Transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement in patients over 85 years old.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for the treatment of in very old patients with severe aortic stenosis is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the preferred alternative. Therefore, we sought to evaluate outcomes in very old patients who underwent SAVR versus TAVI. METHODS: A total of 169 consecutive patients aged ≥85 years underwent TAVI (n = 68) or SAVR (n = 101). A propensity score adjustment was used to compare outcomes including cost analysis. RESULTS: The propensity score generated 40 pairs of patients with similar baseline characteristics. The TAVI group experienced atrioventricular block (37.5% vs 5%, P < 0.01) more frequently, a longer stay in the intensive care unit (median 5 days, range 1-35 vs median 2 days, range 1-6, P < 0.01) but a lower rate of new-onset atrial fibrillation (15% vs 47.5%, P < 0.01). The 30-day mortality rate was similar in the unmatched and matched cohorts (8.8% vs 5.0%, P = 0.32; 10% vs 7.5%, P = 0.69). One, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates (80% vs 90%, 56% vs 79%, 37% vs 71%, P < 0.01) and freedom from major adverse cardiac and cardiovascular events (72% vs 90%, 46% vs 76%, 17% vs 68%, P < 0.01) were lower in the TAVI group. An overall cost analysis indicated that TAVI was more expensive (€2084 vs €19 891). CONCLUSIONS: In patients 85 years and older, SAVR seems to offer good short- and mid-term clinical outcomes compared to TAVI. Advanced age alone would not be an indication for TAVI in old-old patients.

[Role of emergent coronary angiography in post-cardiac arrest care: from literature review to clinical practice]. / Ruolo dello studio coronarografico urgente nella gestione dei pazienti rianimati da arresto cardiaco extraospedaliero: dalla revisione della letteratura alla pratica clinica.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a relatively common event. Acute coronary thrombotic events are the main trigger of sudden cardiac arrest. Mortality of patients, in whom return of spontaneous circulation is obtained, is still high, mainly due to anoxic brain injury and progressive cardiac failure. In the last years, the implementation of "post-cardiac arrest care" led to a significant improvement of hospital survival of these patients. Mild therapeutic hypothermia has become the foundation for improvement of survival with good neurological outcome after cardiac arrest. Recently, there is a growing interest in emergent invasive coronary strategies, including emergent coronary angiography and subsequent percutaneous coronary interventions when indicated. Emergent coronary angiography is strongly recommended in patients with ST-segment elevation on the ECG performed after return of spontaneous circulation. Conversely, whether patients without ST-segment elevation on ECG or patients who remain unconscious after return of spontaneous circulation should always undergo emergent coronary angiography is still unclear. Recent observational stud ies have shown that emergent invasive coronary strategies may improve hospital survival also in this patient subset. This suggests that resuscitated cardiac arrest victims without an obvious non-cardiac etiology should always undergo emergent coronary angiography, in association with therapeutic hypothermia if indicated.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for degenerative aortic valve regurgitation long after heart transplantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a feasible therapeutic option for the management of high-risk patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis. Recently it has been extended to high-risk patients with severe aortic regurgitation. Degenerative aortic valve disease is generally uncommon in heart transplant recipients. We report the case of a 75-year-old man in whom severe degenerative aortic regurgitation developed 14 years after heart transplantation (HTx). Because of multiple comorbidities and high surgical risk, TAVI was preferred. A 29-mm CoreValve prosthesis (Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, MN) was successfully implanted using a transfemoral approach.

Predictive value of electrocardiogram in diagnosing acute coronary artery lesions among patients with out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrest.

AIMS: Acute coronary lesions are known to be the most common trigger of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Aim of the present study was to assess the predictive value of ST-segment changes in diagnosing the presence of acute coronary lesions among OHCA patients METHODS: Findings of coronary angiography (CA) performed in patients resuscitated from OCHA were retrospectively reviewed and related to ST-segment changes on post-ROSC electrocardiogram (ECG) RESULTS: Ninety-one patients underwent CA after OHCA; 44% of patients had ST-segment elevation and 56% of patients had other ECG patterns on post-ROSC ECG. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was found in 86% of patients; CAD was observed in 98% of patients with ST-segment elevation and in 77% of patients with other ECG patterns on post-ROSC ECG (p=0.004). Acute or presumed recent coronary artery lesions were diagnosed in 56% of patients, respectively in 85% of patients with ST-segment elevation and in 33% of patients with other ECG patterns (p<0.001). ST-segment analysis on post-ROSC ECG has a good positive predictive value but a low negative predictive value in diagnosing the presence of acute or presumed recent coronary artery lesions (85% and 67%, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: Electrocardiographic findings after OHCA should not be considered as strict selection criteria for performing emergent CA in patients resuscitated from OHCA without obvious extra-cardiac cause; even in the absence of ST-segment elevation on post-ROSC ECG, acute culprit coronary lesions may be present and considered the trigger of cardiac arrest.

Impact of emergency coronary angiography on in-hospital outcome of unconscious survivors after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Acute coronary thrombotic occlusion is the most common trigger of cardiac arrest. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of an invasive strategy characterized by emergency coronary angiography and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), if indicated, on in-hospital survival of resuscitated patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and no obvious extracardiac cause who do not regain consciousness soon after recovery of spontaneous circulation. Ninety-three consecutive patients (67 ± 12 years old, 76% men) were included in the study. Clinical characteristics and coronary angiographic and in-hospital outcome data were retrospectively collected. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis was performed to identify independent determinants of in-hospital survival. Coronary angiography was performed in 66 patients (71%). Forty-eight patients underwent emergency coronary angiography; in the remaining 18 patients, mean time from OHCA to coronary angiography was 13 ± 10 days. In patients referred to emergency coronary angiography, successful emergency PCI of a culprit coronary lesion was performed in 25 patients (52%). In-hospital survival rate was 54%. At multivariate analysis, emergency coronary angiography (hazard ratio 2.32, 95% confidence interval 1.23 to 4.38, p = 0.009) and successful emergency PCI (hazard ratio 2.54, 95% confidence interval 1.35 to 4.8, p = 0.004) were independently related to in-hospital survival in the overall study population; delay in performing coronary angiography (hazard ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 0.99, p = 0.013) was independently related to in-hospital mortality in patients referred to coronary angiography. In conclusion, an invasive strategy characterized by emergency coronary angiography and subsequent PCI, if indicated, seems to improve in-hospital outcome of resuscitated but unconscious patients with OHCA without obvious extracardiac cause.

Adipokines, ghrelin and obesity-associated insulin resistance in nondiabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Altered glucose metabolism negatively modulates outcome in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Insulin resistance is commonly associated with increasing BMI in the general population and these associations may involve obesity-related changes in circulating ghrelin and adipokines. We aimed at investigating interactions between BMI, insulin resistance and ACS and their associations with plasma ghrelin and adipokine concentrations. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA(IR))-insulin resistance index, plasma adiponectin, leptin, total (T-Ghrelin), acylated (Acyl-Ghrelin), and desacylated ghrelin (Desacyl-Ghrelin) were measured in 60 nondiabetic ACS patients and 44 subjects without ACS matched for age, sex, and BMI. Compared with non-ACS, ACS patients had similar HOMA(IR) and plasma adipokines, but lower T- and Desacyl-Ghrelin and higher Acyl-Ghrelin. Obesity (BMI > 30) was associated with higher HOMA(IR), lower adiponectin, and higher leptin (P < 0.05) similarly in ACS and non-ACS subjects. In ACS (n = 60) HOMA(IR) remained associated negatively with adiponectin and positively with leptin independently of BMI and c-reactive protein (CRP) (P < 0.05). On the other hand, low T- and Desacyl-Ghrelin with high Acyl-Ghrelin characterized both obese and non-obese ACS patients and were not associated with HOMA(IR). In conclusion, in ACS patients, obesity and obesity-related changes in plasma leptin and adiponectin are associated with and likely contribute to negatively modulate insulin resistance. ACS per se does not however enhance the negative impact of obesity on insulin sensitivity. High acylated and low desacylated ghrelin characterize ACS patients independently of obesity, but are not associated with insulin sensitivity.

The acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation Udine registry (Come-to-Udine): predictors of 3 years mortality.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is considered the best treatment for acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (STEMI), but it is difficult to deliver. OBJECTIVES: To report on long-term mortality predictors in a registry based on a 'hub and spoke' model, according to the initial strategy: thrombolysis followed or not by PCI, invasive strategy followed or not by primary PCI and no reperfusion. METHODS AND RESULTS: From May 2001 to June 2003, 514 patients (mean age 67 +/- 12) with STEMI onset less than 12 h (<24 h if pain ongoing) were enrolled, 34% transferred from spoke centers. Patients were stratified according to thrombolysis in myocardial infarction risk score (TRS) and to local high-risk criteria (LHRC, one of the following: contraindication to thrombolysis, cardiogenic shock, anterior or right ventricular location, ST segment elevation in > or =6 leads, Killip class >1 and previous STEMI). Mean TRS score was 4.0 and 53% of patients met LHRC. Thrombolysis was undertaken in 49% of patients, invasive strategy in 29% and no reperfusion in 22%. The latter had higher TRS (4.9) but only 40% met LHRC. Reperfusion time was significantly longer in patients who underwent PCI as compared with those who underwent thrombolysis (223 vs. 120 min, P < 0.0001). Patients in the thrombolysis group had better risk profiles and underwent emergency or elective revascularization within 30 days in 66% of cases. Overall, long-term mortality rate (36 months) was 23.3%. Both TRS and LHRC identified patients with higher mortality (43 and 32%, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed age, left ventricular ejection fraction and Killip class more than 1 to be significant predictors of mortality (P < 0.0001/P < 0.0001/P = 0.0103), whereas reperfusion strategy and time to treatment were not. CONCLUSION: An initial strategy of thrombolysis followed by emergency or elective PCI as appropriate is still an option in a setting in which limited resources are available. Decision-making based on risk scores and time from symptom onset lead to proper patient selection and even to foregoing reperfusion without affecting mortality.