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Parachute mitral valve (PMV) is a rare congenital cardiac valvular anomaly often associated with other congenital cardiac defects, particularly Shone's complex, but may infrequently occur in isolation. PMV and its variants are predominantly associated with mitral stenosis (MS) or rarely mitral regurgitation (MR). We present the case of a middle-aged female who was evaluated for a syncopal episode and found to have an atypical variant PMV with disproportionately long anterior mitral leaflet, bileaflet mitral valve prolapse, and mitral annular disjunction, without associated MS or MR. This is the first case report to highlight this particular constellation of findings.

Literature on bioresorbable-polymer-stents (BPS) and second-generation durable-polymer-stents (DPS) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for all comer CAD is conflicting.Randomized controlled studies comparing PCI among BPS and second-generation DPS were identified up until May-2020 from online databases. Primary outcomes included are all-cause myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac-death, target-vessel-revascularization (TVR), target-vessel MI (TVMI), and stent-thrombosis (ST). Random effect method of risk ratio and confidence interval of 95% was used.25 prospective randomized controlled trials with 31,822 patients (BPSPatients undergoing PCI treated with BPS had comparable outcomes in terms of cardiac death, TVR, ST, TVMI, and all-cause MI to patients treated with second-generation DPS; however, BPS had higher rates of TVR for follow-up of ≥5-years.

Coronary ectasia (CE) is defined as dilation of the coronary artery, 1.5 times that of the surrounding vessel. Outcomes of percutaneous intervention (PCI) in patients with CE presenting as ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) remain a topic of debate.Studies comparing outcomes of PCI in CE versus no-ectasia (NE) STEMI patients were identified. Baseline angiographic characteristics include thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 0-1 flow, right coronary artery (RCA) involvement, and primary outcomes including thrombus aspiration, no-reflow, mortality, and TIMI-3 post-PCI. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.Six studies (n = 5746, CE-340 and NE-5406) qualified for the analysis. RCA involvement was more common in CE than NE, OR-1.39 (95%CI1.06-1.82, p-0.02). Pre-procedure TIMI-0-1 was of comparable results between the groups (p-1.13). Higher thrombus aspiration for CE (OR 2.18, 95%CI1.44-3.32;p-0.001). CE had higher incidence of no-reflow (OR 4.07, 95%CI2.42-6.84;p-0.001). TIMI-3 flow post-PCI was achieved less commonly in the CE group (OR-0.64, 95%CI-0.48-0.86;p-0.001). Mortality on follow-up was comparable (0.83, 95%CI0.39-1.78;p-0.63). Metaregression analysis did not show confounding effects from comorbidities.Coronary ectasia patients with STEMI had higher rates of PCI failure and no-reflow than NE; however, mortality during follow-up was comparable.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • Mitral annular disjunction is an underrecognized finding on echocardiography. • Mitral valve prolapse is strongly associated with mitral annular disjunction. • Patients with Marfan syndrome are potentially high risk for mitral annular disjunction. • Paradoxical annular unsaddling occurs in mitral annular disjunction. • Mitral valvular apparatus tension during systole contributes to arrhythmic syndrome.

Takotsubo Syndrome (TS) patients are at high risk of developing atrial fibrillation. We sought to investigate the outcomes and economic impact of atrial fibrillation on TS patients utilizing the National Inpatient Sample.Patients with TS were identified in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between 2010 and 2014 using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), and subsequently were divided into two groups, those with and without atrial fibrillation. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality in the two groups. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital complications. We also evaluated the length of hospital stay and the cost of hospitalization. Propensity score-matched analysis was performed to address potential confounding factors.Among the study population, the prevalence of atrial fibrillation was 17.57%. After matching, the atrial fibrillation group had no significant increase of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 0.94-1.35, p = 0.211). However, atrial fibrillation patients were more likely to develop cardiac arrest and ventricular arrhythmias (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.26-1.80, p 0.0001), have higher rate of major cardiac complications when combined as a single endpoint in-hospital complication (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.29, p: 0.006), also they were more likely to stay longer in hospital (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08-1.19, p 0.0001), and have increased cost of hospitalization (OR: 1.13, 95% CI 1.07-1.20, p 0.0001).Atrial fibrillation does not increase in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with TS. However atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias, length of stay, non-routine discharges and cost of hospitalization.

Propafenone is a Class 1 C anti-arrhythmic drug, frequently used in the treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. We herein are presenting a case of 67-year-old female who presented with wide complex tachycardia consistent with Propafenone toxicity and who responded immediately to sodium bicarbonate injections. This case shines the light on a common effect of Propafenone toxicity and aims to increase the clinician awareness about such a documented reaction, that can be reversed by a simple treatment like sodium bicarbonate.

Background: The literature on the etiologies and complications of high-output heart failure (HOHF) is limited. Objective: To study the causes and complications related to HOHF in the United States (US). Methods: Data from the national readmissions database (NRD) sample that constitutes 49.1% of the stratified sample of all hospitals in the United States, representing more than 95% of the national population were analyzed for hospitalizations with primary diagnosis of HOHF for the years 2017-2018. Etiology associated with HOHF were extracted using ICD-10 codes. Results: A total of 2,107 index hospitalizations (mean age 62.2 ± 19.1) with primary diagnosis of HOHF were recorded in the NRD for the years 2017-2018. The most common causes of HOHF include sepsis 204 (9.7%), leukemia 53 (2.5%), arteriovenous fistula 13 (0.6%), liver cirrhosis 155 (7.4%), Hyperthyroidism 133 (6.3%), thalassemia 23 (1.14%), sickle cell disease 71 (3.35%), morbid obesity 188 (8.95%), COPD 406 (19.3%), myeloproliferative disorders 166 (7.87%). Among the HOHF group, major complications include acute ischemic stroke (42 or 2%), acute kidney injury (593 or 28.1%), hypertensive emergency (74 or 3.5%), atrial fibrillation (409 or 19.4%), ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (77 or 3.7%), and conduction block (81 or 3.8%) and ST-Elevation myocardial infarction (11 or 0.5%). A total of 83 (3.9%) patients had died during the inpatient hospitalization. Out of the remaining 2,024 patients, a significant portion (62 or 3.1%) required readmission within 30 days. Conclusion: HOHF is an under-reported cardiovascular complication associated with non-cardiovascular disorders. HOHF is associated with significant 30-day readmissions and mortality rates. Proper management of the underlying etiology can prevent the development of HOHF and associated complications. Keywords: cirrhosis; hemodynamics; obesity, leukemia, myeloproliferative disorders, ST-Elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

To evaluate the association of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) initial viral load (iVL) and the incidence of myocardial injury (MCI) in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, we conducted a retrospective longitudinal study of hospitalized patients who had a nasopharyngeal swab sample on admission that returned a positive result for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction between April 4 and June 5, 2020. The cycle threshold (Ct) value was used as a surrogate for the iVL level, with a Ct level of 36 or less for elevated iVL and greater than 36 for low iVL. Myocardial injury was defined as an elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I level that was higher than the 99th percentile upper reference limit. A total of 270 patients were included. Of these, 171 (63.3%) had an elevated iVL and 88 (32.6%) had MCI. There was no significant difference in the incidence of MCI in patients with low iVL compared to those with elevated iVL (28 of 99 [28.3%] vs 60 of 171 [35.1%]; P=.25). In a multivariable model, MCI (odds ratio, 3.86; 95% CI, 1.80 to 8.34; P

Literature regarding recent trends and outcomes of acute new-onset heart failure (AHF) with preserved ejection fraction (AHFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (AHFrEF) is limited. The objective of this study is to study the outcomes of AHFpEF and AHFrEF in the USA. Data from the National Readmissions Database (NRD) sample that constitutes 49.1% of the stratified sample of all hospitals in the USA, representing more than 95% of the national population, were analyzed for hospitalization visits for acute heart failure. ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes were used to identify AHF. A total of 2,559,102 adult index AHF patients (mean age 70.79 ± 14.58 years, 49.4% females), 1,028,970 (40.2%) AHFpEF and 1,330,999 (52%) AHFrEF, were recorded in the National Readmissions Database for the years 2016–2018. A total of 152,465 (5.96%) acute heart failure, 47,271 (4.6%) AHFpEF and 91,973 (6.91%) AHFrEF, died during hospitalization, and 45,810 (1.9%) were readmitted in 30 days among alive discharges. Higher complication rates which included ventricular arrhythmias, acute coronary, and cerebrovascular events were observed among AHFrEF than AHFpEF. Higher proportion of patients with AHFrEF needed intensive care unit and ventilatory support during the hospitalization. The trend of incidence of AHFrEF, mortality among AHFrEF, and overall mortality worsened while AHFpEF improved over the study years 2012–2018 (p-trend

Background Underrepresented-minorities (URM) remain few in number amongst practicing cardiologists and across cardiology fellowship training programs in the U.S. Increased diversity is needed across the entire field and is particularly necessary within graduate medical education cardiology fellowship training programs. Objectives This cross-sectional study was performed to identify which strategies were supported and implemented by cardiology fellowship program directors (PDs) to increase URM representation, to determine which entities hold the responsibility to increase diversity according to program directors, and to quantify URM representation in cardiology fellowship programs. Methods A 15-item survey was submitted to all American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited cardiology fellowship programs via electronic mail. Results Of 250 cardiology fellowship programs, 71 responses were received (28.4%). The number of URM faculty varied from 0-1 to more than six, and URM faculty held leadership roles in most programs (62.0%). A total of 16 respondents (22.5%) were URM program directors. Most respondents agreed that diversity was important to their training program (85.9%). The majority endorsed direct recruitment of URM applicants (60.6%), opportunities for applicants to connect with (54.9%) or be recruited by URM fellows (54.9%), holistic application review (67.6%), promoting mentorship by URM faculty (69.0%), URM faculty involvement in applicant interviewing (54.9%), and increased recruitment of URM faculty members (73.2%). Program directors allocated major responsibility to increase diversity to fellowship programs (71.8%), residency programs (63.3%), and medical schools (53.5%). Conclusions This study found that most cardiology programs have URM faculty in leadership roles, and nearly a quarter of the surveyed program directors were URMs. Cardiology program directors endorsed and employed numerous strategies to increase diversity and URM representation in fellowship programs. Additionally, program directors held fellowship training programs most responsible for increasing URM representation in the field of cardiology.

Background Patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) admitted with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be challenging to manage given their increased risk of bleeding complications. There is limited evidence in the literature guiding appropriate interventions in this population. The objective of this study is to determine the difference in clinical outcomes in AMI patients with and without ITP. Methods Using the United States national inpatient sample database, adults aged ≥18 years, who were hospitalized between 2007 and 2014 for AMI, were identified. Among those, patients with ITP were selected. A propensity‐matched cohort analysis was performed. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were coronary revascularization procedures, bleeding and cardiovascular complications, and length of stay (LOS). Results The propensity‐matched cohort included 851 ITP and 851 non‐ITP hospitalizations for AMI. There was no difference in mortality between ITP and non‐ITP patients with AMI (6% vs7.3%, OR:0.81; 95% CI:0.55‐1.19; P = .3). When compared to non‐ITP patients, ITP patients with AMI underwent fewer revascularization procedures (40.9% vs 45.9%, OR:0.81; 95% CI:0.67‐0.98; P = .03), but had a higher use of bare metal stents (15.4% vs 11.3%, OR:1.43; 95% CI:1.08‐1.90; P = .01), increased risk of bleeding complications (OR:1.80; CI:1.36‐2.38; P

The introduction of wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCD) provides a novel means of protection in select patients at high risk for sudden cardiac death. The WCD can safely record and terminate life-threatening arrhythmias. In this review, we explore the data behind indications for WCD use and discuss its limitations. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane Central Register of controlled trials for relevant studies. The VEST trial, the first randomised controlled trial on WCD use, did not show statistical significance in utility of the WCD in post-myocardial infarction patients with low ejection fraction. While the use of WCD in this select patient population showed no benefit, the findings of the trial merit closer inspection. Various other indications of WCD use still exist and others require exploration. Select subsets of patients who stand to benefit for other indications include severely decreased left ventricular function post-revascularization with high arrhythmic burden, severe non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, patients awaiting heart transplant and patients who have had their implantable cardioverter device temporarily removed. The role of the WCD is also being explored in children, peripartum cardiomyopathy, haemodialysis patients, and in syncope secondary to high-risk arrhythmias.

To evaluate the impact of chronic thrombocytopenia (cTCP) on outcomes of transcatheter valvular procedures such as aortic valve implantation (TAVI), MitraClip, permanent pacemaker (PPM), implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), left atrial appendage closure, and pericardiocentesis. Impact of cTCP on clinical outcomes following TAVI, Mitraclip, PPM, ICD, CRT, left atrial appendage closure, and pericardiocentesis procedures is not well described. Utilizing the National Inpatient Sample and (ICD-9-CM) procedural codes, we evaluated patients (age ≥18 years) who underwent these procedures, from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2014, with or without cTCP as a chronic condition variable indicator. Propensity score matching model implemented to derive 2 matched groups. Propensity score matching created 47,292 and 47,351 hospitalizations matched pairs with and without cTCP, respectively. Patients with cTCP were older (mean age, 74.27 vs 72.26 years; absolute standardized differences [ASD] = 15.6) and less likely to be female (36.76% vs 43.74%, ASD = -14.31). They experienced higher in-hospital mortality (3.0% vs 2.0%; odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27 to 1.83) and higher odds of vascular injury requiring surgery (2.63% vs 1.10%; OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.93 to 3.05). Postoperative hematoma and bleeding were 2-fold higher (4.57% vs 2.24%; OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.77 to 2.45) and 3-fold higher (6.34% vs 2.45%; OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 2.31 to 3.13) respectively among cTCP patients. They had greater health-care cost ($47,163 vs $35,763, p0.0001) and longer hospital stay (mean 9.26 days vs 6.84 days, p0.0001). In conclusion, cTCP patients had higher risk of complications after TAVI, MitraClip, PPM, ICD, CRT, left atrial appendage closure, and pericardiocentesis, including a 1.5-fold increased risk of in-hospital mortality.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor for non-ST-segment elevation–acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). Whether early invasive strategy (EIS) or ischemia-guided strategy (IGS) confers better outcomes in NSTE-ACS with COPD is largely unknown. Nationwide Inpatient Sample database of the United States was queried from 2010 to 2015 to identify NSTE-ACS with and without COPD. Early invasive strategy was defined as coronary angiogram with or without revascularization on admission day 0 or 1, whereas IGS included patients who did not receive EIS. Standardized morbidity ratio weight was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio. A total of 228 175 NSTE-ACS admissions with COPD were identified of which 34.0% received EIS. In-hospital mortality was lower with EIS in patients with COPD (3.1% vs 5.5%, adjusted odds ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.50-0.63) compared to IGS, but the magnitude of mortality reduction observed in EIS in patients with COPD was less compared to non-COPD patients ( Pinteraction= .02). Length of stay was shorter (4.2 vs 4.7 days, P < .0001) but the cost was higher (US$23 804 vs US$18 533, P < .0001) in EIS in COPD. Early invasive strategy resulted in lower in-hospital mortality and marginally shorter length of stay but higher hospitalization cost in NSTE-ACS with COPD.

Introduction Whether readmission to non-index hospitals (where the initial procedure was not performed) could result in adverse outcomes and increased utilization of healthcare resources compared with readmission to index hospitals after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains unclear. Methods From January 2012 to September 2015, a nationwide readmission database was queried to identify those who were older than 50 years and had endovascular TAVR, using the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code 35.05. Elective readmissions were excluded. In-hospital outcomes were compared between the index and non-index hospital readmissions. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of non-index hospital readmissions. Results A total of 6808 readmissions were identified of which 2564 (37.7%) were readmitted to non-index hospitals. Residents at smaller counties, metropolitan non-teaching hospitals, or hospitals at large metropolitan areas were predictors of non-index readmissions. In-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.27, p = 0.20), acute myocardial infarction (aOR 0.83, p = 0.53), pacemaker placement (aOR 0.97, p = 0.90), acute kidney injury (aOR 0.98, p = 0.84), and stroke (aOR 1.03, p = 0.90) were similar between index and non-index readmissions but bleeding events requiring transfusions were more frequently observed in readmissions at non-index hospitals (aOR 1.32, p = 0.025). Hospital cost (15,410 dollars vs. 16,390 dollars, p = 0.25) and length of stay (5.70 days vs. 5.65 days, p = 0.85) were comparable between groups. Conclusions Non-index readmissions post-TAVR was relatively common but did not result in increased hospital mortality or healthcare utilization. Our results are reassuring for TAVR recipients with limited access to index hospitals.

Safety-net hospitals (SNHs) are hospitals that serve a higher proportion of patients insured by Medicaid or uninsured and have been reported to have poor outcomes compared with non-SNHs. Procedural and clinical outcomes of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (STEMI-CS) at SNHs have not been well described. Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2005 to 2011 was queried to identify STEMI-CS and age ≥18. SNHs were defined as hospitals with the highest number of inpatient stays that were paid by Medicaid or were uninsured (the top quartile). A total of 23,229 STEMI-CS of which 3,639 (15.7%) were treated at SNHs. Admissions to SNHs were younger (mean age 66.0 vs 67.2, p0.001), more likely men (64.0% vs 62.2%, p = 0.04), more frequently ethnic minorities (Black; 11.0% vs 6.0%, Hispanic 20.4% vs 5.8%, p0.001), and had higher Elixhauser ≥4 (25.8% vs 21.9%, respectively, p0.001). Percutaneous coronary interventions were less performed (60.4% vs 65.8%, p0.001) whereas administrations of thrombolysis (2.9% vs 2.1%, p = 0.001) were more frequent at SNHs. Coronary artery bypass and the use of mechanical circulatory support was similar. In-hospital mortality was significantly elevated at SNHs (36.6% vs 32.7%, adjusted odds ratio 1.24, 95% confidence interval 1.10 to 1.39) whereas new dialysis, stroke, and fatal arrhythmias were similar. The median length of stay was similar (6 vs 7 days, p = 0.58) but the median cost was higher (40,175 vs 38,012 US dollars, p = 0.01) at SNHs. SNHs had lower utilization of percutaneous coronary intervention and higher in-hospital mortality compared with non-SNHs in STEMI-CS. Further cause analysis is warranted to improve outcomes of STEMI-CS admitted at SNHs.

Background Data on the effects of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes are limited. To assess the comparative HRQOL outcomes between TAVR and SAVR, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for articles that compared the HRQOL scores, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey 12 or 36 (SF-12/36), or the EuroQoL 5 Dimension score (EQ-5D) at 30 days and 1 year between TAVR and SAVR. Mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated with inverse variance statistical method and random-effects model. Results A total of four studies with 4,125 patients (1268 transfemoral [TF]-TAVR, 1261 Non-TF TAVR [transsubclavian, transapical or transaortic], and 1,596 SAVR) were included in the studies. KCCQ overall summary scores and its subscales, SF-12/36, and EQ-5D were significantly higher in TF-TAVR compared to SAVR but were similar in non-TF TAVR vs. SAVR at 30 days. At 1-year follow-up, TF-TAVR and non-TF TAVR conferred similar HRQOL scores in KCCQ overall summary and subscales scores, SF-12/36, and EQ-5D compared to SAVR. Conclusions Transfermoral-TAVR achieved better HRQOL at 30 days but similar HRQOL at 1 year compared to SAVR. Non-TF TAVR resulted in similar improvements in HRQOL at both 30 days and 1 year compared with SAVR.

The objectives of this study were to determinate the scrotal shape and to evaluate the skin thickness and the vascular hemodynamics using Doppler ultrasonography in Braford bulls. This experiment was performed at a farm located in the municipality of Santana do Livramento, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. A total of 106 Braford bulls, 16 months old, were housed under extensive breeding conditions. The mean temperature on the day measurements were taken was 22.6 ± 2.9 °C, and the relative humidity was 78 ± 9%. These values were used to calculate the Temperature and Humidity Index (THI), which was 70.69 ± 3.32. Doppler ultrasonography was used to evaluate vascular hemodynamics and obtain mean velocity (MV) (cm/s), end diastolic velocity (EV) (cm/s), systolic peak (SP) (cm/s), and indexes of pulsatility (PI) and resistivity (RI). Skin thickness was measured by ultrasonography, and the scrotal formats were classified as long-moderate (L/M) and moderate-oval (M/O). Tukey's test was used to evaluate the means, and a Pearson's linear correlation was established. The minimum level of significance was set at 5%. The MV had no significant difference in animals with M/O (14.98 ± 5.06) scrotal format compared to animals with L/M (13.66 ± 4.64). No difference was found (P > 0.05) in mean skin thickness of animals with L/M formats (3.70 ± 0.67 mm) and animals with M/O (3.63 ± 0.54 mm). The systolic peak did not differ in animals with L/M (18.01 ± 5.96) and M/O (20.21 ± 6.53) testes. The difference was not significant between EV in L/M testes (9.54 ± 4.01) and animals with M/O (10.45 ± 4.33). The RI and PI values, considering the two groups of scrotal shapes, did not show any significant difference. The correlations found were as follows: PI and RI = 0.95, EV and RI = -0.62, and EV and PI = -0.61. The relationships between blood flow and RI, as well as blood flow and skin thickness, were negative, indicating an inverse proportionality between the characteristics. Doppler ultrasonography was effective in evaluating vascular hemodynamics in Braford bulls raised in extensive production systems. The results found here suggest that the testicular format (L/M; M/O) is not related to skin thickness or testicular hemodynamics under these conditions.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been used to treat high surgical risk cohorts but has been expanded to treat low-to-intermediate risk cohort as well. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the outcomes between TAVI and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low-to-intermediate risk cohort. We queried PUBMED, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrial.gov for relevant articles. Randomized controlled trials that compared at least one of the outcomes of interest between TAVI and SAVR were included. Risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled with a random-effects model to compare the risk of the primary outcome between the 2 procedures. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality or disabling/major stroke at 1 year. Seven studies with a total of 7,143 patients (3,665 TAVI) were included. All-cause mortality or disabling/major stroke at 30 days (6 studies, RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.03) was similar between TAVI and SAVR but was significantly lower in TAVI at 1 year (5 studies, RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.98). All-cause mortality was similar at both 30 days (7 studies, RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.21) and 1 year (6 studies, RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.04). Disabling/major stroke was similar between the 2 procedures (6 studies, RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.12) at 30 days but was significantly lower in TAVI at 1 year (5 studies RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.98). Age, gender, diabetes, and surgical risk score did not modulate the primary outcome. TAVI had a significantly lower composite of all-cause mortality or disabling/major stroke at 1 year compared with SAVR in low-to-intermediate surgical risk cohort.

In the setting of cardiogenic shock (CS), impaired biventricular function can cause acute decrease in renal function via reduced renal perfusion and increased renal venous pressure. We sought to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with CS who utilized renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis) for acute kidney injury (AKI-HD). We utilized data from the National Inpatient Sample to calculate national rates of in-hospital mortality, use of temporary mechanical support, vascular injury requiring surgery, length of stay (LOS) and hospitalization cost from 2010 to September 2015. We compared the in-hospital outcomes between CS with AKI-HD and a propensity score-matched group without AKI-HD. We identified 6,076 hospitalizations (weighted n = 24,272) with CS and AKI-HD and 76,878 (weighted n = 378,553) with CS not AKI-HD. Among these cases 48.1% (n = 39,403, weighted n = 193,746) had ST elevation myocardial infarction as the cause of CS. Patients with CS and AKI-HD had higher comorbidity burden and they were also more likely to receive mechanical circulatory support device (absolute standardized difference10% for all comparisons) compared with CS patients without AKI-HD. After matching 4,457 cases for patient-level and hospital-level characteristics, CS with AKI-HD was associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality (75.74% vs 51.58%, p0.001), use of temporary mechanical support (24.0% vs 19.3%, p0.001), LOS (21.4 vs14.4 days, p0.001) and cost ($80,406 vs $52,833, p0.0001). AKI-HD occurred in approximately 6% of patients with CS in years 2010 to 2015 and was associated with significantly increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality, LOS, and cost.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • The patient presented with fungating skin lesions, remitting fevers, and leukocytosis. • Myocardial perfusion echocardiography aided in the diagnosis of neoplasm in the RVOT. • Fluoroscopy-guided biopsy of the mass confirmed metastatic invasion of SCC. • Evidence for optimal management of cardiac metastasis of SCC is scarce. • This is the first reported case of Marjolin's ulcer with metastasis to the heart.

Various causative organisms and predisposing factors were implicated in the pathogenic process behind prosthetic valve endocarditis. Lactobacillus paracasei, a classic constituent of probiotics, rarely causes infections in humans and was reported only in few case reports. The use of probiotics was hypothesized to be a risk factor for these infections; however, no causative relationship could be drawn. We describe a 75-year-old woman with history of Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome and bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement who presented with worsening dyspnea was found to have Lactobacillus paracasei bacteremia and evidence of bacterial vegetations noted on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) along with evidence of severe aortic insufficiency. Based on antibiotics sensitivity profile, she was treated with penicillin and gentamycin, which resulted in bacterial clearance on repeat blood cultures, and the patient was transferred to a different facility to undergo replacement of the prosthetic aortic valve. Although Lactobacillus paracasei is rarely involved in human infections, it should be suspected in patients with underlying structural heart/valvular disease, recent antibiotic exposure or recent probiotic use who are presenting with evidence of infective endocarditis. Combination antibiotics including beta lactams, aminoglycosides and clindamycin are suggested treatment of choice for this organism.

Background: Classic Takotsubo cardiomyopathy has been described as transient apical dyskinesia following major stress that is believed to be related to catecholamine surges. Atypical variants have been described, including the rarer reverse Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Discrepant gradients of the beta-2 adrenoceptors are thought to determine the different anatomic variants. Case Report: A 43-year-old female presented with chest pain and a mild troponin elevation. Echocardiography and coronary angiography were consistent with stress-induced apical Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Eight months later, the patient was admitted with a similar presentation; however, workup revealed stress-induced reverse Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: Recurrent Takotsubo cardiomyopathy involving different anatomic regions of the left ventricle is a rare phenomenon yet appears to be similar to typical Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in presentation and hospital course. Chronic therapy with beta blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors did not prevent a recurrence in this patient, suggesting that optimum treatment needs to be determined. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy affecting different myocardial segments may recur in the same patient, implying that the adrenoceptor distribution theory needs further refinement.

One of the major causes of mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is acute myocardial infarction. Whether in-hospital outcomes and management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI) are different in SLE patients compared with those without SLE from large, recent dataset is unclear. We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Database from 2005 to 2014 and identified STEMI and NSTEMI admissions with and without SLE. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were revascularization strategy (percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass surgery, or thrombolytics), medical therapy rates (no reperfusion), and major adverse clinical events. A propensity-matched cohort was created to compare these outcomes. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated from the propensity-matched cohort. A total of 321,048 STEMI admissions, of which 1,001 (0.31%) and 572,971 NSTEMI admissions, of which 2,134 (0.37%) were SLE, were identified. In those with STEMI, 882 SLE and non-SLE admissions were propensity-matched. In-hospital mortality (9.1% vs 11.8%, OR 0.75, p = 0.07), revascularization strategy, medical therapy rates, and major adverse events were similar. Similarly, in those with NSTEMI, 1,770 SLE and 1,775 non-SLE were matched. In-hospital mortality (4.1% vs 4.50%, OR 0.90, p = 0.51), coronary artery bypass surgery, medical therapy rates, and major adverse events were mostly similar but the rate of percutaneous coronary intervention was higher in SLE (32.9% vs 29.6%, OR 1.16, p = 0.04). For both STEMI and NSTEMI, hospital cost and length of stay were similar between SLE and non-SLE cohorts. From a large administrative database in the United States, revascularization strategies and in-hospital outcomes of acute coronary syndrome were mostly similar between SLE and non-SLE.

Background Limited data exist on the incremental value of the risk enhancers recommended in the 2018 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (ACC/AHA) cholesterol treatment guidelines in addition to the pooled cohort equation. Methods and Results Using pooled individual‐level data from 3 epidemiological cohorts involving 22 942 participants (56% women, mean age 59 years), we evaluated the predictive ability of the risk enhancers and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and determined their incremental utility using the C statistic, net reclassification index, and integrated discrimination index. A total of 1960 (8.5%) atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events were accrued over 10 years. Of the 10 risk enhancers evaluated, only 6 predicted atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease independent of the pooled cohort equation. However, the individual enhancers demonstrated little or no incremental benefit. There was more incremental value from combining the 6 enhancers into an aggregate score (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.08–1.37 for each additional enhancer), and having ≥3 enhancers represents an optimum threshold for incremental prediction (C statistic, 0.766; net reclassification index, 0.041; integrated discrimination index, 0.010; P ≤0.007). On the other hand, CAC was superior to individual enhancers (C statistic, 0.774; net reclassification index, 0.073; integrated discrimination index, 0.010; P Conclusions The individual risk enhancers evaluated in this study provided no or only marginal incremental information added to the pooled cohort equation. However, the presence of ≥3 risk enhancers reliably identified intermediate‐risk patients that will benefit from statin therapy, and further CAC testing may be considered among those with

There has been an accumulating evidence of association between COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) infection and cardiovascular complications. We describe a case of a 58-year-old lady with a history of systolic heart failure and COVID-19 infection, who developed persistent symptomatic bradycardia, requiring pacemaker placement as unusual conductive tissue involvement of this novel coronavirus.

COVID-19 pandemic resulted in considerable morbidity and mortality. We analyzed 345 Electrocardiograms of 100 COVID-19 patients admitted to our tertiary care center in Detroit, during the initial month of Covid-19. Findings were correlated with mortality, cardiac injury and inflammatory markers. Our cohort included 61% males and 77% African Americans. The median age and BMI were 66 years (57-74) and 31 kg/m2 (26.1-39), respectively. We observed atrial arrhythmias in 29% of the patients (17% new onset), First degree heart block in 12%, ST-T segment changes in 17%, S1Q3T3 pattern in 19%, premature ventricular complexes in 23%, premature atrial complexes in 13%, Q waves in 27%, T wave inversion in 42% of the cases. While presence of premature atrial complexes or left atrial abnormality correlated with mortality (P = 0.02 & 0.03, respectively), other findings did not show significant correlation in this small cohort of patients.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important and rare cause of myocardial infarction (MI), particularly among young women without traditional atherosclerotic risk factors. Late pregnancy and postpartum period are associated with more risk for developing SCAD. No enough data exist regarding the ideal management of SCAD due to lack of randomized trials comparing medical therapy and revascularization strategies. We present three cases of SCAD, two of them were postpartum women while one involved an obese young woman with no identifiable risk factors. We describe the pathophysiology, types of SCAD, risk factors, clinical presentation, and management approach. This case series highlights the need to raise awareness of SCAD and to facilitate accurate diagnosis promptly.

Introduction: The average age and survival of heart transplant recipients have improved significantly over the last 10 years. In these long-term survivors, coronary allograft vasculopathy is one of the most common causes of death. There is a paucity of large-data research highlighting the short-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in cardiac allograft recipients. Methods: We compared the in-hospital outcomes of heart transplant recipient and non-transplant recipients following percutaneous coronary intervention using data from the National inpatient sample (NIS). All adult patients (age ⩾ 18 years) who had percutaneous coronary intervention in the index admissions from January of 2005 to December of 2014 were included in the analysis. They were then divided into two groups based on their heart transplant status. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were stroke, cardiac arrest, duration of hospitalization, and total hospital charges. Logistic regression models were used to compare in-hospital outcomes between the two groups. Results: Of 1,316,528 patients who had percutaneous coronary intervention, 618 (0.05%) were heart transplant recipients and 1,315,910 (99.95%) were not. The heart transplant recipient group was significantly younger with lower rates of obesity and peripheral vascular disease but higher rate of chronic kidney disease, iron deficiency anemia, and chronic liver disease. There was significantly higher in-hospital mortality in transplant recipients below 65 years of age (adjusted odds ration = 2.3, p value Conclusion: Heart transplant recipients younger than 65 years had higher in-hospital mortality. Subjects in the heart transplant recipient group were also younger and had longer duration of hospitalization than the non-transplant cohorts.

INTRODUCTIONS & AIMS: Heart failure (HF) is a common comorbidity in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to access the temporal trends and outcomes of TAVR or SAVR in HF patients. METHOD: The NIS database from 2011-2014 was queried for patients that underwent TAVR or SAVR and were subsequently diagnosed with HF. Temporal trends in the utilization of TAVR or SAVR in HF patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 27,982 patients who were diagnosed with HF of whom 17,681 (63.2%) had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) while 10,301 (36.8%) had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), 9,049 (32.3%) underwent TAVR and 16,933 (76.7%) underwent SAVR. Patients with HFrEF and HFpEF had higher utilization of TAVR compared to SAVR over the course of the study period (p trend < 0.001). TAVR was associated with lower mortality [2.8% in 2012 and 1.8% in 2014 (p 0.013)] compared with SAVR. Similarly, multiple logistic regression showed a statistically significant lower in-hospital mortality in the TAVR group compared to SAVR (aOR 0.634; CI 0.504, 0.798, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: For patients with severe aortic valve stenosis and heart failure who undergo aortic valve intervention, TAVR is associated with less odds of in-hospital mortality compared with SAVR.

Papillary muscle rupture (PMR) or chordae tendinae rupture (CTR) is a rare but lethal complication after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Due to the rarity of this condition, there are limited studies defining its epidemiology and outcomes. This is a retrospective study from Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2002 to 2014 of patients with STEMI and PMR/CTR. Outcomes of interest were incidence of in-hospital mortality, cardiogenic shock (CS), utilization of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices and mitral valve procedures (MVPs) among patients with and without rupture. We also performed simulation using the cardiovascular model to better understand the hemodynamics of severe mitral regurgitation and effects of different medications and device therapy. We identified 1,888 patients with STEMI complicated with PMR/CTR. Most of the patients were >65 years of age (65.3%), male (63.6%), and white (82.3%). They had significantly higher incidence of CS, cardiac arrest, and utilization of MCS devices. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with rupture (41% vs. 7.40%, p < 0.001) which remained unchanged over the study period. Hospitalization cost and length of stay was also higher in them. MVP and revascularization led to better survival rates (27.9% vs. 60.6%, adjusted OR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.10-0.19; p < 0.001). Despite significant advancement in the revascularization strategy, PMR/CTR after STEMI continues to portend poor prognosis with high inpatient mortality. Cardiogenic shock is a common presentation and is associated with significantly inpatient mortality. Future studies are needed determine the best strategies to improve outcomes in patients with STEMI with PMR/CTR and CS.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is a commonly utilized method for coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis, and it provides important long-term prognostic information. We report a case of a 53-year-old female with multiple cardiovascular risk factors who underwent DSE for evaluation of underlying CAD. The examination was complicated by wide complex tachycardia and promoted administration of esmolol, which shortly led to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Coronary angiography showed complete absence of CAD. Coronary vasospasm was a possible suggested mechanism due to the pharmacologic interaction between beta-blockers and dobutamine on alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors.

Background Outcomes of redo aortic valve intervention (AVI) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have not been well described. We thought to investigate the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of redo AVI after TAVR. Methods The Nationwide Readmission Database (from 2012 to 2017) was queried to identify admissions for TAVR. Redo AVI was defined as readmissions that required either TAVR or balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). A multivariable regression model was used to identify independent predictors of redo AVI. In-hospital outcomes of redo TAVR or BAV and redo SAVR were compared in the unadjusted model. Results A total of weighted 148,200 (unweighted redo AVI 297, no redo AVI 73,804) index TAVRs were identified. A weighted 593 (435 TAVR or BAV and 158 SAVR) redo AVI was included with an incidence of 1.0 per 100 person-year during a median of 105 (interquartile range 41–195) days follow-up. Predictors of redo AVI were female, heart failure, obesity, atrial fibrillation, transapical approach, oral anticoagulant use, and acute kidney injury. In-hospital mortality of redo AVI was 7.6% (5.3% for redo TAVR or BAV vs. 13.8% for redo SAVR, unadjusted p = 0.10). Stroke, myocardial infarction, bleeding requiring transfusion, new pacemaker, and acute kidney injury rates were 4.7%, 2.6%, 9.3%, 10.0%, and 31.2%, respectively in redo AVI. Length of stay and hospital cost was 4.8 days and 55,826 U.S. dollars, respectively. Conclusions The incidence of redo AVI was low following TAVR but was associated with high mortality and morbidities.

We assessed the trend of palliative care (PC) referrals and its effect on hospitalization cost and length of stay (LOS) in ruptured aortic aneurysm (rAA). The Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2005 to 2014 was used to identify admissions with age ≥50 and rAA. A total of 54 134 rAA admissions were identified and 5019 (9.3%) had PC referrals. During the study period, PC referral rate increased from 0.97% to 15.3% ( P trend < .0001). Length of stay (1.7 vs 2.8 days, adjusted mean ratio [aMR] = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.58-0.66), and cost (US$7778 vs US$13 575, aMR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.52-0.63) were significantly lower in rAA admissions that did not undergo interventions. In the percutaneous repair group, LOS was similar but the cost was higher (US$61 759 vs US$52 260, aMR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05-1.30), whereas in surgical repair group, LOS was shorter (4.6 vs 5.9 days, aMR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.73-0.82) but the cost was higher (US$59 755 vs US$52 523, aMR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02-1.28). Palliative care could shorten LOS and save hospitalization cost in rAA admissions not a candidate for repair. Further studies are required to investigate the variable effects of PC on rAA.

Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is indicated for symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) patients. We sought to analyze the incidence of the 30-day readmission rate, predictors, causes of readmission, and incremental healthcare resource (cost and length of stay) utilization after ASA. Nationwide Readmission Database from 2010 January to 2015 September was queried to identify 30-day unplanned readmission after ASA for HC by using the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification. Those readmitted were similar in terms of age and sex but had higher burden of co-morbidities compared with those not readmitted within 30-days. The 30-day unplanned readmission rate was 10.4% (511/4,932) after ASA. Readmissions lead to an additional mean hospitalization cost of 8,433 US dollars and mean of 4.9 days of length of stay. Predictors of 30-day unplanned readmission were liver disease (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22 to 5.59), renal failure (aOR 2.30, 95%CI 1.52 to 3.50), previous myocardial infarction (aOR 1.97, 95%CI 1.16 to 3.33), previous pacemaker (aOR 1.50, 95%CI 1.09 to 2.08), atrial fibrillation (aOR 1.43, 95%CI 1.08 to 1.89), Medicaid (aOR 1.74, 95%CI 1.12 to 2.68), and weekend admission (aOR 1.75, 95%CI 1.12 to 2.75). Common reasons for readmissions were atrial fibrillation (12.6%), acute on chronic systolic heart failure (12.6%), paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia (6.4%), atrioventricular block (4.9%), and HC (3.0%). Unplanned readmissions after ASA occur in patients with higher burden of co-morbidities and are mainly caused by cardiac etiologies.

Recent positive results of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI) in clinical trials have sparked debate on whether TAVI should be first line for all patients with aortic stenosis. However, limited evidence exists on the clinical impact of TAVI on a national level. Using the national inpatient sample (NIS) of hospital discharges in the United States from 2001 to 2016, we evaluated the rate of AVR and associated in-hospital outcomes in pre-TAVI and TAVI era. Hierarchical mixed effect modeling was used to assess for trend and calculate risk adjusted estimates. Annual volume of AVR increased from 49,357 in 2001 to 100,050 in 2016 (103% increase). Compared with the pre-TAVI era, mean annual change in volume of AVR was higher in the TAVI era (+2.9% vs +9.4%, respectively, p0.001). In contrast, rate of in-hospital mortality decreased from 5.4% in 2001 to 2.7% in 2016 (50% decrease). Compared with the pre-TAVI era, magnitude of mean annual change in mortality was higher in TAVI era (-4.0% vs -6.7%, respectively, p = 0.04). Unlike SAVR for which risk-adjusted rate for most outcomes seems to have plateaued, TAVI demonstrated significant improvement from 2012 to 2016 for mortality (4.6% to 1.8%), acute kidney injury (15.1% to 2.6%) and nonroutine home discharge (63.6% to 44.6%). However, no significant change in the rate of stroke (2.4% to 2.1%) and pacemaker implantation remained high (8.1% to 9.4%). Lastly, median length of stay was shorter for TAVI compared with isolated SAVR (3 vs 8 days, respectively). In conclusion, the adoption of TAVI has led to increase in volume of AVR for severe aortic stenosis in the United States with favorable short-term outcome.

Aim: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) have become a reasonably safe procedure with acceptable morbidity and mortality rate. However, little is known regarding the incidence, trends, and predictors of palliative care (PC) consult in aortic valve replacement (AVR) patients. The main purpose of this analysis was to assess the incidence, trends, and predictors of PC consultation in AVR recipients using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Materials and Methods: We queried the NIS database from 2005 to September 2015 to identify those who underwent TAVR or SAVR and had PC referral during the index hospitalization. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was calculated to identify patient demographic, social and hospital characteristics, and procedural characteristics associated with PC consult using multivariable regression analysis. We also reported the trends of PC referral in AVR recipients. Results: A total of 522 765 admissions (mean age: 75.3 ± 7.8 years, 40.3% female) who had TAVR (1.7% transapical and 9.2% endovascular approach) and SAVR (89.2%) were identified. Inpatient mortality was 3.96%, and 0.5% patients of the total admissions had PC consultation. The PC referral for SAVR increased from 0.90 to 7.2 per 1000 SAVR from 2005 to 2015 ( P = .011), while it remained stable ranging from 9.30 to 13.3 PC consults per 1000 TAVR ( P = .86). Age 80 to 89 (aOR: 1.93), age ≥90 years (aOR: 2.57), female sex (aOR: 1.36), electrolyte derangement (aOR: 1.90), weight loss (aOR: 1.88), and do not resuscitate status (aOR: 44.4) were associated with PC consult. West region (aOR: 1.46) and Medicaid (aOR: 3.05) were independently associated with PC consult. Endovascular (aOR: 1.88) and transapical TAVR (aOR: 2.80) had higher PC referral rates compared with SAVR. Conclusions: There was an increase in trends for utilization of PC service in SAVR admissions while it remained unchanged in TAVR cohort, but the overall PC referral rate was low in AVR recipients during the index hospitalization.

Background Periprocedural outcomes of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) with Mitraclip in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) are not well studied. Methods Patients who underwent TMVR with Mitraclip between 2011 and 2015 were identified using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). All missing variables were excluded from the analysis and therefore, complete case analysis was performed. Results A total of 1,037 patients underwent TMVR with Mitraclip between 2011 and 2015. The prevalence of PH in these patients was 32.6%. In-hospital outcomes were compared between PH group and non-PH group. Inpatient mortality after TMVR was similar between the two groups (3.2% vs. 2.1%, OR 1.57, P = 0.335). There was no statistical significance between the two groups in the rates of hemorrhage requiring transfusion (8.5% vs. 7.2%, OR 1.17, P = 0.587), cardiogenic shock (4.4% vs. 4.5%, OR 0.98, P = 0.951), acute respiratory failure (15.2% vs. 13.1%, OR 1.23, P = 0.460), postoperative sepsis (2.75% vs. 3.9%, OR 0.66, P = 0.340), postoperative deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (2.7% vs. 3.9%, OR 1.98, P = 0.348). In addition, non-routine home discharge, median hospital cost and length of stay were similar between the two groups. Conclusion Pre-existing PH in patients undergoing TMVR with Mitraclip does not adversely affect in-hospital outcomes in this cohort of patients. Therefore, PH does not carry a prohibitive risk in selecting patients for Mitraclip procedure.

Cardiac tamponade is a severe complication of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantations. We provide a contemporary large-scale study evaluating the incident trends, predictors and impact of cardiac tamponade in patients undergoing CRT.Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) of 2007 through 2014. Trends in the annual rates of tamponades in CRT implantation were assessed using negative binomial regressions. Hierarchical mixed-effects logistic regression models were built to determine the independent predictors of tamponade in CRT implantation and 1:1 propensity-matched analysis performed to examine the impact of tamponade on outcomes.An estimated 310,704 CRT implantations were performed in the United States between 2007 and 2014, out of which 536 patients (0.17%) developed procedure-related cardiac tamponade. A significant increasing trend in the tamponade incidence was observed over the 8-year study period [1.65 per 10,000 CRT implantation in 2007 to 38.16 in 2014 (p 0.001)]. After multivariable adjustment, female sex and coagulation disorder were found to be independently associated with higher odds of tamponade. Conversely, prior history of CABG procedure was associated with lower odds of tamponade. CRT complicated with tamponade had significantly increased in-hospital mortality, bleeding requiring transfusion, prolonged hospital stay and increased cost.We found an increasing trend in the incidence of post CRT tamponade among hospitalized patients between 2007 and 2014. Female gender and coagulation disorder were associated with the development of tamponade among recipients of CRT. Risk stratification of patients who are undergoing CRT is crucial to improving outcome in CRT implantation.

Key Clinical Message Direct oral anticoagulants can potentially provide a more convenient oral alternative for the management of left ventricular thrombi than Warfarin. These medications do not require frequent monitoring and have less drug‐drug interactions. Randomized controlled trials are needed to further demonstrate their efficacy and safety in this setting.

It is unknown if transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a safe alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients65 years old. Data from the National Inpatient Sample database were utilized. Patients from 2011 to 2015, ages 18 to 64 years old (inclusive) who underwent TAVI and SAVR were included. Patients who underwent SAVR and who also received a concomitant nonaortic valve surgery were excluded. A propensity score analysis was used. A total of 18,970 (528 TAVI and 18,442 SAVR) patients were identified. Patients who underwent TAVI were older (57 ± 7 vs 54 ± 10 years old, p 0.001) with more frequent co-morbidities. Overall in-hospital mortality was similar between TAVI and SAVR (odds ratio [OR] = 0.52, p = 0.12). Postprocedure stroke (OR = 0.50, p = 0.24), acute kidney injury (OR = 0.98, p = 0.89), acute myocardial infarction (OR = 0.48, p = 0.08), and vascular complication requiring surgery (OR = 0.20, p = 0.11) were similar between patients who underwent TAVI and SAVR. Bleeding requiring transfusion (OR = 0.32, p 0.01) was less frequent in patients who underwent TAVI, but new pacemakers (OR = 1.7, p = 0.02) were more frequent in these patients. Patients who underwent TAVI had shorter hospital stays (7.9 vs 10.0 days, p 0.001) and were more likely to be discharged to home. Cost between TAVI and SAVR was similar ($49,014 vs $42,907, respectively, p = 0.82). In the 65 years old patient population, TAVI also conferred similar overall in-hospital mortality compared with patients who underwent SAVR. TAVI resulted in fewer major complications, shorter hospital stay, and more frequent discharge to home, but higher rates of pacemaker implantation compared with SAVR. Therefore, TAVI appears to be a safe alternative to SAVR in patients 65 years old.

New evidence suggests that closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) plus medical therapy (MT; antiplatelet or anticoagulation) is superior to MT alone to prevent recurrent cryptogenic stroke. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared PFO closure plus MT with MT alone in patients with cryptogenic stroke. The efficacy end points were recurrent stroke, transient ischemia attack, and death. The safety end points were major bleeding and newly detected atrial fibrillation. Trials were pooled using random effects and fixed effects models. A trial sequential analysis was performed to assess if the current evidence is sufficient. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated for pooled estimates of risk. Five randomized controlled trials (3,440 patients) were included. Mean follow-up was 4.1 years. PFO closure reduced the risk of recurrent stroke by 58% (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.91, p = 0.03). The number needed to treat was 38. The cumulative Z-line crossed the trial sequential boundary, suggesting there is adequate evidence to conclude that PFO closure reduces the risk of recurrent stroke by 60%. PFO closure did not reduce the risk of transient ischemia attack (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.15, p = 0.21), mortality (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.60, p = 0.45), or major bleeding (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.42 to 2.20, p = 0.93); it did increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (RR 4.69, 95% CI 2.17 to 10.12, p0.0001).

BACKGROUND New-generation (NG) valves for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has recently been widely used in real-world practice, yet its comparative outcomes with early-generation (EG) valves remain under-explored. METHODS An electronic literature search using PUBMED and EMBASE was conducted from inception to April 2017 for matched-cohort studies. Articles that compared the outcomes of NG vs. EG valves post TAVI with at least one of the following clinical outcome reported were included: all-cause mortality, major or life-threatening bleeding, major vascular complications (MVC), significant (more than moderate) paravalvular regurgitation (PVR), cerebrovascular events, significant (stage 2 or 3) acute kidney injury (AKI) and new permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) that occurred either in-hospital or within 30-days. RESULTS A total of 6 observational matched-cohort studies with 585 and 647 patients included in NG and EG valves, respectively, were included. EG valves were associated with a lower incidence of major or life-threatening bleeding (5.7% vs. 15.7%, p

Aortic mural thrombus (AMT) is an uncommon cause of arterial thromboembolism. It is very rare in patients without significant cardiovascular risk factors. Many aetiologies can cause AMT, but there are no clear guidelines for the evaluation and treatment. We present the case of a 43-year-old woman without arteriosclerotic disease who was admitted to the hospital with peripheral embolisation from the mural thrombus in the distal arch of the aorta. Therapy with systemic anticoagulation resulted in complete resolution without necessitating any surgical or endovascular interventions. There were no reported recurrence or complications of the intra-aortic thrombus within 1-year surveillance imaging study.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a complex valve lesion that can pose significant management challenges for the cardiovascular clinician. This Expert Consensus Document emphasizes that recognit...

OBJECTIVES To assess the in-hospital mortality and complications in female between transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). BACKGROUND Female is one of the risk factors for increased adverse events in cardiac surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried from 2011 to 2014 for patients who underwent TAVR or SAVR in female patients. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality and second endpoints were perioperative complications. We performed a propensity score analysis to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for each outcome. Patients who had concomitant cardiac surgery and those who had TAVR or SAVR mainly for aortic regurgitation were excluded. Our query from 2011 to 2014 resulted in a total of 3,067 TAVR and 18,594 SAVR in female patients. TAVR patients were in general elder and had a higher burden of comorbidities. The primary endpoint was similar between TAVR and SAVR (4.2% vs. 3.9%, OR 1.0, P = 0.89). Compared to SAVR, female TAVR patients had less hemorrhage requiring transfusion (12% vs. 21%, OR 0.41, P

Background To assess the impact of post transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) mild paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) on mortality. More than moderate PVR after TAVI has decreased with the advent of new-generation prosthetic valves. However, mild PVR remains common and its clinical impact has been inconsistent. We aimed to assess the impact of mild PVR through meta-analysis. Methods and Results A systematic literature search was conducted through PUBMED and EMBSE. Manuscripts that reported hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for clinical outcome of interest (all-cause and cardiac mortality) has been included. Random-effects model was used for calculation of HR. A total of 25 articles including total of 21,018 patients were finally included for quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis). Our pooled analysis demonstrated higher all-cause mortality in patients with mild PVR compared to none/trivial PVR (HR 1.26, 95%CI 1.11–1.43, I2=45%, p

Objectives To summarize the published data of combined transcatheter aortic and mitral valve intervention (CTAMVI). Background CTAMVI, a combination of either transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve (TAViV) and transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR), transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve/valve-in-ring (TMViV/ViR), or percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) is an attractive alternative in high-surgical risk patients with combined aortic and mitral valve disease. However, its procedural details and clinical outcomes have not been well described. Methods We performed a systematic review of all the published articles from PUBMED and EMBASE. Results A total of 37 studies with 60 patients were included. The indication for CTAMVI was high or inoperable surgical risk and symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (92%) or severe aortic regurgitation (8%) combined with moderate to severe/severe mitral stenosis (30%) or moderate/severe mitral regurgitation (65%) or both (5%). In majority of the cases, aortic valve intervention was performed prior to the mitral valve. Mortality rate were 25% for TAVR + TMVR (range 42 days to 10 months), 17% for TAVR + TMViV/ViR (range 13 days to 6 months), 0% for TAViV + TMViV/ViR (range 6–365 days), and 15% for TAVR/ViV + PMVR (range 17 days to 419 days). Significant (more than moderate) paravalvular regurgitation post-procedure was rare. Conclusions CTAMVI appears to confer reasonable clinical outcome. Further large study is warranted to clarify the optimal strategy, procedural details and clinical outcomes in the future.