Effect of Patient's Symptom Interpretation on In-Hospital Mortality in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The association between symptom interpretation and prognosis has not been investigated well among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). As such, the present study evaluated the effect of heart disease awareness among patients with ACS on in-hospital mortality.Methods and Results: We performed a post hoc analysis of 1,979 consecutive patients with ASC with confirmed symptom interpretation on admission between 2014 and 2018, focusing on patient characteristics, recanalization time, and clinical outcomes. Upon admission, 1,264 patients interpreted their condition as cardiac disease, whereas 715 did not interpret their condition as cardiac disease. Although no significant difference was observed in door-to-balloon time between the 2 groups, onset-to-balloon time was significantly shorter among those who interpreted their condition as cardiac disease (254 vs. 345 min; P<0.001). Moreover, the hazard ratio (HR) for in-hospital mortality was significantly higher among those who did not interpret their condition as cardiac disease based on the Cox regression model adjusted for established risk factors (HR 1.73; 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.76; P=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that prehospital symptom interpretation was significantly associated with in-hospital clinical outcomes among patients with ACS. Moreover, the observed differences in clinical prognosis were not related to door-to-balloon time, but may be related to onset-to-balloon time.

Occlusion and catheter ablation using a large-size cryoballoon for various pulmonary veins: a case series.

Background: It is established that pulmonary vein isolation using the POLARx™ (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) cryoballoon is a rapid, safe, and effective approach. The new POLARx™ FIT (Boston Scientific), which is expandable from 28 to 31 mm in diameter, is currently available. However, there is limited evidence available regarding the treatment of atrial fibrillation in this setting. In this article, we report a case series of cryoballoon ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation using POLARx™ FIT. Case summary: This case series describes a comparison of obstruction in three patients with pulmonary veins of different shapes and diameters undergoing cryoballoon ablation and pulmonary vein isolation with a 31 mm diameter balloon. Discussion: Cryoballoon ablation using the 31 mm mode of POLARx™ FIT has the potential to provide safe and stable pulmonary vein isolation with good occlusion for a variety of pulmonary vein geometries. In this case series, the 31 mm mode of the POLARx™ FIT resulted in better pulmonary vein occlusion than the 28 mm mode in patients with large left atria and large pulmonary veins, including the left common pulmonary vein. This approach may be considered a first-line therapy option of cryoballoon ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Comparing In-Hospital Outcomes for Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients in High-Volume Hospitals Performing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention vs. Regional General Hospitals.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) transferred to low-volume primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) hospitals (<115/year) in low population density areas experience higher in-hospital mortality rates. This study compared in-hospital outcomes of patients admitted to high-volume primary PCI hospitals (≥115/year) with those for other regional general hospitals.Methods and Results: Retrospective analysis was conducted on data obtained from 2,453 patients with AMI admitted to hospitals in Iwate Prefecture (2014-2018). Multivariate analysis revealed that the in-hospital mortality rate of AMI among patients in regional general hospitals was significantly higher than among patients in high-volume hospitals. However, no significant difference in mortality rate was observed among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary PCI. Although no significant difference was found in the in-hospital mortality rate of patients with Killip class I STEMI, significantly lower in-hospital mortality rates were observed in patients admitted in high-volume hospitals for Killip classes II, III, and IV. CONCLUSIONS: Although in-hospital outcomes for patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI were similar, patients with heart failure or cardiogenic shock exhibited better in-hospital outcomes in high-volume primary PCI hospitals than those in regional general hospitals.

Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on the Incidence of Takotsubo Syndrome Using a Multicenter, Long-Term Regional Registry.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to clarify the incidence of takotsubo syndrome (TTS) after the Great East Japan earthquake (GEJ-E) between inland and coastal areas.Methods and Results:Consecutive hospitalized patients with TTS were registered between 2009 and 2016 in Iwate Prefecture. Patients were divided into 2 groups, by whether they lived inland or in the coastal area (both max. seismic intensity, 6-). The incidence of TTS was calculated using the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) before and after the earthquake. The long-term prognosis of the 2 groups was compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis. A total of 112 patients with TTS were registered from the acute coronary syndrome records of each hospital (n=4,163); 9 patients with TTS were registered within 2 months of the earthquake. A significant monthly variation was observed in March and April 2011 compared with the other months (P=0.029). At 2 years after the earthquake, the SIR was significantly increased in the coastal area (P<0.01), but decreased after ≥3 years. There were no significant differences in the long-term prognosis between the 2 groups (P=0.20). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of TTS was increased in the acute phase after the GEJ-E, particularly in the coastal area. The magnitude of the tsunami damage is presumed to be a factor in the increased incidence of TTS, even though the seismic intensity in both areas was comparable.

Successful removal of a circular mapping catheter which perforated the pulmonary vein during cryoballoon ablation by lateral thoracotomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Serious complications may occur during cryoballoon ablation (CBA). However, pulmonary vein (PV) perforation by a circular mapping catheter and the strategy for removing the catheter remain poorly understood. CASE SUMMARY: A 40-year-old male presented with palpitations 2 years ago and was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation 5 months ago. He underwent CBA for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. After isolation of the left PV, a circular mapping catheter was advanced in the right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV), and single freeze was performed. After isolation of the PV, the catheter tip was immobile and could not be withdrawn with significant resistance. Computed tomography showed that the catheter tip perforated the posterior basal vein (V10) of the RIPV and remained in the right lower lobe, along with intrapulmonary haemorrhage. The patient underwent surgery via right lateral thoracotomy to remove the catheter. The RIPV was peeled to the periphery to expose the V10. The catheter perforated the vessel wall in the middle of the V10 and entered the pulmonary parenchyma. A microincision on the lung parenchyma covering the surface of the catheter tip was performed, and the circular distal portion of the catheter was cut. The entire catheter (i.e. shaft and proximal portion) was successfully removed from the transseptal catheter. DISCUSSION: Surgical approach was performed for the management of PV perforation caused by a circular mapping catheter. This case may assist in troubleshooting and problem-solving in case such an event occurs again during procedures in the future.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation for inappropriate sinus tachycardia in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is known to cause inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST). However, there is limited evidence available with regard to the treatment of IST in this setting. In this article, we report a case of drug refractory IST in a patient with SLE treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) using a non-contact mapping system. CASE SUMMARY: A 33-year-old woman had been diagnosed with SLE in 2001. She presented with complaints of persistent palpitations for 1 month and persistent sinus tachycardia. She underwent RFCA using a non-contact mapping system for drug refractory IST. The voltage and activation maps did not show obvious differences in the earliest activation site at heart rates (HRs) 90-150 b.p.m. In contrast, the areas of breakout sites were clearly distinguished between those from the normal P-wave zones at HR <140 b.p.m. and those from higher rate sites at HR >140 b.p.m. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed in those areas as the target for ablation. Thereafter, the symptoms steadily disappeared and the maximum HR-using 24-h Holter monitoring-decreased from 156 to 120 b.p.m. DISCUSSION: Radiofrequency catheter ablation using a non-contact mapping system was applied to the treatment of drug refractory IST in a patient with SLE. Of note, IST in such patients may be left untreated. This approach may be considered as a first-line therapy option for drug refractory IST in patients with SLE.

Prolonged Autonomic Fluctuation Derived from Parasympathetic Hypertonia after Carotid Endarterectomy but not Stenting.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a standard treatment for carotid artery stenosis, but the incidence after periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) is not negligible. The mechanism for the higher risk of MI following CEA compared with the carotid artery stenting (CAS) is unclear. We hypothesized that it may be explained by different autonomic nervous responses. METHODS: This prospective, nonrandomized, observational study enrolled 50 patients from 2 centers: 25 underwent CEA and 25 CAS. Cardiac autonomic nervous activity was evaluated using 24-hour high-resolution ambulatory electrocardiography with parameters such as deceleration capacity (DC) and heart rate variability before the procedure, and at 1 week and 1-3 months after the procedure. RESULTS: One week after CEA, decreased DC and increased acceleration capacity were recognized. Standard deviation of sequential 5-minute NN interval means and the low-frequency and high-frequency components were all decreased. By the later phase measurement, these changes returned to baseline or beyond. The results suggest that diminished autonomic activity reversed to excessive parasympathetic dominance. In contrast, the patients treated by CAS showed no remarkable autonomic modification in the early or later phases. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct changes of sympathovagal response observed after CEA coincides with the time at which MI onset occurs, suggesting prolonged autonomic fluctuation may be a factor in the MI incidence after CEA.

Relationship between Impairment of the Vascular Endothelial Function and the CHA2DS2-VASc Score in Patients with Sinus Rhythm and Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Objective and methods There is little information concerning the influence of the heart rhythm on the vascular endothelial function in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with studies concerning sinus rhythm (SR). The present study included paroxysmal (n=184) or chronic (n=53) AF patients without heart failure and control subjects with SR (n=79) matched for age, gender and the CHA2DS2-VASc score. Paroxysmal AF was defined as episodes that terminated spontaneously within 7 days, while chronic AF was defined as longstanding AF that was refractory to cardioversion for 12 months or longer. There were no significant differences in the numbers of patients receiving renin-angiotension-aldosterone system inhibitors or statins among the three groups. Results Among the 237 AF patients (155 men, mean age 64±9 years, mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 1.8±1.4), the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was 5.4%±2.6% in the paroxysmal AF group, 4.3%±2.1% in the chronic AF group and 6.5%±3.5% in the SR group. There were significant differences among the 3 groups (all, p<0.05). Nitroglycerin-induced dilatation (NMD) was noted in 14.6%±6.5% of the paroxysmal AF group, 16.5%±9.1% of the chronic AF group and 12.7%±5.9% of the SR group, with no significant differences among the 3 groups. There was a significant negative correlation between the CHA2DS2-VASc scores and the FMDs value in all 3 groups (paroxysmal AF group:r=-0.322, p<0.01; chronic AF group:r=-0.291, p<0.05; SR group:r=-0.326, p<0.01). Conclusion In comparison with SR, the frequency and duration of AF episodes appear to cause deterioration of the vascular endothelial function.

Comparison of the CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc and R2CHADS2 Scores in Japanese Patients with Non-valvular Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Not Receiving Anticoagulation Therapy.

Objective It remains unclear whether the CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, or R2CHADS2 score is the most useful for the risk stratification of ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism (IS/SE) in Japanese patients with paroxysmal non-valvular atrial fibrillation (PNVAF). Methods We investigated the incidence of IS/SE on the basis of the CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and R2CHADS2 scores in 332 consecutive PNVAF patients (224 men, mean age: 65±13 years) who had not been administered anticoagulation therapy but who were administered antiarrhythmic drug therapy to maintain sinus rhythm between August 1995 and July 2008 before the 2008 Japanese Circulation Society guideline was issued (mean follow-up period: 53±35 months). Results The annual rates of IS/SE without underlying antiarrhythmic drug therapy are shown in the table included in this article. Higher CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and R2CHADS2 scores were associated with greater annual rates of IS/SE (p<0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for potentially confounding variables, the CHADS2 scores [odds ratio (OR): 4.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.80-8.00, p<0.001], CHA2DS2-VASc scores (OR: 4.15, 95% CI: 2.57-6.71, p<0.001), and R2CHADS2 scores (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.48-2.53, p<0.001) were significant independent predictors of IS/SE. The area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve for predicting IS/SE was 0.89 for CHA2DS2-VASc scores, 0.87 for CHADS2 scores, and 0.85 for R2CHADS2 scores (all, p<0.001), with no significant difference among the three scores. Conclusion In Japanese patients with PNVAF, the CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and R2CHADS2 scores are all useful for the risk stratification of IS/SE cases.

Comparison between CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score for risk stratification of ischemic stroke in Japanese patients with non-valvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation not receiving anticoagulant therapy.

It remains unclear if the CHADS2 score or CHA2DS2-VASc score is more useful for the risk stratification of ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism in Japanese patients with non-valvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (NVPAF). We retrospectively investigated the incidence of ischemic stroke on the basis of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores in 332 NVPAF patients (224 men, mean age, 65 ± 13 years) who were not administered anticoagulation therapy before publication of the 2008 JCS guideline (mean follow-up period, 53 ± 35 months). Annual rates of ischemic stroke/ systemic thromboembolism underlying antiarrhythmic drug therapy were 0.2%/year for the 0-point group; 0.9%/year for the 1-point group; 2.8%/year for the 2-point group; 9.4 %/year for the 3-point group; and 10.9%/year for the ≥ 4-point group on the basis of the CHADS2 scores, and 0%/year for the 0-point group; 0.6%/year for the 1-point group; 1.0%/ year for the 2-point group; 2.0 %/year for the 3-point group; 5.5%/year for the 4-point group; 9.1%/year for the 5-point group; and 13.7%/year for the ≥ 6-point group on the basis of the CHA2DS2-VASc scores. Both higher CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were associated with greater annual rates of ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism (P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the CHADS2 (odds ratio [OR]:4.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]:2.80-8.00, P < 0.001) and CHA2DS2-VASc scores (OR: 4.15, 95% CI:2.57-6.71, P < 0.001) were significant independent predictors for ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism. Area under the receiver-operator characteristic curves for predicting ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism were 0.89 in the CHA2DS2-VASc scores (P < 0.001) and 0.87 in the CHADS2 scores (P < 0.001). In Japanese patients with NVPAF, both the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores are useful parameters for the risk stratification of ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism.