Increased Inpatient Mortality for Cardiovascular Patients During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Epidemic in New York.

Background The acuity and magnitude of the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in New York mandated a drastic change in healthcare access and delivery of care. Methods and Results We retrospectively studied patients admitted with an acute cardiovascular syndrome as their principal diagnosis to 13 hospitals across Northwell Health during March 11 through May 26, 2020 (first COVID-19 epidemic wave) and the same period in 2019. Three thousand sixteen patients (242 COVID-19 positive) were admitted for an acute cardiovascular syndrome during the first COVID-19 wave compared with 9422 patients 1 year prior (decrease of 68.0%, P<0.001). During this time, patients with cardiovascular disease presented later to the hospital (360 versus 120 minutes for acute myocardial infarction), underwent fewer procedures (34.6% versus 45.6%, P<0.001), were less likely to be treated in an intensive care unit setting (8.7% versus 10.8%, P<0.001), and had a longer hospital stay (2.91 [1.71-6.05] versus 2.87 [1.82-4.95] days, P=0.033). Inpatient cardiovascular mortality during the first epidemic outbreak increased by 111.1% (3.8 versus 1.8, P<0.001) and was not related to COVID-19-related admissions, all cause in-hospital mortality, or incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac deaths in New York. Admission during the first COVID-19 surge along with age and positive COVID-19 test independently predicted mortality for cardiovascular admissions (odds ratios, 1.30, 1.05, and 5.09, respectively, P<0.0001). Conclusions A lower rate and later presentation of patients with cardiovascular pathology, coupled with deviation from common clinical practice mandated by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, might have accounted for higher in-hospital cardiovascular mortality during that period.

The Association of Structural Inequities and Race With Out-of-Hospital Sudden Death During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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Clinical predictors of heart block during atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia ablation: A multicenter 18-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation is considered the first-line treatment of symptomatic atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). It has been associated with a risk of heart block (HB) requiring a pacemaker. This study aims to determine potential clinical predictors of complete heart block as a result AVNRT ablation. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation for AVNRT from January 2001 to June 2019 at two tertiary hospitals were included. We defined ablation-related HB as the unscheduled implantation of pacemaker within a month of the index procedure. Use of electroanatomic mapping (EAM), operator experience, inpatient status, age, sex, fluoroscopy time, baseline PR interval, and baseline HV interval was included in univariate and multivariate models to predict HB post ablation. RESULTS: In 1708 patients (56.4 ± 17.0 years, 61% females), acute procedural success was 97.1%. The overall incidence of HB was 1.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that age more than 70 (odds ratio [OR] 7.907, p ≤ .001, confidence interval [CI] 2.759-22.666), baseline PR ≥ 190 ms (OR 2.867, p = .026, CI 1.135-7.239) and no use of EAM (OR 0.306, p = .037, CI 0.101-0.032) were independent predictors of HB. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of HB post AVNRT ablation is generally low, patients can be further stratified using three simple predictors.

Chronic rate dependent exit block after pulmonary vein isolation.

Rate dependent exit block across the pulmonary veins has been previously described immediately following catheter ablation. We report a case of rate dependent pulmonary vein exit block seen at repeat ablation 7 years after the index procedure. To our knowledge, this is the first report of chronic rate dependent exit block discovered years after circumferential pulmonary vein antral isolation.

Surface unipolar electrogram characteristics to predict site of origin of outflow tract arrhythmias using noninvasive mapping.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive electroanatomic mapping (NIEAM) demonstrate patterns of depolarization that are useful in identifying the chamber of origin (COO) in outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias (OTVA). However, its use in predicting exact site of origin (SOO) has not yet been validated. METHODS: NIEAMs (CardioInsight, Medtronic) from 40 patients (age 62.5 ± 2.6) undergoing ablation for OTVA were reviewed for diagnostic accuracy in predicting the SOO. Earliest arrhythmia breakout and directionality of earliest instantaneous unipolar electrograms (uEGMs) on NIEAMs were evaluated subjectively by two observers for quality and amplitude. Sites with most negative earliest uEGMs on right and left ventricular outflow tracts, as well as epicardial surface were manually identified. Using NIEAM-based activation timing of the lateral mitral annulus and basal septum COO was identified for each OTVA. Predictions of SOO using NIEAMs was compared with true SOO from invasive study. NIEAMs SOO predictions were compared with subjective 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG) review by two observers. RESULTS: Review of arrhythmia breakout and signal directionality had poor diagnostic value in predicting SOO in OTVA (50.6% and 49.4%, 56.6% and 43.4%, respectively) and underperformed compared with ECG interpretation (59.1% and 80.5%). After excluding uEGMs with poor characteristics, the uEGM with most negative amplitude at the COO was predictive of the true SOO with 96.4% sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: We propose a stepwise approach when interpreting NIEAMs for OTVA where patterns of activation are evaluated first to determine the COO, followed by identification of the site with most negative amplitude instantaneous uEGM to determine SOO.

Non-invasive electroanatomic mapping to reduce mapping time during catheter ablation of outflow tract ventricular premature depolarizations.

PURPOSE: Ventricular premature depolarizations (VPD) commonly arise from the septal anterior right ventricular outflow tract (sRVOT), the left coronary cusp (LCC), and the distal great cardiac vein (dGCV), and share common ECG characteristics. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive electroanatomic mapping (NIEAM) in differentiating VPD origin between sRVOT, LCC and dGCV and quantify its clinical utility in eliminating unnecessary mapping and ablation. METHODS: ECGs and NIEAMs (CardioInsight, Medtronic) from 32 patients (56.3 ± 15.2 years) undergoing ablation for VPDs originating from sRVOT, LCC, or dGCV were blindly reviewed for their diagnostic accuracy in predicting the SOO. A 2-step algorithm using NIEAM-based activation timing of the superior basal septum of < 22.5 ms and lateral mitral annulus of > 60.5 ms was compared with subjective ECG evaluation, the maximum deflection index (MDI), and the V2 transitional ratio in predicting SOO. We calculated the mapping and ablation time that could have been avoided had the operators relied on activation timing by NIEAM in designing their mapping and ablation strategy. RESULTS: NIEAM was superior to subjective ECG evaluation, MDI, and V2 transition ratio in predicting the SOO yielding a sensitivity and specificity of 96.9% and 98.4% respectively. Using NIEAM in determining the SOO would have obviated 22 ± 4.5 min of mapping in the wrong chamber and prevented unnecessary ablation of 4.5 ± 1.8 min. CONCLUSION: NIEAM has high diagnostic accuracy in differentiating between sRVOT, LCC, and dGCV VPDs, and can significantly reduce mapping time, obviating the need for unnecessary access and ablation.

Anatomic predictors of recurrence after cryoablation for atrial fibrillation: a computed tomography based composite score.

BACKGROUND: Effective pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with cryoablation depends on adequate occlusion of pulmonary veins (PV) by the cryoballoon and is therefore likely to be affected by PV and left atrial (LA) anatomical characteristics and variants. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of LA and PV anatomy, evaluated by computed tomography (CT), on acute and long-term outcomes of cryoablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Fifty-eight patients (64.72 + 9.44 years, 60.3% male) undergoing cryoablation for paroxysmal or early persistent AF were included. Pre-procedural CT images were analyzed to evaluate LA dimensions and PV anatomical characteristics. Predictors of recurrence were identified using regression analysis. RESULTS: 60.3% of patients had two PVs on each side with separate ostia, whereas 29.3% and 10.3% had right middle and left common PVs, respectively. The following anatomic characteristics were found to be independent predictors of recurrence: right superior PV ostial max:min diameter ratio > 1.32, left superior PV ostial max:min diameter ratio > 1.2, right superior PV antral circumference > 69.1 mm, right inferior PV antral circumference > 61.38 mm, right superior PV angle > 22.7°. Using these factors, LA diameter and right middle PV, a scoring model was created for prediction of "unfavorable" LA-PV anatomy (AUC = 0.867, p = 0.000009, score range = 0-7). Score of ≥ 4 predicted need for longer cryoenergy ablation (p = 0.039) and more frequent switch to radiofrequency energy (p = 0.066) to achieve PVI, and had a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 82.5% to predict clinical recurrence. CONCLUSION: CT-based scoring system is useful to identify "unfavorable" anatomy prior to cryo-PVI, which can result in procedural difficulty and poor outcomes.

Intracardiac echocardiography guided nonocclusive balloon cryothermal applications to achieve antral isolation during pulmonary vein isolation.

OBJECTIVE: Ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) requires electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins (PV) by wide-area circumferential PV antral isolation (PVAI). Cryoballoon ablation delivers cryoenergy circumferentially after occlusion of the PV by the cryoballoon; thus, it is likely that the level of isolation, determined by adequate balloon-tissue contact, depends on PV anatomy. We sought to examine the need for nonocclusive segmental cryoballoon ablation in achieving antral isolation, describe methods of accurate visualization of the cryoballoon using intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), and provide data on biophysical characteristics of an effective nonocclusive cryothermal lesion. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation with a second-generation 28-mm cryoballoon and electroanatomic mapping (EAM) were included. Balloon was visualized with ICE, and its location was registered in EAM using available technology (CARTOSOUND, Biosense Webster). Need for delivery of nonocclusive lesions was based on level of isolation post occlusive lesions. RESULTS: Nonocclusive lesions to PVAI was required in 26 of 40 patients (65%) or 46 out of 148 veins (31%). Left PVs > 19.4 ± 2.9 mm, right superior PV > 20.2 ± 4.7mm, funnel-shaped PVs, and right PVs not converging to a carina were more likely to require nonocclusive lesions to achieve an antral level of isolation. Projection of balloon contour on EAM using CARTOSOUND successfully predicted level of isolation by voltage mapping. CONCLUSION: Nonocclusive cryoballoon applications are commonly required to achieve antral isolation. Use of ICE can be helpful in determining the accurate location of the balloon and in predicting the level of isolation by voltage map.

Effect of Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, and Azithromycin on the Corrected QT Interval in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

BACKGROUND: The novel SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is responsible for the global coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Small studies have shown a potential benefit of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine±azithromycin for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019. Use of these medications alone, or in combination, can lead to a prolongation of the QT interval, possibly increasing the risk of Torsade de pointes and sudden cardiac death. METHODS: Hospitalized patients treated with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine±azithromycin from March 1 to the 23 at 3 hospitals within the Northwell Health system were included in this prospective, observational study. Serial assessments of the QT interval were performed. The primary outcome was QT prolongation resulting in Torsade de pointes. Secondary outcomes included QT prolongation, the need to prematurely discontinue any of the medications due to QT prolongation, and arrhythmogenic death. RESULTS: Two hundred one patients were treated for coronavirus disease 2019 with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine. Ten patients (5.0%) received chloroquine, 191 (95.0%) received hydroxychloroquine, and 119 (59.2%) also received azithromycin. The primary outcome of torsade de pointes was not observed in the entire population. Baseline corrected QT interval intervals did not differ between patients treated with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (monotherapy group) versus those treated with combination group (chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin; 440.6±24.9 versus 439.9±24.7 ms, P=0.834). The maximum corrected QT interval during treatment was significantly longer in the combination group versus the monotherapy group (470.4±45.0 ms versus 453.3±37.0 ms, P=0.004). Seven patients (3.5%) required discontinuation of these medications due to corrected QT interval prolongation. No arrhythmogenic deaths were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In the largest reported cohort of coronavirus disease 2019 patients to date treated with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine±azithromycin, no instances of Torsade de pointes, or arrhythmogenic death were reported. Although use of these medications resulted in QT prolongation, clinicians seldomly needed to discontinue therapy. Further study of the need for QT interval monitoring is needed before final recommendations can be made.

Clinical Effect of Rebound Hyperthermia After Cooling Postcardiac Arrest: A Meta-Analysis.

Rebound hyperthermia (RH) is frequently seen after completion of targeted temperature management (TTM) in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. However, its clinical significance is not well understood. Previous studies analyzing the association of RH with clinical outcome have reported conflicting results. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to examine the impact of RH after completion of TTM in patients postcardiac arrest. We reviewed six studies that evaluated the incidence of RH (T > 38°C) with documentation of outcome based on the presence of hyperthermia. We reviewed all six articles and extracted the data for mortality and neurological outcome. A total of 729 patients were analyzed for neurological outcome and 950 patients were analyzed for mortality. RH was found to be associated with a significantly worse neurological outcome (odds ratio [OR] 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-2.14). RH was not significantly associated with a higher mortality (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.00-1.72). We also analyzed three studies totaling 206 patients for neurological outcomes and mortality that included patients with severe RH (T > 38.5°C). Severe RH was found to be associated with significantly worse neurological outcome (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.28-1.90) and significantly worse mortality (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.50-3.29). RH is common after completion of TTM in comatose patients because of cardiac arrest and is associated with poor neurological outcomes. The clinical impact of RH is likely proportional to the magnitude of RH.

ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Resulting from Stent Thrombosis in Contemporary Real-World Practice.

Stent thrombosis (ST) is a rare but devastating complication after percutaneous coronary intervention. Newer generation drug-eluting stents (DES) and newer antiplatelet therapies have been shown to decrease the incidence of ST, but we continue to observe ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to ST in contemporary practice. A retrospective analysis of 527 patients who presented with STEMI was performed; 57 patients (11%) with angiographically confirmed ST were compared with the patients with STEMI due to de novo lesion. The type of previous stent, the timing of ST, and the use of antiplatelet therapy were reviewed in patients with ST. Patients with ST had higher prevalence of comorbid conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease, and had lower left ventricular ejection fraction (37 ± 5 vs. 44 ± 16%, p = 0.0011). There was no difference in in-hospital mortality (2 vs. 4%, p = 0.7082). ST was seen most commonly as "very late" (56%), and with previous second-generation DES (40%). Eighty-two percent of patients among early ST, compared with 22% of patients with very late ST were on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). In 12% of patients, ST happened after DAPT was stopped by physician for procedures. ST is seen in a variety of clinical settings with the most common presentation being very late ST and in second-generation DES, which most likely represent the growing population with previous second-generation stents.

Clinical Effect of Rebound Hyperthermia After Cooling Postcardiac Arrest: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Therapeutic hypothermia is used in select patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) to improve neurologic outcome. Rebound hyperthermia (RH) is commonly observed post-treatment. Previous studies analyzing the association of RH with clinical outcome have reported conflicting results. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of RH after completion of therapeutic hypothermia in patients postcardiac arrest. We analyzed a retrospective cohort from our institution. All adults who underwent therapeutic hypothermia post-OHCA were divided into two cohorts depending on the presence/absence of fever (T > 38°C) within 24 hours of completing hypothermia protocol. Clinical outcomes were analyzed at hospital discharge or death. Among 306 patients admitted with OHCA, 117 underwent hypothermia, 97 survived 24 hours postrewarming. Twenty-seven patients (50%) with RH died compared with 20 (47%) without RH (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.52-2.57). Twenty-six patients (67%) with RH had a poor neurologic outcome compared with 27 (63%) without RH (OR 1.19, 95% CI, 0.51-2.74). RH is common after completion of therapeutic hypothermia in comatose patients due to cardiac arrest and is associated with poor neurologic outcomes. We found no significant clinical impact of rebound hypothermia on neurologic outcome or mortality, but our study was underpowered to reveal such impact if it exists.

Feasibility and Safety of Routine Transpedal Arterial Access for Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility and safety of transpedal arterial access for lower-extremity angiography and intervention. BACKGROUND: Traditionally, the femoral artery is chosen for the initial access site in symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD), but this approach carries a substantial portion of the entire procedural complication risk. METHODS: 80 patients were prospectively evaluated for the treatment of PAD between May and July 2014. All patients underwent peripheral angiography, and intervention if necessary. A pedal artery was the initial access site for all patients. Under ultrasound guidance, one of the pedal arteries was visualized and accessed, and a 4 Fr Glidesheath was inserted. Retrograde orbital atherectomy and balloon angioplasty were performed with a 4 Fr sheath or upsizing to a 6 Fr Glidesheath Slender (Terumo) for stenting as needed. Clinical and ultrasound assessment of the pedal arteries were performed before the procedure and at 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Diagnostic transpedal peripheral angiography was performed in all 80 patients. 43 out of 51 patients (84%) who required intervention were successful using a pedal artery as the sole access site. No immediate or delayed access-site complications were detected. Clinical follow-up was achieved in 77 patients (96%) and access artery patency was demonstrated by ultrasound at 1 month in 100% of patients. CONCLUSION: The routine use of a transpedal approach for the treatment of PAD may be feasible and safe. Pedal artery access may also avoid many of the complications associated with the traditional femoral approach, but further study is needed.