 20% had RVOT obstruction, 32% had pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and 49% had mixed RVOT obstruction and PR. Moderate-to-severe PR was present in 30 (39%) and RVOT obstruction > or =30 mmHg in 12 (16%) of pregnancies. Seven pregnancies (9%) were complicated by right heart failure (RHF). No arrhythmias were documented. Predictors for RHF were moderate-to-severe PR in combination with at least one additional risk factor (twin pregnancy, branch pulmonary artery stenosis, RV systolic dysfunction, RV hypertrophy). All patients responded to diuretic treatment and had a good pregnancy outcome without foetal complications. CONCLUSION: In patients with CHD and residual RVOT lesions, the outcome of pregnancy is good. Patients with moderate-to-severe PR were at risk for symptomatic RHF only if additional risk factors were present. When treated by a multidisciplinary team, maternal and foetal outcome was good. The general recommendation that pulmonary valve replacement should be undertaken prior to pregnancy in patients with moderate-to-severe PR and RV dilatation needs to be reconsidered.