Transcatheter Aspiration and Mechanical Embolectomy of an Intracardiac Mass.

The management of pulmonary embolus and intracardiac masses is rapidly evolving with the availability of transcatheter aspiration devices. We describe the utility of a transcatheter aspiration device in management of a patient with pulmonary embolus and a right atrial mass in transit after spinal surgery where a topical hemostatic agent was used to control intraoperative bleeding.

Multivessel Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in the Setting of Anomalous Left Coronary Arteries.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an epicardial coronary artery dissection not associated with atherosclerosis or trauma, and is not iatrogenic. The pathogenesis of SCAD is not fully understood, and the association of coronary artery anomalies and SCAD is not known. We present a case of a 64-year-old woman presenting with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) due to have multivessel SCAD in the setting of anomalous origin of the coronary arteries with all three coronary arteries - right coronary artery (RCA), left anterior descending artery (LAD), and left circumflex artery (LCx) originating from the right sinus of Valsalva. LEARNING POINTS: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and coronary artery anomaly can arise where all three arteries originate from the right coronary cusp;There are possible associations between SCAD and coronary artery anomalies;Treatment and management of multivessel SCAD with a coronary artery anomaly where all three arteries arise from the right sinus of Valsalva.

Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation With Pancytopenia: JACC Patient Care Pathways.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) provides temporary mechanical circulatory support and simultaneous extracorporeal gas exchange for acute cardiorespiratory failure. By providing circulatory support, VA-ECMO gives treatments time to reach optimal efficacy or may be used as a bridge to a more durable mechanical solution for patients with acute cardiopulmonary failure. It is commonly used when a readily reversible etiology of decompensation is identified with very strict inclusion criteria for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation use. We present a unique case in which VA-ECMO/extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation was used after cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity in a patient with recurrent lymphoma of the left thigh with recent autologous stem cell transplant.

Atrial Back Wall Support to Facilitate Antegrade Closure of Complex Mitral Paravalvular Leaks.

Transapical puncture for transcatheter treatment of mitral-paravalvular leak (PVL) is associated with increased risks even when the apical tract is closed with vascular plugs. A novel technique that leverages back wall support from the right or left atrium can be used to facilitate transcatheter closure of mitral PVL through an antegrade approach. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Right heart catheterization predictors of symptomatic improvement in patients undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair (TTEER) is associated with improvement in outcomes for symptomatic patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, reliable predictors for clinical success are not yet fully defined. This study aims to describe right heart catheterization (RHC) findings in patients referred for TTEER and identify hemodynamic characteristics of patients who experience immediate symptomatic improvement following successful TR intervention. METHODS: Patients who underwent TTEER and had a separate RHC within the preceding 6 months were included. Hemodynamic tracings from the RHC and TTEER procedures were reviewed and recorded. Clinical success was defined as a successful device implant with at least 1-grade of TR reduction and improvement in NYHA class by 1 or more grades on 30-day echocardiogram and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Thirteen patients underwent an RHC within 6 months of TTEER procedure (median age 76 years [IQR: 73-80]). All patients were on a stable dose of loop diuretics. Baseline right atrial pressure was severely elevated (mean 19 mmHg [IQR: 9-24 mmHg]) with prominent CV waves. Median pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) was 20 mmHg (IQR: 14-22) and 70% of patients had a mean PCWP > 15 mmHg at rest. Median PCWP CV-wave was 34 mmHg (IQR: 23-42). Higher PCWP CV-wave height (40 mmHg [IQR 33-43] versus 18 mmHg [IQR 17-31]) was associated with lower likelihood of clinical success (OR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.35-0.97, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion of invasive hemodynamics as part of pre-TTEER evaluation may allow for improved TR phenotyping and patient selection. Patients with a large left atrial CV wave on resting RHC were less likely to experience immediate symptomatic improvement despite procedural success with TTEER.

Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation With Pancytopenia: JACC Patient Care Pathways.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) provides temporary mechanical circulatory support and simultaneous extracorporeal gas exchange for acute cardiorespiratory failure. By providing circulatory support, VA-ECMO gives treatments time to reach optimal efficacy or may be used as a bridge to a more durable mechanical solution for patients with acute cardiopulmonary failure. It is commonly used when a readily reversible etiology of decompensation is identified with very strict inclusion criteria for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation use. We present a unique case in which VA-ECMO/extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation was used after cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity in a patient with recurrent lymphoma of the left thigh with recent autologous stem cell transplant.

The clinical role of invasive hemodynamics in the evaluation and treatment of structural heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: Recognition and evaluation of structural heart disease has become more common in clinical practice and will continue to grow as the population ages. With the growing availability of surgical and transcatheter interventional options, appropriate evaluation and patient selection for therapy is required. While echocardiography can frequently provide the required anatomic and hemodynamic information required to guide therapeutic decisions, there remains subsets of patients in which noninvasive testing yields inconclusive results prompting the need for invasive hemodynamics. AREAS COVERED: This article reviews the indications and strengths of invasive hemodynamics in a variety of structural heart diseases. We describe the utilization and benefits of continuous hemodynamics during transcatheter interventions and review the prognostic information that can be gleaned from changes in hemodynamics after intervention. EXPERT OPINION: The advancement of transcatheter therapies for structural heart disease has sparked a renewed interest in the utilization of invasive hemodynamics. Continued growth and accessibility of comprehensive hemodynamics for clinical practice will rely on clinicians to continually review, refine, and develop procedural techniques beyond the current training standards in order to further advance the field.

Acute Myocardial Infarction Caused by Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection of the First Septal Perforator.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection of the septal arteries is rare and may be overlooked on coronary angiogram. Additionally, dedicated intracoronary imaging may not be feasible due to artery size. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has an emerging role in diagnosis, which is critical because management changes significantly if spontaneous coronary artery dissection is diagnosed. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

Predictors of arrhythmia during pregnancy in adults with congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Risk prediction of arrhythmia during pregnancy in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients is currently lacking, and the impact of preconception catheter ablation on future antepartum arrhythmia has not been studied. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of pregnancies in ACHD patients. Clinically significant arrhythmia events during pregnancy were described, predictors of arrhythmia were analyzed, and a risk score devised. The impact of preconception catheter ablation on antepartum arrhythmia was assessed. RESULTS: The study included 172 pregnancies in 137 patients. Arrhythmia events occurred in 25 (15%) of pregnancies, with 64% of events occurring in the second trimester and sustained supraventricular tachycardia being the most common rhythm. Univariate predictors of arrhythmia were history of tachyarrhythmia (OR 20.33, 95% CI 6.95-59.47, p < 0.001, Fontan circulation (OR 11.90, 95% CI 2.60-53.70, p < 0.001), baseline physiologic class C/D (OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.54-9.01, p = 0.002) and history of multiple valve interventions (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.20-8.20, p = 0.017). Three risk factors (excluding multiple valve interventions) were used to formulate a risk score, with a cutoff of ≥2 points predicting antepartum arrhythmia with sensitivity and specificity of 84%. While recurrence of the index arrhythmia was not observed following successful catheter ablation, preconception ablation did not impact odds of antepartum arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: We provide a novel risk stratification scheme for predicting antepartum arrhythmia in ACHD patients. The role of contemporary preconception catheter ablation in risk reduction needs further refinement with multicenter investigation.

Right ventricle-dependent coronary circulation diagnosed by non-invasive ferumoxytol-enhanced 4D cardiac magnetic resonance angiography in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum.

Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is a complex cyanotic congenital heart lesion with the potential for myocardial ischaemia due to the presence of coronary artery anomalies. We present a case of a two-day-old baby with postnatal diagnosis of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum in whom non-invasive ferumoxytol-enhanced 4D cardiac magnetic resonance angiography was used for the assessment of coronary artery anatomy.

Observations and Single-Center Outcomes in Orthotopic Heart Transplant for Patients With Adult Congenital Heart Disease: A Call for Equity and Parity.

BACKGROUND: For persons with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), optimum patient selection and eligibility for orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) is not well defined. There is difficulty quantifying risk in patients with ACHD, leading to variability in OHT listing time and status. They are often disadvantaged due to a lack of mechanical support options, a shortage of congenital surgeons, and encounters with risk adverse health care programs. We examined patient characteristics and outcomes of a contemporary cohort of patients with ACHD undergoing OHT at a single high-volume Adult Congenital Heart Association accredited transplant center. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 49 consecutive patients with ACHD who underwent OHT from November 2010 through March 2020 was performed. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Survival at 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, and 10 years was 94%, 92%, 92%, and 83%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the diversity and complexity of the population with ACHD proceeding to OHT as well as the multispecialty care needed to overcome disadvantages and optimize survival. Continued national discussions and policy adjustments will be necessary to bring parity and equity to this unique population.

Wide complex tachycardia discrimination tool improves physicians' diagnostic accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Timely and accurate discrimination of wide complex tachycardias (WCTs) into ventricular tachycardia (VT) or supraventricular WCT (SWCT) is critically important. Previously we developed and validated an automated VT Prediction Model that provides a VT probability estimate using the paired WCT and baseline 12-lead ECGs. Whether this model improves physicians' diagnostic accuracy has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether the VT Prediction Model improves physicians' WCT differentiation accuracy. METHODS: Over four consecutive days, nine physicians independently interpreted fifty WCT ECGs (25 VTs and 25 SWCTs confirmed by electrophysiological study) as either VT or SWCT. Day 1 used the WCT ECG only, Day 2 used the WCT and baseline ECG, Day 3 used the WCT ECG and the VT Prediction Model's estimation of VT probability, and Day 4 used the WCT ECG, baseline ECG, and the VT Prediction Model's estimation of VT probability. RESULTS: Inclusion of the VT Prediction Model data increased diagnostic accuracy versus the WCT ECG alone (Day 3: 84.2% vs. Day 1: 68.7%, p 0.009) and WCT and baseline ECGs together (Day 3: 84.2% vs. Day 2: 76.4%, p 0.003). There was no further improvement of accuracy with addition of the baseline ECG comparison to the VT Prediction Model (Day 3: 84.2% vs. Day 4: 84.0%, p 0.928). Overall sensitivity (Day 3: 78.2% vs. Day 1: 67.6%, p 0.005) and specificity (Day 3: 90.2% vs. Day 1: 69.8%, p 0.016) for VT were superior after the addition of the VT Prediction Model. CONCLUSION: The VT Prediction Model improves physician ECG diagnostic accuracy for discriminating WCTs.

Novel use of a Synovis™ coupler device for a surgical lymphovenous anastomosis for the treatment of refractory chylothorax in a patient with central lymphatic flow disorder.

Refractory post-operative chylothorax in congenital heart disease is difficult to treat. We present a case of intractable neonatal chylothorax after cardiac surgery due to central lymphatic flow disorder that was treated by creating a lymphovenous anastomosis of the thoracic duct to the left external jugular vein for definitive treatment.

The Impact of Molecular Testing for Pathogens of Community-Acquired Pneumonia on Antibiotic Utilization.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common and costly problem in U.S. healthcare. A major challenge in development of targeted treatment strategies has been limitations in diagnostic testing to confirm specific pathogens, including viruses. The recent and widespread use of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) to identify pathogens has created an opportunity to improve diagnostic testing and subsequent antibiotic stewardship. We performed a retrospective cohort study examining 233 inpatients with pneumonia of which 70 patients underwent testing with mPCR. A specific pathogen was identified by mPCR in 24 percent of these patients and there was a statistically significant decrease in antibiotic use between patients who tested negative (average 8.3 days of antibiotics) versus patients who tested positive (average 4.9 days of antibiotics). This highlights the potential utility of mPCR implementation as an antibiotic stewardship strategy.

Premature Thelarche and the PURA Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Premature thelarche is a self-limited condition characterized by Tanner stage II-III breast development in girls younger than 8 years of age with no evidence of advancing puberty. Evaluation concentrates on excluding central or peripheral causes of precocious puberty. CASE: A girl aged 2 years 4 months with profound hypotonia and delayed developmental milestones presented with Tanner II breast development, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone levels, suppressed luteinizing hormone level, normal growth and skeletal development, and prepubertal uterine length and ovarian volume. Monitoring until 8 years of age revealed no pubertal progression. Whole exome sequencing at 8 years revealed an autosomal-dominant mutation in the purine-rich element-binding protein A (PURA) gene. Previous patients with PURA syndrome have had pituitary dysfunction and precocious puberty. CONCLUSION: Purine-rich element-binding protein A syndrome can be associated with premature thelarche.