Fighting the pandemic with collaboration at heart: Report from cardiologists in a COVID-19-dedicated Portuguese intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread quickly around the world. Although mainly a respiratory illness, there is growing interest in non-respiratory manifestations, particularly cardiovascular ones. At our center, mobilization of cardiologists with intensive care training was needed. Our aim is to describe patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to a Portuguese intensive care unit (ICU), the cardiovascular impact of the disease and the experience of cardiologists working in a COVID-19 ICU. METHODS: Data from adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU of Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho between 16 March 2020 and 21 April 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were admitted. Mean age was 62.6±6.0 years and 23 (65.7%) were male. Dyslipidemia was the most common cardiovascular risk factor (65.7%, n=23), followed by hypertension (57.1%, n=20). Mean ICU stay time was 15.9±10.0 days. Patients had high rates of mechanical ventilation (88.6%, n=31) and vasopressor support (88.6%, n=31). Low rates of new onset left systolic dysfunction were detected (8.5%, n=2). One patient required venoarterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. Mortality was 25% (n=9). Acute myocardial injury and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) elevation was detected in 62.9% (n=22). Patients that died had higher NT-proBNP compared to those discharged alive (p<0.05). Care by cardiologists frequently changed decision making. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiovascular impact of COVID-19 seems relevant but is still widely unknown. Studies are needed to clarify the role of cardiac markers in COVID-19 prognosis. Multidisciplinary care most likely results in improved patient care.

Fighting the pandemic with collaboration at heart: Report from cardiologists in a COVID-19-dedicated Portuguese intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread quickly around the world. Although mainly a respiratory illness, there is growing interest in non-respiratory manifestations, particularly cardiovascular ones. At our center, mobilization of cardiologists with intensive care training was needed. Our aim is to describe patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to a Portuguese intensive care unit (ICU), the cardiovascular impact of the disease and the experience of cardiologists working in a COVID-19 ICU. METHODS: Data from adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU of Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho between 16 March 2020 and 21 April 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were admitted. Mean age was 62.6±6.0 years and 23 (65.7%) were male. Dyslipidemia was the most common cardiovascular risk factor (65.7%, n=23), followed by hypertension (57.1%, n=20). Mean ICU stay time was 15.9±10.0 days. Patients had high rates of mechanical ventilation (88.6%, n=31) and vasopressor support (88.6%, n=31). Low rates of new onset left systolic dysfunction were detected (8.5%, n=2). One patient required venoarterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. Mortality was 25% (n=9). Acute myocardial injury and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) elevation was detected in 62.9% (n=22). Patients that died had higher NT-proBNP compared to those discharged alive (p<0.05). Care by cardiologists frequently changed decision making. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiovascular impact of COVID-19 seems relevant but is still widely unknown. Studies are needed to clarify the role of cardiac markers in COVID-19 prognosis. Multidisciplinary care most likely results in improved patient care.

INTRODUÇÃO E OBJETIVOS: A doença pelo novo coronavirus (COVID-19) espalhou-se rapidamente pelo globo. Embora tenha atingimento essencialmente respiratório, existe interesse nas manifestações extrarrespiratórias, nomeadamente nas cardiovasculares. No nosso centro, foi necessária a mobilização de cardiologistas com experiência em cuidados intensivos para enfrentar este desafio. O objetivo desta investigação é descrever a população internada com COVID-19 grave numa UCI portuguesa, o impacto cardiovascular desta doença e a nossa experiência enquanto cardiologistas numa UCI COVID-19. MÉTODOS: Dados de adultos com COVID-19 internados na UCI do Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho entre 16/03/2020 e 21/04/2020 foram analisados retrospetivamente. RESULTADOS: Foram internados 35 doentes. A média de idade foi 62,6±6,0 anos e 23 (65,7%) doentes eram homens. A dislipidemia foi o fator de risco cardiovascular mais prevalente (65,7%, n=23), seguida pela hipertensão (57,1%, n=20). O tempo médio de internamento em UCI foi 15,9±10,0 dias. A necessidade de ventilação mecânica (88,6%, n=31) e suporte vasopressor (88,6%, n=31) foi alta, mas poucos doentes desenvolveram disfunção sistólica de novo (n=2,85%). A mortalidade foi de 25% (n=9). Foi detetada lesão miocárdica aguda e elevação do NT-proBNP em 62,9% (n=22) dos doentes, sendo os níveis de NT-proBNP mais elevados nos doentes que faleceram (p<0,05). A participação de cardiologistas na UCI alterou frequentemente a decisão clínica. CONCLUSÃO: O impacto cardiovascular da COVID-19 parece relevante mas é parcamente conhecido, sendo necessários mais estudos para clarificar o papel dos marcadores cardíacos no prognóstico da COVID-19. As equipas multidisciplinares provavelmente melhoram os cuidados de saúde prestados a estes doentes.

Late-Gadolinium Enhancement Interface Area and Electrophysiological Simulations Predict Arrhythmic Events in Patients With Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate whether shape-based late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) metrics and simulations of re-entrant electrical activity are associated with arrhythmic events in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM). BACKGROUND: The presence of LGE predicts life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in NIDCM; however, risk stratification remains imprecise. LGE shape and simulations of electrical activity may be able to provide additional prognostic information. METHODS: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-LGE shape metrics were computed for a cohort of 156 patients with NIDCM and visible LGE and tested retrospectively for an association with an arrhythmic composite endpoint of sudden cardiac death and ventricular tachycardia. Computational models were created from images and used in conjunction with simulated stimulation protocols to assess the potential for re-entry induction in each patient's scar morphology. A mechanistic analysis of the simulations was carried out to explain the associations. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 1,611 (interquartile range: 881 to 2,341) days, 16 patients (10.3%) met the primary endpoint. In an inverse probability weighted Cox regression, the LGE-myocardial interface area (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 to 2.47; p = 0.001), number of simulated re-entries (HR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.59; p < 0.01) and LGE volume (HR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.94; p = 0.02) were associated with arrhythmic events. Computational modeling revealed repolarization heterogeneity and rate-dependent block of electrical wavefronts at the LGE-myocardial interface as putative arrhythmogenic mechanisms directly related to the LGE interface area. CONCLUSIONS: The area of interface between scar and surviving myocardium, as well as simulated re-entrant activity, are associated with an elevated risk of major arrhythmic events in patients with NIDCM and LGE and represent novel risk predictors.

Prevalence, multimodality imaging characterization, and mid-term prognosis of quadricuspid aortic valves: an analysis of eight cases, based on 160 004 exams performed during 12 years in a tertiary care hospital.

AIMS: Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a rare abnormality, which may cause aortic regurgitation (AR) requiring surgical intervention in some patients. The characteristics associated with aortic valve functional degeneration in patients with QAV are still unknown. The aim of this study is to describe QAV prevalence, characterize the disease by multimodality imaging, evaluate predictors of severe AR, and assess mid-term prognosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective search in imaging exams database of one tertiary centre, for patients diagnosed with QAV between January 2007 and September 2019. QAV was characterized by cardiac computed tomography, transthoracic/transoesophageal echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance. A total of 160 004 exams were reviewed and eight patients with QAV were identified (50% men, mean age 53.5 ± 10.7 years). The prevalence of QAV was 0.005%. During a median follow-up of 52 months (interquartile range 16-88), there were no deaths. Seven patients (88%) had pure AR (three severe, one moderate, and three mild) and one patient (12%) had moderate AR and moderate aortic stenosis. Three patients (38%) with severe AR underwent valve surgery (two replacements and one repair). Analysis of predictors of severe AR was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: QAV is a rare congenital cardiac defect, with a prevalence of 0.005% in our study. Its predominant functional abnormality was regurgitation and about one-third of the patients required aortic valve surgery. Multimodality imaging may play a pivotal role in assessing patients with QAV with significant valve dysfunction or associated congenital heart disease and improve their treatment strategy.

Consensus document on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cardiac implanted electronic devices. / Documento de Consenso sobre a realização de ressonância magnética em doentes com dispositivos cardíacos electrónicos implantados.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently considered an essential complementary method for diagnosis in many conditions. Exponential growth in its use is expected due to the aging population and a broader spectrum of clinical indications. Growth in its use, coupled with an increasing number of pacemaker implants, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy, has led to a frequent clinical need for this diagnostic modality in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). This clinical need has fueled the development of devices specifically designed and approved for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) environment under certain safety conditions (MR-conditional devices). More than a decade after the introduction of the first MR-conditional pacemaker, there are now several dozen MR-conditional devices with different safety specifications. In recent years, increasing evidence has indicated there is a low risk to MRI use in conventional (so-called non-MR-conditional) CIED patients in the right circumstances. The increasing number, as well as the greater diversity and complexity of implanted devices, justify the need to standardize procedures, by establishing institutional agreements that require close collaboration between cardiologists and radiologists. This consensus document, prepared jointly by the Portuguese Society of Cardiology and the Portuguese Society of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, provides general guidelines for MRI in patients with CIED, ensuring the safety of patients, health professionals and equipment. In addition to briefly reviewing the potential risks of MRI in patients with CIED and major changes to MRI-conditional devices, this article provides specific recommendations on risk-benefit analysis, informed consent, scheduling, programming strategies, devices, monitoring and modification of MRI sequences. The main purpose of this document is to optimize patient safety and provide legal support to facilitate easy access by CIED patients to a potentially beneficial and irreplaceable diagnostic technique.

Association between implantation depth assessed by computed tomography and new-onset conduction disturbances after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is often associated with intraventricular conduction disturbances. We aimed to determine the association between implantation depth assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and new-onset conduction abnormalities after TAVR. METHODS: Retrospective single-center study including patients consecutively submitted to TAVR, between August/2007 and October/2016, who underwent routine MDCT 3 months after the procedure. The endpoint of conduction disturbances included permanent pacemaker implantation and/or new-onset left bundle-branch block. Implantation depth was determined as the distance between the ventricular end of the prothesis and the native ring, at the level of the non-coronary cusp. RESULTS: 138 patients were included (female gender 52.2%, mean age 78.7 ± 6.9 years). The EuroSCORE II was 4.0 ± 3.9% and 57.2% were treated with self-expanding prosthesis. The endpoint of conduction abnormalities was found in 45.7% (n = 63). The implantation depth was greater in the group with conduction disturbances (7.7 vs 6.4 mm, p = 0.006). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, oversizing and implantation depth were independent predictors of conduction abnormalities. Implantation depth had an AUC of 0.64 (p = 0.004) for the prediction of conduction abnormalities and a cut-off value of 7.1 mm predicted the composed endpoint with a sensitivity and specificity of 65% and 70%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation depth assessed by MDCT is associated with new-onset conduction disturbances after TAVR. In patients with conduction abnormalities, which do not qualify for the immediate implantation of pacemaker, the assessment of implantation depth by MDCT may be an additional marker of risk to aid decision-making.

Anatomical versus functional assessment of coronary artery disease: direct comparison of computed tomography coronary angiography and magnetic resonance myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with intermediate pre-test probability.

Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA) and cardiac magnetic resonance myocardial perfusion imaging (CMR-MPI) are state-of-the-art tools for noninvasive assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CTA and CMR-MPI for the detection of functionally relevant CAD, using invasive coronary angiography (XA) with fractional flow reserve (FFR) as a reference standard, and to evaluate the best protocol integrating these techniques for assessment of patients with suspected CAD. 95 patients (68 % men; 62 ± 8.1 years) with intermediate pre-test probability (PTP) of CAD underwent a sequential protocol of CTA, CMR-MPI and XA. Significant CAD was defined as >90 % coronary stenosis, 40-90 % stenosis with FFR ≤ 0.80 or left main stenosis ≥50 %. Prevalence of significant CAD was 43 %. CTA was more sensitive (100 %) but less specific (59 %) than CMR-MPI (88 and 89 %, respectively) for detection of significant CAD, with a strong trend for higher global diagnostic accuracy of CMR-MPI (88 vs. 77 %, p = 0.05). An integrated approach based on an initial CTA and subsequent referral to CMR-MPI of positive/inconclusive results had the best diagnostic performance (AUC 0.91). The direct referral to XA of patients with positive/inconclusive CTA performed worse than a selective approach based on CMR-MPI results (AUC 0.80 vs. 0.91, p = 0.005). In this intermediate PTP population, CMR-MPI showed a strong trend toward better performance compared to CTA for the assessment of functionally significant CAD. A combined protocol integrating coronary anatomy and function seems to be a very effective approach in the accurate diagnosis of CAD.

CAD detection in patients with intermediate-high pre-test probability: low-dose CT delayed enhancement detects ischemic myocardial scar with moderate accuracy but does not improve performance of a stress-rest CT perfusion protocol.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare computed tomography delayed enhancement (CTDE) against cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) for detection of ischemic scar and to test the additive value of CTDE as part of a comprehensive multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) stress-rest protocol including computed tomography perfusion (CTP) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) for the diagnosis of significant coronary artery disease (CAD). BACKGROUND: CTDE has been recently described as a promising tool for noninvasive detection of myocardial scar, similarly to CMR-LGE techniques. Despite its theoretical potential as an adjunctive tool to improve MDCT accuracy for detection of CAD, its clinical performance has not been validated. METHODS: One hundred five symptomatic patients with suspected CAD (age 62.0 ± 8.0 years, 67% men) underwent MDCT, CMR, and x-ray invasive coronary angiography. The MDCT protocol consisted of calcium scoring, stress CTP under adenosine 140 µg/kg/min, rest CTP + CTA, and a low-dose radiation prospective scan for detection of CTDE. CMR-LGE was used as the reference standard for assessment of scar. Functionally significant CAD was defined as the presence of ≥90% stenosis/occlusion or fractional flow reserve measurements ≤0.80 in vessels >2 mm. RESULTS: CTDE had good accuracy (90%) for ischemic scar detection with low sensitivity (53%) but excellent specificity (98%). Positive and negative predictive values were 82% and 91%, respectively. On a patient-based model, MDCT protocol without integration of CTDE results had a sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 90%, 81%, 80%, and 90%, respectively, for the detection of functionally significant CAD. Addition of CTDE results did not improve MDCT performance (90%, 77%, 77%, and 90%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: CTDE has moderate accuracy for detection of ischemic scar in patients with suspected CAD. Integration of CTDE into a comprehensive MDCT protocol including stress-rest CTP and CTA does not improve MDCT accuracy for detection of significant CAD in intermediate-to-high pre-test probability populations.

Incidence and predictors of permanent pacemaker requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a self-expanding bioprosthesis.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports have suggested the occurrence of cardiac conduction disorders and permanent pacemaker (PPM) requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Based on a single-center experience, we aim to assess the incidence of postprocedural conduction disorders, need for PPM, and its determinants after TAVI with a self-expanding bioprosthesis. METHODS: From August 2007 to October 2009, 32 consecutive patients underwent TAVI with the Medtronic CoreValve (MCV) System (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA). Three patients paced at baseline and two cases of procedure-related mortality were excluded. We analyzed the 12-lead electrocardiogram at baseline, immediately after procedure and at discharge. Requirements for PPM were documented and potential clinical, electrophysiological, echocardiographic, and procedural predictors of PPM requirement were studied. RESULTS: After TAVI, eight patients (29.6%) required PPM implantation due to high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block. The prevalence of left bundle branch block increased from 13.8% to 57.7% directly after implantation (P = 0.001). Need for PPM was correlated to the depth of prosthesis implantation (r = 0.590; P = 0.001). At a cutoff point of 10.1 mm, the likelihood of pacemaker could be predicted with 87.5% sensitivity and 74% specificity and a receiver operator characteristic curve area of 0.86 ± 0.07 (P = 0.003). Of the seven patients with preexisting right bundle branch block (RBBB), four (57.1%) required PPM implantation after TAVI. CONCLUSIONS: High-grade AV block requiring PPM implantation is a common complication following TAVI and could be predicted by a deeper implantation of the prosthesis. Patients with preexisting RBBB also seem to be at risk for the development of high-grade AV block and subsequent pacemaker implantation.