Device infection in patients undergoing pacemaker or defibrillator surgery: risk stratification using the PADIT score.

BACKGROUND: The use of an antibacterial envelope is cost-effective for patients at high risk of developing cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection. The identification of these high-risk patients may be facilitated using a clinical risk score. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the PADIT score for identifying high-risk patients in patients undergoing a CIED procedure in a tertiary academic center. METHODS: This was a retrospective single-center study of consecutive patients undergoing a CIED procedure between January 2016 and November 2021. Patients who received an antibacterial envelope were excluded from this study. The primary endpoint was hospitalization for a CIED infection in the first year after the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 2333 CIED procedures were performed in the study period (mean age 61.6 ± 16.3 years, male sex 64.5%, previous CIED infection 1.7%, immunocompromised 5.4%). The median PADIT score was 4 (interquartile range, 2-6). CIED infection occurred in 10 patients (0.43%). The PADIT score had good discrimination in predicting major CIED infection (C-statistic 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.54 to 0.86, P = 0.03). Using an optimal PADIT score cut-off value of 7, the risk of CIED infection was higher in the patients with a PADIT score of ≥ 7 in comparison to those with a lower PADIT score (1.23% vs. 0.26%, P = 0.02; odds ratio 4.8, 95% CI 1.4 to 16.6, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The PADIT score is a clinically useful score for identifying patients at high risk of developing CIED infection. The use of an antibacterial envelope in these high-risk patients may be cost-effective.

Pocket hematoma after pacemaker or defibrillator surgery: Direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists.

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the preferred choice of oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Randomized trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of DOAC in patients undergoing a cardiac implantable electronic device procedure (CIED); however, there is limited real-world data. Objective: To evaluate the outcome of patients undergoing an elective CIED procedure in a tertiary referral center with an interrupted DOAC or continued vitamin K antagonist (VKA) regimen. Methods: This was a retrospective single-center study of consecutive patients with AF undergoing an elective CIED procedure between January 2016 and June 2019. The primary endpoint was a clinically significant pocket hematoma < 30 days after surgery. The secondary endpoint was any systemic thromboembolic complication < 30 days after surgery. Results: Of a total of 1,033 elective CIED procedures, 283 procedures were performed in patients with AF using oral anticoagulation. One-third of the procedures were performed under DOAC (N = 81, 29%) and the remainder under VKA (N = 202, 71%). The DOAC group was younger, had less chronic renal disease, more paroxysmal AF and a lower HAS-BLED score. The VKA group more often underwent a generator change only in comparison to the DOAC group. Clinically significant pocket hematoma occurred in 5 patients (2.5%) in the VKA group and did not occur in the DOAC group (P = 0.33). There were no thromboembolic events reported. Conclusion: In patients with AF undergoing an elective CIED procedure, the risk of a pocket hematoma and a systemic thromboembolic event is comparably low when using either continued VKA or interrupted DOAC.

Reducing radiation exposure in second-generation cryoballoon ablation without compromising clinical outcome.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using cryoballoon (CB) ablation is associated with an increased radiation exposure compared with radiofrequency ablation. Previous studies showed that radiation exposure in CB PVI can be reduced by optimizing the fluoroscopy protocol without comprising acute efficacy and safety. We evaluated the mid-term outcome of a modified fluoroscopy protocol in patients undergoing CB PVI. METHODS: The study population comprised 90 consecutive patients who underwent second-generation CB-based PVI. The first 46 patients underwent CB PVI with conventional fluoroscopy settings (group A, historic control group). In the following 44 patients (group B), a modified fluoroscopy protocol was applied consisting of (1) visualization of degree of PV occlusion only by fluoroscopy (no cine runs); (2) increased radiation awareness. Primary endpoints were the total dose area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time, and freedom from documented recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after a single procedure. RESULTS: Group B had a lower median DAP (1393 cGycm2 vs. 3232 cGycm2, P < 0.001) and median fluoroscopy time (20 min vs. 24 min, P < 0.001) as compared with group A. The 1-year freedom from documented recurrence of AF after a single procedure was similar among groups (74% in group A vs. 77% in group B, P = 0.71). There were no significant differences between both groups for the secondary endpoints, including procedure duration, proportion of patients with complete electrical isolation, and complications. CONCLUSION: Using a modified fluoroscopy protocol and increased radiation awareness, radiation exposure can be significantly reduced in CB PVI with a similar 1-year clinical outcome.

NT-proBNP is associated with mortality and adverse cardiac events in patients with atrial fibrillation presenting to the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the emergency department. The CHA2 DS2 -VASc score helps to predict thromboembolic risk; however, the rate of other adverse cardiac events is more difficult to predict. HYPOTHESIS: The biomarker N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has prognostic value in patients presenting to the emergency department with AF. METHODS: During a 1.5-year period, a prospective study was performed in consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department with AF on the presenting electrocardiogram. At baseline, NT-proBNP was measured. The primary endpoints were all-cause death and major adverse cardiac events (MACE: all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or revascularization). RESULTS: A total of 355 patients were included (mean age, 71 years; 55% male). The median duration of follow-up was 2 years. After adjustment for baseline variables, the logNT-proBNP was independently correlated with death (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-1.99) and MACE (HR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03-1.58). After adjustment for baseline variables, a high NT-proBNP value (>500 pmol/L) was independently correlated with death (HR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.19-4.28), and for MACE a trend was seen (HR: 1.67, 95% CI: 0.96-2.91) compared with a low value (<250 pmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting to the emergency department with AF, higher NT-proBNP values are independently associated with an increased mortality and MACE. Therefore, this biomarker may be a useful prognostic marker in the management and treatment of these patients.

Complete reversal of hypertensive cardiomyopathy after initiating combined antihypertensive therapy.

Hypertensive cardiomyopathy is a common complication of hypertension, with a prevalence ranging from 12% to 26%. It is associated with an increased cardiac mortality and morbidity. Lifestyle changes and antihypertensive therapy usually have a significant, but relatively small effect on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular risk. In this paper, we describe a 39-year-old woman with severe LVH. On transthoracic echocardiogram there was concentric LVH, systolic function was a mildly reduced and there was diastolic dysfunction grade III. After only 6 months of therapy with a combination of antihypertensive agents, the left ventricular mass index was reduced by 29%, systolic function was normal and the diastolic dysfunction improved to grade I. This paper shows that in hypertensive cardiomyopathy, even severe LVH can be completely reversible.