The diagnosis of left ventricular assist device thrombosis.

The clinical course of a patient with a left ventricular assist device is described. A total of 6 weeks after device insertion, the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level increased to 2801 U/l despite adding low-molecular-weight heparin to acenocoumarol and aspirin. Pump thrombosis was suspected but unconfirmed by computed tomography. Increased pump power requirement did not occur. Instituting unfractionated heparin caused a drop in the LDH level. After discontinuing heparin, the LDH levels rose to 5529 U/l whereupon pump replacement was performed. LDH levels, combined with clinical deterioration and right heart catheterisation, led to the diagnosis of pump thrombosis.

Routine versus aggressive upstream rhythm control for prevention of early atrial fibrillation in heart failure: background, aims and design of the RACE 3 study.

BACKGROUND: Rhythm control for atrial fibrillation (AF) is cumbersome because of its progressive nature caused by structural remodelling. Upstream therapy refers to therapeutic interventions aiming to modify the atrial substrate, leading to prevention of AF. OBJECTIVE: The Routine versus Aggressive upstream rhythm Control for prevention of Early AF in heart failure (RACE 3) study hypothesises that aggressive upstream rhythm control increases persistence of sinus rhythm compared with conventional rhythm control in patients with early AF and mild-to-moderate early systolic or diastolic heart failure undergoing electrical cardioversion. DESIGN: RACE 3 is a prospective, randomised, open, multinational, multicenter trial. Upstream rhythm control consists of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, statins, cardiac rehabilitation therapy, and intensive counselling on dietary restrictions, exercise maintenance, and drug adherence. Conventional rhythm control consists of routine rhythm control therapy without cardiac rehabilitation therapy and intensive counselling. In both arms, every effort is made to keep patients in the rhythm control strategy, and ion channel antiarrhythmic drugs or pulmonary vein ablation may be instituted if AF relapses. Total inclusion will be 250 patients. If upstream therapy proves to be effective in improving maintenance of sinus rhythm, it could become a new approach to rhythm control supporting conventional pharmacological and non-pharmacological rhythm control.

Guidelines for heart transplantation.

Based on the changes in the field of heart transplantation and the treatment and prognosis of patients with heart failure, these updated guidelines were composed by a committee under the supervision of both the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Association for Cardiothoracic surgery (NVVC and NVT).THE INDICATION FOR HEART TRANSPLANTATION IS DEFINED AS: 'End-stage heart disease not remediable by more conservative measures'.CONTRAINDICATIONS ARE: irreversible pulmonary hypertension/elevated pulmonary vascular resistance; active systemic infection; active malignancy or history of malignancy with probability of recurrence; inability to comply with complex medical regimen; severe peripheral or cerebrovascular disease and irreversible dysfunction of another organ, including diseases that may limit prognosis after heart transplantation.Considering the difficulties in defining end-stage heart failure, estimating prognosis in the individual patient and the continuing evolution of available therapies, the present criteria are broadly defined. The final acceptance is done by the transplant team which has extensive knowledge of the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure on the one hand and thorough experience with heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support on the other hand. (Neth Heart J 2008;16:79-87.).

[Dobutamine therapy at home under the guidance of a nurse practitioner, either as a bridge to cardiac transplantation or as destination therapy in severe heart failure]. / Dobutaminetherapie thuis als brug naar harttransplantatie of als einddoeltherapie bij ernstig hartfalen begeleid door de 'nurse practitioner'.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of intravenous dobutamine therapy at home for ambulatory patients with severe heart failure. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHOD: Data were retrieved for the 40 patients that had been treated with intravenous dobutamine at home during the period from 1 January 1994 until mid-November 2006 at the Thorax Centre of Groningen University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. The patients were guided by a nurse practitioner. RESULTS: The study group comprised 31 men and 9 women. The 22 patients on the waiting list for a heart transplant had an average age of 49 years. For the other 18 patients, on average 63 years old, it was destination therapy. The mean administered dosage ofdobutamine was 4 microg/kg/ min (range: 2-10). Pre-transplantation and destination therapy were given for an average of 3.5 and 1.5 months, respectively. A successful transplantation was performed in 14 (64%) of the 22 waiting-list candidates; 2 patients were still on the waiting list and 6 died while on the waiting list. Intravenous access complications and ICD shocks each occurred in 6 (15%) patients. The quality of life was reasonable to fair in the waiting-list patients and moderate to reasonable in those given destination therapy. The costs for medication and hire of the infusion pump were Euro 450 per month. CONCLUSION: Dobutamine infusion therapy at home under the guidance of a nurse practitioner, either as a bridge to cardiac transplantation or as destination therapy in patients with severe heart failure, appeared safe, feasible and not expensive.

[Cardiological (pharmaco)therapy and dental practice]. / Cardiologie en tandheelkunde.

In recent years much progress has been made in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and cardiac rhythm disturbances. Polypharmacy including two antiplatelet drugs (aspirin and clopidogrel) is common in many patients after a percutaneous coronary intervention using a 'stent'. Discontinuation of these drugs for invasive dental treatment may result in coronary rethrombosis. However, in many patients with coronary artery disease, a temporal pause in the use of aspirin appears safe and may decrease the risk of bleeding after a dental procedure. An increasing number of patients with heart failure and/or life threatening rhythm disturbances receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Such a device, equipped with a left ventricular lead, also stimulates the left ventricle in case of delayed electrical conduction (e.g. a left bundle branch block). This so called cardiac resynchronization therapy decreases morbidity and mortality in selected patients. ICDs are safe in the dental office even in case of discharge. In patients with prosthetic heart valves, endocarditis prophylaxis according to the current guidelines is recommended before invasive dental treatment. Dentists are advised to contact the Dutch Thrombosis Service to discuss the dose of oral ancicoagulants and the required INR value. In case of urgent and/or extended dental procedures, admittence to a hospital must be considered to secure optimal therapy.

Long-term outcome after heart transplantation performed in the University Medical Centre Groningen.

BACKGROUND: Ten years ago, there was a difference of opinion about the suitability of ventilated patients with end-stage cardiac failure for heart transplantation (HTX). Although guidelines at that time qualified mechanical ventilation as a contraindication, we thought those patients could be candidates for HTX. In the same period a number of other patients received a donor heart in our centre. In this article we describe the clinical course and survival after these procedures. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study using our post HTX database. All patients undergoing transplants in our hospital were selected. Patients underwent echocardiography, scintigraphy (MUGA), ergo-spirometry (VO2 peak), blood tests and completed a quality of life questionnaire (SF-36). All tests were completed in the 1st quarter of 2006. RESULTS: Eight patients were identified; three were mechanically ventilated at the time of HTX. All eight patients were treated according to the standard protocol. Repeated surveillance cardiac biopsies were taken. One patient died 3.5 years after HTX due to an acute myocardial infarction. Seven patients, including the three patients on a ventilator at the time of the HTX, are alive, resulting in a survival rate of 88%. The current median survival time is 126 months (range 55 to 184 months). All patients are in good cardiac condition. The SF-36 domains of social functioning and mental health show high scores, the average score of general health and vitality is moderate. CONCLUSION: Survival of our eight transplanted patients after a median period of ten years was 88%, which is at least comparable with data from larger series. This finding suggests that HTX can be performed effectively and safely in a low volume centre. The finding that all three patients on a ventilator prior to HTX are alive is remarkable. It appears that mechanical ventilation is not always an absolute contraindication for HTX.

[Cardiac rehabilitation in patients with a congenital heart disease, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or chronic heart failure]. / Hartrevalidatie bijpatiënten met een aangeboren hartafwijking, een implanteerbare defibrillator of chronisch hartfalen.

Cardiac rehabilitation is no longer just used to treat patients after the manifestation of a coronary artery disease such as a myocardial infarct, after a PTCA or after a coronary bypass operation. Patients with a congenital heart disease, patients who have received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and patients with stable chronic heart failure are also suitable candidates for a multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation programme. The new Dutch guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation, published in 2004, can be helpful in identifying potential candidates for a programme. Physical training is often a component of the treatment, but psycho-social counselling and education targeted at reducing anxiety and uncertainty, accepting the heart disease and learning to cope with it, can be just as important as those aspects targeted at improving the physical condition. Cardiac rehabilitation that includes physical training is safe for patients with congenital heart disease, for patients who have undergone an ICD implantation and for patients with stable chronic heart failure, as long as the pretraining exercise test is given a guiding role in selecting the appropriate physical work load. Patients with stable chronic heart failure should continue their physical training in order to maintain its beneficial physical and psychological effects.

Physical training in patients with chronic heart failure: An elaboration of the statements from the Committee on Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Heart Foundation and review of studies on physical training in chronic heart failure.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) can be defined as a complex of symptoms and signs caused by cardiac dysfunction. Dyspnoea on exertion, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance and fluid retention are hallmarks of the syndrome. Reduced peripheral blood flow, endothelial dysfunction, alterations in skeletal muscle structure and function, an increased activity of the muscle ergoreflex, as well as autonomic and neurohormonal activation reduce exercise performance, ultimately leading to physical deconditioning in CHF patients. The beneficial effects of physical training for CHF patients are increasingly acknowledged. Based on European and American guidelines on physical training in CHF, results from controlled randomised trials (summarised in this paper) and expert opinions, the Dutch Committee on Cardiac Rehabilitation has formulated statements on physical training in CHF. In addition, recommendations implementing physical training programmes in CHF patients are given. The selection criteria, contraindications and methods, and duration of a physical training programme in heart failure are discussed. Concomitant with the training programme, a multidisciplinary intervention programme is needed to stimulate patients to adopt and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation before induction of anesthesia in critically ill thoracic transplant patients.

Cardiorespiratory failure just before surgery in critically ill thoracic transplant patients can have catastrophic consequences. We judged the cardiorespiratory condition in three of 160 thoracic transplant procedures performed in our center too unstable for a safe induction of anesthesia. In these 3 patients, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was installed before induction of anesthesia to maintain an adequate cardiorespiratory state. This strategy was successful for all 3 patients, and long-term survival was achieved with a good quality of life. Guidelines for indications to follow this strategy are discussed.

Differential effects of high-frequency versus low-frequency exercise training in rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to study the influence of frequency of exercise training during cardiac rehabilitation on functional capacity (i.e., peak oxygen consumption [VO2] and ventilatory anaerobic threshold [VAT]) and quality of life (QoL). BACKGROUND: Although the value of cardiac rehabilitation is now well established, the influence of the different program characteristics on outcome has received little attention, and the effect of frequency of exercise training is unclear. Functional capacity is regularly evaluated by peak VO2 but parameters of submaximal exercise capacity such as VAT should also be considered because submaximal exercise capacity is especially important in daily living. METHODS: Patients with coronary artery disease (n = 130, 114 men; mean age 52 +/- 9 years) were randomized to either a high- or low-frequency program of six weeks (10 or 2 exercise sessions per week of 2 h, respectively). Functional capacity and QoL were assessed before and after cardiac rehabilitation. Global costs were also compared. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, mean exercise capacity increased in both programs: for high- and low-frequency, respectively: peak VO2 = 15% and 12%, Wmax = 18% and 12%, VAT = 35% and 12% (all p < 0.001). However, when the programs were compared, only VAT increased significantly more during the high-frequency program (p = 0.002). During the high-frequency program, QoL increased slightly more, and more individuals improved in subjective physical functioning (p = 0.014). We observed superiority of the high-frequency program, especially in younger patients. Mean costs were estimated at 4,455 and 2,273 Euro, respectively, for the high- and low-frequency programs. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency exercise training is more effective in terms of VAT and QoL, but peak VO2 improves equally in both programs. Younger patients seem to benefit more from the high-frequency training.

[Partial left ventriculectomy (Batista procedure) for the treatment of terminal heart failure after rejection for heart transplantation]. / Partiële linker ventriculectomie (Batista-operatie) ter behandeling van eindstadium hartfalen na afwijzing voor harttransplantatie.

A woman aged 64 was severely handicapped by dyspnoea due to 'terminal heart failure' resulting from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. The mitral valve was seriously insufficient; the coronary vessels were normal. The patient was not eligible for heart transplantation. Partial left ventriculectomy by Batista's method was performed and the mitral valve replaced by an artificial one. The left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 0.12 before the operation to 0.35 postoperatively and to 0.43 two years later. Patient was then capable of normal exercise (New York Heart Association (NYHA): class I-II). In the Netherlands partial left ventriculectomy is the last surgical option for patients rejected for heart transplantation.

Lack of prevention of heart failure by serial electrical cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of heart failure complications, and to identify variables that predict heart failure in patients with (recurrent) persistent atrial fibrillation, treated aggressively with serial electrical cardioversion and antiarrhythmic drugs to maintain sinus rhythm. DESIGN: Non-randomised controlled trial; cohort; case series; mean (SD) follow up duration 3.4 (1.6) years. SETTING: Tertiary care centre. SUBJECTS: Consecutive sampling of 342 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (defined as > 24 hours duration) considered eligible for electrical cardioversion. INTERVENTIONS: Serial electrical cardioversions and serial antiarrhythmic drug treatment, after identification and treatment of underlying cardiovascular disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: heart failure complications: development or progression of heart failure requiring the institution or addition of drug treatment, hospital admission, or death from heart failure. RESULTS: Development or progression of heart failure occurred in 38 patients (11%), and 22 patients (6%) died from heart failure. These complications were related to the presence of coronary artery disease (p < 0.001, risk ratio 3.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6 to 6.5), rheumatic heart disease (p < 0.001, risk ratio 5.0, 95% CI 2.4 to 10.2), cardiomyopathy (p < 0.001, risk ratio 5.0, 95% CI 2.0 to 12.4), atrial fibrillation for < 3 months (p = 0.04, risk ratio 2.0, 95% CI 1.0 to 3.7), and poor exercise tolerance (New York Heart Association class III at inclusion, p < 0.001, risk ratio 3.5, 95% CI 1.9 to 6. 7). No heart failure complications were observed in patients with lone atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive serial electrical cardioversion does not prevent heart failure complications in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. These complications are predominantly observed in patients with more severe underlying cardiovascular disease. Randomised comparison with rate control treatment is needed to define the optimal treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation in relation to heart failure.

Current treatment recommendations in antiarrhythmic therapy.

Over the past decade, various studies have demonstrated that class I antiarrhythmic drugs should be avoided in patients with heart failure, cardiac ischaemia or a previous myocardial infarction. In contrast, class II drugs (beta-blockers) reduce morbidity and may even lower mortality in patients suffering from moderate to severe heart failure. In these patients, careful titration of the drug dosage, frequently during hospital admission, may be necessary. If in the setting of heart failure ventricular arrhythmias are symptomatic and/or sustained, patients can be treated effectively, after appropriate treatment of the underlying disease, with the class III drug amiodarone. Unfortunately, this drug does not lower overall mortality, implying that prophylactic institution of amiodarone is not indicated. Pure class III antiarrhythmic drugs like d-sotalol, ibutilide and dofetilide show a high rate of torsade de pointes. Currently, only ibutilide has been approved for clinically monitored intravenous administration. Class IV drugs, the calcium channel blockers, are still very useful for rate control of atrial fibrillation and conversion or prevention of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardias and circus movement tachycardias using a (concealed) bypass tract. Finally, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator seems to improve overall survival in patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. This may imply that an increasing number of patients will be candidates for such a device. However, it will be necessary to await publication of data involving these devices from current ongoing studies.

Pharmacological management of arrhythmias in the elderly.

The incidence of cardiac arrhythmia increases with advancing age, as does the prevalence of structural heart disease. Serious arrhythmias, such as sustained ventricular tachycardias, are uncommon in elderly patients, but nonsustained ventricular tachycardias and atrial fibrillation are relatively frequent. The first step in the treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias is the identification of an underlying (cardiac) disease, which should be treated appropriately. Patients with supraventricular arrhythmias who do not have a severe underlying cardiac disease may be treated with antiarrhythmic drugs to prevent recurrences of the arrhythmia. In selected patients, radiofrequency catheter ablation may nowadays be the first-line therapeutic strategy. In elderly patients with underlying cardiac disease who are experiencing non-life-threatening arrhythmias, antiarrhythmic drugs are generally discouraged because of the risk of proarrhythmic effects or other adverse events. In patients experiencing life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, beta-blockers may be the first-line therapy. If these drugs are not effective, or cause adverse effects, class III or class IC antiarrhythmic drugs may be used as alternatives. Radiofrequency ablation is only moderately effective for haemodynamically stable ventricular tachycardias occurring post-myocardial infarction, but may be an option in drug-refractory patients.

[Initial Groningen experiences with dynamic cardiomyoplasty]. / De eerste Groningse ervaringen met dynamische cardiomyoplastiek.

Four patients, one woman and three men aged 48, 62, 49, en 54 years respectively, were subjected to cardiomyoplasty because of medically refractory heart failure secondary to ischaemic or idiopathic dilating cardiomyopathy. The operation and the training period were uncomplicated. In one patient symptoms of heart failure did not improve; the other patients experienced substantial relief of symptoms. However, all three died suddenly within one year after the operation, probably due to ventricular arrhythmias. Cardiomyoplasty may deserve a place in the treatment of heart failure, provided sudden death can be better prevented. Possibly, treatment with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator might be useful.

Long-term outcome of electrical cardioversion in patients with chronic atrial flutter.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the long-term outcome of serial electrical cardioversion therapy in patients with chronic atrial flutter. DESIGN: Prospective study, case series. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: 50 consecutive patients with chronic (> 24 hours) atrial flutter without a previous relapse on antiarrhythmic drugs. INTERVENTIONS: Elective electrical cardioversion therapy, if necessary repeated, to obtain and keep patients in sinus rhythm. If the first cardioversion resulted in sinus rhythm, patients were not given antiarrhythmic drugs. Relapses were managed by repeated cardioversions then anti-arrhythmic drugs were used serially in a set sequence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Maintenance of sinus rhythm. RESULTS: Mean (SD) follow up was 3.5 (1.7) years. The first cardioversion was successful in 48 patients (96%). After a single shock and without antiarrhythmic drugs being used, 42% of the patients maintained sinus rhythm in the long-term. Only left atrial size was inversely related to the efficacy of one shock (P = 0.025). With serial cardioversion 90% of the patients were kept in sinus rhythm for 5 years. Univariate analysis showed that a long duration of arrhythmia and impaired cardiac function were both related to poor outcome. During follow up 3 patients died of progression of heart failure and another 5 died suddenly. None of these 5 patients was on antiarrhythmic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Electrical cardioversion was an effective and safe method of converting chronic atrial flutter to sinus rhythm. To maintain sinus rhythm, more than half of the patients required multiple shocks and prophylactic antiarrhythmic drugs. Sudden death was relatively frequent in the study population; the limited data available from this study suggest that such deaths were caused by the underlying disease and not drug related proarrhythmia.

Chronic atrial fibrillation. Success of serial cardioversion therapy and safety of oral anticoagulation.

BACKGROUND: Serial electrical cardioversion is often used for treatment of atrial fibrillation, but its long-term efficacy has not been determined prospectively. OBJECTIVES: To determine the long-term success rate of the serial electrical cardioversion approach in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, to identify factors that predict its success, and to assess the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulation in these patients. METHODS: Patients with chronic (> 24 hours) atrial fibrillation received anticoagulant therapy for at least 4 weeks prior to electrical cardioversion. No prophylactic antiarrhythmic agent was given after the first shock. Relapses were managed by using repeated cardioversions, after which serial antiarrhythmic drug therapy was started. Treatment with anticoagulants was withdrawn after 4 weeks of sinus rhythm. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-six patients were followed up for a mean +/- SD of 3.7 +/- 1.6 years. The actuarial cumulative percentages of patients who maintained sinus rhythm after serial cardioversion treatment was 42% and 27% after 1 and 4 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that factors that were associated with failure of this approach included duration of atrial fibrillation that exceeded 36 months (risk ratio, 5.0; P < .001), poor exercise tolerance (functional class III; risk ratio, 1.8; P = .001), and age older than 56 years (risk ratio, 1.5; P = .04). The anticoagulation level (international normalized ratio, 2.4-4.8) was associated with an incidence of thromboembolic events and bleeding complications of 0.2% and 1.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with chronic atrial fibrillation failed to respond to the serial electrical cardioversion strategy. However, in younger patients with a fair exercise tolerance and a duration of atrial fibrillation shorter than 36 months, this approach may be worthwhile. In addition, thromboembolic events were infrequent in the patients who were subjected to this regimen.