A 52-Year-Old Woman with Abdominal Pain and Vomiting.

A 52-Year-Old Woman with Abdominal Pain and VomitingA 52-year-old woman presented for evaluation of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting after consuming a large calzone. How do you approach the evaluation, and what is the diagnosis?

Infection following CF-LVAD exchange for non-infectious indications: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients on continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) often require CF-LVAD exchange. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of infection following CF-LVAD exchange performed for non-infectious indications. METHODS: An electronic literature search was performed to identify all studies of patients undergoing CF-LVAD exchange for pump thrombosis or device malfunction. Of 2,698 articles identified, 6 studies with 81 total patients met the inclusion criteria. Cohort-level data were pooled for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 60 years (95% CI: 41-78), and 74% were male (95% CI: 61-84). Pump thrombosis was the most common indication for exchange in 70% of patients (95% CI: 47-86). Other indications were driveline fracture and electrical malfunction in 21% (95% CI: 5-56) and 12% (95% CI: 4-33) of patients, respectively. Prior to exchange, 95% of patients were on HeartMate II (HM2) LVADs (95% CI: 86-98) and average duration of support for these patients was 27.1 months (95% CI: 9.3-44.8). The majority were placed on a HM2 following exchange (88% (95% CI: 45-98)) versus HM3 (12% (95% CI: 2-55)). Follow-up was an average of 16.4 months (95% CI: 6.8-26.0). Following exchange, 16 of 81 patients developed infection, with pooled mean incidence of 24% (95% CI: 14-38). 30-day mortality was 14% (95% CI: 7-26). Survival at follow-up was 65% (95% CI: 52-76). CONCLUSIONS: Infection following CF-LVAD exchange can occur at rates higher than those observed with primary implantation; therefore, effective strategies need to implemented early and consistently to help lower infections rates and help improve outcomes following exchange.

Mechanical and interventional support for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A review.

INTRODUCTION: Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are two disease processes that are known to progress to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Pharmacologic therapies for HFpEF have not improved patient outcomes or reduced mortality in this patient cohort; thus, there continues to be substantial interest in other treatment strategies, including surgical interventions and devices. In this article, we explore and report the current utility of percutaneous therapies and surgically implanted mechanical support in the treatment of patients with HFpEF. RESULTS: Treatment strategies include percutaneous interventions with interatrial shunts, left atrial assist devices (LAADs), and ventricular assist devices (VADs) in various configurations. Although VADs have been employed to treat patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, their efficacy is limited in those with RCM and HCM. A left atrial-to-aortic VAD has been proposed to directly unload the left atrium, but data is limited. Alternatively, a LAAD could be placed in the mitral position and simultaneously unload the left atrium, while filling the left ventricle. CONCLUSION: A left atrial assist device in the mitral position is a promising solution to address the hemodynamic abnormalities in RCM and HCM; these pumps, however, are still under development.

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration: Diagnosis and Management.

Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) is a rare but potentially debilitating injury characterized by persistent shoulder pain, typically occurring within 48 hours of intramuscular deltoid vaccine administration. With over 150 million flu vaccines being administered in the United States each year, and the US Centers for Disease Control's goal of immunizing greater than 70% of the population for the coronavirus disease 2019 virus, cases of SIRVA can be expected to rise. A search of current literature was done to identify published material corresponding to incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of SIRVA. Most events have been associated with poor needle placement and/or a local reaction to the delivered serum during vaccine administration. Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration events can lead to persistent and possibly permanent injury. Clinical evaluation involves a thorough history, physical examination, and often diagnostic studies including radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and nerve studies. Treatment is individually directed and should initially consist of observation and local symptom management. Recalcitrant cases or infections may warrant surgical intervention. Published outcomes vary widely, and our understanding of SIRVA remains limited. Large-scale studies are necessary to better understand the pathophysiology of SIRVA, its treatment, and its outcomes. Overall, the initial priority in managing SIRVA should be awareness and prevention.

Outcomes of percutaneous temporary biventricular mechanical support: a systematic review.

Percutaneous biventricular assist devices (BiVAD) are a recently developed treatment option for severe cardiogenic shock. This systematic review sought to identify indications and outcomes of patients placed on percutaneous BiVAD support. An electronic search was performed to identify all appropriate studies utilizing a percutaneous BiVAD configuration. Fifteen studies comprising of 20 patients were identified. Individual patient survival and outcomes data were combined for statistical analysis. All 20 patients were supported with a microaxial LVAD, 12/20 (60%) of those patients were supported with a microaxial (RMA) right ventricular assist device (RVAD), and the remaining 8/20 (40%) patients were supported with a centrifugal extracorporeal RVAD (RCF). All patients presented with cardiogenic shock, and of these, 12/20 (60%) presented with a non-ischemic etiology vs 8/20 (40%) with ischemic disease. For the RMA group, RVAD support was significantly longer [RMA 5 (IQR 4-7) days vs RCF 1 (IQR 1-2) days, p = 0.03]. Intravascular hemolysis post-BiVAD occurred in three patients (27.3%) [RMA 3 (33.3%) vs RCF 0 (0%), p = 0.94]. Five patients received a durable left ventricular assist device, one patient received a total artificial heart, and one patient underwent a heart transplantation. Estimated 30-day mortality was 15.0%, and 78.6% were discharged alive. Both strategies for percutaneous BiVAD support appear to be viable options for severe cardiogenic shock.

Development of malignancies and their outcomes in patients supported on continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices-a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: With increased use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVAD), development of malignant tumors in this population is not uncommon. We sought to evaluate malignancies in CF-LVAD patients and evaluate the outcomes of treatment strategies. METHODS: Overall, 18 articles consisting of 28 patients were identified who developed malignancies after CF-LVAD placement. Patient-level data were extracted for systematic review. RESULTS: Median patient age was 60 years [59-67] and 85.7% (24/28) were male. CF-LVAD was placed as bridge-to-transplant (BTT) in 60.9% (14/23) of patients. The three most common malignancy types were GI in 35.7% (10/28) of patients, lung in 21.4% (6/28) and skin in 10.7% (3/28). Median time from CF-LVAD implant to malignancy diagnosis was 6.9 [2.5-12.8] months. Metastatic disease occurred in 17.9% (5/28) over a median time of 5.0 [1.0-82.0] months from the diagnosis. Surgical resection of the malignancy was performed in 57.1% (16/28) of patients. Our results showed that while there was a significantly higher probability of survival among patients who underwent surgery versus those who did not, when only stage I and II patients were included in the analysis, this difference was no longer statistically significant. Three patients were relisted for heart transplant after surgical treatment, and two received the transplant. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of malignancies in patients on CF-LVADs may improve survival and transplant eligibility status, therefore, a CF-LVAD should not always preclude surgical treatment.

Tricuspid regurgitation associated with implantable electrical device insertion: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and permanent pacemaker (PPM) lead placement may worsen or result in tricuspid regurgitation (TR). While the association between lead placement and the incidence of TR has been established, current understanding of this problem remains incomplete. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to pool the existing evidence to better understand the occurrence and severity of TR associated with cardiac implantable electrical device (CIED) insertion. METHODS: An electronic search was performed to identify all relevant studies published from 2000 to 2018. Overall, 15 studies were selected for the analysis comprising 4019 patients with data reported on TR development following ICD or PPM lead placement. Demographic information, perioperative clinical variables, and clinical outcome measures, including pre and postoperative echocardiographic TR grade changes, were extracted and pooled for systematic review. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 69 years [95% CI: 64.62-73.59], and 63% [95% CI: 57-68] were male. Devices implanted included ICD in 57% [95%CI: 43-70] and PPM in 41% [95%CI: 31-52]. The most common indications for pacemaker implantation were sick sinus syndrome in 22% [95% CI: 22-37] and AV block in 21% [95%CI:12-34. The commonest indications for ICD implantation were primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Atrial fibrillation was present in 37% [95%CI: 28-46] and congestive heart failure in 15% [95%CI: 2-57]. Baseline distribution of TR grades were as follows: grade 0/1 TR in 89% [95%CI: 82-93], grade 2 TR in 8% [95%CI: 5-13], grade 3 TR in 2% [95%CI: 0-7] and grade 4 TR in 2% [95%CI: 1-4]. Post-procedure, grade 0/ 1 TR decreased to 68% [95% CI: 51-81] (p < 0.01), grade 2 TR increased to 21% [15-28] (p < 0.01), grade 3 TR increased to 13% [95%CI: 5-32] (p = 0.02), and grade 4 TR increased to 7% [95%CI: 5-9] (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ICD and PPM lead placement is associated with increased TR post-procedure. Further studies are warranted to evaluate changes in TR grade in the long term.

Outcomes of Mechanical Circulatory Support for Giant Cell Myocarditis: A Systematic Review.

Treatment of giant cell myocarditis (GCM) can require bridging to orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) or recovery with mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Since the roles of MCS and immunotherapy are not well-defined in GCM, we sought to analyze outcomes of patients with GCM who required MCS. A systematic search was performed in June 2019 to identify all studies of biopsy-proven GCM requiring MCS after 2009. We identified 27 studies with 43 patients. Patient-level data were extracted for analysis. Median patient age was 45 (interquartile range (IQR): 32-57) years. 42.1% (16/38) were female. 34.9% (15/43) presented in acute heart failure. 20.9% (9/43) presented in cardiogenic shock. Biventricular (BiVAD) MCS was required in 76.7% (33/43) of cases. Of the 62.8% (27/43) of patients who received immunotherapy, 81.5% (22/27) used steroids combined with at least one other immunosuppressant. Cyclosporine was the most common non-steroidal agent, used in 40.7% (11/27) of regimens. Immunosuppression was initiated before MCS in 59.3% (16/27) of cases, after MCS in 29.6% (8/27), and not specified in 11.1% (3/27). Immunosuppression started prior to MCS was associated with significantly better survival than MCS alone (p = 0.006); 60.5% (26/43) of patients received bridge-to-transplant MCS; 39.5% (17/43) received bridge-to-recovery MCS; 58.5% (24/41) underwent OHT a median of 104 (58-255) days from diagnosis. GCM recurrence after OHT was reported in 8.3% (2/24) of transplanted cases. BiVAD predominates in mechanically supported patients with GCM. Survival and bridge to recovery appear better in patients on immunosuppression, especially if initiated before MCS.

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation in patients with preexisting mechanical mitral valves: a systematic review.

Introduction: A preexisting mechanical mitral valve (MMV) is thought to be a thrombogenic risk factor after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation. We sought to evaluate the management and outcomes of preexisting MMVs in patients following CF-LVAD implantation.Areas covered: An electronic search was performed to identify the presence of an MMV at the time of CF-LVAD implantation. Of the 1,168 studies identified, only five studies consisting of seven CF-LVAD patients met the inclusion criteria. Patient-level data were extracted and analyzed.Expert opinion: The median patient age was 54 (IQR: 42-61) years and 71.4% (5/7) were male. Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy was the predominant etiology (83.3%, 5/6) of heart failure, and bridge-to-transplant the predominant indication (85.7%, 6/7) for CF-LVAD. Aortic valve prosthesis was present in 42.9% (3/7) of patients. Median time from MMV to CF-LVAD placement was 6.0 years (IQR: 1.3-15.0). The median lower limit of the INR range was 2.8 (IQR: 2.1-3.0) and upper limit of the INR range was 3.5 (IQR: 3.1-3.5). During a median follow-up time of 120 (IQR: 70-201) days, there were no major GI bleeds or clinically significant thromboembolic complications. With adequate anticoagulation, preexisting MMVs in CF-LVAD patients did not result in clinically significant thromboembolic events.

Right atrial versus right ventricular HeartWare HVAD position in patients on biventricular HeartWare HVAD support: A systematic review.

In patients with biventricular heart failure or refractory right heart failure following HeartWare HVAD placement, off-label placement of a right-sided HeartWare HVAD has been described both in the right ventricular (RV) and right atrial (RA) positions. We sought to evaluate and compare the outcomes of right-sided HeartWare HVAD using the RA versus RV approach. An electronic search was performed in the English literature to identify all reports of left- and right-heart support with HeartWare HVAD. Of the 1,288 articles identified, 13 articles with 56 cases met inclusion criteria. Patient-level data were extracted and analyzed. The median patient age was 52 years (IQR 33.0-59.0) and 40/50 (80.0%) were male. Overall, 21/56 patients (37.5%) had RA HVAD, while 35/56 (62.5%) had RV HVAD. Most underwent concomitant HVAD placement [RA: 17/21 (81.0%) vs. RV: 31/35 (88.6%), P = .69]. In those who did not, the median time between left and right HVAD was 10 days (IQR 7-14) for RA HVAD and 12 days (IQR 8-30) for RV HVAD (P = .77). The median time of support was 351 days (IQR 136-626) for RA HVAD compared to 135 days (IQR 61-244) for RV HVAD (P = .02). Pump thrombosis occurred at a similar rate [RA: 3/10 (30.0%) vs. RV: 6/20 (30.0%), P = 1], as did GI bleeding [RA: 10/35 (28.6%) vs. RV: 5/21 (23.8%), P = .94] during the follow-up time period. Kaplan-Meier analysis when censored for transplant showed higher survival with RA HVAD compared to RV HVAD (P = .036), with an estimated survival at 1 year of 91.7% (95% CI 77.3-100.0) in RA HVAD versus 66.2% (95% CI 48.9-89.6) for RV HVAD. RA HVAD appears to be a viable option for durable right-sided support with outcomes at least comparable to RV HVAD.

Ventricular arrhythmias following continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation: A systematic review.

Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) are not uncommon after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation. In this systematic review, we sought to identify the patterns of VA that occurred following CF-LVAD implantation and evaluate their outcomes. An electronic search was performed to identify all articles reporting the development of VA following CF-LVAD implantation. VA was defined as any episode of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or sustained (>30 seconds) ventricular tachycardia (VT). Eleven studies were pooled for the analysis that included 393 CF-LVAD patients with VA. The mean patient age was 57 years [95%CI: 54; 61] and 82% [95%CI: 73; 88] were male. Overall, 37% [95%CI: 19; 60] of patients experienced a new onset VA after CF-LVAD implantation, while 60% [95%CI: 51; 69] of patients had a prior history of VA. Overall, 88% of patients [95%CI: 78; 94] were supported on HeartMate II CF-LVAD, 6% [95%CI: 3; 14] on HeartWare HVAD, and 6% [95%CI: 2; 13] on other CF-LVADs. VA was symptomatic in 47% [95%CI: 28; 68] of patients and in 50% [95%CI: 37; 52], early VA (<30 days from CF-LVAD) was observed. The 30-day mortality rate was 7% [95%CI: 5; 11]. Mean follow-up was 22.9 months [95%CI: 4.8; 40.8], during which 27% [95%CI: 17; 39] of patients underwent heart transplantation. In conclusion, approximately a third of patients had new VA following CF-LVAD placement. VA in CF-LVAD patients is often symptomatic, necessitates treatment, and carries a worse prognosis.

Clinical implications of LDH isoenzymes in hemolysis and continuous-flow left ventricular assist device-induced thrombosis.

Pump-induced thrombosis continues to be a major complication of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs), which increases the risks of thromboembolic stroke, peripheral thromboembolism, reduced pump flow, pump failure, cardiogenic shock, and death. This is confounded by the fact that there is currently no direct measure for a proper diagnosis during pump support. Given the severity of this complication and its required treatment, the ability to accurately differentiate CF-LVAD pump thrombosis from other complications is vital. Hemolysis measured by elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme levels, when there is clinical suspicion of pump-induced thrombosis, is currently accepted as an important metric used by clinicians for diagnosis; however, LDH is a relatively nonspecific finding. LDH exists as five isoenzymes in the body, each with a unique tissue distribution. CF-LVAD pump thrombosis has been associated with elevated serum LDH-1 and LDH-2, as well as decreased LDH-4 and LDH-5. Herein, we review the various isoenzymes of LDH and their utility in differentiating hemolysis seen in CF-LVAD pump thrombosis from other physiologic and pathologic conditions as reported in the literature.

Survival outcomes of stenting outflow graft stenosis in continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices: a systematic review.

Stenosis in the continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) outflow graft is caused by various factors. We discuss indications for percutaneous intervention of outflow graft complications and evaluate the use of this treatment in re-establishing adequate CF-LVAD flow. An electronic search was performed to identify all studies in the English literature reporting CF-LVAD outflow graft stenting. Twenty-one studies consisting of 26 patients were included. Patient-level data were extracted for statistical analysis. Median patient age was 59 years [45.8-67.0] and 65.4% (17/26) were male. 58.3% (14/24) of patients had HeartWare HVAD, 37.5% (9/24) had HeartMate II LVAD, and 4.2% (1/24) had HeartMate III LVAS. Median time from device placement to outflow graft stenting was 24.0 months [7.8-30.4]. 76.9% of patients (20/26) presented with heart failure. Complications of the CF-LVAD outflow graft included thrombosis in nine patients (34.6%), stenosis in nine patients (34.6%), kinking in three patients (11.5%), pseudoaneurysm in one patient (3.8%), external graft compression in one patient (3.8%), and bronchial-arterial fistula in one patient (3.6%). Immediate flow improvement occurred in 23/26 patients (88.5%), with the remaining 11.5% (3/26) requiring additional procedures. Pre- and post-intervention flows were 2.9 L/min [2.0-3.5] and 4.7 L/min [4.1-4.8] respectively (p = 0.01). Of patients, 96.2% (25/26) were discharged with a median time to discharge of 4 days [3.0-5.0]. The 30-day mortality was 6.7% (1/15). Overall mortality during the median follow-up of 90 days was 9.5% (2/21). Outflow graft stenting appears to effectively alleviate CF-LVAD outflow graft obstruction and is associated with low overall mortality.

Outcomes of extracorporeal life support for the treatment of acute massive pulmonary embolism: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) can cause hemodynamic instability leading to high mortality. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has been increasingly used as a bridge to definitive therapy. This systematic review investigates the outcomes of ECLS for the treatment of massive PE. METHODS: Electronic search was performed to identify all relevant studies published on ECLS use in patients with PE. 50 case series or reports were selected comprising 128 patients with acute massive PE who required ECLS. Patient-level data were extracted for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Median patient age was 50 [36, 63] years and 41.3% (50/121) were male. 67.2% (86/128) of patients presented with cardiac arrest. Median heart rate was 126 [118, 135] and median systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) was 55 [48, 69] mmHg. The majority of ECLS included veno-arterial ECLS [97.1% (99/102)]. Median ECLS time was 3 [2, 6] days. 43.0% (55/128) patients received systemic thrombolysis, 22.7% (29/128), received catheter-guided thrombolysis, and 37.5% (48/128) underwent surgical embolectomy. 85.1% (97/114) were weaned off ECLS. Post-ECLS complications included bleeding in 23.4% (30/128), acute renal failure in 8.6% (11/128), dialysis in 6.3% (8/128), heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in 3.1 (4/128), and extremity hypoperfusion in 2.3% (3/128). The most common cause of death was shock at 30.3% (10/33). The median length of hospital stay was 22 [11, 39] days including 8 [5, 13] intensive care unit (ICU) days. The 30-day mortality rate was 22% (20/91). CONCLUSIONS: ECLS is safe and effective therapy in unstable patients with acute massive pulmonary embolism and offers acceptable outcomes.