Role of two-dimensional strain echocardiographic parameters in suspected acute coronary syndrome patients with initial non-diagnostic electrocardiogram and troponins: An observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is often challenging especially in presence of initial normal troponins and non-specific electrocardiogram. The index study aimed at determining the diagnostic value of strain echocardiography in patients with suspected ACS but with non-diagnostic electrocardiogram and echocardiography findings. METHODS: The study was conducted on 42 patients with suspected ACS and non-diagnostic electrocardiograms, normal quantitative troponin-T levels, and left ventricular function. All patients underwent conventional and 2D-strain echocardiography followed by coronary angiography, within 24 h of admission. Patients with regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA), valvular heart disease, suspected myocarditis, and past coronary artery disease (CAD) were excluded. RESULTS: Amongst the global strains, the global circumferential strain (GCS) was significantly reduced (p = .014) amongst those with significant CAD on angiography as opposed to global longitudinal strain (GLS) which was similar in the two groups (p = .33). The GCS/GLS ratio was also significantly reduced in patients with significant CAD compared to those with normal/mild disease on coronary angiography (p = .025). Both the parameters had good accuracy in predicting significant CAD. GCS displayed a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 86% at an optimal cut-off 31.5% (AUROC: .93, 95% CI: .601-1.000; p = .03), and likewise GCS/GLS ratio had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity and 86% at a cut-off of 1.89% (AUROC: .86, 95% CI: .592-1.000; p = .049). GLS and peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) did not differ significantly in patients with/without significant CAD (p = .32 and .58, respectively). CONCLUSION: GCS and GCS/GLS ratio provides incremental value in comparison to GLS, PALS, and tissue Doppler indices (E/e') in patients with suspected ACS and non-diagnostic electrocardiogram and troponins. GCS at cut-off of >31.5% and GCS/GLS ratio >1.89 can reliably exclude patients with significant CAD in this setting.

Admission Serum Chloride Levels as Predictor of Stay Duration in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown that lower serum chloride is associated with diuretic resistance and increased mortality in heart failure. Impact of lower admission chloride on duration of stay in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has not been studied previously. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, we studied the effect of admission serum chloride on the duration of hospital stay in patients admitted with ADHF. A total of 167 patients were studied. Serum chloride levels were divided into tertiles - <96 meq/L (tertile 1), 96-101 meq/L (tertile 2), and >101 meq/L (tertile 3) based on the distribution of serum chloride levels in our patients. RESULTS: The median lengths of hospital stay in tertiles 1, 2, and 3 were 8(Interquartile range :6 -11), 7 (Interquartile range :5 -10.50), and 6 days(Interquartile range :4.25 - 8), respectively (p = 0.011). Admission serum chloride levels were inversely associated with duration of stay (R2 linear = 0.074, p = 0.001). On multiple linear regression analysis, serum chloride remained independent predictor of increased hospital stay (p=0.003) while association with serum sodium was not significant (p=0.07). 1 unit increase in chloride level was associated with 1.3% (p=0.003) decrease in hospital stay (95% CI: 2.2% to 0.5%). CONCLUSION: This retrospective analysis suggests that admission serum chloride levels are independently and inversely associated with increased duration of stay. This is independent of admission sodium levels. Thus serum chloride, rather than sodium, is an important poor prognostic marker in heart failure patients.

Impact of catheter fragmentation followed by local intrapulmonary thrombolysis in acute high risk pulmonary embolism as primary therapy.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) with more than 50% compromise of pulmonary circulation results significant right ventricular (RV) afterload leading to progressive RV failure, systemic hypotension and shock. Prompt restoration of thrombolysis, surgical embolectomy, or percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) prevents progressive hemodynamic decline. We report our single center experience in high risk PE patients treated with standard pigtail catheter mechanical fragmentation followed by intrapulmonary thrombolysis as a primary therapy. METHODS: 50 consecutive patients with diagnosis of high risk PE defined as having shock index >1 with angiographic evidence of >50% pulmonary arterial occlusion are included in the present study. All patients underwent emergent cardiac catheterization. After ensuring flow across pulmonary artery with mechanical breakdown of embolus by rotating 5F pigtail catheter; bolus dose of urokinase (4400 IU/kg) followed by infusion for 24 h was given in the thrombus. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded and follow up pulmonary angiogram was done. Clinical and echo follow up was done for one year. RESULTS: Pigtail rotational mechanical thrombectomy restored antegrade flow in all patients. The mean pulmonary artery pressure, Miller score, Shock index decreased significantly from 41 ± 8 mmHg, 20 ± 5, 1.32 ± 0.3 to 24.52 ± 6.89, 5.35 ± 2.16, 0.79 ± 0.21 respectively (p < 0.0001). In-hospital major complications were seen in 4 patients. There was a statistically significant reduction of PA pressures from 62 ± 11 mmHg to 23±6 mmHg on follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid reperfusion of pulmonary arteries with mechanical fragmentation by pigtail catheter followed by intrapulmonary thrombolysis results in excellent immediate and intermediate term outcomes in patients presenting with high risk pulmonary embolism.