Nine-year, single-centre experience of left atrial appendage occlusion: patient characteristics, procedural outcomes and long-term follow up.

This is a review of 114 patients with atrial fibrillation who had left atrial appendage occlusion with an Amplatzer cardiac plug over a nine-year period done by a single operator. This shows that the procedure can be safely performed with a very low rate of major complications (< 1%) and a zero procedural mortality rate. Long-term follow up over an average of 38.5 months showed a 65% reduction in actual versus predicted stroke rate. This is similar to that seen with oral anti-coagulants and other published trials and registries involving left atrial appendage occlusion.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: an acute and reversible cardiomyopathy mimicking acute myocardial infarction.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an acute, reversible form of left ventricular dysfunction precipitated by emotional or physical stress. The condition is important to recognise as it mimics acute myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndrome. Most patients are female and postmenopausal. Presenting symptoms include severe chest pain, acute dyspnoea, hypotension or even cardiogenic shock. The ECG changes are suggestive of an acute coronary syndrome with T-wave inversion with/without ST elevation, most often in the precordial leads. The syndrome is characterised by a sudden onset of transient extensive akinesia of the left ventricle, often involving all three major coronary artery territories, in the absence of significant coronary artery stenosis. The wall motion typically involves the apex of the left ventricle with hyperkinesis of the base of the heart. Variant forms have recently been described where the wall motion abnormality involves the mid-ventricular wall with hyperkinesis of the base and apex, or the base of the heart with hyperkinesis of the apex. Characteristically, there is only a limited release of cardiac enzymes disproportionate to the extent of regional wall motion abnormality. Transient right ventricular dysfunction may occur and is associated with more complications, longer hospitalisation and worse left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Serial echocardiography is useful to document improvement in cardiac function. The pathogenesis is unclear. Transient mid-cavity obstruction has been invoked with subsequent myocardial stunning in the akinetic segments. Treatment is supportive. The most effective long-term management remains to be defined. Although the prognosis is good with recovery of ventricular function at about three weeks, some patients have died. The syndrome may recur.

Quattro valve trial at mid-term: December 1996 to November 2004.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The Quattro valve is a stentless pericardial mitral bioprosthesis that is treated with a post-tanning aldehyde capping designed to reduce calcification. A prospective trial was started in December 1996; herein are reported the results of the three centers that performed the surgery and followed up patients in the majority of cases. Young patients were deliberately included in the trial. METHODS: Follow up data from 175 patients (mean age 46 years; range: 12-87 years) were collected and analyzed. Among patients, 44% were aged < 40 years. Follow up was 91% complete; mean follow up was 3.4 years (range: 0-7.5 years); total follow up was 465 patient-years (pt-yr). Clinical outcome was assessed according to the AATS/STS guidelines, and results analyzed according to Kaplan-Meier product limit calculation and by FDA Optimal Performance Criteria (OPC). RESULTS: Early mortality was 1.7% (all non-valve related). At 60 months after surgery, mean overall survival was 84.8 +/- 3.6%, mean overall freedom from valve-related death was 99.2 +/- 0.9%, and mean overall freedom from calcification, pannus and tears was 96.1 +/- 2.2%. FDA OPC values (data for mechanical valve, tissue valve, Quattro valve in patients aged < 40 years and of all ages, respectively; expressed as %/pt-yr) were as follows: thromboembolism/stroke 3.0, 2.5, 0, 0.4; thrombosis 0.8, 0.2, 0, 0; major hemorrhage 1.5, 0.9, 0, 0.4; major perivalvular leak 0.6, 0.6, 0.4, 0.6; late endocarditis 1.2, 1.2, 1.8, 1.3; calcification/pannus 0, 0, 0.8, 0.6. Statistical analysis of these data showed there to be no difference between patients aged less or more than 40 years. CONCLUSION: Overall mid-term results with the Quattro valve were acceptable. The lack of early calcification in young patients shows promise. More young patient-years of follow up will be needed to establish a secure indication for use in young, rheumatic patients where anticoagulation control is deficient.

Percutaneous endovascular occlusion of symptomatic coronary arteriovenous fistulas with cyanoacrylate.

We describe four cases with symptomatic coronary artery fistulas that were treated primarily with endovascular cyanoacrylate embolization. Coils were also used as adjunctive embolic agents in two of these cases. All four cases showed symptomatic improvement after closure of the fistulas. Complications occurred in three cases including transient ST-segment elevation in one, symptomatic pulmonary embolization in a second, and transient pleuritic chest pain, pericarditis and acute renal failure in a third. The technical aspects of all four cases are given together with a review of the use of cyanoacrylate as an embolic material. We conclude that cyanoacrylate embolization could be considered as an alternative technique for the endovascular closure of coronary artery fistulas but must also caution that the use of this embolic agent is hazardous and should be restricted to practitioners experienced in its usage.

The Quattro valve in rheumatic mitral valve disease: four-year follow up.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: There remains a great need for bioprosthetic valves in developing countries where monitoring of anticoagulation therapy is difficult. The study aim was to assess the intermediate outcome following mitral valve replacement with a stentless bovine pericardial quadrileaflet mitral (Quattro) valve. This valve maintains mitral annular-papillary continuity in patients with isolated severe rheumatic mitral valve disease. METHODS: Since December 1996, the Quattro valve has been implanted in 47 patients (mean age 34 +/- 13 years; 16 (34%) aged <25 years) with rheumatic mitral valve disease. All patients were symptomatic, and in NYHA class II (n = 7), III (n = 30) or IV (n = 10). Preoperatively, all patients underwent full clinical and routine echocardiographic assessment, as well as intraoperative transesophageal evaluation after valve implantation. At follow up visits, clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were carried out in each patient. RESULTS: After a mean follow up of 51 +/- 11 months, the overall mortality was 10.6% (five deaths). Five patients did not return for clinical follow up, but three of these are known to be alive and well. Of the 37 patients who returned for regular follow up, 32 remained symptomatically improved. Valve explantation was performed in two patients (4.2%) for prosthetic valve endocarditis. Two patients have deteriorated as a result of left ventricular dysfunction, and one patient has developed severe mitral regurgitation. Thromboembolism or clinically overt hemolysis has not occurred. One patient, who was receiving coumadin therapy for atrial fibrillation, died following a massive hematemesis. Serial one-year echocardiography data at one, two and three-year follow up intervals were available in 28 patients. These data confirmed no significant change in valve area or in mean diastolic gradient. Varying degrees of valve thickening were detected echocardiographically in 10 patients; four patients had clinically significant mitral stenosis (valve area <1.5 cm2). One valve was explanted for structural deterioration. CONCLUSION: Intermediate results after Quattro valve implantation in a relatively young population were satisfactory. However, long-term follow up is mandatory to assess valve durability.