Background The efficacy and safety of colchicine for the primary prevention of the postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS), postoperative effusions, and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) remain ...uncertain. Although preliminary data from a single trial of colchicine given for 1 month postoperatively (COPPS trial) were promising, the results have not been confirmed in a large, multicenter trial. Moreover, in the COPPS trial, colchicine was given 3 days postoperatively. Methods The COPPS-2 study is a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Forty-eight to 72 hours before planned cardiac surgery, 360 patients, 180 in each treatment arm, will be randomized to receive placebo or colchicine without a loading dose (0.5 mg twice a day for 1 month in patients weighing ≥70 kg and 0.5 mg once for patients weighing <70 kg or intolerant to the highest dose). The primary efficacy end point is the incidence of PPS, postoperative effusions, and POAF at 3 months after surgery. Secondary end points are the incidence of cardiac tamponade or need for pericardiocentesis or thoracentesis, PPS recurrence, disease-related admissions, stroke, and overall mortality. Conclusions The COPPS-2 trial will evaluate the use of colchicine for the primary prevention of PPS, postoperative effusions, and POAF, potentially providing stronger evidence to support the use of preoperative colchicine without a loading dose to prevent several postoperative complications. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01552187.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
We describe the case of a patient with acute bioprosthesis dysfunction in cardiogenic shock, in whom hemodynamic support was provided by venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and ...successfully treated by transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
Apresentamos o caso de um doente com disfunção aguda de bioprótese em choque cardiogénico com suporte hemodinâmico através de oxigenação da membrana extracorporal (vaECMO) e tratado com sucesso através de implantação percutânea da válvula aórtica (TAVI).
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The long-term sequelae of mantle therapy include, especially lung and cardiac disease but also involve the vessels and the organs in the neck and thorax (such as thyroid, aorta, and esophagus). We ...presented the case of 66-year-old female admitted for congestive heart failure in radiation-induced heart disease. The patient had undergone to massive radiotherapy 42 years ago for Hodgkin's disease (type 1A). Transesophageal echocardiography was performed unsuccessfully with difficulty because of the rigidity and impedance of esophageal walls. Our case is an extraordinary report of radiotherapy's latency effect as a result of dramatic changes in the structure of mediastinum, in particular in the esophagus, causing unavailability of a transesophageal echocardiogram.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
IMPORTANCE: Postpericardiotomy syndrome, postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF), and postoperative effusions may be responsible for increased morbidity and health care costs after cardiac surgery. ...Postoperative use of colchicine prevented these complications in a single trial. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of perioperative use of oral colchicine in reducing postpericardiotomy syndrome, postoperative AF, and postoperative pericardial or pleural effusions. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Investigator-initiated, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial among 360 consecutive candidates for cardiac surgery enrolled in 11 Italian centers between March 2012 and March 2014. At enrollment, mean age of the trial participants was 67.5 years (SD, 10.6 years), 69% were men, and 36% had planned valvular surgery. Main exclusion criteria were absence of sinus rhythm at enrollment, cardiac transplantation, and contraindications to colchicine. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive placebo (n=180) or colchicine (0.5 mg twice daily in patients ≥70 kg or 0.5 mg once daily in patients <70 kg; n=180) starting between 48 and 72 hours before surgery and continued for 1 month after surgery. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Occurrence of postpericardiotomy syndrome within 3 months; main secondary study end points were postoperative AF and pericardial or pleural effusion. RESULTS: The primary end point of postpericardiotomy syndrome occurred in 35 patients (19.4%) assigned to colchicine and in 53 (29.4%) assigned to placebo (absolute difference, 10.0%; 95% CI, 1.1%-18.7%; number needed to treat = 10). There were no significant differences between the colchicine and placebo groups for the secondary end points of postoperative AF (colchicine, 61 patients 33.9%; placebo, 75 patients 41.7%; absolute difference, 7.8%; 95% CI, −2.2% to 17.6%) or postoperative pericardial/pleural effusion (colchicine, 103 patients 57.2%; placebo, 106 patients 58.9%; absolute difference, 1.7%; 95% CI, −8.5% to 11.7%), although there was a reduction in postoperative AF in the prespecified on-treatment analysis (placebo, 61/148 patients 41.2%; colchicine, 38/141 patients 27.0%; absolute difference, 14.2%; 95% CI, 3.3%-24.7%). Adverse events occurred in 21 patients (11.7%) in the placebo group vs 36 (20.0%) in the colchicine group (absolute difference, 8.3%; 95% CI; 0.76%-15.9%; number needed to harm = 12), but discontinuation rates were similar. No serious adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among patients undergoing cardiac surgery, perioperative use of colchicine compared with placebo reduced the incidence of postpericardiotomy syndrome but not of postoperative AF or postoperative pericardial/pleural effusion. The increased risk of gastrointestinal adverse effects reduced the potential benefits of colchicine in this setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01552187
Background
Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine‐secreting tumor derived from chromaffin cells in the adrenal glands. An excessive stimulation of cardiac myocytes, when pheochromocytoma ‘crisis’ ...occurs, lead to myocardial damage with cardiogenic shock.
Aim of the Study
We present the case of a A 28‐year old female patient admitted with signs of severe cardiogenic shock. She was successfully supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) combined with IMPELLA CP heart pump (Abiomed Danvers, MA), for left ventricular unloading. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) was used to favour myocardial recovery and avoid cardiac remodeling.
Results
A very fast recovery was observed. The ECMO was discontinued after four days. The IMPELLA‐CP was safely removed after six days. A completely myocardial recovery was observed.
Conclusions
Use of MCS might find an indication in case of PCC as a bridge to myocardial recovery.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background
Degenerative mitral valve (MV) regurgitation (DMR) shows significative mitral annulus (MA) alterations; mitral valve repair (MVR) seeks to restore annular geometry and function, and the ...current use of flexible band seams to respect most annular mobility reducing parietal stress. Parameters of MV geometry obtained by 3D transesophageal echocardiography (3D‐TTE) analysis are crucial for surgical planning and postoperative success. The aim of this study was to assess, by means of a dedicated software, the variations of MA geometry and function in patients affected by DMR compared to controls and after MVR with flexible band.
Methods
We enrolled 32 patients (cases) with severe DMR who underwent MVR using flexible band; we compare this group with 20 controls. The TEE with 3D MV images acquisition was performed in both groups and then analyzed in postprocessing by using a dedicated software.
Results
There were no anthropometrics differences between cases and controls, both presented normal left ventricular ejection fraction. DMR group showed a significant increase of annulus dimensional parameters (p = .001) and alteration of nonplanarity comparing to controls (p < .05). The annuloplasty with flexible band induces a considerable reduction of MV dimensions comparing to preoperative data and restores physiological mobility and nonplanarity. There were no statistical differences between postoperative DMR and controls data, except for nonplanarity parameters (p ~.05), maybe influenced by hemodynamic settings.
Conclusions
MVR with annuloplasty using flexible band appears able to reinstate a more physiological anatomic conformation of the MA, without compromising its dynamic properties.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Aims
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the development of the mRNA vaccines in humans which are well tolerated, safe, and highly efficacious; however, post-marketing surveillance is ...revealing potential rare cardiac adverse effects as acute pericarditis. We herein report two cases of symptomatic constrictive pericarditis following administration of the second dose of mRNA-1273 (Moderna) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
Methods and results
Case summary: A 75 years old male with history of hypertension and COPD presented to our Hospital approximately one month after the second dose of mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine with dyspnoea and leg oedema. Routine analysis resulted normal, no increasing of inflammatory markers or ECG abnormalities. Echocardiogram showed circumferential fibrinous pericardial effusion without tamponade and typical features of constrictive pericarditis: annulus reversus, ventricular interdependence, expiratory diastolic flow reversal in hepatic vein, inferior vena cava plethora. Pleural ultrasound showed bilateral pleural effusion that was sampled and showed a transudate fluid. Tumoral marker and a CT Scan, autoimmunity panel, blood tests for bacteraemia and Quantiferon were negative. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed thickening of pericardium. A 68 years old male with history of ischaemic heart disease with previous CABG, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and chronic kidney disease presented with palpitations and mild legs swelling. Approximately, 2 months before he received the second dose of mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Routine blood examinations resulted normal, ECG showed a right bundle branch block. Echocardiogram showed a mild enlargement of LV with normal systolic function, a moderate primary mitral regurgitation and a circumferential pericardial effusion, showing signs of constrictive syndrome. CT Scan demonstrated pericardium thickness. Constrictive pericarditis may represent a subacute complication of an asymptomatic exudative acute pericarditis. Although cases of acute pericarditis have been reported after SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, to our knowledge, the association with constrictive pericarditis has not been described. The temporal link between vaccination and symptoms development as the biological plausibility of autoimmune or cross-reaction response to vaccination in predisposed subjects could suggest a possible correlation as an adverse event, even if causality could not be established.
Conclusions
We present two cases of constrictive pericarditis occurring after mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, aiming further data to confirm a causal role.
Abstract only
Introduction:
pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) is an indicator of right ventricular (RV) function and an independent predictor of right ventricular failure (RVF) following LVAD ...implantation.
Hypothesis:
Administration of vasodilator challenge during right heart catheterization (RHC) could reduce RV workload allowing a better assessment of its functional reserve.
Methods:
patients undergoing LVAD implantation at our Institution between May 2013 and August 2021 were enrolled. Only patients with RHC and vasodilator challenge with sodium nitroprusside were analyzed. We collected all available clinical, instrumental and haemodynamic parameters, at baseline and after nitroprusside infusion, and we evaluated potential association with post-LVAD RVF.
Results:
of the 54 patients analyzed, 19 (35%) developed RVF after LVAD implantation. RV FAC (OR 0.647, CI 0.481-0.871; p=0,004), PASP (OR 0.856, CI 0.761-0.964; p=0.010) and post-NTP PAPi (OR 0.218, CI 0.073-0.653; p=0.006) were independent predictors of post-LVAD RVF. The model combining RV FAC, PASP and post-NTP PAPi presented a predictive accuracy of 90.7%. Addition of post-NTP PAPi led to increased EUROMACS-RHF risk score (79.4% vs 70.4%; AUC 0.841 vs 0.724, p=0.022) and CRITT score (79.6% vs 74%; AUC 0.861 vs 0.767, p=0.033) predictive accuracy.
Conclusions:
post-NTP PAPi has proven to be an independent predictor of RVF following LVAD implantation. Dynamic assessment of PAPi through vasodilator challenge could represent a test of RV functional reserve in candidates for LVAD implantation. Larger and prospective studies are needed in order to confirm this hypothesis.
In the complex spectrum of coronary anomalies, the origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva with intramural course could represent a catastrophic life-threatening condition ...leading to extensive myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death, especially in young athletes. We report the case of a young female athlete with anomalous left coronary artery from the opposite sinus who survived a major non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction during the eighth kilometer of a running race. It was successfully treated by creating a neo-ostium of the left coronary artery in the left sinus at the point at which the artery left the aortic wall.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK