Congenital and Structural Heart Disease Interventions Using Echocardiography-Fluoroscopy Fusion Imaging.

With the increasing frequency of catheter-based interventions in congenital heart disease and structural heart disease, the use of fusion imaging has become a major enhancement for understanding complex anatomy and facilitating key steps in interventional procedures. Because transesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy are displayed in different visual perspectives, the interventional cardiologist must mentally reregister the images from the two modalities during the procedure. Echocardiography-fluoroscopy fusion (EFF) imaging displays the x-ray and ultrasound overlay images in the same visual perspective. This new technology allows for enhanced team communication, improved visual guidance, and more efficient navigation. The purpose of this review is to describe the EFF imaging technology, current uses of EFF imaging in congenital and structural heart disease, and future directions that will enhance this unique imaging technology to guide interventional procedures.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy following ultrasound-guided renal cyst aspiration.

Interventional radiology plays a critical role in offering minimally invasive procedures, resulting in increased patient comfort. However, of the millions of patients undergoing interventional procedures each year, many suffer from pre-procedural psychological stressors related to fear of discomfort and diagnostic uncertainty. We describe a case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also called broken heart syndrome or stress cardiomyopathy, following ultrasound-guided renal cyst aspiration in a patient with severe anxiety in anticipation of the interventional radiology procedure.

Ambulatory Rhythm Monitoring to Detect Late High-Grade Atrioventricular Block Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: High-grade atrioventricular block (H-AVB) is a well-described in-hospital complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Delayed high-grade atrioventricular block (DH-AVB) has not been systematically studied among outpatients post-TAVR, using latest-generation TAVR technology and in the early post-TAVR discharge era. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess utility of ambulatory event monitoring (AEM) in identifying post-TAVR DH-AVB and associated risk factors. METHODS: Patients without pre-existing pacing device undergoing TAVR at the University of Colorado Hospital from October 2016 to March 2018, and who did not require permanent pacemaker implantation pre-discharge, were discharged with 30-day AEM to assess for DH-AVB (≥2 days post-TAVR). Clinical and follow-up data were collected and compared among those without incident H-AVB. RESULTS: Among 150 consecutive TAVR patients without a prior pacing device, 18 (12%) developed H-AVB necessitating permanent pacemaker <2 days post-TAVR, 1 died pre-discharge, and 13 declined AEM; 118 had 30-day AEM data. DH-AVB occurred in 12 (10% of AEM patients, 8% of total cohort) a median of 6 days (range 3 to 24 days) post-TAVR. DH-AVB versus non-AVB patients were more likely to have hypertension and right bundle branch block (RBBB). Sensitivity and specificity of RBBB in predicting DH-AVB was 27% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: DH-AVB is an underappreciated complication of TAVR among patients without pre-procedure pacing devices, occurring at rates similar to in-hospital, acute post-TAVR H-AVB. RBBB is a risk factor for DH-AVB but has poor sensitivity, and other predictors remain unclear. In this single-center analysis, AEM was helpful in expeditious identification and treatment of 10% of post-TAVR outpatients. Prospective study is needed to clarify incidence, risk factors, and patient selection for outpatient monitoring.

The Case for Selective Patent Foramen Ovale Closure After Cryptogenic Stroke.

Controversy has persisted for over a decade whether transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure reduces the rate of recurrent ischemic stroke for patients who have had a cryptogenic ischemic stroke and have a PFO. In September 2017, 3 positive randomized trials: RESPECT long-term (Recurrent Stroke Comparing PFO Closure to Established Current Standard of Care Treatment trial), REDUCE (GORE® HELEX® Septal Occluder / GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder and Antiplatelet Medical Management for Reduction of Recurrent Stroke or Imaging-Confirmed TIA in Patients With Patent Foramen Ovale [PFO]), and CLOSE (Patent Foramen Ovale Closure or Anticoagulants Versus Antiplatelet Therapy to Prevent Stroke Recurrence) were published. All 3 trials studied young to middle age patients with cryptogenic ischemic strokes found to have a PFO, and compared recurrent stroke rates after PFO closure versus medical therapy alone. All trials had primary end points of recurrent ischemic strokes, a superiority design, and reported results in the intention to treat population. The long-term results of the RESPECT trial led to the Food and Drug Administration approval of the AMPLATZER PFO Occluder for a secondary prevention indication. There was a 45% risk reduction in the device arm for recurrent ischemic stroke with an event rate of 0.58 versus 1.07 per 100 patient-years (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.305-0.999; log-rank P=0.046). The primary efficacy result of the REDUCE trial utilizing the HELEX and CARDIOFORM devices demonstrated a risk reduction of 77% (hazard ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.62; log-rank P=0.001). In the CLOSE trial, device closure plus long-term antiplatelet therapy versus antiplatelet therapy alone demonstrated a risk reduction of 97% (hazard ratio, 0.03; 95% confidence interval, 0-0.25; log-rank P<0.001). Each trial demonstrated a low frequency of device- and procedure-related complications, including a slight increase in the rate of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the device arm. This review focuses on summarizing the trial results and translating the results and methods from investigative trials into clinical practice.

ASD Closure in Structural Heart Disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: While the safety and efficacy of percutaneous ASD closure has been established, new data have recently emerged regarding the negative impact of residual iatrogenic ASD (iASD) following left heart structural interventions. Additionally, new devices with potential advantages have recently been studied. We will review here the potential indications for closure of iASD along with new generation closure devices and potential late complications requiring long-term follow-up. RECENT FINDINGS: With the expansion of left-heart structural interventions and large-bore transseptal access, there has been growing experience gained with management of residual iASD. Some recently published reports have implicated residual iASD after these procedures as a potential source of diminished clinical outcomes and mortality. Additionally, recent trials investigating new generation closure devices as well as expanding knowledge regarding late complications of percutaneous ASD closure have been published. While percutaneous ASD closure is no longer a novel approach to managing septal defects, there are several contemporary issues related to residual iASD following large-bore transseptal access and new generation devices which serve as an impetus for this review. Ongoing attention to potential late complications and decreasing their incidence with ongoing study is clearly needed.

Coronary Stent Failure: Fracture, Compression, Recoil, and Prolapse.

Current-generation coronary drug-eluting stents are associated with low rates of restenosis and target lesion revascularization. However, several mechanisms of stent failure remain clinically important. Stent fracture may occur in areas of excessive torsion or angulation. Longitudinal stent deformation is related to axial stent compression owing to extrinsic forces or secondary devices that disrupt stent architecture. Stent recoil occurs when a stent does not deploy at its optimal cross-sectional area. Tissue prolapse between stent struts may also predispose patients to adverse outcomes. Prevention, recognition, and treatment of these stent failures are necessary to optimize patient outcomes after percutaneous coronary interventions.

Consecutive percutaneous valve-in-valve replacement late after Ross procedure: A novel approach in an adult with congenital heart disease.

The emergence of transcatheter valve technology over the last decade has made significant impact on the treatment of patients with valvular heart disease. There has been increasing experience with both native and valve-in-valve indications with promising results. We present the case of a young woman with congenital heart disease who underwent the Ross procedure for bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis with subsequent reoperation and surgical aortic valve replacement for neo-aortic root dilation who experienced worsening symptoms related to both pulmonary and aortic valve dysfunction. She was successfully treated with percutaneous pulmonary and aortic valve replacement with excellent early term technical results and marked improvement in symptoms.

Quantitation of the diastolic stress test: filling pressure vs. diastolic reserve.

AIMS: The diastolic stress test (DST) may facilitate the attribution of exertional dyspnoea to cardiac and non-cardiac diseases. However, there is currently no consensus as to the optimal marker of exertional diastolic dysfunction (DD)-the main alternatives being estimated left ventricular (LV) filling pressure (exercise E/e') and diastolic functional reserve (DFRI). We sought to compare the correlates of these parameters. METHODS AND RESULTS: DST was performed by adding the measurement of the transmitral (E) and annular (e') velocities to standard exercise echo in 559 consecutive patients without significant rest or exercise mitral regurgitation. Exertional DD was separately defined by post-stress E/e' >13 or DFRI <13.5. Logistic regression was used to identify the correlates of abnormal responses and linear regression was used to identify the contribution of both to exercise capacity. Abnormal exercise E/e' (n = 112, 20%) and DFRI (n = 317, 57%) were modestly associated (κ 0.35, P < 0.0001). In a linear regression, abnormal exercise E/e' (ß = -0.19, P < 0.001) and DFRI (ß = -0.15, P = 0.001) were associated with exercise capacity, independent of age, body mass index, wall thickness, haemodynamics or abnormal stress results. Logistic regression revealed abnormal exercise E/e' (R(2)= 0.34) to be independently associated with female gender (ß = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.11-0.60, P = 0.002), age (ß = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07, P = 0.01), hypertension (ß = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15-0.80, P = 0.01) and wall thickness (ß = 4.3, 95% CI: 1.3-14.1, P = 0.02). The closest association of abnormal DFRI was exercise capacity (ß = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.79-1.02, P = 0.09); no other clinical or stress variable was independently associated. CONCLUSION: Exercise E/e' and DFRI are both associated with exercise capacity, but E/e' is more closely associated with the expected parameters of DD.

Successful combined use of Impella Recover 2.5 device and intra-aortic balloon pump support in cardiogenic shock from acute myocardial infarction.

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) and intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) are important tools that provide hemodynamic support to patients in cardiogenic shock. The Impella Recover 2.5 is a percutaneous VAD that provides temporary circulatory support. We report the case of a patient who required the combined support of both an IABP and the Impella device.