Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Recipients of Solid Organ Transplants and Liver Cirrhosis: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of National Readmission Data.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) continues to grow in the United States. There are limited data on recipients of solid organ transplant (SOT) and patients with liver cirrhosis who undergo aortic valve replacement (AVR). Our study aims to evaluate outcomes in these populations. Using the national readmission database (2016 to 2020), we identified recipients of SOT and patients with liver cirrhosis without previous liver transplants who were admitted for severe aortic stenosis and underwent either TAVR or surgical AVR (SAVR). We used multivariable regression for adjusted analysis and the propensity score matching model, implementing complete Mahalanobis distance matching within the Propensity Score Caliper (0.2) to match TAVR and SAVR cohorts for outcomes. Of 3,394 hospitalizations for AVR in recipients of SOT, 2,181 underwent TAVR, and 1,213 underwent SAVR. On propensity-matched analysis, SAVR was associated with more adverse events than was TAVR, including in-hospital mortality (5.2% vs 1.1%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.49, p <0.001), acute kidney injury (43.7% vs 10.2%, p <0.001), cardiogenic shock (9.0% vs 1.6%, p <0.001), sudden cardiac arrest (15.9 vs 6.0%, p <0.001), major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (28% vs 10.4%, p <0.001), and net adverse events (72.8 vs 37.6%, p <0.001). A greater median length of stay (10 vs 2 days, p <0.001) and adjusted cost ($80,842 vs $57,014, p <0.001) were also observed. The readmission rates were the same for both cohorts after a 6-month follow-up. Similarly, in 14,763 hospitalizations for AVR in liver cirrhosis, 7,109 patients underwent TAVR, and 7,654 underwent SAVR. In propensity-matched cohorts (n = 2,341), SAVR was found to be associated with greater adverse events, including in-hospital mortality (19.8% vs 10%), stroke (6.7% vs 2%), acute kidney injury (67.7% vs 30.3%), cardiogenic shock (41.9% vs 19.9%), sudden cardiac arrest (31.8% vs 13.2%, aOR 2.89), major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (66.2% vs 35.7%), and net adverse events (86% vs 59.5%) (p <0.001). A greater median length of stay (16 vs 3 days) and cost ($500,218 vs $263,383) were also observed (p <0.001). However, the rate of readmissions at 30-day (9% vs 11.1%) and 180-day intervals (33.4% vs 39.8%) was lower for the SAVR cohort (p <0.05). In recipients of SOT and patients with liver cirrhosis, SAVR is associated with greater short-term mortality, adverse events, and healthcare burden than is TAVR. TAVR is a relatively safer alternative to SAVR in these patient populations, although further studies are warranted to compare the long-term outcomes.

ChatGPT for Patients: A Comprehensive Study on Atrial Fibrillation Awareness.

Due to the intricate nature of atrial fibrillation (AF), the diagnostic process often gives rise to a spectrum of concerns and inquiries. A 20-question survey on AF, covering general concerns, diagnosis, treatment, and post-diagnosis inquiries, was conducted via Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA). The questions were input into the Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) system (OpenAI LP, San Francisco, CA, USA) in November 2023, and the responses were meticulously collated within the same Google Forms. The survey, involving 30 experienced physicians, including 22 cardiologists and 8 hospitalists, practicing for an average of 18 years, assessed artificial intelligence (AI)-generated responses to 20 medical queries. Out of 600 evaluations, "excellent" responses were most common (29.50%), followed by "very good" (26%), "good" (19.50%), and "fair" (17.3%). The least common response was "poor" (7.67%). Questions were categorized into "general concerns," "diagnosis-related," "treatment-related," and "post-diagnosis general questions." Across all categories, >50% of experts rated responses as "excellent" or "very good," indicating the potential for improvement in the AI's clinical response methodology. This study highlights the efficacy of ChatGPT as an AF informational resource, with expert-rated responses comparable to those of clinicians. While proficient, concerns include infrequent updates and ethical considerations. Nevertheless, it underscores the growing role of AI in health care information access.

Impact of frailty in hospitalized patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Catheter Ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, frail elderly patients have been understudied due to their exclusion from landmark trials. OBJECTIVES: Our study aims to evaluate outcomes in this population. METHODS: The national readmission database (2016-2020) was queried, and frailty categories were defined based on hospital risk frailty scores ≦5 as low while >5 as intermediate/high frailty (IHF). We used multivariate regression and propensity-matched analysis to compare outcomes in patients undergoing CA for atrial fibrillation based on frailty index. RESULTS: Among 55 936 CAs for AF, 33,248 patients had low frailty, while 22 688 had intermediate/high frailty (IHF). After propensity matching (N 12 448), IHF patients were found to have higher adverse events, including mortality (3% vs. 0.3%, p < .001), stroke (1.9% vs. 0.2%, p < .001), acute heart failure (53.8% vs. 42.2%, p < .001), AKI (42.5% vs. 6.8%, p < .001), pericardial complications (2.8 vs. 1.6%, p < .001), respiratory complications (27.8 vs. 7.2%, p < .001), major adverse cardiovascular events (21.2 vs. 9.4%, p < .001) and net adverse events (76.7 vs. 55%, p < .001). IHF patients had higher readmissions at 30 (15.5 vs. 12.6%, p < .001), 90 (31.9 vs. 25.1%, p < .001), and 180-day (41 vs. 34.7%, p < .001) intervals. A higher median length of stay (LOS) (7 vs. 3 days, p < .001) and cost ($44 287 vs. $27 517, p < .001) at index admission and subsequent readmissions were also observed (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Intermediate/high frailty patients undergoing catheter ablation had worse clinical outcomes, higher healthcare burden, and readmission rates. LOS has decreased in both groups from 2016 to 2020; however, total cost has increased.

Risk of Stroke in Older Adults With Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) is a risk factor for incident stroke. However, less is known about the independent nature of this association and to what extent various baseline characteristics may mediate this risk. Of the 5,795 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years in the Cardiovascular Health Study, 5,448 were free of baseline stroke, of whom 229 had baseline HF. We used a multivariable-adjusted Cox regression model to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for centrally adjudicated incident stroke associated with HF. Participants had a mean age of 73 years, 58% were women, and 15% were African-American. During 23 years of follow-up, incident stroke occurred in 18.8% and 19.3% of those with and without HF, respectively, but the time to first stroke was shorter in those with HF (age-gender-race-adjusted HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.25). The association remained essentially unchanged after adjustments for tobacco, alcohol, and physical activity (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.24), attenuated after adjustment for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, and diabetes mellitus (HR 1.26, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.72), and further attenuated after additional adjustment for 10 baseline functional and subclinical variables (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.46). In conclusion, despite a similar 23-year stroke incidence, time to first stroke was shorter in older adults with HF than without. However, this extra risk appears to be mediated primarily by 4 cardiovascular diseases that are also risk factors for HF. These findings highlight the importance of the primary prevention of these HF risk factors to reduce the extra risk of stroke in HF.

Low left atrial appendage emptying velocity is a predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation (CA) remains common and studies have shown about 5%-9% annual recurrence rate after CA. We sought to assess the echocardiogram derived left atrial appendage (LAA) emptying velocity as a predictor of AF recurrence after CA. OBJECTIVE: To determine if LAA emptying is a marker of recurrence of AF post-CA METHODS: A total of 303 consecutive patients who underwent CA for AF between 2014 and 2020 were included. Baseline clinical characteristics and echocardiographic data of the patients were obtained by chart review. LAA emptying velocities were obtained from transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). LA voltage was obtained during the mapping for CA. Chi-square test and nominal logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. An receiver operator characteristic curve was used to determine LAA velocity cut-off. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 61.7 ± 10.5; 32% were female. Mean LAA emptying velocity was 47.5 ± 20.2. A total of 103 (40%) patients had recurrence after CA. In the multivariable model, after adjusting for potential confounders, LAA emptying velocity of ≥52.3 was associated with decreased AF recurrence postablation (odds ratio [OR]: 0.55; 95% confidence interval  [CI]: 0.31-0.97; p = .03*). There were 190 (73%) patients in normal sinus rhythm during TEE and CA, and sensitivity analysis of these patients showed that LAA velocity ≥52.3 remained associated with decreased AF recurrence (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15-0.82; p = .01*). CONCLUSION: LAA emptying velocity measured during preprocedural TEE can serve as a predictor of AF recurrence in patients undergoing CA.

Usefulness of Temporary Pacing in Patients With New Left Bundle Branch Block During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

New-onset left bundle branch block (NLBBB) is the most common complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Expert consensus recommends temporary transvenous pacemaker (TTVP) support for 24 hours in these patients. To date, no study has examined TTVP use during the index hospitalization in detail. Therefore, we aimed to assess TTVP use in patients with TAVI who developed NLBBB. In this prospective observational study, we performed a detailed analysis of 24-hour telemetry in patients who developed NLBBB during TAVI. Baseline characteristics and procedural and postprocedural data were recorded. The primary outcome was pacing by the TTVP. We evaluated inappropriate TTVP use, electrophysiology study findings, permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation, and NLBBB resolution. A total of 83 patients (74.4 ± 8.7 years, 41% female) developed NLBBB during TAVI. During index hospitalization, 1 patient (1%) required TTVP because of complete heart block and received a PPM. Five of the 83 (6%) patients were inappropriately paced, and 1 patient (1%) had ventricular fibrillation, likely secondary to TTVP. A total of 34 patients (41%) underwent electrophysiology study during hospitalization, with 4 of 83 (5%) subsequently receiving a PPM. One (1%) patient died during hospitalization, and 9 patients were lost to follow-up because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the remaining 73 patients with a 30-day follow-up, NLBBB had resolved in 36 (49%) at 30 days, and 2 (3%) were readmitted with complete heart block and received PPM. In conclusion, in patients with TAVI who develop NLBBB, temporary pacing is rarely necessary, may carry additional risks to the patient, and prolong hospitalization time.

In-Hospital Weight Loss and Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Acute decompensation of heart failure (HF) is often marked by fluid retention, and weight loss is a marker of successful diuresis. We examined the relationship between in-hospital weight loss and post-discharge outcomes in patients with HF. METHODS: We conducted a propensity score-matched study of 8830 patients hospitalized for decompensated HF in the Medicare-linked Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure (OPTIMIZE-HF) registry, in which 4415 patients in the weight-loss group and 4415 patients in the no-weight-loss group were balanced on 75 baseline characteristics. We defined weight loss as an admission-to-discharge weight loss of 1-30 kilograms, and we defined no weight loss as a weight gain or loss of < 1 kilogram. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for outcomes associated with weight loss were estimated. RESULTS: Patients had a mean age of 78 years, 57% were women, and 11% were African American. The median weight loss in the weight-loss group was 3.6 (interquartile range, 2.0-6.0) kilograms. HRs and 95% CIs for 30-day all-cause mortality, all-cause readmission and HF readmission associated with weight loss were 0.75 (0.63-0.90), 0.90 (0.83-0.99) and 0.83 (0.72-0.96), respectively. Respective 60-day HRs (95% CIs) were 0.80 (0.70-0.92), 0.91 (0.85-0.98) and 0.88 (0.79-0.98). These associations were attenuated and lost significance during 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Among older patients hospitalized for decompensated HF, in-hospital weight loss was associated with a lower risk of mortality and hospital readmission. These findings suggest that in-hospital weight loss, a marker of successful diuresis and decongestion, is also a marker of improved clinical outcomes.

Income disparity and incident cardiovascular disease in older Americans.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between income and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Of the 5795 Medicare-eligible community-dwelling older Americans aged 65-100 years in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), 4518 (78%) were free of baseline CVD, defined as heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease. Of them, 1846 (41%) had lower income, defined as a total annual household income <$16,000. Using propensity scores for lower income, estimated for each of the 4518 participants, we assembled a matched cohort of 1078 pairs balanced on 42 baseline characteristics. Outcomes included centrally adjudicated incident CVD and mortality. RESULTS: Matched participants (n = 2156) had a mean age of 73 years, 63% were women, and 13% African American. During an overall follow-up of 23 years, incident CVD, all-cause mortality and the combined endpoint of incident CVD or mortality occurred in 1094 (51%), 1726 (80%) and 1867 (87%) individuals, respectively. Compared with the higher income group, hazard ratio (HR) for time to the first occurrence of incident CVD in the lower income group was 1.16 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.03 to 1.31. A lower income was also associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.08-1.30), and consequently a higher risk of the combined endpoint of incident CVD or death (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.09-1.31). CONCLUSION: Among community-dwelling older Americans free of baseline CVD, an annual household income <$16,000 is independently associated with significantly higher risks of new-onset CVD and death.

Beta-Blocker Use and Outcomes in Nursing Home Residents with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Beta-blockers improve clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Less is known about their role in older nursing home residents with HFrEF. METHODS: From the combined OPTIMIZE-HF and Alabama Heart Failure Project data sets, we assembled a propensity score-matched balanced cohort of 6494 hospitalized patients ≥65 years with HFrEF (ejection fraction ≤40%). In our primary approach, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI)s for outcomes associated with discharge prescriptions for beta- blockers were estimated, examining for heterogeneity by admission from nursing homes. In our sensitivity approach, we examined these associations in a separately assembled propensity score-matched cohort of 122 patients admitted from nursing homes. RESULTS: In the matched primary cohort of 6494 patients, HRs (95% CIs) for 12-month all-cause mortality and heart failure readmission were 0.80 (0.74-0.87) and 0.94 (0.86-1.02), respectively. Respective HRs (95% CIs) in the nursing home and non-nursing home subgroups were 0.77 (0.51-1.16) and 0.81 (0.74-0.87) for all-cause mortality (interaction P: 0.653) and 1.06 (0.53-2.12) and 0.89 (0.82-0.96) for heart failure readmission (interaction P: 0.753). In the matched sensitivity cohort of 122 patients admitted from nursing homes, HRs (95% CIs) for 12-month all-cause mortality and heart failure readmission were 0.86 (0.55-1.35) and 1.07 (0.52-2.22), respectively. Similar associations were observed for 30-day outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Beta-blocker use was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality but not of heart failure readmission in older patients with HFrEF, which were similar for patients admitted and not admitted from nursing homes.

Ventricular Fibrillation Cardiopulmonary Arrest Following Micra™ Leadless Pacemaker Implantation.

Leadless cardiac pacemakers such as the Micra™ transcatheter leadless pacing system (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) are an alternative to traditional transvenous pacemakers. Implantation of leadless pacemakers, albeit safe, may be associated with complications, including cardiac tamponade; high capture thresholds; and, rarely, ventricular arrhythmias. We report a case of ventricular fibrillation arrest following the implantation of a Micra™ leadless pacemaker.

Body Piercing with a Metallic Tongue Stud Resulting in Ineffective Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator Shocks: "Heart to Mouth".

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) provide circulatory support to patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Many such patients have a pre-existing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) at the time of their LVAD surgery. LVAD implantation can alter the ICD lead parameters, including R-wave sensing, right ventricular capture threshold, and impedance. These changes can in turn affect the ability of the ICD to successfully treat malignant ventricular arrhythmias. In most patients who present with ineffective ICD shocks, the failed shock is assumed to be secondary to the patient's severe cardiomyopathy. Especially, the role of physical examination in such patients is often minimized. In our patient, a thorough history-taking and history-guided physical examination led us to the root cause of the failed ICD shocks. Our patient was noted to have a metal tongue piercing, which was the likely cause of his ineffective ICD shocks. Our case highlights the importance of a comprehensive history-taking and physical examination.

Cryoballoon Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in a Patient with a Left Pneumonectomy.

Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) is the most important component of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and can be achieved by radiofrequency or cryoballoon ablation (CBA). The CBA system has shown excellent efficacy and safety in a number of clinical trials and is independent of the PV anatomy. However, pneumonectomy can significantly alter the anatomy posing a challenge to CBA. Few cases of PVI accomplished by CBA have been described in patients with lobectomy, but none in the pneumonectomy population. We describe a case of successful CBA for paroxysmal AF in a patient with a left total pneumonectomy.

Azygous Vein Coil Implantation in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients: A Hands-on Approach.

Recently, there have been reports of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients presenting with multiple ineffective implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks. In such patients, the placement of an azygous vein coil by providing an alternative anteroposterior trajectory of the electrical shock vector can enable successful defibrillation. This review discusses a hands-on approach to azygous vein coil implantation. Additionally, we compare our tools and technique to those that have been previously described by other operators. From 2018 to 2021, eight patients were identified who underwent azygous vein coil implantation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center using a specific technique and tools. Demographic and procedural data were obtained by a retrospective review of patient charts, procedure logs, fluoroscopy, and venography performed during coil implantation. The indication for azygous vein coil implantation was ineffective ICD shocks in seven patients. The presenting rhythm was ventricular fibrillation in six (75%) cases and sustained ventricular tachycardia in two (25%) cases. Using the approach described, we were able to successfully implant an azygous vein coil in all eight (100%) patients. There were no procedure-related complications. Postimplantation, defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing was successfully performed in six of eight (75%) patients. One patient failed DFT testing despite placement of an azygous vein coil. In another patient, DFT testing was not performed because the patient was in atrial fibrillation and was not systemically anticoagulated. In conclusion, the placement of an azygous vein coil in LVAD patients with failed ICD shocks using the tools and technique described in this report is safe and highly efficacious (successful in 100% of cases).

"Retained wire femoral lead removal and fibroplasty" for obtaining venous access in patients with refractory venous obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with wire and catheter refractory venous occlusion are traditionally referred for pectoral transvenous lead extraction (TLE) to obtain venous access. TLE causes 1-2 mm circumferential mechanical or laser destruction of tissue surrounding the lead(s). This not only exposes the patient to the risk of major complications but also can damage nontargeted leads. We present a series of patients where retained wire femoral lead removal and fibroplasty was used to obtain venous access in patients with refractory obstruction. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2021, we identified 17 patients where retained wire lead removal followed by fibroplasty was used to retain venous access. Demographic and procedural data were obtained by retrospective review of patient charts. RESULTS: We were able to successfully obtain venous access in all 17 patients in whom this technique was attempted. In two patients the target lead was less than or equal to 1 year old. In the remaining 15 patients, the average dwell time of the target lead(s) was 6 years. There were no procedure-related complications, and no changes in the parameters of other leads were noted. CONCLUSION: Retained wire femoral lead removal and fibroplasty is safe and highly efficacious at obtaining venous access in patients with refractory venous occlusion. If the target lead(s) is less than or equal to 1 year old, this technique can help obtain venous access at the time of the initial surgery, hence avoiding the need for TLE. Furthermore, in patients referred for TLE to obtain venous access, this technique by avoiding the use of TLE tools spares the patient of the associated risks.

Paclitaxel coated balloon fibroplasty: A more effective treatment for chronic symptomatic lead/catheter related central venous obstruction?

Central venous occlusion is a common complication following transvenous lead or therapeutic catheter placement that can present either acutely or chronically.

Ventricular fibrillation in a left ventricular assist device patient: Can the echocardiogram be misleading?

Sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are life-threatening arrhythmias which remain highly prevalent in patients with advanced heart failure. These ventricular arrhythmias may impair the support provided by continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) and lead to frequent hospitalizations, antiarrhythmic medication use, external defibrillations, and need for heart transplantation. We report a case in which a patient with a CF-LVAD and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator at end of life presented with asymptomatic low-flow alarms and was found to have VF of unknown duration. Unique in our case was the presence of apparent organized contractility and rhythmic opening of the mitral valve on echocardiogram despite VF on electrocardiogram.

Interventional device implantation, Part I: Basic techniques to avoid complications: A hands-on approach.

INTRODUCTION: The essence of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is biventricular (BiV) pacing, which involves implanting pacing leads in both the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV). Unlike traditional RV pacing, many hurdles lie ahead of successful LV lead implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this review, we first highlight the importance of optimizing the patient and the tools. Next, we describe the CRT tools developed over several decades, to facilitate successful implantation. Thereafter, we provide a streamlined step-by-step summary of the basic BiV implantation procedure. Lastly, we discuss some commonly encountered challenges during implantation and the techniques to tackle them. CONCLUSION: A systematic approach to every step of the implantation process can reduce procedure time, decrease patient exposure to radiation and contrast, and minimize complications. The use of right tools and techniques can enable all implanters to become more successful with BiV implantation.

Digoxin Initiation and Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Digoxin reduces the risk of heart failure hospitalization in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Less is known about this association in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the examination of which was the objective of the current study. METHODS: In the Medicare-linked OPTIMIZE-HF registry, 7374 patients hospitalized for HF had ejection fraction ≥50% and were not receiving digoxin prior to admission. Of these, 5675 had a heart rate ≥50 beats per minute, an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2 or did not receive inpatient dialysis, and digoxin was initiated in 524 of these patients. Using propensity scores for digoxin initiation, calculated for each of the 5675 patients, we assembled a matched cohort of 513 pairs of patients initiated and not initiated on digoxin, balanced on 58 baseline characteristics (mean age, 80 years; 66% women; 8% African American). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for outcomes associated with digoxin initiation were estimated in the matched cohort. RESULTS: Among the 1026 matched patients with HFpEF, 30-day heart failure readmission occurred in 6% and 9% of patients initiated and not initiated on digoxin, respectively (HR 0.70; 95% CI, 0.45-1.10; P = .124). HRs (95% CIs) for 30-day all-cause readmission and all-cause mortality associated with digoxin initiation were 0.95 (0.73-1.23; P = .689) and 0.93 (0.55-1.56; P = .773), respectively. Digoxin initiation had no association with 6-year outcomes. CONCLUSION: Digoxin initiation prior to hospital discharge was not associated with 30-day or 6-year outcomes in older hospitalized patients with HFpEF.