Updated review on pulmonary arterial hypertension: Differences between down syndrome and non-down syndrome populations.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major concern in patients with Down syndrome (DS) and congenital heart disease (CHD). Understanding the unique characteristics of PAH in these populations is essential for developing tailored management strategies. This review examines differences in PAH between DS and non-DS (nDS) patients with CHD, focusing on pathophysiology, clinical presentation, hemodynamic profiles, and treatment outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 93 adults with PAH was conducted, including 18 with DS and 75 with CHD but without DS (nDS). Data on demographics, clinical presentations, comorbidities, and hemodynamic parameters were collected using echocardiography and right heart catheterization. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests, Student's t-tests, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to compare the DS and nDS groups. RESULTS: DS patients presented with PAH at a younger age (mean age 25.06 years) compared to nDS patients (mean age 42.4 years; p < 0.001). Hypothyroidism was more prevalent in DS patients (61.1 %) than in nDS patients (29.3 %; p = 0.012). Hemodynamic assessments showed lower mean arterial pressure (MAP) in DS patients (76.24 ± 11.6 mmHg) versus nDS patients (93.95 ± 15 mmHg; p < 0.001), and a higher TAPSE/PASP ratio (0.41 vs. 0.23; p = 0.009), suggesting less severe right ventricular dysfunction. DS patients had a significant survival advantage over nDS patients (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: DS patients have distinct clinical and hemodynamic profiles in PAH, requiring personalized management. Early detection and tailored treatment are crucial for improving outcomes. Further research should refine these strategies and explore new therapies.

Pulmonary vasodilators in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension-A case series.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a prevalent complication among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In these patients, pulmonary vasodilators may be useful but are underused. We describe a group of patients with precapillary PH and advanced CKD treated with pulmonary vasodilators. This was a case series of patients with CKD stage 4 and 5 and precapillary PH (isolated or combined) based on right heart catheterization (RHC) treated with pulmonary vasodilators from 2018 to 2023. Of 263 patients with isolated precapillary or combined PH and advanced CKD, only 17 (6%) were treated with pulmonary vasodilators; 53% (n = 9) with precapillary PH and 47% (n = 8) with combined PH. Most patients (94%, n = 16) received phosphodiesterase-5 antagonists, while 12% (n = 2) received endothelin receptor antagonists. Adverse clinical outcomes were seen in 35% of patients within a year. The use of pulmonary vasodilator did not prevent adverse outcomes in patients with precapillary PH and advanced CKD.

Natural recovery of cardiac allograft diastolic function, a retrospective longitudinal report.

Cardiac allografts suffer diastolic dysfunction early post-heart transplantation (HTx) due to ischemic injury, however the natural course of diastology recovery post HTx remains unknown (Tallaj et al., 2007 [1]). We retrospectively reviewed 60 adult HTx patients between 2015 and 2021 at a single site. Invasive hemodynamics and echocardiograms were obtained at 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-HTx. RA strain by 2D feature tracking was compared to intracardiac pressure measurements. In all patients, we observed normalization of RV and RA filling pressures by post-operative week 12 and recovery of diastolic dysfunction by month 6. There was an inverse correlation between RV end-diastolic pressure and RA contractile (r = -0.192, p < 0.05) and reservoir (r = -0.128, p < 0.05) functions in the allograft. As the post-transplant care paradigm shifts away from invasive procedures, right atrial indices should be included in imaging-based allograft surveillance studies.

BMP10 reflects pre-capillary pulmonary hemodynamics: association of biomarkers and hemodynamic parameters in pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The role of biomarkers in diagnosing pulmonary hypertension (PH) and distinguishing between pre- and post-capillary PH remains poorly understood. We aimed to identify biomarkers with a strong association with mean pulmonary arterial pressure, mPAP (PH diagnosis) and pulmonary vascular resistance, PVR (pre-capillary component), but not with pulmonary arterial wedge pressure, PAWP (post-capillary component). METHODS: Blood samples were collected in patients undergoing right heart catheterization within a prospective cross-sectional study. Biomarkers measured included BMP10, NT-proBNP, ANG2, ESM1/endocan, FGF23, GDF15, IGFBP7, IL6, MyBPC3, proC3, and proC6/endotrophin. Primary outcomes were mPAP, PVR, and PAWP, while secondary outcomes included PH diagnosis (mPAP > 20 mmHg) and elevated PVR (> 2 Wood units). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between biomarkers and outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 127 patients included (age 66 ± 13 years, 54% female), 73% were diagnosed with PH. BMP10, NT-proBNP, ANG2, MyBPC3, and FGF23 showed a strong association with mPAP (p < 0.001). BMP10 and NT-proBNP were strongly associated with PVR (p < 0.001), while NT-proBNP and ANG2 were strongly associated with PAWP (p < 0.001). NT-proBNP had the strongest association with the diagnosis of PH (area under the curve = 0.76). BMP10 was the only biomarker associated with elevated PVR (OR 1.60, 95%CI 1.01-2.54, p = 0.04) but not with PAWP (p = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Several biomarkers were strongly associated with mPAP, PAWP, and PVR. BMP10 was the only biomarker strongly associated with mPAP and PVR, but not with PAWP, thus reflecting the pre-capillary PH component. Measurement of BMP10 along with NT-proBNP may aid in diagnosing PH.

Novel Computed Tomography Angiography Parameter Is Associated with Low Cardiac Index in Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Retrospective Analysis.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a complication of incomplete resolution of acute pulmonary embolism. We hypothesize changes in CT Hounsfield Unit gradient (HU-Δ) created by the dispersion of IV contrast through the downstream blood pool correlate with cardiac index (CI). We sought to compare HU-Δ with invasively obtained CI. METHODS: We completed a retrospective analysis of CTEPH patients in which individuals with low CI (<2.2-L/min/m2) were identified. Both absolute and fractional HU-Δ were derived from pulmonary CTA by subtracting the HU value of the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) from the main pulmonary artery (MPA) (absolute) and expressing them as a percentage of MPA-HU (fractional) on static axial images. These were compared between low and normal CI. RESULTS: Of the 237 patients, 50.2% were female, 53.2% were White, 36.7% were Black. Hemodynamics were mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure = 45.4 ± 11.2-mmHg, pulmonary vascular resistance = 9.2 ± 4.4-WU, CI = 2.05 ± 0.48-L/min/m2. There was a higher mean MPA-HU = 391.1 ± 113.6 than LA-HU = 251.6 ± 81. In patients with low CI, the HU-Δ was higher, HU-ΔMPA-LA was 148.9 ± 78.4 vs. 124.5 ± 77.2 (p = 0.02), and HU-ΔMPA-LV was 170.7 ± 87 vs. 140 ± 82 (p = 0.009). A HU-ΔMPA-LA = 118 had a sensitivity of 75.6% and specificity of 77% to detect low CI, AUC 0.61, p = 0.003. A HU-ΔPA-LV = 156 had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 53% to detect low CI, AUC = 0.62, p = 0.001. A fractional reduction HU-ΔMPA-LA of 35% had a sensitivity and specificity of 79% and 53%, respectively, to detect low CI (AUC 0.65, p < 0.001). A fractional reduction of the HU-ΔMPA-LV of 40% had a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 55%, respectively, to detect low CI (AUC 0.65, p < 0.001). HU Δ were highly reproducible (Kappa = 0.9, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.86-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: High HU Δ between MPA-LA and MPA-LV were associated with low CI in patients with CTEPH.

Predictive factors of right heart catheterization to diagnose pulmonary arterial hypertension using least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) regression.

OBJECTIVE: This study involved an analysis of a real world, international survey where physicians provided cross-sectional, retrospective data for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to determine predictive factors of right heart catheterization (RHC) to confirm their PAH diagnosis. METHODS: Data were sourced from the Adelphi PAH Disease Specific Programme (DSP) in the United States (US), France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, and Japan, between March and August 2022. RESULTS: Overall, 75% (n = 395) of patients with PAH (n = 529) underwent RHC at diagnosis; this varied by country, ranging from 64% in the US to 92% in France. RHC was more likely to be performed in patients with a higher New York Heart Association Functional Class, with key PAH symptoms (dyspnea, palpitations, and cyanosis), and diagnosed at PH specialist centers. CONCLUSION: By understanding the factors associated with RHC utilization at PAH diagnosis, more targeted approaches for improving the diagnosis for patients with suspected PAH may be pursued.

Right-ventricle heart failure in PAH vs. HFrEF with secondary PH: Hemodynamic, ergospirometric, and organ function correlations.

PURPOSE: The goal of the study was to identify markers of organ function used in daily routines that could potentially aid in the overall evaluation of the cardiovascular system in patients with right-ventricle heart failure due to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and left-ventricle heart failure. We analyzed correlations between parameters from right heart catheterization (RHC), cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), and selected laboratory parameters of thyroid, liver, kidneys function and iron homeostasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis included 107 patients (mean age 57.6 â€‹± â€‹16.2; 34.6 â€‹% women), comprising 57 patients with PAH (mean age 54.0 â€‹± â€‹18.2; 49.1 â€‹% women) and 50 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) â€‹< â€‹40 â€‹% (mean age 61.6 â€‹± â€‹12.7; 18 â€‹% women). All patients underwent CPET. Each patient in the PAH group had RHC performed. Fifteen patients from the HFrEF group underwent RHC, which confirmed the suspicion of pulmonary hypertension (HFrEF-SPH). RESULTS: CPET and laboratory parameters' analysis showed strong correlations between ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope and NT-proBNP in HFrEF without secondary PH and HFrEF-SPH groups. In the PAH group, VE/VCO2 slope correlated with liver and thyroid function but also with morphological parameters of red-cell system. Analysis of correlations between laboratory and hemodynamic parameters revealed significant correlations between pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and red-cell parameters, especially strong with fT4 in the PAH group. CONCLUSIONS: In HFrEF-SPH patients, laboratory parameters strongly correlated with pulmonary pressures and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP).

The relation between socioeconomic status and invasive haemodynamics at evaluation for advanced heart failure.

AIMS: Socioeconomic deprivation is a risk marker for worse prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF), and a potential barrier to referral for advanced HF evaluation. The relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and invasive haemodynamics in patients undergoing evaluation for advanced HF therapies is unknown. METHODS: We combined a consecutive clinical registry of patients evaluated for advanced HF with patient-level data on SES (household income, education, workforce status, cohabitant status and distance from home to tertiary HF centre) derived from nationwide registries. Using this information, the cohort was divided into groups of low-, medium- and high degree of socioeconomic deprivation. The associations between SES and invasive haemodynamics were explored with multiple linear regression adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: A total of 631 patients were included. The median age was 53 years, and 23% were women. Patients in the highest income quartile versus the lowest (Q4 vs. Q1) were older (median age 57 vs. 50 years) and more often male (83% vs. 67%), both P < 0.001. Increasing household income (per 100 000 Danish kroner,1 EUR = 7.4 DKK) was associated with lower pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) [-0.18 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.36 to -0.01, P = 0.036] but not significantly associated with central venous pressure (CVP) (-0.07 mmHg, 95% CI -0.21 to 0.06, P = 0.27), cardiac index (-0.004 L/min/m2, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.01, P = 0.60), or pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (-0.003 Wood units, 95% CI -0.37 to 0.16, P = 0.84). Comparing the most deprived with the least deprived group, adjusted mean PVR was higher (0.35 Wood units, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.68, P = 0.04), but PCWP (0.66 mmHg, 95% CI -1.49 to 2.82, P = 0.55), CVP (-0.26 mmHg, 95% CI -1.76 to 1.24, P = 0.73) and cardiac index (-0.03 L/min/m2, 95% CI -0.22 to 0.17, P = 0.78) were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Most haemodynamic measurements were similar across layers of SES. Nevertheless, there were some indications of worse haemodynamics in patients with lower household income or a high accumulated burden of socioeconomic deprivation. Particular attention may be warranted in socioeconomically deprived patients to ensure timely referral for advanced HF evaluation.

Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography in the Evaluation of Coronary Artery Disease: An Interventional Perspective.

Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has become the gold standard for noninvasive anatomic assessment of the coronary arteries. With high positive predictive value and even higher negative predictive value, CCTA allows for rapid determination of the presence or absence of coronary plaque and triage of patients' need for further invasive evaluation and treatment. From an interventional cardiologist's perspective, CCTA (more so than stress testing) is helpful in determining the need for invasive therapy. In conjunction with functional assessments, the anatomic evaluation from CCTA mirrors the anatomical assessment of a coronary angiogram more than any other noninvasive assessment. This allows for catheter selection, percutaneous coronary intervention preplanning, as well as additional decision making before the patient has entered the catheterization laboratory. This manuscript explores some of the more recent developments in noninvasive coronary angiography and discusses the use and utility of CCTA from an interventional cardiologist's perspective.

Treatment of Cardiogenic Shock and Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation: Pulling Out All the Stops.

We report the case of a 62-year-old woman who presented with an acute inferior wall myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock and refractory ventricular fibrillation. Following prolonged resuscitation in the emergency room, she was transferred to the cardiac catheterization laboratory where, as a first step, mechanical circulatory support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was established. Next, a right heart catheterization study was performed, followed by coronary angiography and angioplasty of the infarct-related artery. Promptly on transfer to the intensive care unit, a hypothermia protocol was initiated. By postprocedure day 1, the patient's ventricular fibrillation had resolved, mean arterial pressure was >65 mm Hg, and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure was 10 mm Hg. Echocardiography demonstrated complete recovery of left ventricular systolic function. Lactate levels had fallen from 11.0 mmol/L (pre-ECMO) to 1.2 mmol/L. The patient was successfully weaned off pressor and ECMO support within 24 hours of the percutaneous coronary intervention procedure. She was extubated on postprocedure day 2 and discharged home on day 6. At 26-month follow-up, she remains well, angina free, neurologically intact, and without evidence of heart failure. The treatment algorithm used in this case should be considered favorably in the management of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock and refractory ventricular fibrillation.

The Chest Pain That Never Went Away: A Case of Complex Cardiopulmonary Pathologies in a 64-Year-Old Caucasian Male.

Chest pain is a common and complex symptom that can arise from various etiologies, ranging from benign musculoskeletal conditions to life-threatening cardiovascular events. It is a hallmark symptom of myocardial infarction, angina, and other ischemic heart diseases, necessitating prompt and thorough evaluation. Ongoing chest pain post-procedures and medication administration presents a diagnostic challenge, as it may be indicative of an exacerbation of underlying conditions. We present the case of a 64-year-old Caucasian male who initially presented with severe and persistent chest pain suggestive of an anterior wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). He had a history of coronary artery disease and had recently undergone cardiac catheterization. Despite prompt administration of nitroglycerin and aspirin, the patient's symptoms persisted, prompting emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Subsequent to PCI, ongoing chest discomfort persisted, prompting further investigation, which revealed a concurrent lung mass and nodules on imaging. Additional interventions, including repeated PCI procedures and thoracentesis, were undertaken. Unfortunately, the patient's clinical course rapidly deteriorated, culminating in cardiac arrest and unsuccessful resuscitative efforts. This case highlights the complexities inherent in managing intricate cardiovascular conditions and emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining vigilance for concomitant pathologies.

A Rare Case of Symptomatic Anomalous Origin of the Right Coronary Artery With a High Interarterial Course Between the Pulmonary Artery and the Aorta.

The congenital anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (AORCA) with an incongruous course is a rare malformation that can manifest as exertional chest pain, syncope, arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. We present a case of a 42-year-old male with a history of hypercholesterolemia who presented with chest pain and dizziness upon exertion for two weeks. The physical examination was unremarkable, and the patient was hemodynamically stable. Initial blood tests were normal. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed sinus bradycardia at 56 bpm without ST or T wave changes. A cardiac stress test indicated antero-apical inducible ischemia with a moderate probability of stress-induced ischemia. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed an AORCA with a high interarterial course between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Subsequent left heart catheterization confirmed the anomalous origin and revealed atherosclerotic disease. This anomaly was identified as the cause of the patient's symptoms due to the compression of the right coronary artery (RCA). The patient was treated with aspirin and statin and underwent successful internal mammary artery-RCA bypass grafting. Postoperatively, the patient's symptoms resolved, and there were no further episodes of chest pain.

Severe Coronary Vasospasms in Asymptomatic COVID-19.

Since the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019, we have witnessed its multi-organ system involvement, not limiting itself to the lungs. We present a case of a patient with asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection who developed ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to coronary artery vasospasm. The patient exhibited symptoms of acute coronary syndrome, elevated troponins, and electrocardiographic changes consistent with STEMI. He was found to have significant coronary vasospasm on angiography that responded well to nitroglycerin. This case highlights the potential cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 infection, even when asymptomatic, and the importance of considering vasospasm as a possible mechanism in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome. We also elaborate on some potential pathophysiological mechanisms in which COVID-19 may lead to coronary vasospasm.

Comparison of different venous access ways for right heart catheterization-a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Right heart catheterization (RHC) is a common diagnostic tool and of special importance in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Until today, there have been no clear instructions or guidelines on which venous access to prefer. This meta-analysis assessed whether the choice of the venous access site for elective RHC has an impact on procedural or clinical outcomes. METHODS: A structured literature search was performed. Single-arm reports and controlled trials reporting event data were eligible. The primary endpoint was a composite of access-related and overall complications. RESULTS: Nineteen studies, including 6509 RHC procedures, were eligible. The results were analyzed in two groups. The first group compared central venous access (CVA; n = 2072) with peripheral venous access (PVA; n = 2680) and included only multi-arm studies (n = 12, C/P comparison). In the second group, all studies (n = 19, threeway comparison) were assessed to compare the three individual access ways. The overall complication rate was low at 1.0% (n = 68). The primary endpoint in the C/P comparison occurred significantly less for PVA than for CVA (0.1% vs. 1.2%; p = 0.004). In the threeway comparison, PVA had a significantly lower complication rate than femoral access (0.3% vs. 1.1%; p = 0.04). Jugular access had the numerically highest complication rate (2.0%), but the difference was not significant compared to peripheral (0.3%; p = 0.29) or femoral access (1.1%; p = 0.32). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis showed that PVA for RHC has a significantly lower complication rate than CVA. There was a low level of certainty and high heterogeneity. This pooled data analysis indicated PVA as the primary venous access for RHC.

Assessment of 4D flow MRI for quantification of left-to-right shunt in pediatric patients with ventricular septal defect: comparison with right heart catheterization.

Objectives: The percentage of shunt fraction significantly impacts the management of patients with congenital shunts, influencing strategic choices such as surgical or interventional procedures. This study compared the estimated shunt fraction (the ratio of pulmonary-to-systemic flow, Qp/Qs) for quantifying the left-to-right shunt in children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) using heart catheterization, four-dimensional (4D) flow, and two-dimensional (2D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The goal was to establish a non-invasive and reliable measurement ratio between pulmonary and systemic blood flow in these patients. Methods: Between July 2022 and June 2023, patients scheduled to undergo invasive right heart catheterization were included in this study. MRI was performed one hour before the catheterization procedure. The correlation of shunt fraction was assessed between all methods after calculating the Qp/Qs ratio from 2D and 4D flow MRI and catheterization. Results: A total of 24 patients (aged 3-15 years, eight females) were ultimately included in the study. The Qp/Qs ratios obtained from 4D flow had a robust correlation (correlation coefficient r = 0.962) compared to those obtained during catheterization. Cardiac catheterization recorded the mean shunt fraction at 1.499 ± 0.396, while 4D flow measured it at 1.403 ± 0.344, with no significant difference between the two techniques. Moreover, there was a reasonable correlation (r = 0.894) between 2D flow measurements of Qp/Qs and the results obtained from catheterization, with a mean shunt fraction of 1.326 ± 0.283. Conclusion: 4D flow MRI has the potential to be a non-invasive method for accurately measuring the left-to-right shunt in children with VSD.

Association of Cardiopulmonary Hemodynamics and Outcomes in Pulmonary Hypertension Following Kidney Transplant: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) frequently complicates the evaluation of kidney transplant (KT) candidates, and is associated with increased adverse outcomes (mortality, delayed graft function (DGF), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)) following KT. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the relationship between cardiopulmonary hemodynamics and post-KT outcomes? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of adults undergoing KT between 10/1/11 and 10/1/21, who underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) to assess cardiopulmonary hemodynamics within a year of transplantation. Frailty models and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between cardiopulmonary hemodynamics and outcomes (mortality, DGF, MACE) following KT. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients were included in the final analysis, predominantly male (72%), with a median age of 57 years. PH, defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) > 20mmHg, was present in the majority of the cohort (N=93, 79%). The cohort was followed for a median of 29.9 months post-KT, during which about one-fourth experienced mortality (23%) or DGF (25%) events, and approximately one-third (34%) experienced MACE. Though echocardiographic measures of pulmonary artery pressure failed to identify post-KT outcomes, a mPAP of ≥ 30mmHg on RHC was associated with post-KT MACE (Hazard Ratio 2.60, 95% Confidence Interval [1.10, 6.10]) and more prevalent in those experiencing post-KT mortality (63% vs 32%, p=0.001). Pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension was also associated with post-KT mortality (Hazard Ratio 3.71, 95% Confidence Interval [1.07, 12.90]). INTERPRETATION: Pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension and a mPAP of ≥ 30mmHg on RHC, but not echocardiographic evidence of PH, was associated with mortality and MACE following KT. These data suggest that RHC hemodynamics are superior to echocardiographic measures of PH in associating with outcomes following KT, and RHC-derived mPAP in particular may have value in predicting MACE and mortality post-KT.

Overcoming diagnostic challenges in constrictive pericarditis: why volume is important?

A 65-year-old male with chronic liver disease and refractory ascites was being evaluated for liver transplant, when constrictive pericarditis (CP) was suspected. Initial diagnostics were inconclusive due to overdiuresis. After suspension of diuretics, cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed CP, leading to successful pericardiectomy and normalization of liver function, emphasizing volume status and multimodality imaging role in CP diagnosis.

Radiation Exposure Using Rampart vs Standard Lead Aprons and Shields During Invasive Cardiovascular Procedures.

Background: Radiation exposure during invasive cardiovascular procedures remains an important health care issue. Lead aprons and shields (LAS) are used to decrease radiation exposure but leave large portions of the body unshielded. The Rampart IC M1128 is a portable radiation shielding system that may significantly attenuate radiation exposure. Methods: Catheterization laboratory teams were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to perform elective invasive cardiovascular procedures utilizing either traditional LAS or the Rampart IC M1128. Radiation exposure was measured using real-time dosimetry monitoring in prespecified anatomic locations on 3 operators (position 1: first operator/fellow; position 2: second operator/attending; and position 3: catheterization laboratory nurse/technologist). Radiation exposure was measured on a per-case basis. Results: In total, 100 consecutive cases were randomized in this study (47 Rampart; 53 LAS). There was no difference in fluoroscopy time (12.3 minutes for Rampart vs 15.4 minutes for LAS; P = .52), dose area product (288 Gy⋅cm2 for Rampart vs 376.5 Gy⋅cm2 for LAS; P = .52), or scatter radiation (38.8 mRem for Rampart vs 46.8 mRem for LAS; P = .61) between the groups. There was significantly lower total body radiation (in milliroentgen equivalent man) exposure using the Rampart than that using LAS for each team member: position 1-0.1 mRem for Rampart vs 2.2 mRem for LAS; P < .001; position 2-0.1 mRem Rampart vs 3.2 mRem LAS; P < .001; and position 3-0.0 mRem for Rampart vs 0.8 mRem for LAS; P < .001. Conclusions: During routine clinical procedures, the Rampart system significantly decreases total body radiation exposure compared with traditional LAS.

The Role of Cardiac MRI in Pulmonary Hypertension- Is it Still an Underutilized Tool.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an intricate medical issue resulting from increased pressure in the pulmonary artery (PA). The current gold standard for diagnosis involves an invasive procedure known as right heart catheterization. Nevertheless, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) offers a non-invasive and valuable alternative for evaluating the function, structure, and blood flow through the pulmonary artery (PA) in both the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV). Additionally, cMRI can be a good tool for predicting mortality by assessing various hemodynamic parameters. We perceive that cMRI may be an underutilized tool in the evaluation of PH. More discussions might be needed to highlight its utility in patients with PH. This article aims to discuss the potential role of cMRI in evaluating PH based on the review of recent literature.

Intracardiac ultrasound-guided transseptal puncture in horses: Outcome, follow-up, and perioperative anticoagulant treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac catheterizations in horses are mainly performed in the right heart, as access to the left heart traditionally requires an arterial approach. Transseptal puncture (TSP) has been adapted for horses but data on follow-up and closure of the iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) are lacking. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To perform TSP and assess postoperative complications and iASD closure over a minimum of 4 weeks. ANIMALS: Eleven healthy adult horses. METHODS: Transseptal puncture was performed under general anesthesia. Serum cardiac troponin I concentrations were measured before and after puncture. Weekly, iASD closure was monitored using transthoracic and intracardiac echocardiography. Relationship between activated clotting time and anti-factor Xa activity during postoperative enoxaparin treatment was assessed in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Transseptal puncture was successfully achieved in all horses within a median duration of 22 (range, 10-104) minutes. Balloon dilatation of the puncture site for sheath advancement was needed in 4 horses. Atrial arrhythmias occurred in 9/11 horses, including atrial premature depolarizations (N = 1), atrial tachycardia (N = 5), and fibrillation (N = 3). Serum cardiac troponin I concentrations increased after TSP, but remained under the reference value in 10/11 horses. Median time to iASD closure was 14 (1-35) days. Activated clotting time correlated with anti-factor Xa activity in vitro but not in vivo. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Transseptal puncture was successfully performed in all horses. The technique was safe and spontaneous iASD closure occurred in all horses. Clinical application of TSP will allow characterization and treatment of left-sided arrhythmias in horses.