Post-cardiac injury syndrome after surgical repair of atrial septal defect: Reporting a rare occurrence.

A 16-year-old male with past medical history of congenital atrial septal defect surgical repair, presented with recurrent pericarditis secondary to post-cardiotomy injury syndrome (PCIS), After failing medical therapy, he ultimately underwent pericardiectomy for symptom resolution, PCIS is underdiagnosed in children and should be considered in patients with recurrent chest, pain.

Cerebral embolic protection and severity of stroke following transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The cerebral embolic protection (CEP) device captures embolic debris during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, the impact of CEP on stroke severity following TAVR remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether CEP was associated with reduced severity of stroke following TAVR. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 2839 consecutive patients (mean age: 79.2 ± 9.5 years, females: 41.5%) who underwent transfemoral TAVR at our institution between 2013 and 2020. We categorized patients into Sentinel CEP users and nonusers. Neuroimaging data were reviewed and the final diagnosis of a cerebrovascular event was adjudicated by a neurologist blinded to the CEP use or nonuse. We compared the incidence and severity (assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS]) of stroke through 72 h post-TAVR or discharge between the two groups using stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) of propensity scores. RESULTS: Of the eligible patients, 1802 (63.5%) received CEP during TAVR and 1037 (36.5%) did not. After adjustment for patient characteristics by stabilized IPTW, the rate of overall stroke was numerically lower in CEP users than in CEP nonusers, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (0.49% vs. 1.18%, p = 0.064). However, CEP users had significantly lower rates of moderate-or-severe stroke (NIHSS ≥ 6: 0.11% vs. 0.69%, p = 0.013) and severe stroke (NIHSS ≥ 15: 0% vs. 0.29%, p = 0.046). Stroke following CEP use (n = 8), compared with stroke following CEP nonuse (n = 15), tended to carry a lower NIHSS (median [IQR], 4.0 [2.0-7.0] vs. 7.0 [4.5-19.0], p = 0.087). Four (26.7%) out of 15 patients with stroke following CEP nonuse died within 30 days, with no death after stroke following CEP use. CONCLUSIONS: CEP use may be associated with attenuated severity of stroke despite no significant difference in overall stroke incidence compared with CEP nonuse. This finding is considered hypothesis-generating and needs to be confirmed in large prospective studies.

Radiation reduction in a modern catheterization laboratory: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Measures were undertaken at the Cleveland Clinic to reduce radiation exposure to patients and personnel working in the catheterization laboratories. We report our experience with these improved systems over a 7-year period in patients undergoing diagnostic catheterization (DC) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). METHODS: Patients were categorized into preinitiative (2009-2012) and postinitiative (2013-2019) groups in the DC and PCI cohorts. Propensity score matching was done between the pre- and postinitiative groups for both cohorts based on age, sex, body surface area, total fluoroscopy time, and total acquisition time. The effectiveness of radiation reduction measures was assessed by comparing the total air kerma (Ka,r ), and fluoroscopy- and acquisition-mode air kerma in patients in the two groups. RESULTS: In the DC cohort, there was a significant reduction in Ka,r in the postinitiative group in comparison to the preinitiative group (median, 396 vs. 857 mGy; p < 0.001). In the PCI cohort, Ka,r in the postinitiative group was 1265 mGy, which was significantly lower than the corresponding values in the preinitiative group (1994 mGy; p < 0.001). We also observed a significant reduction in fluoroscopy- and acquisition-based air kerma rates, and air kerma area product in the postinitiative group in comparison to the preinitiative group in both matched and unmatched DC and PCI cohorts after the institution of radiation reduction measures. CONCLUSION: There was a significant and sustained reduction in radiation exposure to patients in the catheterization laboratory with the implementation of advanced protocols. Similar algorithms can be applied in other laboratories to achieve a similar reduction in radiation exposure.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Medical Therapy for Clostridium difficile Infection : Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

GOALS: The aim was to assess the effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) against medical therapy (MT). BACKGROUND: FMT has shown good outcomes in the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of FMT versus MT for CDI. STUDY: We performed a comprehensive search to identify randomized controlled trials comparing FMT against MT in patients with CDI. Outcomes of interest were clinical cure as determined by the resolution of diarrhea and/or negative C. difficile testing. Primary CDI is defined as the first episode of CDI confirmed endoscopically or by laboratory analysis. Recurrent C. difficile infection (RCDI) is defined as laboratory or endoscopically confirmed episode of CDI after at least 1 course of approved antibiotic regimen. RESULTS: A total of 7 studies with 238 patients were included in meta-analysis. Compared with MT, FMT did not have a statistically significant difference for clinical cure of combined primary and RCDI after first session [risk ratio (RR): 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90, 2.58; P =0.12; I2 =77%] and multiple sessions of FMT (RR: 1.68; CI: 0.96, 2.94; P =0.07; I2 =82%). On subgroup analysis, FMT has statistically higher rate of response than MT (RR: 2.41; CI: 1.20, 4.83; I2 =78%) for RCDI. However, for primary CDI there is no statistically significant difference between FMT and MT (RR: 1.00; CI: 0.72, 1.39; I2 =0%). CONCLUSION: As per our analysis, FMT should not be utilized for every patient with CDI. It is more effective in RCDI, but the results were not significant in patients with primary CDI.

Clinical and Echocardiographic Characteristics of Bartonella Infective Endocarditis: An 8-Year Single-Centre Experience in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis due to Bartonella species is rare. The clinical and echocardiographic characteristics are not well defined. We aimed to investigate the clinical and echocardiographic findings of Bartonella endocarditis in the contemporary era. METHODS: The infective endocarditis (IE) registry and echocardiographic database at our institution were retrospectively analysed to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic features of Bartonella endocarditis. RESULTS: Between January 2008 and December 2015, there were 11 patients with Bartonella IE (0.84% among a total of 1,308 cases of definite IE): median age 54 (30-69) years, all male, 9 Caucasian, 10 had a history of cat exposure, 10 had a pre-existing valvulopathy including 6 patients with a prosthetic valve with prosthesis age range between 3 to 5 years and 1 patient with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Bartonella henselae was responsible for all the cases. Echocardiographic evidence of IE was found in 6 of 11 patients on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and 6 of 8 on transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Bartonella IE was associated with significant valvular destruction and dysfunction on echocardiography. Nine (9) patients were managed surgically with excellent outcomes, including two patients who failed initial medical therapy. Two (2) patients who were managed medically had progression of valvular dysfunction. At a median follow-up of 6 months, there were no deaths attributable to IE or other cardiovascular causes. CONCLUSION: In a contemporary single-centre cohort in the United States, Bartonella IE remains rare, but should be considered when pathogen could not be identified in patients with suspected IE, especially those with prosthetic valves or bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). The vast majority of patients with Bartonella IE were managed surgically with excellent outcomes.

Recurrent pericarditis associated with human coronavirus (HKU1) infection in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The presence of human coronavirus HKU1 infection associated with pericardial inflammation is not reported. We are reporting a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus, who was positive for HKU1 during her pericarditis flare. Diagnostic imaging demonstrated pericardial effusion, edema, and late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. She was on multiple anti-inflammatory medications and achieved remission with anakinra. Her management and a brief literature review is also presented.

Pericardial Diseases in COVID19: a Contemporary Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) involves the heart, including pericardium. This article reviews the possible pathophysiological mechanisms in pericardial involvement in COVID19 and pericardial manifestations of COVID19. It also summarizes the patients with pericarditis secondary to COVID19 and outlines the contemporary treatment strategies in this patient population. RECENT FINDINGS: A high degree of suspicion is required to identify the pericardial involvement in COVID19 patients. It is proposed that an underlying hyperinflammatory reaction in COVID19 leads to pericardial inflammation. Acute pericarditis with or without myocardial involvement is diagnosed on clinical presentation, serum inflammatory markers, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram. Multimodality imaging may also have an additional diagnostic value. Patients are usually managed medically, but some patients develop a life-threatening pericardial tamponade necessitating pericardial drainage. Pericardial involvement is an important clinical manifestation of COVID19 requiring a proper workup. Timely diagnosis and a specific management plan based on the presentation and concomitant organ involvement usually lead to a complete recovery.

Incidence, outcomes, and predictors of in-hospital acute coronary syndrome following endovascular transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Incidence and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) immediately following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of ACS following TAVR. METHODS: We queried the National Readmission Database from January 2012 to September 2015 for TAVR admissions with and without ACS, creating a propensity-matched cohort to compare outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 48,454 patients underwent TAVR, with 1,332 (2.75%) developing ACS. TAVR patients with ACS compared to those without ACS had a significantly higher incidence of acute kidney injury (24.7 vs. 19.2%; p = .001), ischemic stroke (3.7 vs. 2.3%; p = .04), vascular complications (8.6 vs. 5.8%; p = .008), cardiogenic shock (9.8 vs. 1.9%; p < .001), cardiac arrest (5.1 vs. 2.8%; p = .002), mechanical circulatory support (8.1 vs. 1.5%; p < .001), and in-hospital mortality (9.6 vs. 3.4%; p < .001). Additionally, TAVR with ACS had longer lengths of stay (median 10 days vs. 6 days; p < .001) and hospital charges (median $23,200 vs. $19,000; p < .001). Positive predictors of ACS were history of PCI (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% CI: 1.25-1.63), hyperlipidemia (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07-1.34), chronic blood loss anemia (odds ratio, 2.16; 95% CI: 1.54-3.03), chronic kidney disease (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% CI: 1.04-1.31), fluid and electrolyte disorders (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI: 1.47-1.85), and weight loss (odds ratio, 1.53; 95% CI: 1.22-1.91). Heart failure (34%) was the most common reason for readmission in the ACS cohort. CONCLUSION: ACS after TAVR is uncommon but is associated with worse clinical outcomes and increased healthcare resource utilization.

Coronary Subclavian Steal Syndrome: A Contemporary Review.

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) is a rare cause of angina. It occurs in patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting and, specifically, a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) graft and co-existent significant subclavian artery stenosis. In this context, there is retrograde blood flow through the LIMA to LAD graft to supply the subclavian artery beyond the significant stenosis. This potentially occurs at the cost of compromising coronary artery perfusion dependent on the LIMA graft. In this review, we present a case of a middle-aged female who suffered from CSSS and review the literature for the contemporary diagnosis and management of this condition.

A rare complication of a rare disease: Pericarditis due to ruptured pericardial cyst.

Pericardial cysts are considered rare incidental findings, which are generally asymptomatic in nature. Occasionally, patients may represent with chest discomfort, dyspnea, or palpitations. Pericarditis related to a ruptured pericardial cyst has not been previously reported in the literature. Here, we report the case of a 62-year-old man who developed acute pericarditis as a result of a ruptured enlarging pericardial cyst.

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension-Management Strategies and Outcomes.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is rare but complex pathophysiological disease with hallmark features of chronic thrombotic mechanical obstruction, right ventricular dysfunction, and secondary pulmonary arteriopathy. It increasingly is being understood that chronic infection/inflammation, abnormal fibrinolysis, and cytokines play an important role in pathogenesis such that only a subset of patients with pulmonary embolism develop CTEPH. Diagnosis remains challenging given the lack of early clinical signs and overlap with other cardiopulmonary conditions. Pulmonary endarterectomy is the surgical procedure of choice with good postoperative survival and functional outcomes, especially when done at high-volume centers with a multidisciplinary approach. There has been a resurgence of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) as salvage therapy for inoperable CTEPH or in its newfound hybrid role for persistent postoperative pulmonary hypertension with excellent 1-year and 3-year survival. Use of riociguat has shown promising improvements in functional outcomes up to 2 years after initiation. Endothelin receptor antagonists serve a supplemental role postoperatively or in inoperable CTEPH. The role of drug therapy preoperatively or in tandem with BPA is currently under investigation.

Pericarditis and Post-cardiac Injury Syndrome as a Sequelae of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pericarditis secondary to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is known to develop either immediately or after a latent period of few months. Due to varied presentation and timing, its diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. This article reviews underlying mechanisms and the role of cardiac imaging in investigating and managing this condition. RECENT FINDINGS: Timely diagnosis of pericarditis after AMI is important to prevent potential progression to complicated pericarditis. Clinical suspicion warrants initial investigation with serum inflammatory levels, electrocardiogram, and echocardiography. When findings are inconclusive, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography can provide additional diagnostic information. Pericarditis after AMI is a treatable condition. Clinicians should maintain a high suspicion in this era of revascularization and develop a strategic plan for timely diagnosis and management.

Multimodality Imaging for the Assessment of Pericardial Diseases.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The diagnosis of pericardial syndromes, while occasionally straightforward, includes a wide range of pathologies and is often a well-recognized clinical challenge. The aim of this review is to highlight the key role of the various imaging modalities for the diagnosis and management of the spectrum of pericardial diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: Cardiac imaging has become an integral part of the diagnostic process often beginning with echocardiography and supported by advanced imaging modalities including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positive emission tomography. These modalities go beyond the simple identification of the pericardium, to identifying increased pericardial thickness, active pericardial edema and inflammation, and its effect on cardiac hemodynamics. Multimodality imaging has significantly facilitated the diagnosis and long-term management of patients with pericardial diseases. The role of these imaging modalities in overall prognosis and prevention remains to be investigated.

Predicting Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Recurrent Pericarditis.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent pericarditis (RP) is a complex condition associated with significant morbidity. Prior studies have evaluated which variables are associated with clinical remission. However, there is currently no established risk-stratification model for predicting outcomes in these patients. OBJECTIVES: We developed a risk stratification model that can predict long-term outcomes in patients with RP and enable identification of patients with characteristics that portend poor outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively studied a total of 365 consecutive patients with RP from 2012 to 2019. The primary outcome was clinical remission (CR), defined as cessation of all anti-inflammatory therapy with complete resolution of symptoms. Five machine learning survival models were used to calculate the likelihood of CR within 5 years and stratify patients into high-risk, intermediate-risk, and low-risk groups. RESULTS: Among the cohort, the mean age was 46 ± 15 years, and 205 (56%) were women. CR was achieved in 118 (32%) patients. The final model included steroid dependency, total number of recurrences, pericardial late gadolinium enhancement, age, etiology, sex, ejection fraction, and heart rate as the most important parameters. The model predicted the outcome with a C-index of 0.800 on the test set and exhibited a significant ability in stratification of patients into low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups (log-rank test; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We developed a novel risk-stratification model for predicting CR in RP. Our model can also aid in stratifying patients, with high discriminative ability. The use of an explainable machine learning model can aid physicians in making individualized treatment decision in RP patients.

Multimodality Cardiac Imaging in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a wide range of cardiovascular complications. The main manifestations include diseases of the coronary arteries, valves, pericardium, and myocardium. Multimodality cardiovascular imaging techniques are critical for evaluating the extent of cardiac manifestations in SLE patients, which can provide valuable prognostic information. However, their utility has previously not been well defined. This review provides a state-of-the-art update on the cardiovascular manifestations of lupus, as well as the role of multimodality cardiac imaging in guiding management of patients with SLE.

Rare Variant of Meigs Syndrome Associated With Pericardial Effusion.

Meigs syndrome is an uncommon entity associated with benign ovarian tumor, pleural effusion, and ascites. Its association with pericardial effusion is extremely rare. We report a case of Meigs syndrome associated with recurrent pericardial effusion that resolved after surgical resection of the ovarian tumor. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

An Unusual Case of Parasitic Constrictive Pericarditis.

Parasitic constrictive pericarditis is a rare entity. We present a case of a 75-year-old man who presented with dyspnea, ascites, and pedal edema and was found to have constrictive pericarditis on multimodality imaging with positive serology for Strongyloides Stercoralis. Treatment required ivermectin and radical pericardiectomy with significant clinical improvement. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Coronary Angiography in Patients With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Without ST-Segment Elevation on Electrocardiograms: A Comprehensive Review.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is among the most common causes of death in the United States. Early coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have been associated with improved long-term outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation (STE) on prearrest or postarrest electrocardiograms. However, data on the utility of catheterization and PCI for improving outcomes after OHCA in patients without STE on electrocardiograms are heterogeneous, with variable results. Although older data have suggested that there is a benefit, recent randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that performing early CAG in patients with OHCA without STE on electrocardiograms may not improve outcomes. In recognition that neurologic devastation and multiorgan failure are common in these patients, physicians face the challenge of selecting appropriate patients for cardiac catheterization and PCI. This review aims to summarize the current data on this topic, with the goal to guide decision making regarding the timing and appropriateness of CAG in patients with OHCA without STE on electrocardiograms, utilizing an evidence-based approach to streamline the patient selection process.

Clinical characteristics, evaluation and outcomes of chylopericardium: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Chylopericardium (CPE) is a rare condition associated with accumulation of triglyceride-rich chylous fluid in the pericardial cavity. Due to minimal information on CPE within the literature, we conducted a systematic review of all published CPE cases to understand its clinical characteristics, management and outcomes. METHODS: We performed a literature search and identified cases of patients with CPE from 1946 until May 2021 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We identified relevant articles for pooled analyses of clinical, diagnostic and outcome data. RESULTS: A total of 95 articles with 98 patients were identified. Patient demographics demonstrated male predominance (55%), with a mean age of 37±15 years. Time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 5 (Q1 4.5, Q3 14) days, with 74% of patients symptomatic on presentation. Idiopathic CPE (60%) was the most common aetiology. Cardiac tamponade secondary to CPE was seen in 38% of cases. Pericardial fluid analysis was required in 94% of cases. Lymphangiography identified the leakage site in 59% of patients. Medical therapy (total parenteral nutrition, medium-chain triglycerides or octreotide) was undertaken in 63% of cases. In our cohort, 32% progressed towards surgical intervention. During a median follow-up of 180 (Q1 180, Q3 377) days, CPE recurred in 16% of cases. Of the patients with recurrence, 10% were rehospitalised. CONCLUSION: CPE tends to develop in younger patients and may cause serious complications. Many patients fail medical therapy, thereby requiring surgical intervention. Although overall mortality is low, associated morbidities warrant close follow-up and possible reintervention and hospitalisations.

Risk Stratification and Management of Advanced Conduction Disturbances Following TAVI in Patients With Pre-Existing RBBB.

Background: Pre-existing right bundle branch block (RBBB) is a strong predictor of increased need for a permanent pacemaker (PPM) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Yet, further risk stratification and management remain challenging in patients with pre-existing RBBB owing to limited data. Therefore, we sought to investigate the incidence, predictors, and management of advanced conduction disturbances after TAVI in patients with pre-existing RBBB. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 261 consecutive patients with pre-existing RBBB (median age 81 years; 28.0% female; 95.0% received a balloon-expandable valve) without a pre-existing PPM who underwent TAVI at our institution in 2015-2019. Outcomes were high-degree atrioventricular block/complete heart block (HAVB/CHB) and PPM requirement. Results: Overall, the 30-day HAVB/CHB rate was 28.0%, of which 76.7% occurred during the TAVI procedure. The delayed HAVB/CHB rate was 8.3%. Implantation depth below aortic annulus (per 1-mm increase) was significantly associated with increased risk of procedural HAVB/CHB (adjusted odds ratio = 1.25, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-1.46), delayed HAVB/CHB (1.34 [1.01-1.79]), and 30-day PPM (1.32 [1.11-1.55]). Predilation was associated with delayed HAVB/CHB (4.02 [1.22-13.23]). The combination of no predilation and implantation depth of ≤2.0 mm had lower rates of procedural HAVB/CHB (11.2% vs. 26.7%-30.4%, p = 0.011), delayed HAVB/CHB (2.1% vs. 7.6%-28.1%, p < 0.001), and 30-day PPM (10.3% vs. 20.0%-43.5%, p < 0.001) than the other strategies of valve deployment. Complete HAVB/CHB recovery after PPM implantation was uncommon at 7.1%. Conclusions: In patients with pre-existing RBBB, the majority of HAVB/CHB events occurred during the TAVI procedure. Avoidance of predilation coupled with high valve deployment may result in relatively low rates of procedural and delayed HAVB/CHB, along with 30-day PPM rates.