The effectiveness of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) versus placebo and antiplatelet therapy (APT) is well established for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). Non-vitamin K antagonist oral ...anticoagulants (NOAC) are mostly superior to VKA in stroke and intracranial bleeding prevention. Recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) suggested the non-inferiority of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) versus VKA. However, comparisons between LAAC versus placebo, APT or NOAC are lacking. The purpose of this network meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of LAAC compared with other strategies for stroke prevention in patients with AF.
We pooled together all RCTs comparing warfarin with placebo, APT or NOAC in patients with AF using meta-analysis guidelines. Two major trials of LAAC were also included and a network meta-analysis was performed to compare the impact of LAAC on mortality, stroke/systemic embolism (SE) and major bleeding in relation to medical treatment.
The network meta-analysis included 19 RCTs with a total of 87 831 patients with AF receiving anticoagulants, APT, placebo or LAAC. Indirect comparison with network meta-analysis using warfarin as the common comparator revealed efficacy benefit favouring LAAC as compared with placebo (mortality: HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.67, p<0.001; stroke/SE: HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.52, p<0.001) and APT (mortality: HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.91, p=0.0018; stroke/SE: HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.86, p=0.017) and similar to NOAC (mortality: HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.16, p=0.211; stroke/SE: HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.92, p=0.969). LAAC showed comparable rates of major bleeding when compared with placebo (HR 2.33, 95% CI 0.67 to 8.09, p=0.183), APT (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.88, p=0.542) and NOAC (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.94, p=0.615).
The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that LAAC is superior to placebo and APT, and comparable to NOAC for preventing mortality and stroke or SE, with similar bleeding risk in patients with non-valvular AF. However, these results should be interpreted with caution and more studies are needed to further substantiate this advantage, in view of the wide CIs with some variables in the current meta-analysis.
Cause and Long-Term Outcome of Cardiac Tamponade Sánchez-Enrique, Cristina, MD; Nuñez-Gil, Iván J., MD, PhD; Viana-Tejedor, Ana, MD, PhD ...
The American journal of cardiology,
02/2016, Letnik:
117, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition, whose current specific cause and outcome are unknown. Our purpose was to analyze it. We performed a retrospective observational study with ...prospective follow-up data including 136 consecutive patients admitted with diagnosis of cardiac tamponade, from 2003 to 2013. We thoroughly recorded variables as clinical features, drainage/pericardiocentesis, fluid characteristics, and long-term events (new cardiac tamponade ± death). The median age was 65 ± 17 years (55% men). In the baseline characteristics, 70% were no smokers, 12% were on anticoagulation, and 13 had suffered a previous myocardial infarction. In the preceding month, 15 patients had undergone a cardiac catheterization, 5 cardiac surgery, and 5 pacemaker insertion. Fever was observed in 16% of patients and 21% displayed other inflammatory symptoms. In 81% of patients, pericardiocentesis was needed. The fluid was hemorrhagic or a transudate in the majority, with positive cytology in 15% and bacteria in 3.7%. Main causes were malignancy (32%), infection (24%), idiopathic (16%), iatrogenic (15%), postmyocardial infarction (7%), uremic (4%), and other causes (2%). After a maximum follow-up of 10.4 years, cardiac tamponade recurred in 10% of the cases (62% in the neoplastic group) and the 48% of patients died (89% in the neoplastic cohort). In conclusion, most cardiac tamponades are due to malignancy, having this specific cause a poorer outcome, probably as a manifestation of an advanced disease. The rest of causes, after an aggressive intensive management, have a good prognosis, especially the iatrogenic.
The two-dimensional (2D) proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method has known technical limitations, mainly the geometric assumptions of PISA shape required to calculate effective regurgitant ...orifice area (EROA). Recently developed single-beat real-time three-dimensional (3D) color Doppler imaging allows the direct measurement of PISA without geometric assumptions and has already been validated for mitral regurgitation assessment. The aim of this study was to apply this novel method in patients with chronic tricuspid regurgitation (TR).
Ninety patients with chronic TR were enrolled. EROA and regurgitant volume (Rvol) were assessed using transthoracic 2D and 3D PISA methods. Quantitative Doppler and 3D transthoracic planimetry of EROA were used as reference methods.
Both EROA and Rvol assessed using the 3D PISA method had better correlations with the reference methods than using conventional 2D PISA, particularly in the assessment of eccentric jets. On the basis of 3D planimetry-derived EROA, 35 patients had severe TR (EROA ≥ 0.4 cm(2)). Among these 35 patients, 25.7% (n = 9) were underestimated as having nonsevere TR (EROA ≤ 0.4 cm(2)) using the 2D PISA method. In contrast, the 3D PISA method had 94.3% agreement (33 of 35) with 3D planimetry in classifying severe TR. Good intraobserver and interobserver agreement for 3D PISA measurements was observed, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.92 and 0.88 respectively.
TR quantification using PISA by single-beat real-time 3D color Doppler echocardiography is feasible in the clinical setting and more accurate than the conventional 2D PISA method.
Background:Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains an important issue. The aim of this study was to assess the value of a new discongruence ...index, to predict PPM after TAVR.Methods and Results: A total of 185 patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR with the Edwards Sapien prosthesis or CoreValve Revalving system were included (Edwards valve, n=119; Core Valve Revalving system, n=66). Discongruence index was calculated pre-procedurally as the ratio of selected transcatheter valve size (mm) to body surface area (cm2). PPM was defined as effective orifice area (EOA) ≤0.85 cm2/m2 on transthoracic echocardiography before hospital discharge. Mean age was 82±5 years and 72 patients (38.9%) were men. The overall incidence of post-TAVR PPM was 35.1% (n=65). Discongruence index correlated with post-TAVR indexed EOA (y=0.18+0.057x; P<0.001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, discongruence index was the only independent predictor of post-TAVR PPM (OR, 0.15; 95% CI: 0.03–0.66; P=0.012), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.54–0.70, P=0.003), with an optimal cut-off point of 15.02 (sensitivity, 86.2%; specificity, 72.5%; positive predictive value, 74.3%; negative predictive value, 83.4%). Conclusions:The new discongruence index may be useful tool to predict PPM after TAVR.
ABSTRACT Initially, percutaneous mitral clip emerges as an alternative to surgery in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and high surgical risk. Nonetheless, it is now also considered a ...first-line treatment in patients with left ventricular ejection fractions somewhere between 20% and 50%, end-systolic diameters < 70 mm, and pulmonary systolic pressures < 70 mmHg. Successful results depend on reducing the severity of MR. The common parameters used to evaluate native MR have not been properly validated in this context. Therefore, the parameters that should be used to quantify residual MR during intraprocedural transesophageal echocardiography are still under discussion. There is scarce evidence and no validation studies. Although these have limitations, color Doppler echocardiography, proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) and its derived area, continuous-wave Doppler signal, transmitral flow, and regurgitant flow are not accurate parameters to quantify residual MR due to clip artifacts. On the other hand, the width of the vena contracta, the 3D-vena contracta area, and pulmonary venous flow are associated with a satisfactory approach. Using a comprehensive method is the most practical thing to do.
The two-dimensional (2D) proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method has important technical limitations for mitral valve orifice area (MVA) assessment in mitral stenosis (MS), mainly the ...geometric assumptions of PISA shape and the requirement of an angle correction factor. Single-beat real-time three-dimensional (3D) color Doppler imaging allows the direct measurement of PISA without geometric assumptions or the requirement of an angle correction factor. The aim of this study was to validate this method in patients with rheumatic MS.
Sixty-three consecutive patients with rheumatic MS were included. MVA was assessed using the transthoracic 2D and 3D PISA methods. Planimetry of MVA (2D and 3D) and the pressure half-time method were used as reference methods.
The 3D PISA method had better correlations with the reference methods (with 2D planimetry, r = 0.85, P < .001; with 3D planimetry, r = 0.89, P < .001; and with pressure half-time, r = 0.85, P < .001) than the conventional 2D PISA method (with 2D planimetry, r = 0.63, P < .001; with 3D planimetry, r = 0.66, P < .001; and with pressure half-time, r = 0.68, P < .001). In addition, a consistent significant underestimation of MVA using the conventional 2D PISA method was observed. A high percentage (30%) of patients with nonsevere MS by 3D planimetry were misclassified by the 2D PISA method as having severe MS (effective regurgitant orifice area < 1 cm(2)). In contrast, the 3D PISA method had 94% agreement with 3D planimetry. Good intra- and interobserver agreement for 3D PISA measurements were observed, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.95 and 0.90, respectively.
MVA assessment using PISA by single-beat real-time 3D color Doppler echocardiography is feasible in the clinical setting and more accurate than the conventional 2D PISA method.
Objective
The heart team (HT) approach plays a key role in selecting the optimal treatment strategy for patients with aortic stenosis (AS). However, little is known about the HT decision process and ...its impact on outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the HT decision and evaluate clinical outcomes according to the treatment choice.
Methods
The study included a total of 286 consecutive patients with AS referred for discussion in the weekly HT meeting in a cardiovascular institute over 2 years. Patients were stratified according to the selected therapeutic approach: medical treatment (MT), surgical (SAVR), or transcatheter (TAVR) aortic valve replacement. Baseline characteristics involved in making a therapeutic choice were identified and a decision‐making tree was built using classification and regression tree methodology.
Results
Based on HT discussion, 53 patients were assigned to SAVR, 210 to TAVR, and 23 to MT. Older patients (≥88 years old) were mainly assigned to TAVR or MT according to the logistic EuroSCORE (<or≥28, respectively). While among younger patients (<88 years), significant mitral regurgitation (≥grade III), frailty, Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, and estimated glomerular filtration rate were the most relevant factors influencing treatment allocation. One‐year all‐cause mortality was 16.6% in the invasive groups (TAVR = 17.2%, SAVR = 14.0%) and 68.7% in the MT arm.
Conclusion
The HT decision was determined by well‐recognized risk factors that were used to define a treatment decision algorithm. Future studies with younger and lower‐risk patients may identify new contributory factors that may alter the selection process and treatment choice.
The two-dimensional (2D) proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method has some technical limitations, mainly the geometric assumptions of PISA shape required to calculate effective regurgitant ...orifice area (EROA). Recently developed single-beat, real-time three-dimensional (3D) color Doppler imaging allows direct measurement of PISA without geometric assumptions. The aim of this study was to validate this novel method in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR).
Thirty-three patients were included, 25 (75.7%) with degenerative MR and eight (24.2%) with functional MR. EROA and regurgitant volume were assessed using transthoracic 2D and 3D PISA methods. The quantitative Doppler method and 3D transesophageal echocardiographic planimetry of EROA were used as reference methods.
Both EROA and regurgitant volume assessed using the 3D PISA method had better correlations with the reference methods than conventional 2D PISA. A consistent significant underestimation of EROA and regurgitant volume using 2D PISA was observed, particularly in the assessment of eccentric jets. On the basis of 3D transesophageal echocardiographic planimetry of EROA, 14 patients had severe MR (EROA ≥ 0.4 cm(2)). Of these 14 patients, 42.8% (6 of 14) were underestimated as having nonsevere MR (EROA ≤ 0.4 cm(2)) by the 2D PISA method. In contrast, the 3D PISA method had 92.9% (13 of 14) agreement with 3D transesophageal planimetry in classifying severe MR. Good intraobserver and interobserver agreement for 3D PISA measurements was observed, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.96 and 0.92, respectively.
Direct measurement of PISA without geometric assumptions using single-beat, real-time 3D color Doppler echocardiography is feasible in the clinical setting. MR quantification using this methodology is more accurate than the conventional 2D PISA method.
The development of postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is a frequent complication in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and implies a poor prognosis. The aim of this ...study was to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative regional LV contractile function assessment using two-dimensional echocardiography-based speckle-tracking analysis in patients with chronic severe MR.
Thirty-eight consecutive patients with chronic severe MR scheduled for mitral valve replacement were prospectively enrolled. Preoperative two-dimensional echocardiography-based speckle-tracking analysis at the level of the interventricular septum (IVS) was carried out, and strain and strain rate values were obtained. LV dP/dt and Doppler tissue imaging-derived strain and strain rate measurements were also obtained. LV volumes and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) were defined using three-dimensional echocardiography.
Preoperative speckle tracking-derived longitudinal strain and strain rate values at the level of the IVS strongly predicted a postoperative LVEF decrease of >10%. Their predictive values were greater than those obtained for preoperative LV volumes and LVEF, LV dP/dt, and Doppler tissue imaging-derived strain and strain rate. The best discriminant parameter to detect a postoperative LVEF reduction of >10% with speckle tracking was a longitudinal strain rate at the level of the mid IVS < -0.80 s(-1) (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.88; sensitivity, 60%; specificity, 96.5%; positive predictive value, 90%; negative predictive value, 82.35%).
IVS longitudinal speckle tracking-derived strain rate allows the accurate detection of early abnormalities in LV contractile function. It is a powerful predictor of early postoperative LVEF decreases in patients with chronic severe MR. Furthermore, speckle-tracking technology is more accurate than other methods. This new tool might assist clinicians in the optimal timing of surgery in patients with chronic severe MR.
Data on long-term outcomes after internal mammary artery (IMA) coronary graft failure are scarce. Our objective was to describe the clinical characteristics, management, and prognosis after ...angiographically confirmed IMA graft failure following coronary revascularization.
A three-hospital retrospective registry, observational and descriptive, with prospective follow-up of all consecutive cases of IMA graft failure between 2004 and 2014 was conducted. After treatment, clinical and procedural features were compared between those with and without cardiovascular events.
Fifty-seven patients were included (89% male, mean age: 62 years, at surgery) in the registry. Most patients underwent an IMA angioplasty (percutaneous coronary intervention PCI, 74%). In nine cases, the PCI failed at the graft level, and seven underwent a native vessel revascularization. Native vessel treatment was performed in 20% of the study subjects, all with stents. Finally, medical management was decided in three cases. Events after treatment for IMA graft failure were frequent (50.8%), during a median follow-up of 7.5 years. Acute presentation (hazard ratioMACE = 1.35; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12–3.00, p < 0.01), age of the patient (hazard ratioMACE = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.17–2.11, p < 0.01), presence of diabetes mellitus (hazard ratioMACE = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.13–6.69, p = 0.02), and the management modality used (IMA-simple angioplasty VS IMA-stenting: hazard ratioMACE = 5.5, 95% CI: 1.40–21.15, p = 0.01) displayed prognostic relevance on multivariate analysis. All-cause mortality occurred in 21.1% and presentation as infarction (hazard ratioDEATH = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–2.17, p = 0.01), age (hazard ratioDEATH = 9.08, 95% CI: 2.52–32.69, p < 0.01), and left ventricular ejection fraction (hazard ratioDEATH = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.65–8.18, p < 0.01) were independent predictors of the same.
In this long-term registry, most patients presented with an acute condition (myocardial infarction, progressive angina) within 12 months after surgery. Acute presentation, age, diabetes mellitus, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, IMA graft failure segment affected, and the management strategy were related with long-term prognosis.
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