Search

Aims To explore the impact of incorporating a faster cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging protocol in a low–middle-income country (LMIC) and using the result to guide chelation in transfusion-dependent patients. Methods and results A prospective UK–India collaborative cohort study was conducted in two cities in India. Two visits 13 months apart included clinical assessment and chelation therapy recommendations based on rapid CMR results. Participants were recruited by the local patient advocate charity, who organized the patient medical camps. The average scanning time was 11.3 ± 2.5 min at the baseline and 9.8 ± 2.4 min (P Conclusion For thalassaemia patients in an LMIC, a simplified CMR protocol linked to therapeutic recommendation via the patient camp model led to enhanced chelation therapy and a reduction in cardiac iron in 1 year.

Background: Survival in transfusion dependent thalassemia is closely linked to iron overload with severe cardiac iron causing heart failure. MRI guided chelation improves survival in high income countries. We explored the use of rapid MRI to guide therapy in a Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC), India, via locally organized thalassemia patient medical camps. Methods: Rapid cardiac MRI (rCMR) was implemented at two sites with clinical assessment and therapy recommendations based on rCMR findings. Investigations and clinical reassessment were repeated at 13 months. Findings: The baseline visit was attended by 103 patients, the second by 86. Average time of scanning was 10 minutes. At baseline 29% had a cardiac T2* = 17ms). At 13 months more patients were taking 2 oral chelators (21% to 37%, p

BackgroundThis exploratory study investigates the feasibility for observing and evaluating intraoperative communication practices using simulation techniques. Complex procedures are increasingly performed on patients under local anaesthesia, where patients are fully conscious. Interventional cardiac procedures are one such example where patients have reported high levels of anxiety undergoing procedures. Although communication styles can serve to alleviate patient anxiety during interventions, leading to a better patient experience, there has been little observational research on communication, while patient perspectives in intraoperative contexts have been underexplored.MethodsIn this mixed-methods study, observational analysis was conducted on 20 video-recorded simulated scenarios, featuring physician operators (of varied experience levels), communication and interactions with a simulated patient (trained actor), in a controlled and highly realistic catheter laboratory setting. Two independent raters and the simulated patient embedded in scenarios retrospectively rated physician communication styles and interactions with the patient via four key parameters. Patient perspectives of communication were further explored via a quantitative measure of anxiety and semistructured qualitative interviews.ResultsWhile independent ratings of physician–patient communications demonstrated few discernible differences according to physicians’ experience level, patient ratings were consistently higher for experienced physicians and lower for novice physicians for the four interaction styles. Furthermore, the patient’s anxiety scores were differentiable according to operators’ experience level. Thematic analysis provided further insights into how patient perspectives, including affective dimensions are characterised, and how physician interactions can amplify or attenuate feelings of anxiety through tone of voice, continuity in communication during the procedure, communicating while multitasking and connecting with the patient.ConclusionsOur findings indicate underlying patient assumptions about physicians’ experience levels, intraoperative communication styles and impact on anxiety. While observational methods can be applied to simulated intraoperative clinical contexts, evaluation techniques such as observational rating tools need to incorporate patient perspectives about undergoing conscious surgery.

BackgroundA new challenge for healthcare managers is to improve the patient experience. Simulation is often used for clinical assessment and rarely for those operating outside of direct clinical care. Sequential simulation (SqS) is a form of simulation that re-creates care pathways, widening its potential use.Local problemNumbers, outcome measures and system profiling are used to inform healthcare decisions. However, none of these captures the personal subtleties of a patient’s experience.Intervention56 students attended a teaching module using SqS and facilitated workshops as part of their induction week on an MSc International Health Management course. The workshop was voluntary and was offered as an opportunity for the students to gain an insight into the UK health system through the medium of simulation.MethodsAn evaluation survey incorporating quantitative and qualitative student feedback was conducted. Descriptive statistics were generated from the quantitative data, and thematic analysis was undertaken for the qualitative data.ResultsThere was strong agreement for the acceptability of the workshop approach in relation to the aims and objectives. Likert scale (1–-5) mean total=4.49. Participants responded enthusiastically (revealed through the qualitative data) with ideas related to perspectives sharing, understanding healthcare management and processes and the consideration of feasibility and practicalities. They also suggested other applications that SqS could be used for.ConclusionThe SqS approach has demonstrated that simulation has a wider potential than for clinical assessment alone. Further studies are required to determine its potential uses and affordances beyond its current format.

Background—Conventional cardiopulmonary exercise testing can objectively measure exercise intolerance but cannot provide comprehensive evaluation of physiology. This requires additional assessment of cardiac output and arteriovenous oxygen content difference. We developed magnetic resonance (MR)–augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing to achieve this goal and assessed children with right heart disease.Methods and Results—Healthy controls (n=10) and children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; n=10) and repaired tetralogy of Fallot (n=10) underwent MR-augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing. All exercises were performed on an MR-compatible ergometer, and oxygen uptake was continuously acquired using a modified metabolic cart. Simultaneous cardiac output was measured using a real-time MR flow sequence and combined with oxygen uptake to calculate arteriovenous oxygen content difference. Peak oxygen uptake was significantly lower in the PAH group (12.6±1.31 mL/kg per minute;P=0.01) and trended toward lower in the tetralogy of Fallot group (13.5±1.29 mL/kg per minute;P=0.06) compared with controls (16.7±1.37 mL/kg per minute). Although tetralogy of Fallot patients had the largest increase in cardiac output, they had lower resting (3±1.2 L/min per m2) and peak (5.3±1.2 L/min per m2) values compared with controls (resting 4.3±1.2 L/min per m2and peak 6.6±1.2 L/min per m2) and PAH patients (resting 4.5±1.1 L/min per m2and peak 5.9±1.1 L/min per m2). Both the PAH and tetralogy of Fallot patients had blunted exercise–induced increases in arteriovenous oxygen content difference. However, only the PAH patients had significantly reduced peak values (6.9±1.3 mlO2/100 mL) compared with controls (8.4±1.4 mlO2/100 mL;P=0.005).Conclusions—MR-augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing is feasible in both healthy children and children with cardiac disease. Using this novel technique, we have demonstrated abnormal exercise patterns in oxygen uptake, cardiac output, and arteriovenous oxygen content difference.

The purposes of this study were: (1) to evaluate feasibility and acceptability of MRI augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing (MR-CPET) in healthy adults and (2) to test whether peak values obtained at conventional and MR-CPET correlate and to demonstrate variation in peak oxygen consumption (VO2) relates to both peak cardiac output (CO) and peak oxygen extraction (ΔcO2). Seventeen healthy adults underwent CPET and MR-CPET using an MR compatible ergometer and CPET system customised for MR use. Continuous aortic flow measurement used a validated UNFOLD-SENSE spiral phase contrast magnetic resonance (PCMR) sequence.Fifteen of 17 volunteers completed exercise; exclusions were due to claustrophobia and inability to effectively master exercise technique. Measures of acceptability were lower but still satisfactory for MR-CPET.There were strong correlations between conventional and MR-CPET for peak VO2 (r = 0.94, p < 0.001); VCO2 (r = 0.87, p < 0.001) and VE (r = 0.88, p < 0.001).Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated peak CO and ΔcO2 were independent predictors of peak VO2 measured during MR-CPET (β = 0.73 and 0.38 p < 0.0001) and conventional CPET (β = 0.78, 0.28 p < 0.0001).MR-CPET is feasible, acceptable and demonstrates physiology not apparent with conventional CPET. MR-CPET allows differentiation of the contributions of CO and ΔcO2 to variation in peak VO2. We believe that this will be useful in understanding the origin of reduced exercise capacity in cardiac disease.

Aim: This study presents an interim safety and feasibility analysis of the REGENERATE-IHD randomized controlled trial, which is examining the safety and efficacy of three different delivery routes of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) in patients with ischemic heart failure. Methods & results: The first 58 patients recruited to the REGENERATE-IHD study are included in this interim analysis (pilot). Symptomatic patients with ischemic heart failure were randomized to receive subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor or saline injections only; or subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor injections followed by intracoronary or intramyocardial injections of BMSCs or serum (control). No significant differences were found in terms of safety and feasibility between the different delivery routes, with no significant difference in procedural complications or major adverse cardiac events. There was a signal towards improved heart failure symptoms in the patients treated with intramyocardial injection of mobilized BMSCs. Conclusion: Peripheral mobilization of BMSCs with or without subsequent direct myocardial delivery appears safe and feasible in patients with chronic ischemic heart failure.

Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder affecting the production of haemoglobin (Hb). It has life-long consequences with multi-organ involvement including the cardiopulmonary circulation and an increased mortality. Although all SCD patients share the same genetic defect, the phenotype varies. This suggests other factors, unrelated to the Hb mutation, play an important role particularly in later decades. This retrospective study examined patient survival attending a specialist tertiary centre in the United Kingdom based on Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity (TRJ) measured by echocardiography and associated laboratory studies. Method A retrospective analysis of TRJ and diastolic function (lateral E/E’ ratio) assessed by echocardiography in 127 intensively treated steady-state SCD patients (mean age 40 +/- 12 years) screened for cardiovascular complications. Laboratory studies were also analysed. Results The clinical characteristics of patients in this study is summarised in Table 1. 15% of patients had a TRJ between 2.6–2.99 m/s and 9% with TRJ >3.0 m/s. 11% of patients had diastolic dysfunction using lateral E/E’ ratio. When compared to patients with a TRJ 3.0 TRJ group. See Figure 1. Lateral E/E’ ratio (beta = 0.88, p = 0.015), left atrial area (beta = 0.38, p Conclusion Mortality in SCD patients with raised TRJ remains high despite intensive therapy, such as exchange transfusion, directed at correcting Hb. Screening with echocardiography remains an important tool in identifying high-risk patients. Additional therapies directed at the premature ageing of the cardiopulmonary circulation are urgently needed.

Exercise intolerance is a common feature of many diseases. The causes are difficult to determine and often multifactorial, including secondary cardiac-respiratory dysfunction, as well as skeletal muscle abnormalities. We have developed MR augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) that allows

Ultrafast CMR to deliver high volume screening of an at risk thalassemia population in the developing world: preliminary results from the TIC-TOC study (Thailand and UK international collaboration in thalassaemia using an optimised ultrafast CMR protocol) Amna Abdel-Gadir, Yongkasem Vorasettakarnkij, Hataichanok Ngamkasem, Sabrina Nordin, Emmanuel O Ako, Monravee Tumkosit, Pranee Sutcharitchan, Peter Kellman, Stefan K Piechnik, Juliano L Fernandes, Mark Westwood, John Porter, John Malcolm Walker, James Moon

Introduction Reduced exercise capacity is a common feature of many cardiovascular diseases. Quantitative assessment of exercise capacity is usually achieved by measuring peak oxygen consumption (VO2). However, measuring peak VO2 alone neglects the different components of reduced exercise capacity: namely reduced cardiac output (CO) and oxygen extraction (ΔcO2). A better approach would be to simultaneously measure VO2 and CO and then calculate ΔcO2. This could be achieved using MR augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing (MR-CPET). The aims of this study were to demonstrate: 1) MR-CPET is feasible and well tolerated, 2) peak VO2 in the MR scanner correlates with conventional peak VO2 and 3) variation in peak VO2 is related to both peak CO and peak oxygen extraction (ΔcO2) as calculated by the Fick equation. Method 17 healthy volunteers (21–55 years) underwent MR-CPET. Exercise was performed on an MR-compatible ergometer (Lode, Groningen, The Netherlands) and VO2 was assessed using a commercial respiratory gas analyser (Ultima, MedGraphics, St. Paul, USA) with a modified sampling tube that was MR compatible. Set-up for MR-CPET is shown in [Figure 1][1]. Aortic flow was continuously measured using a previously validated UNFOLD-SENSE spiral PCMR sequence. Images were reconstructed using a graphical processing unit card and analysed using an in-house plug-in for OsiriX software. Conventional CPET was also performed within 2 weeks of MR-CPET. For both tests, participants were asked to rate i) concern ii) comfort and iii) perceived helplessness. ![Abstract 134 Figure 1][2] Abstract 134 Figure 1 Set-up for MR-CPET: a) subject in exercise position on MR compatible ergometer b) subject with facemask attached to MR compatible umbilicus passing through the wave-guide Results 15 out of 17 volunteers completed exercise; exclusions were due to claustrophobia (n = 1) and inability to master exercise technique (n = 1). Reported concern and discomfort was higher with MR-CPET, although still within acceptable limits. Peak VO2, peak VCO2 and VE showed strong correlation between conventional CPET and MR-CPET: VO2 peak (r = 0.94, p < 0.001); VCO2 (r = 0.87, p < 0.001); VE (r = 0.88, p < 0.001). Resting and peak values VO2, CO, HR, SV and ΔcO2 are shown in [Table 1][3]. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that both peak CO and ΔcO2 were independent predictors of peak VO2 measured during MR-CPET (beta = 0.73 and 0.38 respectively, p < 0.001) and conventional CPET (beta = 0.78 and 0.28 respectively, p < 0.001). ![Abstract 134 Table 1][2] Abstract 134 Table 1 Values at rest and Peak VO2 obtained at MR-CPET Conclusion MR-CPET is feasible, well tolerated and demonstrates physiology not apparent with conventional CPET. In this study, we have shown that MR-CPET allows assessment of the differing contributions of CO and ΔcO2 to variation in peak VO2. We believe that will be useful in understanding the origin of reduced exercise capacity in cardiac disease. [1]: #F1 [2]: pending:yes [3]: #F2

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder affecting the production of haemoglobin (Hb). It has life-long consequences with multi-organ involvement, including the cardiopulmonary circulation and an increased mortality. Although all SCD patients share the genetic defect, the phenotype varies.