Role of Pocket Ultrasound in Assessing Intravascular Volume to Guide Management in Heart Failure Patients with Renal Impairment.

INTRODUCTION: Inpatient management of patients with heart failure (HF) and renal impairment is challenging. We sought to evaluate the role of pocket ultrasound (US)-guided management of this patient population. METHODS: We prospectively included patients with acute HF exacerbation and renal impairment admitted to the HF service in our University hospital from January 2017 to August 2018. We compared the outcomes of patients who received US-guided management with those who received standard of care management. The main study outcome was the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Multivariable logistic analysis was used to adjust for basic demographics and risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 211 patients with renal impairment presenting with acute HF exacerbation (mean age 66.8 ± 14.6 years, 41% females, 62% white) were enrolled in the study, of whom 69 (32.7%) received US-guided management and 151 (68%) received standard of care management. The change in the eGFR was significantly lower in US-guided group than in the group receiving standard of care (1.1 ± 4.3% vs. - 11.15 ± 2.9%; p = 0.04). No significant difference was observed between the patient groups in the length of stay (6.45 ± 0.38 vs. 6.44 ± 0.56; days; p = 0.98) and in the 30-day HF readmission rate (hazard ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval 0.28-5.6; p = 0.75). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided management of patients admitted with acute HF exacerbation and renal impairment may be beneficial in preserving kidney function. US provides a simple easily accessible tool to guide the management of patients with HF.

Large Spontaneous Right Catamenial Pneumothorax with Diaphragmatic Defect and Liver Herniation.

Catamenial pneumothorax is a spontaneous pneumothorax that occurs predominantly women of child bearing age. We describe a case of a 40-year-old nulliparous woman with medical history significant for endometriosis who presented with severe chest tightness of one-day duration. Chest radiography (CXR) showed a large right spontaneous pneumothorax, what was thought to be a 5.6 cm pleural mass at the right lung base. Following pneumothorax diagnosis, the patient underwent emergent right thoracostomy with pigtail catheter placement. A repeat CXR revealed marked re-expansion of the lung but persistence of a right pleural mass. Follow up computed tomography scan of the chest showed a 33 mm diaphragmatic defect with 5.8 x 4.6 x 3.9 cm area of herniated liver corresponding to the presumed pleural mass. Following complete thoracic imaging, patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, mechanical pleurodesis, and open repair of the right diaphragmatic defect. Intraoperatively, an endometrial implant was noted on the chest wall. On postoperative day three, she began her menstrual cycle and was evaluated by gynecologist who recommended hormonal therapy to reduce risk of recurrent pneumothorax. Due to a persistent air leak, the chest tube was transitioned to a Heimlich valve to facilitate home discharge. The patient was discharged on postoperative day eight, seen as outpatient with resolution of air leak and removal of chest tube.

Efficacy of Drug-Eluting Balloons for Patients With In-Stent Restenosis: A Meta-Analysis of 8 Randomized Controlled Trials.

The optimal treatment for in-stent restenosis (ISR) of both bare-metal stent (BMS) and drug-eluting stent (DES) is currently unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the role of drug-eluting balloon (DEB) as an optional treatment for ISR. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOS, and Web of Science from 2005 to July 2014. Eight studies, enrolling 1413 patients were included. Main end points were late lumen loss (LLL), binary in-segment restenosis (BR), major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), target lesion revascularization (TLR), death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stent thrombosis (ST). When compared to plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA), DEB treatment significantly reduced the risk of MACE (risk rato [RR] 0.37, P < .01), death (RR 0.44, P = .04), TLR (RR 0.27, P < .01), BR (RR [95% CI]: 0.23[0.12 to 0.43], P < .01) and associated with better outcomes of LLL ( 0.50 [ 0.65 to 0.35] mm, P < .01). However, the differences were not significant between DEB treatment and DES treatment in all primary and secondary end points. The DEB was a better option to treat ISR when compared to POBA. However, it had similar effects as DES.

Long-term follow up of percutaneous coronary intervention of coronary artery disease in women ≤45 years of age.

The aim of the present study was to report the short- and long-term clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention in young women with premature coronary artery disease. From February 2003 to December 2011, 168 consecutive women aged ≤45 years who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation were retrospectively analyzed. The primary end point was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at short- and long-term follow-up. The mean age was 40.3 ± 2.0 years. Conventional coronary artery disease risk factors were common. Autoimmune or connective tissue diseases were present in 6.5% of the population, 4% had gynecologic diseases, 4 were postpartum, and 9 were taking contraceptives. The left anterior descending coronary artery was the most commonly affected vessel (83.3%) and the most common target vessel for stenting (76.8%). A total of 268 stents were implanted, 95.3% of which were drug-eluting stents. During the hospital stay, 1 patient died, and the incidence of MACEs was 1.2%. No additional events had occurred at 30-day follow-up. After a median follow-up duration of 36 months (interquartile range 12 to 60), cumulate MACE-free survival was 80.5%, the rate of target vessel revascularization was 16.5%, and the rate of stent thrombosis was 3.6%. Cox regression showed that hypertension, smoking, a left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, anterior myocardial infarction, and autoimmune disease were independent predictors of MACEs. In conclusion, percutaneous coronary intervention in young women tends to result in an increased rate of target vessel revascularization during long-term follow-up, which may be influenced by conventional and nonconventional risk factors.

Percutaneous Hemodynamic Support (Impella) in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure and/or Cardiogenic Shock Not Eligible to PROTECT II Trial.

PROTECT I and II trials have tested the efficacy of Impella in patents with high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, patients with severe hemodynamic instability such as cardiac arrest, ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI), or cardiogenic shock were excluded. The objective was to investigate the efficacy of Impella in sicker patient population who were not included in PROTECT trials. These patients merit high-risk PCI who had cardiogenic shock and unstable or decompensated heart failure (HF). From December 2010 to March 2012, 10 consecutive patients with extremely high surgical risk and hemodynamic instability underwent urgent PCI with Impella 2.5 support (Abiomed Inc., Danvers, MA). These patients were presented with advance HF and/or cardiogenic shock. Among the 10 included patients, 3 patients were with cardiac arrest and 1 patient was with acute myocardial infarction. All patients had successful Impella implantation and remained hemodynamically stable during high-risk PCI. Among the 10 patients 2 patients (20%) died within 1 month and 1 patient developed limb ischemia. In high-risk population nonrandomizable to PROTECT trials with advance HF/cardiogenic shock, Impella could be an important tool for hemodynamic support to PCI or could be a bridge to left ventricle assist device to achieve good recovery. Larger studies need to be conducted on this high-risk population.