Bioelectrical impedance analysis for heart failure diagnosis in the ED.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) for the diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF) in patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department (ED). METHODS: Patients with acute dyspnea presenting to the ED were prospectively enrolled. Four parameters were assessed: resistance (R), reactance (Ra), total body water (TBW), and extracellular body water (EBW). Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measures and cardiac ultrasound studies were performed in all patients at admission. Patients were classified into AHF and non-AHF groups retrospectively by expert cardiologists. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients (39 men; age, 68±14years; weight, 79.8±20.6 kg) were included. Of the 4 BIVA parameters, Ra was significantly lower in the AHF compared to non-AHF group (32.7±14.3 vs 45.4±19.7; P<.001). Brain natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher in the AHF group (1050.3±989 vs 148.7±181.1ng/L; P<.001). Reactance levels were significantly correlated to BNP levels (r=-0.5; P<.001). Patients with different mitral valve Doppler profiles (E/e'≤8, E/e' ≥9 and <15, and E/e'≥15) had significant differences in Ra values (47.9±19.9, 34.7±19.4, and 31.2±11.7, respectively; P=.003). Overall, the sensitivity of BIVA for AHF diagnosis with a Ra cutoff at 39Ω was 67% with a specificity of 76% and an area under the curve at 0.76. However, Ra did not significantly improve the area under the curve of BNP for the diagnosis of AHF (P=not significant). CONCLUSION: In a population of patients presenting to the ED with dyspnea, BIVA was significantly related to the AHF status but did not improve the diagnostic performance for AHF in addition to BNP alone.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the SAPIEN 3 valve to treat aortic regurgitation: The French multicentre S3AR study.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation now has a major role in the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, evidence is scarce on its feasibility and safety to treat patients with pure aortic regurgitation. AIMS: We sought to evaluate the results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the balloon-expandable SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) in patients with pure aortic regurgitation on native non-calcified valves. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective and prospective French multicentre observational study. We included all patients with symptomatic severe pure aortic regurgitation on native non-calcified valves, contraindicated to or at high risk for surgical valve replacement, who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients (male sex, 73%) with a median age of 81years (interquartile range 69-85years) were screened using transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography and were included at eight French centres. At baseline, 83.8% of patients (n=31) had dyspnoea New York Heart Association class≥III. The device success rate was 94.6% (n=35). At 30days, the all-cause mortality rate was 8.1% (n=3) and valve migration occurred in 10.8% of cases (n=4). Dyspnoea New York Heart Association class≤II was seen in 86.5% of patients (n=32), and all survivors had aortic regurgitation grade≤1. At 1-year follow-up, all-cause mortality was 16.2% (n=6), 89.7% (n=26/29) of survivors were in New York Heart Association class≤II and all had aortic regurgitation grade≤2. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve seems promising to treat selected high-risk patients with pure aortic regurgitation on non-calcified native valves, contraindicated to surgical aortic valve replacement.

Current treatment of symptomatic aortic stenosis in elderly patients: Do risk scores really matter after 80 years of age?

BACKGROUND: According to the guidelines, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is recommended in patients at low surgical risk (EuroSCORE II<4%), whereas for other patients, the decision between transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgery should be made by the Heart Team, with TAVI being favoured in elderly patients. AIM: The RAC prospective multicentre survey assessed the respective contributions of age and surgical risk scores in therapeutic decision making in elderly patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. METHODS: In September and October 2016, 1049 consecutive patients aged ≥ 75 years were included in 32 centres with on-site TAVI and surgical facilities. The primary endpoint was the decision between medical management, TAVI or SAVR. RESULTS: Mean age was 84±5 years and 53% of patients were female. The surgical risk was classified as high (EuroSCORE II>8%) in 18% of patients, intermediate (EuroSCORE II 4-8%) in 34% and low (EuroSCORE II≤4%) in 48%. TAVI was preferred in 71% of patients, SAVR in 19% and medical treatment in 10%. The choice of TAVI over SAVR was associated with older age (P<0.0001) and a higher EuroSCORE II (P=0.008). However, the weight of EuroSCORE II in therapeutic decision making markedly decreased after the age of 80 years. Indeed, 77% of patients aged ≥ 80 years were referred for TAVI, despite a low estimated surgical risk. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of risk scores depends strongly on age, and decreases considerably after 80 years, most patients being referred for TAVI, independent of their estimated surgical risk. Despite medical advancements, 10% of patients were still denied any intervention.

Ambulatory TAVR: Early Feasibility Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has modified practice for patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis and could result in higher mortality rates due to treatment delays. In this clinical case series, 3 patients underwent ambulatory transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) thanks to patient and entourage willingness, careful patient selection (including a history of permanent pacemaker placement), and a minimalist procedural approach. No complications occurred during the 30-day follow-up. Performing ambulatory TAVR could reduce the clinical consequences of wait times, minimize exposure to coronavirus contamination, and reduce the use of hospital resources that might be needed for COVID-19 patients. Thanks to a scrupulous minimalist TAVR protocol, ambulatory outpatient management of aortic stenosis was possible in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

La pandémie de COVID-19 a modifié la prise en charge des patients présentant une sténose aortique symptomatique, et les retards dans les traitements pourraient entraîner une hausse des taux de mortalité. Dans le cadre de cette série de cas cliniques, trois patients ont subi un remplacement valvulaire aortique par cathéter (RVAC) ambulatoire, rendu possible grâce à la volonté des patients et de leur entourage, aux choix consciencieux des candidats (par exemple, les receveurs d'un stimulateur cardiaque implantable) et à une approche comportant des interventions minimales. On n'a observé aucune complication durant les 30 jours du suivi. Le RVAC ambulatoire pourrait atténuer les répercussions cliniques associées au temps d'attente, réduire le risque d'exposition au coronavirus et diminuer l'utilisation des ressources hospitalières, qui pourraient être consacrées aux patients atteints de la COVID-19. Un protocole méticuleux et minimaliste de RVAC a permis la prise en charge ambulatoire de la sténose aortique durant la pandémie de COVID-19.

Myocardial biomarkers and delayed enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance relationship in clinically suspected myocarditis and insight on clinical outcome.

AIMS: The relationship of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with myocardial biomarkers and markers of inflammation in acute viral myocarditis is not clearly defined. We assessed the relationship of LGE with myocardial and inflammatory biomarkers measured during the acute phase of myocarditis and their predictive value on clinical outcome. METHODS: Patients with first clinical episode of acute viral myocarditis and complete CMR study, including cine and LGE images, were included. The peak values of troponin I, creatine kinase, C-reactive protein value at admission and LGE extent were reported for each case. A 29-month clinical follow-up was performed, and cardiac symptoms and adverse cardiac events (all-cause death, heart transplant, hospitalization for heart failure) were reported. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (39 ±â€Š15 years and 78% men) were included. Median LGE extent was 13% [interquartile range (IQR) (9%, 19%)] of left-ventricular mass and mean left-ventricular ejection fraction was 56 ±â€Š11%. There was a significant correlation between peak troponin I and LGE extent (r = 0.51, P < 0.001), and between peak creatine kinase and LGE extent (r = 0.66, P < 0.001). There was no correlation between C-reactive protein at admission and LGE extent (r = 0.27, P = 0.09). At follow-up, eight (20%) patients had an adverse clinical event. LGE extent was significantly associated with a worse New York Heart Association status at follow-up [odds ratio (OR) 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07, 1.37, P = 0.002]. After adjustment for left-ventricular ejection fraction, age and clinical presentation category, LGE extent remained an independent predictor of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio 1.42; 95% CI 1.05, 1.95, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: LGE extent on CMR studies is significantly correlated to biomarkers of myocardial injury in patients with acute viral myocarditis, and is a significant independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcome.