Early echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular load adaptability after sequential combination treatment in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Using the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE)/pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) ratio as an index of right ventricular load adaptability, we aimed to evaluate early changes in right heart contractile function of patients with group 1 pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) after sequential combination PAH-specific therapy. METHODS: A total of 49 patients with group 1 PAH and 31 control participants were included in the study. The baseline clinical and echocardiographic data of the control and PAH group were compared. Subsequently, clinical and echocardiographic data of PAH patients before treatment and at 6 months after PAH-specific treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant increase in the TAPSE/PASP ratio was found in patients at 6 months of PAH-specific treatment (0.25 ± 0.14; 0.33 ± 0.16, p < 0.001). Right atrial pressure (8 mm Hg [5-10]; 5 mm Hg [3-8], p < 0.001) and PASP (80.8 ± 30.6 mm Hg; 65.9 ± 25.7 mm Hg, p < 0.001) were significantly lower after sequential combination PAH-specific therapy. Negative correlations were found between the TAPSE/PASP ratio and N­terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (r = -0.524, p < 0.001), tricuspid regurgitation velocity (r = -0.749, p < 0.001), right atrial area (r = -0.298, p = 0.037), and right atrial pressure (r = -0.463, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with group 1 PAH, echocardiographic evaluation at the early stage of treatment (6 months) shows a significant improvement in the TAPSE/PASP ratio indicating right ventricular load adaptation. Comprehensive studies are needed on the routine use of the TAPSE/PASP ratio in the risk assessment of PAH patients.

Transcatheter Closure or Surgery for Symptomatic Paravalvular Leaks: The Multicenter KISS Registry.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment of symptomatic paravalvular leak (PVL) remains controversial between transcatheter closure (TC) and surgery. This large-scale study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the long-term outcomes of the patients who underwent reoperation or TC of PVLs. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 335 (men, 209 [62.4%]; mean age, 58.15±12.77 years) patients who underwent treatment of PVL at 3 tertiary centers between January 2002 and December 2021 were included. Echocardiographic features, procedure details, and in-hospital or long-term outcomes were assessed. The primary end point was defined as the all-cause death during follow-up. The regression models were adjusted by applying the inverse probability weighted approach to reduce treatment selection bias. The initial management strategy was TC in 171 (51%) patients and surgery in 164 (49%) cases. Three hundred cases (89.6%) had mitral PVL, and 35 (10.4%) had aortic PVL. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 52.03±10.79%. Technical (78.9 versus 76.2%; P=0.549) and procedural success (73.7 versus 65.2%; P=0.093) were similar between both groups. In both univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis, the in-hospital mortality rate in the overall population was significantly higher (15.9 versus 4.7%) in the surgery group compared with the TC group (unadjusted odds ratio, 3.13 [95% CI, 1.75-5.88]; P=0.001; and adjusted odds ratio (inverse probability-weighted), 4.55 [95% CI, 2.27-10.0]; P<0.001). However, the long-term mortality rate in the overall population did not differ between the surgery group and the TC group (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.86 [95% CI, 0.59-1.25]; P=0.435; and adjusted HR (inverse probability-weighted), 1.11 [95% CI, 0.67-1.81]; P=0.679). CONCLUSIONS: The current data suggest that percutaneous closure of PVL was associated with lower early and comparable long-term mortality rates compared with surgery.

The diagnostic role of "acceleration time" measurement in patients with classical low flow low gradient aortic stenosis with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

PURPOSE: In our study, we aimed to assess the role of acceleration time (AT), ejection time (ET), and AT/ET ratio to distinguish between true and pseudo severe AS in patients with classical low flow-low gradient (LF-LG) aortic stenosis (AS) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS: Sixty-seven classical LF-LG AS with reduced LVEF patients who underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) were included in the study. According to DSE results, all patients were divided into two groups; true AS and pseudo severe AS. Aortic valve calcium score was measured in patients with inconclusive DSE results. AT and other ejection dynamics (ET and AT/ET) were calculated by taking baseline echocardiographic records into account for all patients. The predictive power of AT and other ejection dynamics were evaluated to estimate true and pseudo severe AS. RESULTS: According to DSE results, out of 67 patients, 44 (65.7%) was diagnosed as true severe AS. There was a statistically significant relation between baseline AT and true AS [adjusted OR 4.47 (95% CI 1.93-10.4), p = 0.001]. The best cutoff value of AT was measured as 100 msec according to the Youden index. This value had a sensitivity value of 77%, specificity value of 87%, positive predictive value of 92%, and a negative predictive value of 67%. CONCLUSION: The measurement of AT can predict the DSE outcome and can be used for diagnostic purposes to distinguish between true and pseudo severe AS in classical LF-LG AS patients with reduced LVEF.

The Predictive Role of Small Airway Dysfunction in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The relationship between impaired lung function and atrial fibrillation has been described previously. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic influence of small airway function on predicting postoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 283 patients who underwent isolated CABG at our institution between January 2020 and August 2020. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation. Demographic characteristics of the patients were recorded; spirometry was performed for each patient before surgery. Small airway function was determined by forced mid-expiratory flow (forced expiratory flow 25%-75%) values measured by spirometry. Propensity score matching was applied to ensure a balanced distribution of demographic data between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The frequency of postoperative atrial fibrillation was 30.7% in our patient population. After propensity matching, forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity % [80.6 (73.8-87.8) vs. 76.3 (66.7-81.6), P = 0.006] and forced expiratory flow 25%-75% (87.4 ± 14.2 vs. 75.2 ± 15.8, P = 0.001) were significantly lower in postoperative atrial fibrillation group. In multivariate analysis, white blood cell count, left ventricular ejection fraction, cross-clamp time, and forced expiratory flow 25%-75% were found to be independent predictors of postoperative atrial fibrillation development after isolated CABG. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, forced expiratory flow 25%-75% with an optimal threshold value of 81% could detect the presence of postoperative atrial fibrillation with 63.8% sensitivity and 70.1% specificity. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that small airway obstruction, as indicated by forced expiratory flow 25%-75% in spirometry, can be a simple predictive tool for the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing isolated CABG.

The role of three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography novel-score in the success of redo percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty.

Mitral valve commissure evaluation is known to be important in the success of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) and Wilkins score (WS) is used in clinical practice. In our study, we aimed to determine whether WS in redo PBMV is sufficient in the success of procedure and additionally we have evaluated a novel scoring system including three dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) of the mitral valve structure before redo PBMV in terms of success of the procedure. Fifty patients who underwent redo PBMV were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the success of the Redo PBMV procedure which was defined as post-procedural MVA ≥ 1.5 cm2 and post-procedural mitral regurgitation less than moderate by echocardiographic evaluation after PBMV. A novel score based on 3D TEE findings was created by analyzing the images recorded before Redo PBMV and by evaluating the mitral commissure and calcification. The role of traditional WS and novel score in the success of the procedure were investigated. In the study group, 36 patients (72%) had successful redo PBMV procedure. WS was 8 (IQR 7-9) and novel 3D TEE score was found 4 (IQR 3-4) in the whole study group. While no statistically significant relationship was found between WS and procedural success (p = 0.187), a statistically significant relationship was found between novel 3D TEE score and procedural success (p = 0.042). Specifically, the procedural successes rate was > 90% when novel 3D TEE score was < 4. The novel 3D TEE score might be an informative scoring system in the selection of suitable patients for successful redo PBMV, especially in patients who are considered for surgery due to the high WS.

[Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy mimicking right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia]. / Sag ventrikül çikis yolu tasikardisini taklit eden aritmojenik sag ventrikül kardiyomiyopatisi.

Ventricular tachycardia may be mistaken for right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. A 27-year-old man had complaints of palpitation and syncope. The admission electrocardiogram (ECG) showed sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia with left bundle branch block and inferior axis morphology. The ECG obtained during sinus rhythm was normal. Transthoracic echocardiography showed both ventricles in normal function and size. During electrophysiologic study, ventricular tachycardia was induced consistent with the clinical tachycardia. It was thought to originate from the left ventricular outflow tract and was terminated by radiofrequency ablation. However, the patient presented again, after a year, complaining of palpitations. The admission ECG was similar to that obtained before with sustained ventricular tachycardia, whereas the ECG during sinus rhythm showed negative T waves in leads V1-3. During electrophysiologic study, another ventricular tachycardia was induced with left bundle branch block and horizontal axis morphology as well as that consistent with the clinical tachycardia. The former was terminated spontaneously. The presence of a different morphology and negative T waves on the ECG suggested arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. On angiography, the right ventricle was dilated and hypocontractile. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis by showing decreased wall thickness and wall motion abnormality in the right ventricle.

[Development of acute coronary syndrome in three patients with essential thrombocythemia or polycythemia vera]. / Esansiyel trombositemi veya polisitemi verali üç olguda akut koroner sendrom gelisimi.

Little is known about the management of coronary thrombosis in myeloproliferative disease. The occurrence of myocardial infarction in myeloproliferative disease is mostly attributed to coronary thrombosis due to hyperviscosity and thrombocytosis. We presented three cases of acute myocardial infarction associated with polycythemia vera in one patient (male, age 33 years) and essential thrombocytosis in two patients (male, ages 36 and 46 years). None of the patients had diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or a positive family history. One patient with early presentation received thrombolytic therapy, and all the patients were treated with aspirin, beta-blocker, angiotensin 2 receptor blocker, statin, low-molecular-weight heparin, parenteral nitrate, and clopidogrel for acute coronary syndrome, and hydroxyurea for essential thrombocytosis. Control angiographies showed patent coronary arteries in all the cases.