The Effect of Early Aggressive Diuresis on Hospital Length of Stay in Acute Congestive Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Diuresis is the mainstay of treatment during hospitalization for patients admitted with congestive heart failure (CHF). Hospital length of stay (LOS) is considered an important patient outcome for CHF patients; previous studies comparing higher rates of diuresis (aggressive) versus relatively lower rates (nonaggressive) on patient outcomes have shown contradicting results. In fact, no specific guidelines to direct diuretic therapy exist. This investigation was designed to study the effect of early aggressive diuresis on hospital LOS. METHODS: Data from 194 CHF patients (admitted to the hospital for 1 year) were collected and analyzed in a retrospective cohort study design. Patients were divided into two cohorts based on urine output achieved in the first 24 h of admission; the aggressive diuresis cohort (urine output ≥2400 mL) comprised of 29 subjects while the nonaggressive diuresis cohort (urine output ≤2400 mL) had 165 subjects. The primary endpoint was LOS. RESULTS: Median LOS for the aggressive diuresis cohort was 4 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.95-5.06) as compared to 5 days (95% CI 4.40-5.60) for the nonaggressive diuresis cohort; log-rank test showed no significant differences between the hospitalized proportions between the two cohorts over time (P = 0.67). CONCLUSION: Hospital LOS for CHF patients treated with early aggressive diuresis was not significantly different compared to patients treated with nonaggressive diuresis.

Fractionation Mapping of the Ganglionated Plexi for Cardioneuroablation.

Cardioneuroablation (CNA) is an emerging technique used to treat patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS). We herein describe a case of CNA targeting the atrial ganglionated plexi (GPs) based upon anatomical landmarks and fractionated electrogram (EGM) localization in a 20-year-old healthy female who presented to our center with malignant VVS and symptomatic sinus pauses, the longest of which measured 10 seconds. She underwent acutely successful CNA with a demonstration of vagal response noted following ablation of the left-sided GPs, and tachycardia was noted with right-sided GP ablation. All GP sites were defined by anatomical landmarks and EGM analysis. By using the fractionation mapping software of the EnSite Precision™ cardiac mapping system (Abbott, Chicago, IL, USA) with high-density mapping, fragmented EGMs were successfully detected in each GP site. One month after vagal denervation, no recurrent syncopal episodes or sinus pauses had been recorded. Longer-term follow-up with an implantable loop recorder is planned. Broadly, we performed CNA in a patient with VVS by combining high-density mapping and fractionation mapping software in a novel approach, which allowed us to detect fractionation in all GP sites and demonstrate an acute vagal response. This workflow may facilitate the introduction of a standardized technique suitable for widespread use.

Cardioneuroablation for cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope.

BACKGROUND: Cardioneuroablation (CNA) is an emerging technique being used to treat patients with cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope (VVS). We describe a case of CNA in targeting atrial ganglionated plexi (GP) based upon anatomical landmarks and fractionated electrogram (EGM) localization in a patient with cardioinhibitory syncope. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old healthy female presented with malignant VVS and symptomatic sinus pauses, with the longest detected at 10 s. She underwent acutely successful CNA with demonstration of vagal response (VR) noted after ablation of left sided GP, and tachycardia noted with right sided GP ablation. All GP sites were defined by anatomical landmarks and EGM analysis. By using the fractionation mapping software of Ensite Precision mapping system with high density mapping, fragmented EGMs were successfully detected in each GP site. One month after vagal denervation, there were no recurrent syncopal episodes or sinus pauses. Longer term follow-up with implantable loop recorder is planned. CONCLUSION: We performed CNA in a patient with VVS by utilizing a novel approach of combined use of high density mapping and fractionation mapping software. With this approach, we were able to detect fractionation in all GP sites and demonstrate acute VR. This workflow may allow for a new, standardized technique suitable for widespread use.

5th generation vs 4th generation troponin T in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in patients hospitalized for non-cardiac indications: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The frequency and implications of an elevated cardiac troponin (4th or 5th generation TnT) in patients outside of the emergency department or presenting with non-cardiac conditions is unclear. METHODS: Consecutive patients aged 18 years or older admitted for a primary non-cardiac condition who had the 4th generation TnT drawn had the 5th generation TnT run on the residual blood sample. Primary and secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality (ACM) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) respectively at 1 year. RESULTS: 918 patients were included (mean age 59.8 years, 55% male) in the cohort. 69% had elevated 5th generation TnT while 46% had elevated 4th generation TnT. 5th generation TnT was more sensitive and less specific than 4th generation TnT in predicting both ACM and MACE. The sensitivities for the 5th generation TnT assay were 85% for ACM and 90% for MACE rates, compared to 65% and 70% respectively for the 4th generation assay. 5th generation TnT positive patients that were missed by 4th generation TnT had a higher risk of ACM (27.5%) than patients with both assays negative (27.5% vs 11.1%, p<0.001), but lower than patients who had both assay positive (42.1%). MACE rates were not better stratified using the 5th generation TnT assay. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted for a non-cardiac condition, 5th generation TnT is more sensitive although less specific in predicting MACE and ACM. 5th generation TnT identifies an intermediate risk group for ACM previously missed with the 4th generation assay.

Fluctuations in premature ventricular contraction burden can affect medical assessment and management.

BACKGROUND: Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) can cause disabling symptoms and decrease left ventricular ejection fraction. PVC burden, typically quantified by a 24-hour monitor, is one of the factors that determines the clinical management of PVCs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of variability in 24-hour PVC burden during 14-day ambulatory cardiac monitoring in patients with significant PVC burden. METHODS: All patients referred for PVC evaluation received a 14-day ambulatory cardiac monitor. Parameters of interest included mean 14-day PVC burden, minimum and maximum 24-hour PVC burden, and absolute change in 24-hour PVC burden (maximum minus minimum). We included only patients with a mean 14-day PVC burden of more than 5%. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were included in the study. The median of mean 14-day PVC burden, maximum 24-hour PVC burden, and minimum 24-hour PVC burden were 9.0% (IQR 6.4%-17.9%), 16.2% (IQR 11.7%-26.2%), and 4.5% (IQR 2.6%-11.2%) respectively (P < .001). The median of the absolute 24-hour PVC burden change was 9.9% (IQR 5.4%-14.5%). There was a 2.45-fold (IQR 1.68- to 5.55-fold) median difference between maximum 24-hour PVC burden and minimum 24-hour burden in the same patient. When categorized by low (<10%), intermediate (10%-20%), and high (>20%) 24-hour PVC burden, 72.9% patients fell into at least 2 categories depending on the 24-hour period considered. CONCLUSION: There is a significant variation in 24-hour PVC burden when measured over a 14-day period in patients with of PVC burden of more than 5%. This variation might impact critical clinical decisions in a significant proportion of such patients.