COMPArison of Multi-Point Pacing and ConvenTional Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Through Noninvasive Hemodynamics Measurement: Short- and Long-Term Results of the COMPACT-MPP Study.

Invasive hemodynamic studies have shown improved left ventricular (LV) performances when cardiac resynchronization therapy/defibrillator is delivered through multipoint pacing (MPP). Nowadays, strategies have become available that allow studying the same hemodynamic parameters at a noninvasive level. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical implication of using a patient-tailored approach for cardiac resynchronization therapy programming based on noninvasively assessed LV hemodynamics to identify the best biventricular pacing modality between standard single-site pacing (STD) and MPP for each patient. Therefore, 51 patients with heart failure (age 69 ± 9 years, 35 men, 27% ischemic etiology) implanted with cardiac resynchronization therapy/defibrillator underwent noninvasive LV function assessment through photoplethysmography before hospital discharge for addressing dP/dt and stroke volume in both pacing modalities (STD and MPP). The modality that performed better in terms of hemodynamic improvement was permanently programmed. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was also assessed, and repeated at 3 months. Compared with intrinsic rhythm (928 ± 486 mm Hg/s), dP/dtmax showed a trend to increase in both biventricular pacing modes (1,000 ± 577 mm Hg/s in STD, 1,036 ± 530 mm Hg/s in MPP, p = NS). MPP was associated with a wider hemodynamic improvement than was STD and was the modality of choice in 34 of 51 patients (67%). GLS at predischarge did not differ between groups (-10.3 ± 3.8% vs -10.2 ± 3.5%), but significant improvement of ejection fraction at 1 month (34.4 ± 5.3%, p <0.001) and of GLS at 3 months (-12.9 ± 2.9%, p <0.005) was observed across the entire cohort. At 3 months, 77% of patients were classified as responders. Interestingly, long-term (3 years) follow-up unveiled a reduction in all-cause mortality in the MPP group compared with the STD group. In conclusion, cardiac resynchronization therapy programming guided by acute noninvasive hemodynamics favored MPP modality and caused short-term LV positive remodeling and improved long-term outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT04299360.

Monoclonal Antibodies and Antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 Reduce the Risk of Long COVID: A Retrospective Propensity Score-Matched Case-Control Study.

Long COVID is a complex condition affecting quality of life, with limited therapeutic options. We investigated the occurrence of long COVID in subjects receiving early therapy with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or antivirals to reduce the risk of COVID-19 progression. In this retrospective study we enrolled 737 adult patients (aged 65.16 ± 13.46; 361F), who experienced COVID-19 between January 2021 and March 2022. Antiviral or mAbs were administered to symptomatic patients who did not require oxygen therapy or hospital admission for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and who were at high risk of progression to severe disease, as identified by age > 65 years or the presence of comorbidities. Long COVID, defined as newly or persistent long-term symptoms 4 weeks after the onset of the acute illness, was reported in 204 cases (28%). Age (OR 1.03; p < 0.001), gender (OR 1.88; p < 0.001) and at least three comorbidities (OR 3.49; p = 0.049) were directly associated with long COVID; conversely, vaccination (OR 0.59; p = 0.005) and mAbs/antivirals (OR 0.44; p = 0.002) were independently associated with a reduced risk of long COVID. At a propensity-score-matched analysis, the mAbs/antivirals group had a significantly lower occurrence of long COVID in comparison with untreated controls (11% vs. 34%; p = 0.001). In conclusion, mAbs and antivirals administered against the progression of COVID-19 were associated with a reduced risk of long COVID.

Hand Laser Perfusion Imaging to Assess Radial Artery Patency: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: To test a novel diagnostic technique to assess radial artery perfusion after transradial catheterization. BACKGROUND: Despite being mostly asymptomatic, radial artery occlusion (RAO) is not a benign complication, and its diagnosis is frequently missed because it requires time-consuming diagnostic testing. We developed a novel operator-independent diagnostic test to assess RAO after coronary procedures through a transradial access (TRA) by means of hand Laser Perfusion Imaging (LPI). METHODS: One hundred patients were evaluated before and after TRA by means of the LPI. A radial perfusion index (RPI) was calculated as the ratio between the total perfusion measured during ulnar occlusion and total basal perfusion. Vascular Duplex scan (VDS) was used as the standard of reference to assess the artery patency. RESULTS: LPI correctly identified RAO in 100% of cases. Post-procedural RPI was 0.89 ± 0.13 in patients with radial patency vs. 0.15 ± 0.04 in patients with RAO (p < 0.001). In line with these results, ROC analysis showed an excellent diagnostic performance of the LPI, that correctly identified all RAO cases (Area Under the Curve, AUC = 1.0; p < 0.001), with an optimal diagnostic cutoff at 0.2 RPI. CONCLUSIONS: LPI is a reliable diagnostic technique for RAO, offering the advantages of being quick and simple to perform.

Inadvertent defibrillator lead placement into the left ventricle after MitraClip implantation: A case report.

RATIONALE: Inadvertent pacemaker/defibrillator lead placement into the left ventricle is an unusual cardiac device-related complication and its diagnosis is not always easy and often misunderstood. Thromboembolic events are frequently associated with this procedural complication. Percutaneous lead extraction should be performed when diagnosis is made early after device implantation while long-life oral anticoagulation is a wise option when the diagnosis is delayed and the lead is not removed. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 65-year-old man affected by dilated cardiomyopathy, previously treated with a percutaneous mitral valve repair, with 2 MitraClip devices, and later with dual chamber cardioverter/defibrillator implantation, returned in outpatient clinics 2 months after discharge for deterioration of dyspnea; transthoracic echocardiography revealed that the shock lead had been accidentally placed in the apex of the left ventricle. DIAGNOSES: The unintentional lead malposition through the iatrogenic atrial septal defect and its presence into the mitral valve orifice, together with the 2 clip devices implanted, generated an acceleration of transvalvular diastolic flow, determining a moderate stenosis of the mitral valve, as well as promoting a worsening of the degree of valvular regurgitation. INTERVENTIONS: Oral anticoagulation therapy was started and a mechanical lead extraction was percutaneously performed. A new defibrillator lead was later appropriately positioned in the apex of the right ventricle. OUTCOMES: The patient was discharged 3 days after intervention and the follow-up, performed 1 month after discharge, was uneventful. LESSONS: Complex interventional procedures and implantation of multiple devices can increase procedural troubles and the risk of mechanical complications related to pacemaker/defibrillator implantation. Careful observation of the QRS complex morphology on the electrocardiogram (ECG), during paced rhythm, and the achievement of the echocardiographic examination, in the postprocedural phase, allow an early diagnosis of lead malposition.

Hindlimb Ischemia Impairs Endothelial Recovery and Increases Neointimal Proliferation in the Carotid Artery.

Peripheral ischemia is associated with higher degree of endothelial dysfunction and a worse prognosis after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). However, the role of peripheral ischemia on vascular remodeling in remote districts remains poorly understood. Here we show that the presence of hindlimb ischemia significantly enhances neointima formation and impairs endothelial recovery in balloon-injured carotid arteries. Endothelial-derived microRNAs are involved in the modulation of these processes. Indeed, endothelial miR-16 is remarkably upregulated after vascular injury in the presences of hindlimb ischemia and exerts a negative effect on endothelial repair through the inhibition of RhoGDIα and nitric oxide (NO) production. We showed that the repression of RhoGDIα by means of miR-16 induces RhoA, with consequent reduction of NO bioavailability. Thus, hindlimb ischemia affects negative carotid remodeling increasing neointima formation after injury, while systemic antagonizzation of miR-16 is able to prevent these negative effects.

Clinical and Procedural Outcomes of 5-French versus 6-French Sheaths in Transradial Coronary Interventions.

The radial artery has been increasingly used for its favorable safety profile. However, no conclusive data are available on the optimal sheath size. In particular, it is seemingly difficult to weight both advantages and disadvantages of narrower versus larger sheaths size. Despite several studies were performed to compare the use of 6-Fr to the smaller 5-Fr sheaths, these were mostly small, single center-studies, yielding various results.We performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of all available studies comparing the use of 5-Fr versus 6-Fr sheaths in coronary procedures through the TRA.Studies comparing a 5-Fr versus a 6-Fr sheaths were searched for in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Knowledge databases.Studies were deemed eligible if they only included patients undergoing transradial cardiac catheterization with 5-Fr or 6-Fr system and reported at least one of these parameters: contrast dye volume, procedural success, procedural time, access complications, radial artery occlusion, and bleedings.Odds ratio (OR) and the mean difference (MD) were respectively used for dichotomous and continuous variables as summary measures. Both the random-effects model and the fixed effect models were used for computation of meta-analyses. Heterogeneity was assessed by means of the Cochrane Q test. Metaregression was calculated using the unrestricted maximal likelihood random effects model.The use of a 5-Fr system is associated with a significant lower contrast medium administration (MD = -22.20 [-36.43 to -7.96], P < 0.01) and significantly reduces bleedings (OR = 0.58 [0.38-0.90], P = 0.02), without compromising procedural success (OR = 0.95 [0.53-1.69], P = 0.86) or procedure length (OR = 0.55 [-2.58 to 3.69], P = 0.73), compared to the 6-Fr system. Despite no significant difference was observed between the groups (OR = 0.88 [0.50-1.56], P = 0.67), at metaregression RAO incidence in the 5-Fr group was increasingly lower as the percentage of women included into the study increased (P = 0.02).Some potentially interesting technical details, such as sheath length, hydrophilic coating, or periprocedural anticoagulation, were not homogeneously reported in individual studies.Results of the present meta-analysis confirm the excellent safety profile of transradial procedures both with 5-Fr and 6-Fr system. A 5-Fr system could be preferred in patients with a higher bleeding propensity or kidney injury.

Delayed sudden radial artery rupture after left transradial coronary catheterization: a case report.

Local complications at the radial access site are not frequent, hence its large diffusion as the preferred access route for endovascular procedures. However, in a time of fast widespreading, better comprehension of all potential complications becomes critical to facilitate their early recognition and the most appropriate treatment. In this case report, we present for the first time a case of sudden massive bleeding at the left wrist, due to spontaneous gross rupture of the left radial artery bleeding 15 days after an endovascular procedure through a left radial arterial access. The patient had been readmitted to the hospital after evidence of local infection at the left wrist with loss of substance. The radial artery was patent with no evidence of pseudoaneurysm. After sudden radial artery rupture, with massive bleeding and suspicion that the local infection could have reached the arterial wall, surgical hemostasis with artery ligation was obtained. Healing of the large wound was then efficiently speeded up using a negative pressure wound therapy. This is the first case of macroscopic radial artery rupture associated with local wrist infection after arterial catheterization. After prompt surgical hemostasis, negative pressure wound therapy was very helpful in favoring healing of the large and deep wound.