Very low blood flow carbon dioxide removal system is not effective in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation setting.

Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2 R) is a low blood flow veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation technique that provides artificial blood CO2 removal. Recently, a new ECCO2 R system (PrismaLung), providing very low blood flow has been commercialized. The aim of this study is to report its use in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients needing an ECCO2 R therapy. Six severe COPD patients with acute exacerbation leading to refractory hypercapnic respiratory acidosis were treated with ECCO2 R therapy. Two different systems were used: a PrismaLung system and a conventional ECCO2 R device. The maximum blood flow provided by PrismaLung was significantly lower than that with the conventional ECCO2 R system. In three patients initially treated with PrismaLung, there were no improvements in pH, PaCO2 , or RR. Thus, the therapy was switched to a conventional ECCO2 R system in these three patients, and three others were treated from the outset by the conventional ECCO2 R system, providing significant improvement in pH, PaCO2 , and RR. The present retrospective study describes the first use of PrismaLung in severe COPD patients with acute exacerbation. When compared with a higher blood flow ECCO2 R system, our results show that this novel, very low-flow device is not able to remove sufficient CO2 , normalize pH or decrease respiratory rate.

The use of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal in acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation: a narrative review.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation induces hypercapnic respiratory acidosis. Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) aims to eliminate blood carbon dioxide (CO2) in order to reduce adverse effects from hypercapnia and the related acidosis. Hypercapnia has deleterious extra-pulmonary consequences in increasing intracranial pressure and inducing and/or worsening right heart failure. During COPD exacerbation, the use of ECCO2R may improve the efficacy of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in terms of CO2 removal, decrease respiratory rate and reduce dynamic hyperinflation and intrinsic positive end expiratory pressure, which all contribute to increasing dead space. Moreover, ECCO2R may prevent NIV failure while facilitating the weaning of intubated patients from mechanical ventilation. In this review of the literature, the authors will present the current knowledge on the pathophysiology related to COPD, the principles of the ECCO2R technique and its role in acute and severe decompensation of COPD. However, despite technical advances, there are only case series in the literature and few prospective studies to clearly establish the role of ECCO2R in acute and severe COPD decompensation.

An unusual thrombus location in a Heartmate 3TM device with fatal outcome.

Even if the HeartMate 3TM left ventricular assist device is associated with excellent outcomes, complications, such as pump thrombosis continue to affect patients on hemodynamic support. We report the history of a 68-year-old man who underwent implantation of an HeartMate 3TM as a bridge to transplantation. Nineteen months later, he developed signs of heart failure leading to cardiogenic shock. Neither clinical examination nor parameters from the device allowed a clear-cut diagnosis. Only surgical exploration revealed the presence of clots between the polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron®) and polytetrafluoroethylene tubes. This constitutes a weakness of this device for which we propose to the manufacturer for minimal modifications to overcome the problem.

Von Willebrand factor as a biological sensor of blood flow to monitor percutaneous aortic valve interventions.

RATIONALE: Percutaneous aortic valve procedures are a major breakthrough in the management of patients with aortic stenosis. Residual gradient and residual aortic regurgitation are major predictors of midterm and long-term outcome after percutaneous aortic valve procedures. We hypothesized that (1) induction/recovery of high molecular weight (HMW) multimers of von Willebrand factor defect could be instantaneous after acute changes in blood flow, (2) a bedside point-of-care assay (platelet function analyzer-closure time adenine DI-phosphate [PFA-CADP]), reflecting HMW multimers changes, could be used to monitor in real-time percutaneous aortic valve procedures. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the time course of HMW multimers changes in models and patients with instantaneous induction/reversal of pathological high shear and its related bedside assessment. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated the time course of the induction/recovery of HMW multimers defects under instantaneous changes in shear stress in an aortic stenosis rabbit model and in patients undergoing implantation of a continuous flow left ventricular assist device. We further investigated the recovery of HMW multimers and monitored these changes with PFA-CADP in aortic stenosis patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation or balloon valvuloplasty. Experiments in the aortic stenosis rabbit model and in left ventricular assist device patients demonstrated that induction/recovery of HMW multimers occurs within 5 minutes. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation patients experienced an acute decrease in shear stress and a recovery of HMW multimers within minutes of implantation which was sustained overtime. In patients with residual high shear or with residual aortic regurgitation, no recovery of HMW multimers was observed. PFA-CADP profiles mimicked HMW multimers recovery both in transcatheter aortic valve implantation patients without aortic regurgitation (correction) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation patients with aortic regurgitation or balloon valvuloplasty patients (no correction). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that variations in von Willebrand factor multimeric pattern are highly dynamic, occurring within minutes after changes in blood flow. It also demonstrates that PFA-CADP can evaluate in real time the results of transcatheter aortic valve procedures.

Vascular and Microvascular Endothelial Function in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of vascular endothelial function lacks consistency, and microvascular endothelial function has been only partly assessed in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS: The study population consisted of 90 patients: 45 had well documented HFpEF, and 45 had hypertension and no history or evidence of heart failure. Patients with hypertension but no heart failure were matched with HFpEF patients for age, sex, and diabetes. They served as control subjects. All patients underwent 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and vascular function measurements, including assessment of arterial wave reflections and arterial stiffness, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and forearm cutaneous blood flow with the use of a laser Doppler flow probe at rest and after release of arterial occlusion for 5 minutes. RESULTS: Brachial artery FMD was lower in HFpEF than in control subjects (median (IQR) 3.6 (0.4-7.4) vs. 7.2 (3.2-17.2)%, P = .001). Forearm cutaneous blood flow at rest was similar in HFpEF and control subjects (P = .68). After release of arterial occlusion, forearm cutaneous peak blood flow was lower in HFpEF than in control subjects (P = .03). Estimated aortic systolic and mean blood pressures were similar in HFpEF and control subjects, whereas pulse pressure and pressure augmentation were greater in HFPEF than in control subjects (both P < .05). CONCLUSION: Compared with hypertensive control subjects, patients with HFpEF had a depressed endothelial function in the forearm vasculature and microvasculature.

Extracorporeal Life Support in Out-of-Hospital Refractory Cardiac Arrest.

Out-of-Hospital refractory Cardiac Arrest (OHrCA) has a mortality rate between 90 and 95%. Since 2009, French medical academic societies have recommended the use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for OHrCA. According to these guidelines, patients were eligible for ECLS support if vital signs were still present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), or if cardiac arrest was secondary to intoxication or hypothermia (≤32°C). Otherwise, patients would receive ECLS if (i) no-flow duration was less than 5 min; (ii) time delays from CPR to ECLS start (low flow) were less than 100 min; and (iii) expiratory end tidal CO2 (ETCO2 ) was more than 10 mm Hg 20 min after initiating CPR. We have reported here our experience with ECLS in OHrCA according to the previous guidelines. We retrospectively analyzed mortality rates of patients supported with ECLS in case of OHrCA. From December 2009 to December 2013, 183 patients were assisted with ECLS, among which 32 cases were of OHrCA. Mean age for the OHrCA patients was 43.6 years. Over two-thirds were male (71.9%). Causes of OHrCA included intoxication, isolated hypothermia <32°C, acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary edema, and other cardiac pathology. Despite adherence to protocols, only two patients (6.2%) with hypothermia and acute myocardium ischemia, respectively, could be discharged from hospital after cardiac recovery. Causes of death were brain death and multiple organ failure. Despite ECLS support setting in accordance with French guidelines in case of refractory OHrCA, mortality rates remained high. French ECLS support recommendations for OHrCA due to presumed cardiac cause should be re-examined through new studies. Low flow duration should be improved by a shorter time of CPR before hospital transfer.

Massive pulmonary embolism leading to cardiac arrest: one pathology, two different ECMO modes to assist patients.

Massive acute pulmonary embolism (MAPE) represents a significant risk for morbidity and mortality. The potential for sudden and fatal deterioration highlights the need for a prompt diagnosis and appropriate intervention. Using two cases reports, we describe two different modes of successful ECMO implantation (VA-ECMO vs. VV-ECMO) for MAPE leading to cardiac arrest. A 27-year-old patient with a severe trauma presented with a MAPE leading to cardiac arrest. In this case, which had absolute contraindications of thrombolysis, a VA-ECMO was successfully implanted. Additionally, a 56-year-old patient presented with a MAPE leading to cardiac arrest. Although intravenous thrombolysis allowed for hemodynamic stabilization, the patient remained severely hypoxemic with RV dilation. A VV-ECMO was successfully implemented, leading to a rapid improvement in both oxygenation and RV function. ECMO can provide lifesaving hemodynamic and respiratory support in critically ill patients with a MAPE who are too unstable to tolerate other interventions or have failed other therapies. An important determinant of success in the use of ECMO for MAPE is the return of adequate RV function, which allows physicians to appropriately identify which type of ECMO to implant.

Postprocedural aortic regurgitation in balloon-expandable and self-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures: analysis of predictors and impact on long-term mortality: insights from the FRANCE2 Registry.

BACKGROUND: Significant postprocedural aortic regurgitation (AR) is observed in 10% to 20% of cases after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The prognostic value and the predictors of such a complication in balloon-expandable (BE) and self-expandable (SE) TAVR remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: TAVR was performed in 3195 consecutive patients at 34 hospitals. Postprocedural transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 2769 (92%) patients of the eligible population, and these patients constituted the study group. Median follow-up was 306 days (Q1-Q3=178-490). BE and SE devices were implanted in 67.6% (n=1872) and 32.4% (n=897). Delivery was femoral (75.3%) or nonfemoral (24.7%). A postprocedural AR≥grade 2 was observed in 15.8% and was more frequent in SE (21.5%) than in BE-TAVR (13.0%, P=0.0001). Extensive multivariable analysis confirmed that the use of a SE device was one of the most powerful independent predictors of postprocedural AR≥grade 2. For BE-TAVR, 8 independent predictors of postprocedural AR≥grade 2 were identified including femoral delivery (P=0.04), larger aortic annulus (P=0.0004), and smaller prosthesis diameter (P=0.0001). For SE-TAVR, 2 independent predictors were identified including femoral delivery(P=0.0001). Aortic annulus and prosthesis diameter were not predictors of postprocedural AR for SE-TAVR. A postprocedural AR≥grade 2, but not a postprocedural AR=grade 1, was a strong independent predictor of 1-year mortality for BE (hazard ratio=2.50; P=0.0001) and SE-TAVR (hazard ratio=2.11; P=0.0001). Although postprocedural AR≥grade 2 was well tolerated in patients with AR≥grade 2 at baseline (1-year mortality=7%), it was associated with a very high mortality in other subgroups: renal failure (43%), AR

The LUCAS 2 chest compression device is not always efficient: an echographic confirmation.

Survival after cardiac arrest depends on prompt and effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Resuscitative teams are more frequently using mechanical chest compression devices, as documented in physiologic and experimental data, suggesting that these devices are more effective than manual CPR. A 41-year-old male patient presented with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction with cardiac arrest. The patient was immediately resuscitated by manual chest compressions; CPR was continued with a mechanical chest compression device (LUCAS 2). The patient had experienced a 15-minute period of "low-flow" without "no-flow" episode. After a discussion with the heart team, we decided that the patient was a candidate for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy. During the ECMO implantation, we noticed that while performing transesophageal echocardiography, chest compressions were ineffective with the machine. After the ECMO implantation, we observed myocardial damage in the right-sided heart cavities. The present case report illustrates the likelihood that the mechanical chest compression device has limitations that might contribute to inadequate CPR. Therefore, rescuers should consider the efficacy of their chest compression through a continuous hemodynamic monitoring during CPR.

Improved Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) Outcomes Is Associated with a Restrictive Patient Selection Algorithm.

INTRODUCTION: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of mortality. Despite decades of intensive research and several technological advancements, survival rates remain low. The integration of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has been recognized as a promising approach in refractory OHCA. However, evidence from recent randomized controlled trials yielded contradictory results, and the criteria for selecting eligible patients are still a subject of debate. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of refractory OHCA patients treated with ECPR. All adult patients who received ECPR, according to the hospital algorithm, from 2013 to 2021 were included. Two different algorithms were used during this period. A "permissive" algorithm was used from 2013 to mid-2016. Subsequently, a revised algorithm, more "restrictive", based on international guidelines, was implemented from mid-2016 to 2021. Key differences between the two algorithms included reducing the no-flow time from less than three minutes to zero minutes (implying that the cardiac arrests must occur in the presence of a witness with immediate CPR initiation), reducing low-flow duration from 100 to 60 min, and lowering the age limit from 65 to 55 years. The aim of this study is to compare these two algorithms (permissive (1) and restrictive (2)) to determine if the use of a restrictive algorithm was associated with higher survival rates. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients were included in this study, with 23 treated under Algorithm 1 and 25 under Algorithm 2. A significant difference in survival rate was observed in favor of the restrictive algorithm (9% vs. 68%, p < 0.05). Moreover, significant differences emerged between algorithms regarding the no-flow time (0 (0-5) vs. 0 (0-0) minutes, p < 0.05). Survivors had a significantly shorter no-flow and low-flow time (0 (0-0) vs. 0 (0-3) minutes, p < 0.01 and 40 (31-53) vs. 60 (45-80) minutes, p < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study emphasizes that a stricter selection of OHCA patients improves survival rates in ECPR.

Comparing two-year outcomes of balloon-expandable Myval and self-expanding Evolut R in severe aortic valve stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The new balloon-expandable (BE) Myval transcatheter heart valves (THV) has shown promising early results with low paravalvular leak (PVL) and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) rates. Limited data are available regarding its long-term performance. We aimed to compare the 2-year clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using the self-expanding (SE) Evolut R and the BE Myval THVs. METHODS: The EVAL study included 166 patients with severe aortic valve stenosis who underwent TAVR either with SE Evolut R (n = 108) or BE Myval (n = 58) THV. Primary objectives include comparison on clinical efficacy (freedom from all-cause mortality, stroke, and cardiovascular hospitalization), echocardiographic performance and PPI rates between the two THVs. RESULTS: At 2-year the BE Myval group showed higher clinical efficacy (86% vs. 66%,HR:2.62, 95%CI 2.2-5.1;p = 0.006), with fewer cardiac hospitalizations (3.4% vs. 13.9%,p = 0.03). No significant differences in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, or stroke rates were observed. The proportion of patients with ≥moderate PVL was significantly lower in the BE Myval compared to the SE Evolut R group (4%vs. 22%,p = 0.008). The mean transvalvular gradient was significantly higher in the SE group compared to the BE group (9.5 ± 4.3 vs. 6.9 ± 2.2 mmHg,p < 0.001), however there was no difference in the percentage of patients with a mean gradient ≥20 mmHg between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both THVs offer similar 2-year clinical outcomes. The BE Myval THV demonstrated advantages with higher clinical efficacy and lower PVL incidence. Longer follow-up and randomized trials are needed to validate these results and assess Myval's sustained performance and durability.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with faster degeneration of bioprosthetic valve: results from a propensity score-matched Italian multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The present study was aimed at determining the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on postoperative bioprosthetic structural valve degeneration. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve Italian centers participated in the study. Patient data refer to bioprosthetic implantations performed from November 1988 to December 2009, which resulted in 6184 patients (mean age 71.3±5.4 years, 60.1% male) being enrolled. Of these patients, 1731 (27.9%) had type 2 DM. The propensity score-matching algorithm successfully matched 1113 patients with type 2 DM with the same number of no-DM patients. The postmatching standard differences were less than 0.1 for each of the covariates, and 64.2% of DM patients were matched. The early (30 days) mortality rate was 7.8% (n=87) versus 2.9% (n=33) in patients with or without type 2 DM (P<0.001), respectively. Seven-year freedom from valve deterioration was significantly lower in patients with DM (73.2% [95% confidence interval, 61.6-85.5] versus 95.4% [95% confidence interval, 83.9-100], P<0.001). In Cox regression models with robust SEs that accounted for the clustering of matched pairs, DM was the strongest predictor of structural valve degeneration (hazard ratio 2.39 [95% confidence interval 2.28-3.52]). When we allowed for interaction between type 2 DM and other key risk factors, DM remained a significant predictor beyond any potentially associated variable. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with type 2 DM undergoing bioprosthetic valve implantation are at high risk of early and long-term mortality, as well as of structural valve degeneration.

David Procedure: A 21-year Experience With 300 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Valve-sparing aortic root replacement with the David procedure is an alternative to the Bentall procedure in patients with aortic root aneurysm. The aim of this study was to describe our long-term experience with this technique and the predictive factors of late failure. METHODS: Between January 1998 and August 2019, 300 consecutive patients underwent a David procedure. Clinical and echocardiographic early- and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Median follow-up was 7.0 years (range, 4.1-11.5), with 98.3% complete. RESULTS: Early mortality was 1%. No early valve-related reoperations occurred. There were 9 cardiac-related deaths and 22 reinterventions (19 valve-related). All patients survived reoperation. In 3 patients reintervention consisted of transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Overall survival rates were 95.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.0-97.2), 91.1% (95% CI, 86.5-94.2), and 82.9% (95% CI, 75.3-88.4) at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Freedom from postoperative aortic insufficiency (AI) grade ≥ 2 was 84.8% (95% CI, 79.9-88.6) and 74.3% (95% CI, 67.4-79.9) at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Freedom from reintervention for aortic valve disease was 97.1% (95% CI, 94.2-98.5), 92.9% (95% CI, 88.2-95.7), and 92.5% (95% CI, 87.1-95.7) at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Preoperative AI ≥ 2 (hazard ratio, 1.782; 95% CI, 1.352-2.350) and a ventriculoaortic junction ≥ 29 mm (hazard ratio, 3.379; 95% CI, 1.726-6.616) were predictive factors for postoperative AI ≥ 2 in a multivariate analysis (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative AI ≥ 2 and a ventriculoaortic junction ≥ 29 mm were identified as risk factors for late postoperative AI ≥ 2.

Prognostic value of hemoglobin decline over the GRACE score in patients hospitalized for an acute coronary syndrome.

In this work, we analyzed the prognostic significance of changes in hemoglobin during intensive care unit (ICU) stay in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We prospectively enrolled 591 patients (62 ± 14 years old, 73% male, 48% ST elevated myocardial infarction) free of blood cell transfusion or bleeding events. Changes in hemoglobin between admission and ICU discharge were obtained. The primary endpoint was death or hospitalization for MI within 6 months. Hemoglobin decreased from 13.65 ± 1.77 to 13.17 ± 1.74 g/dl, p < 0.0001 in the whole population. The end point was reached in 43 patients at a mean follow-up of 180 (range 2-180 days). A decrease in hemoglobin ≥0.9 g/dl (32% of the population) was associated with adverse clinical outcomes (HR 2.37, 95% CI (1.30-4.35), p = 0.005, respectively). In multivariate analysis, age >77 year-old (p = 0.0016), Killip class ≥2 (p = 0.009), anemia (p = 0.0064), decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.003), and hemoglobin decline ≥0.9 g/dl (p < 0.0001) were independently associated with outcome. Hemoglobin decline and anemia both provided additional prognostic information on top of the GRACE score, as demonstrated by a systematic improvement in model global fit, discrimination, and calibration. Hemoglobin decline is frequent during ICU stay in non-bleeding ACS patients. A decline in hemoglobin ≥0.9 g/dl identifies high-risk patients. Identification of these patients refines the prognostic value of the GRACE score.

Functional mitral regurgitation: a link to pulmonary hypertension in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) may present with Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and functional mitral regurgitation (MR). Whether PH is linked to the presence of functional MR has not been investigated in HFpEF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and functional MR were assessed by 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography in 70 ambulatory HFpEF patients and 70 hypertensive control subjects free of organic mitral valve lesions, significant valve disease, and comorbid conditions associated with PH. Whereas none of control subjects had more than trivial MR, 21 patients with HFpEF had functional MR (mean mitral effective regurgitant orifice, regurgitant volume, and regurgitant fraction 7 ± 3 mm,(2) 15 ± 8 mL, and 28 ± 14%, respectively). Pulmonary hypertension (sPAP >35 mm Hg) was significantly more prevalent in HFpEF patients with functional MR than in HFpEF patients without functional MR (62 vs 22%; P = .002). Functional MR remained an independent predictor of PH in HFpEF patients (P = .004) after adjustment on mitral E wave to e' mitral annulus velocity ratio (E/e'; P = .022) and left atrial volume index (P = .025). Systolic PAP and E/e' were greater in HFpEF patients than in control subjects (35 ± 9 vs 29 ± 8 mm Hg [P < .0001] and 13 ± 6 vs 11 ± 5 [P = .018], respectively). Systolic PAP remained greater in HFpEF patients than in control subjects after adjusting for E/e' (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary hypertension appears to be linked to the presence of functional MR in HFpEF patients.

Illustration of the echocardiographic diagnosis of subaortic membrane stenosis in adults: surgical and live three-dimensional transoesophageal findings.

We report here two cases of patients admitted in our institution for heart failure. The first had been previously diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis and was referred for aortic valve replacement. The myocardial and valvular anatomy combined with the Doppler profiles allowed, however, to suggest the diagnosis of a discrete subaortic membrane that was confirmed by surgical findings. In the second case, the use of real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) provided superb 3D visualization quality of the subaortic membrane and allowed assessing the stenosis area using the multiplanar review mode. Hence, the use of live real-time 3D TEE is likely to be key in the spatial assessment of this complex lesion.

Clinical and echocardiographic correlates of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with aortic valve stenosis and normal left ventricular ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest that BNP testing may help define the timing of aortic valve surgery in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS) prior onset of overt LV systolic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to identify clinical and echocardiographic correlates of plasma BNP levels in a large cohort of patients with AVS and preserved LV ejection fraction. METHOD AND RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five consecutive patients were prospectively included in the present study (Mean age 73 ± 13 years old, 66 (49%) male). Eighty-nine patients (66%) had severe AVS (aortic valve area <0.6 cm(2) /m(2) BSA). Plasma BNP levels, clinical and comprehensive Doppler echocardiography evaluation was performed in all patients. Independent clinical correlates of plasma BNP levels (R(2) = 0.19) were older age (P < 0.0001) and presence of AVS symptoms (P = 0.004). Independent echocardiographic correlates of plasma BNP levels (R(2) = 0.38) were E/Ea ratio (P = 0.01), LV mass index (P = 0.018), left atrial surface (P < 0.0001) and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP; P = 0.004). Overall, independent correlates of plasma BNP levels (R(2) = 0.47) were older age (P = 0.001), known coronary artery disease (P = 0.047), increased LV mass index (P = 0.001), left atrial enlargement (P = 0.002), and increased sPAP (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AVS and normal LV ejection fraction, plasma BNP predominantly reflects the clinical and echocardiographic consequences of afterload burden imposed on the left ventricle rather than the severity of valve stenosis, per se.

Repair of iatrogenic aortic regurgitation following cardiac catheterization.

Acute aortic regurgitation (AR) related to left cardiac catheterization is an exceedingly rare complication. Valve repair is the best therapeutic option in case of isolated AR. We report the successful repair of an aortic valve tear following cardiac catheterization.