Circulatory support with triple cannulation V-PaA ECMO in a patient with acute right ventricular failure and refractory hypoxemia secondary to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage: A case report.

A 48-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a one-week history of progressive dyspnea. During her hospitalization, the diagnosis of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was made. She subsequently developed respiratory failure and acute right ventricular failure. Despite medical treatment, she continued to experience distributive shock due to a generalized inflammatory response. Circulatory support with ECMO was needed. We opted for triple cannulation to manage the multiorgan failure as a bridge to recovery. We describe our experience with an uncommon cannulation technique: veno-pulmonary-arterial cannulation, which enabled us to address cardiogenic shock, refractory hypoxemia, and distributive shock, leading to the successful recovery of the patient.

Technical considerations for percutaneous pulmonary artery cannulation for mechanical circulatory support.

Objectives: Percutaneous pulmonary artery cannulas, used as inflow for left ventricular venting or as outflow for right ventricular mechanical circulatory support, are easily and rapidly deployable with transesophageal and fluoroscopic guidance. Methods: We chose to review our institutional and technical experience with all right atrium to pulmonary artery cannulations. Results: Based on the review, we describe 6 right atrium to pulmonary artery cannulation strategies. They are divided into total right ventricular assist support, partial right ventricular assist support, and left ventricular venting. A single limb cannula or a dual lumen cannula can be used for right ventricular support. Conclusions: In the right ventricular assist device configuration, percutaneous cannulation may prove beneficial in cases of isolated right ventricular failure. Conversely, pulmonary artery cannulation can be used for left ventricular venting as drainage to a cardiopulmonary bypass or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit. This article can be used as a reference for the technical aspects of cannulation, decision-making in patient selection, and management of patients in these clinical scenarios.

Effects of Trimetazidine on Right Ventricular Function and Ventricular Remodeling in Patients with Pulmonary Artery Hypertension: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a chronic and progressive disease. Although current therapy has improved the disease prognosis, PAH has a poor survival rate. The key feature leading to disease progression and death is right ventricular (RV) failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed the role of trimetazidine, a fatty acid beta-oxidation (FAO) inhibitor, in right ventricular function, remodeling, and functional class in PAH patients, with a placebo-controlled double-blind, case-crossover trial. Twenty-seven PAH subjects were enrolled, randomized, and assigned to trimetazidine or placebo for three months and then reallocated to the other study arm. The primary endpoint was RV morphology and function change after three months of treatment. Secondary endpoints were the change in exercise capacity assessed by a 6 min walk test after three months of treatment and the change in pro-BNP and Galectin-3 plasma levels after three months. Trimetazidine use was safe and well-tolerated. After three months of treatment, patients in the trimetazidine group showed a small but significant reduction of RV diastolic area, and a substantial increase in the 6 min walk distance (418 vs. 438 mt, p = 0.023), without significant changes in biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: A short course of trimetazidine is safe and well-tolerated on PAH patients, and it is associated with significant increases in the 6MWT and minor but significant improvement in RV remodeling. The therapeutic potential of this drug should be evaluated in larger clinical trials.

Dose-related Effects of Resveratrol in Different Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a severe and progressive disease of pulmonary arterioles. This pathology is characterized by elevation of the pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure, leading to right heart failure and death. Studies have demonstrated that resveratrol possesses a protective effect on the mechanisms related to the genesis of the PAH-induced by different models. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the dose-related effects of resveratrol in different models of pulmonary arterial hypertension. METHODS: To identify eligible papers, we performed a systematic literature search on Scielo, Pub- Med, and Scholar Google. The research was limited to articles written in English in the last 10 years. We used the following descriptors to search: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Resveratrol, OR Resveratrol, and Animal models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, OR Resveratrol, and in vitro models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. RESULTS: 1724 studies were identified through the descriptors used, fifty-five studies with different models of pulmonary arterial hypertension were selected for the full review, forty-four were excluded after application of exclusion and inclusion criteria, totalizing eleven studies included in this systematic review. CONCLUSION: The results showed that resveratrol, at low and high doses, protects in a dosedependent manner against the development of PAH induced through monocrotaline, normoxia and hypoxia models. In addition to having chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. In the case of PAH-related myocardial injury, resveratrol protects cells from apoptosis, thus working as an antiapoptotic agent.

Fallo agudo del ventrículo derecho: Parte 1 Anatomía, fisiología, evaluación funcional y fisiopatología del ventrículo derecho

El fallo agudo del ventrículo derecho (VD) es un síndrome clínico complejo que puede ser causado por muchas causas y es el responsable del 3% al 9% de los ingresos en las unidades de cuidados intensivos con una mortalidad intrahospitalaria del 5 al 17%. Puede presentarse de forma solapada o grave con compromiso hemodinámico severo y shock. El objetivo primario debe ser la identificación y el tratamiento de la causa subyacente de insuficiencia del VD, como la embolia pulmonar aguda, síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda, descompensación aguda de la hipertensión pulmonar crónica, infarto VD, o arritmias. Se ha reconocido la importancia de la función del VD en la insuficiencia cardíaca, el infarto de miocardio, la cardiopatía congénita y la hipertensión pulmonar. Actualmente, los avances en ecocardiografía y resonancia magnética nuclear han creado nuevas oportunidades para el estudio de la anatomía y fisiología del VD. La presente revisión ofrece una perspectiva clínica sobre la estructura y función del VD. En esta primera parte, revisaremos la anatomía, fisiología, evaluación y fisiopatología del VD. En la segunda parte, revisaremos la importancia clínica y el manejo y tratamiento del fallo del VD.

Acute failure of the right ventricle Part 1 Anatomy, physiology, functional evaluation and pathophysiology of the right ventricle Acute right ventricular (RV) failure is a complex clinical syndrome that can be caused by many causes and accounts for 3% to 9% of admissions in intensive care units with in-hospital mortality of 5% to 17%. It can present in an overlapping or severe way with severe hemodynamic compromise and shock. The primary objective should be the identification and treatment of the underlying cause of RV insufficiency, such as acute pulmonary embolism, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute decompensation of chronic pulmonary hypertension, RV infarction, or arrhythmias. The importance of RV function in heart failure, myocardial infarction, congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension has been recognized. Currently, advances in echocardiography and nuclear magnetic resonance have created new opportunities for the study of RV anatomy and physiology. The present review offers a clinical perspective on the structure and function of the RV. In this first part, we will review the anatomy, physiology, evaluation and pathophysiology of the RV. In the second part, we will review the clinical importance and the management and treatment of RV failure.

Falha aguda do ventrículo direito Parte 1 Anatomia, fisiologia, avaliação funcional e fisiopatologia do ventrículo direito A insuficiência aguda do ventrículo direito (VD) é uma síndrome clínica complexa que pode ser causada por muitas causas e representa do 3% a 9% das internações em unidades de cuidados intensivos, com mortalidade intra-hospitalar de 5 a 17%. Pode apresentar-se de forma sobreposta ou severa com comprometimento hemodinâmico grave e choque. O objetivo primário deve ser a identificação e o tratamento da causa subjacente da insuficiência VD, tais como embolia pulmonar aguda, síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo, hipertensão pulmonar crônica descompensada, VD do miocárdio ou arritmia. A importância da função do VD na insuficiência cardíaca, infarto do miocárdio, cardiopatia congênita e hipertensão pulmonar tem sido reconhecida. Atualmente, os avanços na ecocardiografia e na ressonância magnética nuclear criaram novas oportunidades para o estudo da anatomia e fisiologia do VD. A presente revisão oferece uma perspectiva clínica sobre a estrutura e função do RV. Nesta primeira parte, revisaremos a anatomia, fisiologia, avaliação e fisiopatologia do VD. Na segunda parte, revisaremos a importância clínica e o manejo e tratamento da falha do VD.

Implantation of short-term and long-term right ventricular assist devices

Abstract The last decade has seen considerable growth in the use of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), in end-phase heart failure treatment. The indications, contraindications and implantation techniques are well-defined. However, information about mechanical support for right ventricular failure is lacking. The aim of this communication is to present alternative techniques for implantation of short- and longterm right ventricular assist devices. Implanting the device in the right atrium has certain advantages when compared with the right ventricle. It is an easier surgical technique that preserves the tricuspid valve and it can potentially reduce the risk of pump thrombosis.

Pulmonary Arterial Capacitance Index Is a Strong Predictor for Adverse Outcome in Children with Idiopathic and Heritable Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical utility of pulmonary artery capacitance index (PACi) in the assessment of disease severity and prognostic value in children with idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). STUDY DESIGN: PACi is defined as the ratio of stroke volume index over pulmonary pulse pressure. A retrospective study was performed to compare PACi, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), 6-minute walk distance, New York Heart association (NYHA) functional class, and adverse outcomes (hospitalization due to heart failure, lung transplantation, and cardiac mortality) in 72 Japanese children (10 ± 3.6 years) with idiopathic and heritable PAH. RESULTS: PACi had significant correlations with pulmonary vascular resistance index (r =-0.73, P < .0001), BNP levels (r = -0.40, P = .0008), and 6-minute walk distance (r = 0.57, P < .05). Statistically significant differences in PACi were observed between NYHA functional class II vs combined III and IV (median; 1.1 vs 0.6 mL/mm Hg/m2, respectively, P < .05). There were 25 of 72 (35%) children who had an adverse event including initiation of hospitalization due to heart failure, lung transplantation, and death. Cumulative event-free survival rate was significantly lower when PACi was <0.85 mL/mm Hg/m2 (log-rank test, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: PACi correlated with BNP and NYHA functional class and may serve as a strong prognostic marker in children with idiopathic and heritable PAH.