Publication Trends and Research Hotspots of the Cardiorenal Syndrome: A Bibliometrics and Visual Analysis from 2003 to 2023.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiorenal syndrome encompasses a range of disorders involving both the heart and kidneys, wherein dysfunction in one organ may induce dysfunction in the other, either acutely or chronically. METHODS: This study conducted a literature search on cardiorenal syndrome from January 1, 2003, to September 8, 2023. Meanwhile, a quantitative analysis of the developmental trajectory, research hotspots and evolutionary trends in the field of cardiorenal syndrome through bibliometric analysis and knowledge mapping was carried out. RESULTS: The annual publication trend analysis revealed a consistent annual increase in cardiorenal syndrome literature over the last 20 years. The IL6, REN, and INS genes were identified as the current research hotspots. CONCLUSION: The field of cardiorenal syndrome exhibits promising potential to grow and is emerging as a prominent research area. Future endeavours should prioritise a comprehensive understanding of the field and foster multi-centre co-operation among different countries and regions.

Association between fluid balance and mortality for heart failure and sepsis: a propensity score-matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Fluid resuscitation is necessary to correct the sepsis-induced hypoperfusion, which is contradictory to the treatment of heart failure. This study explored the association between fluid balance (FB) of the first 24 h after ICU admission and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure and sepsis. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database. The locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (Lowess) method was used to demonstrate the relationship between FB and in-hospital mortality. Groups were divided into high FB (≥ 55.85 ml/kg) and low FB (< 55.85 ml/kg) according to the cut-off value of FB using Receiver operating characteristic analysis and Youden index method. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Subgroup analyses, multivariable logistic regression analyses, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to detect the association and survival difference between groups. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to minimize the bias of confounding factors and facilitate the comparability between groups. RESULTS: A total of 936 patients were included. The Lowess curve showed an approximate positive linear relationship for FB and in-hospital mortality. In the multivariable logistic regression adjusted model, high FB showed strong associations with in-hospital mortality (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.60-3.99, p < 0.001) as compared to the low FB group. In IPTW and PSM models, high FB consistently showed higher in-hospital mortality (IPTW model: OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.52-2.49, p < 0.001; PSM model: OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.75-4.90, p < 0.001) and 30-day mortality (IPTW model: OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.29-2.10, p < 0.001; PSM model: OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.51-4.15, p < 0.001), compared with the low FB group. CONCLUSION: For critically ill patients with heart failure and sepsis, high FB within the first 24 h after ICU admission could serve as an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality. The avoidance of fluid overload exerts important effects on reducing mortality in such patients.

Minimally invasive versus conventional continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation for heart failure: a meta-analysis.

Many studies have reported various minimally invasive techniques for continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation. There is no consensus on whether minimally invasive techniques can bring more benefits for patients compared with the conventional technique, due to the limited number of patients and diverse results in current studies. Our meta-analysis mainly discussed the comparison of minimally invasive and conventional techniques. We searched controlled trials from PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases until Dec 11, 2020. Perioperative and postoperative outcomes were analyzed among 10 included studies. The protocol has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020221532). There were no statistical differences in the 30-day mortality (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.29 to 1.14), 6-month mortality (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.41 to 1.05), neurological dysfunction (OR 1.10; 95% CI 0.69 to 1.76), major infection (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.36 to 1.28), and pump thrombus (OR 1.49; 95% CI 0.63 to 3.52) among the cohorts. Minimally invasive techniques were associated with lower incidences of major bleeding (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.68), severe right heart failure (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.23 to 0.81), and less blood-product utilization (SMD -0.44). Sensitivity analysis suggested that minimally invasive techniques were associated with a lower incidence of respiratory failure (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.26 to 0.96) and shorter mechanical ventilation time (SMD -0.53). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that patients, implanted with a centrifugal pump by minimally invasive techniques, were associated with a shorter length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (SMD -0.27) and hospital stay (SMD -0.42), and less blood-product utilization (SMD -0.26). In conclusion, minimally invasive techniques can reduce the risks of major bleeding, severe right heart failure, and blood-product utilization, as well as have positive impacts on reducing mechanical ventilation time and the risk of respiratory failure. Minimally invasive centrifugal pump implantation can reduce the length of ICU and hospital stay.

The role of atria in ventricular fibrillation after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation in ovine model.

Objectives: This study attempted to explore the hemodynamics and potential mechanisms driving pulmonary circulation in status of ventricular fibrillation (VF) following continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation. Methods: An ovine CF-LVAD model was built in small-tailed Han sheep, with the pump speed set as 2,400 rpm. VF was induced following ventricular tachycardia using a temporary pacemaker probe to stimulate the right and left ventricular free walls. The central venous pressure (CVP), pump flow (PF), pulmonary artery flow (PAF) and other major indicators were observed and recorded after VF. Results: Low-flow systemic and pulmonary circulation could be sustained for 60 min under VF with sinus atrial rhythm after CF-LVAD implantation. The CVP gradually increased. The mean PF declined from 1.80 to 1.20 L/min, and the mean PAF decreased from 1.62 L/min to 0.87 L/min. Under VF with atrial fibrillation, the systemic and pulmonary circulation couldn't be sustained. The CVP jumped from the 5 mmHg baseline to 12 mmHg, the mean PF rapidly decreased from 3.45 L/min to 0.79 L/min, and the PAF declined from 3.94 L/min to 0.77 L/min. Conclusion: The atrial rhythm and function might be essential for the circulation maintenance in patients with VF after CF-LVAD implantation.