BACKGROUND:Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly used to treat cardiogenic shock. However, VA-ECMO might hamper myocardial recovery. The Impella unloads the left ...ventricle. This study aimed to evaluate whether left ventricular unloading in patients with cardiogenic shock treated with VA-ECMO was associated with lower mortality.
METHODS:Data from 686 consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock treated with VA-ECMO with or without left ventricular unloading using an Impella at 16 tertiary care centers in 4 countries were collected. The association between left ventricular unloading and 30-day mortality was assessed by Cox regression models in a 1:1 propensity score–matched cohort.
RESULTS:Left ventricular unloading was used in 337 of the 686 patients (49%). After matching, 255 patients with left ventricular unloading were compared with 255 patients without left ventricular unloading. In the matched cohort, left ventricular unloading was associated with lower 30-day mortality (hazard ratio, 0.79 95% CI, 0.63–0.98; P=0.03) without differences in various subgroups. Complications occurred more frequently in patients with left ventricular unloadingsevere bleeding in 98 (38.4%) versus 45 (17.9%), access site–related ischemia in 55 (21.6%) versus 31 (12.3%), abdominal compartment in 23 (9.4%) versus 9 (3.7%), and renal replacement therapy in 148 (58.5%) versus 99 (39.1%).
CONCLUSIONS:In this international, multicenter cohort study, left ventricular unloading was associated with lower mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock treated with VA-ECMO, despite higher complication rates. These findings support use of left ventricular unloading in patients with cardiogenic shock treated with VA-ECMO and call for further validation, ideally in a randomized, controlled trial.
Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been used for refractory cardiogenic shock; however, it is associated with increased left ventricular afterload. Outcomes associated ...with the combination of a percutaneous left ventricular assist device (Impella) and VA-ECMO remains largely unknown. We retrospectively reviewed patients treated for refractory cardiogenic shock with VA-ECMO (2014–2016). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 30 days of VA-ECMO implantation. Secondary outcomes included duration of support, stroke, major bleeding, hemolysis, inotropic score, and cardiac recovery. Outcomes were compared between the VA-ECMO cohort and VA-ECMO + Impella (ECPELLA cohort). Sixty-six patients were identified36 VA-ECMO and 30 ECPELLA. Fifty-eight percent of VA-ECMO patients (n = 21) had surgical venting, as compared to 100% of the ECPELLA cohort (n = 30) which had Impella (±surgical vent). Both cohorts demonstrated relatively similar baseline characteristics except for higher incidence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the ECPELLA cohort. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the ECPELLA cohort (57% vs. 78%; hazard ratio HR 0.51 0.28–0.94, log rank p = 0.02), and this difference remained intact after correcting for STEMI and PCI. No difference between secondary outcomes was observed, except for the inotrope score which was greater in VA-ECMO group by day 2 (11 vs. 0; p = 0.001). In the largest US-based retrospective study, the addition of Impella to VA-ECMO for patients with refractory cardiogenic shock was associated with lower all-cause 30 day mortality, lower inotrope use, and comparable safety profiles as compared with VA-ECMO alone.
Abstract
Background
Impella RP (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA) is indicated for right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device insertion or biventricular shock. Once the peel-away sheath ...is removed, Impella RP repositioning can only be achieved with manual manipulation of the catheter itself. This method does not always accomplish appropriate positioning of the catheter and can result in continued haemodynamic instability.
Case summary
A young male presented to our institution with recurrent ventricular fibrillation and ST-elevation myocardial infarction that underwent emergent coronary intervention but was in progressive cardiogenic shock requiring implantation of Impella 5.0 and Impella RP. After insertion of the right ventricular support, the patient stabilized transiently then became unstable once more, and repeat fluoroscopy demonstrated that the Impella RP had ‘fallen back’ into the right ventricle. Due to continued instability, we improvised a previously undescribed method of repositioning of the Impella RP catheter with the use of a goose-neck snare.
Discussion
The snare–manoeuvre–prolapse method of Impella RP repositioning is a relatively novel approach at the management of Impella RP retrograde migration into the right ventricle and prevents the need for large-bore venous closure and re-access and the use of a new Impella RP catheter while providing rapid improvement of haemodynamics.
Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation VV-ECMO has gained increasing notoriety during the COVID-19 pandemic as a salvation therapy for fulminant respiratory failure. Various configurations ...can present unique challenges in management. For instance, the ProtekDuo cannula is a 29Fr to 31Fr dual-lumen cannula inserted by way of the right internal jugular vein that allows for right atrium to pulmonary artery bypass with an attached oxygenator, essentially resulting in VV-ECMO. Understanding that these different configurations inevitably dictate the types of complications that can arise during the circuit implantation and management is imperative. However, in a hemodynamically unstable patient, time or resources may not permit standard maneuvers for management. In conclusion, we present an innovative, percutaneous approach which allowed the restoration of flow and oxygenation in a decompensating ProtekDuo patient without having to explant/disconnect the circuit or implant a new VV-ECMO circuit.
Abstract Background Apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) predominantly affects postmenopausal women. There is a paucity of data regarding ABS in men and young women. The aim of this study was to compare ...the clinical characteristics and outcomes of men and young women (<50 y) to older women (≥50 y). Methods & Results We retrospectively reviewed the records of 224 patients and divided them into men (n = 12), young women (n = 12), and older women (n = 200). Older women were further subdivided into those who were and were not on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at the time of presentation. Men were more likely to present after a physical trigger (100% vs 46%; P = .009), have lower ejection fractions (30.1 ± 8.0% vs 40 ± 13.9%; P = .04), and have greater need for mechanical ventilation (67% vs 17%; P < .0001) compared with older women. Younger women were more likely to have a history of psychiatric disorders (75% vs 24%; P = .0001) at presentation and a higher rate of recurrence (16% vs 3%; P = .017) compared with older women. Of the older women, 15 developed ABS while on chronic HRT. Those without HRT were more likely to require mechanical hemodynamic (7.7% and 0%; P = .002) and ventilatory (18.1% and 0%; P = .017) support compared with older women who were on HRT. Conclusions Men appeared to develop ABS as a consequence of a physical trigger, whereas young women had a higher rate of psychiatric comorbidities and a greater propensity for recurrence. Treatment with HRT in older women does not preclude the development of ABS.
Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR) is mostly performed under general anesthesia (GA) in most US centers. We examined in-hospital and 30-day outcomes in patients who ...underwent TF-TAVR with a self-expanding bioprosthesis using local anesthesia (LA) or GA. Patients from the Transcatheter Valve Therapeutics Registry who underwent TF-TAVR from January 2014 to June 2016 with LA or GA were evaluated. Propensity matching was performed and procedural and clinical outcomes compared up to 30 days. A total of 11,006 patients were included (GA: 8,239 74.9% and LA: 2,767 25.1%). After propensity matching (n = 1,988 matched sets), device success was similar (94.5% vs 94.6%, p = 0.905). No differences in in-hospital stroke (2.7% vs 2.3%, p = 0.413) or paravalvular regurgitation grade (p = 0.113) were noted. Fewer LA patients were converted to open heart surgery (0.2% vs 0.6%, p = 0.076) or experienced an in-hospital major vascular complication (0.7% vs 1.4%, p = 0.026). Intensive care unit time (40.1 ± 58.4 vs 50.9 ± 72.1 hours, p < 0.001) and postprocedure length of stay (4.1 ± 3.6 vs 5.0 ± 4.5 days, p < 0.001) were significantly shorter with LA. In-hospital and 30-day all-cause mortality were lower in the LA cohort compared to the GA cohort (1.1% vs 2.7%, p < 0.001 and 2.1% vs 3.9%, p = 0.001). In conclusion, in the largest series of self-expanding bioprostheses for TF-TAVR, these propensity-matched cohorts demonstrate that LA is an acceptable alternative to GA with comparable success, lower safety outcomes, complications rates, and in-hospital and 30-day all-cause mortality.
Atrioventricular conduction disturbances requiring implantation of permanent pacemaker (PPM) are a common complication following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Previous registry data ...are conflicting but suggestive of an increased risk in heart failure admissions in the post-TAVI PPM cohort. Given the expanding use of TAVI, the present study evaluates the effects of chronic right ventricular pacing (RV pacing) in post-TAVI patients. This is a single-center study of 672 patients who underwent TAVI from 2011 to 2017 of which 146 underwent PPM. Follow-up 1-year post-TAVI outcome data were available for 55 patients and were analyzed retrospectively. Patients who underwent PPM were more likely to have heart failure admissions (17.1% vs 10.1%; hazard ratio HR 1.70; 95% confidence interval CI 1.10 to 2.64; p 0.019) and a trend toward increased mortality (21.9% vs 15.4%; HR 1.42; 95% CI 0.99 to 2.05; p 0.062). At 1-year follow-up, 30 of 55 (54.5%) patients demonstrated >40% RV pacing. Compared with patients who had <40% RV pacing, those with >40% RV pacing were more likely to have heart failure admissions (8% vs 40%; HR 5.0; 95% CI 1.23 to 20.27; p 0.007) and demonstrated a trend toward increased mortality (12% vs 33.3%; HR 2.78; 95% CI 0.86 to 9.00; p 0.064). This is suggestive that the post-TAVI PPM cohort is particularly sensitive to chronic RV pacing.
As the prevalence of leadless pacemaker systems increases, identifying various methodologies for retrieval of these devices in certain instances becomes even more paramount. We describe a case ...demonstrating the utility of a coronary guide catheter as part of an improvised sheath-in-sheath technique for the challenging retrieval of a Micra™ leadless pacing system (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA).
Objectives
This study reports on the clinical effects of complete vs incompletely revascularized coronary artery disease on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Background
There is a high ...prevalence of active coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients undergoing TAVR but preemptive revascularization remains controversial.
Methods
Patients were categorized into three cohorts: complete revascularization (CR), incomplete revascularization of a major epicardial artery (IR Major), and incomplete revascularization of a minor epicardial artery only (IR Minor). When feasible, SYNTAX scoring was performed for exploratory analysis. Analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazard models and Kaplan–Meier method.
Results
A total of 323 patients with active CAD were included. Adjusted outcomes showed that patients with IR Major had increased incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or revascularization compared with those in the CR cohort (HR 3.72, P = 0.048). No difference was noted in all‐cause mortality or all‐cause readmission rates. Exploratory secondary analysis with residual SYNTAX scores showed a significant interaction between disease burden and AMI/revascularization, as well as all‐cause readmission. All‐cause mortality remained unaffected based on residual SYNTAX scores.
Conclusions
This is a retrospective single‐center study reporting on pre‐TAVR revascularization outcomes in patients with active CAD. In this analysis, we found that patients undergoing TAVR benefited from achieving complete revascularization to abate future incidence of AMI/revascularization. Despite this finding, all‐cause mortality remained unaffected. Future efforts should focus on the role of functional assessment of the coronaries, as well as the long‐term effects of complete revascularization in a larger patient cohort.
It is currently unclear if active left ventricular (LV) unloading should be used as a primary treatment strategy or as a bailout in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) treated with venoarterial ...extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).
This study sought to evaluate the association between timing of active LV unloading and implantation of VA-ECMO with outcomes of patients with CS.
Data from 421 patients with CS treated with VA-ECMO and active LV unloading at 18 tertiary care centers in 4 countries were analyzed. Patients were stratified by timing of device implantation in early vs delayed active LV unloading (defined by implantation before up to 2 hours after VA-ECMO). Adjusted Cox and logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the association between early active LV unloading and 30-day mortality as well as successful weaning from ventilation.
Overall, 310 (73.6%) patients with CS were treated with early active LV unloading. Early active LV unloading was associated with a lower 30-day mortality risk (HR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.46-0.88) and a higher likelihood of successful weaning from ventilation (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.19-3.93) but not with more complications. Importantly, the relative mortality risk increased and the likelihood of successful weaning from ventilation decreased almost proportionally with the time interval between VA-ECMO implantation and (delayed) initiation of active LV unloading.
This exploratory study lends support to the use of early active LV unloading in CS patients on VA-ECMO, although the findings need to be validated in a randomized controlled trial.
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