•ASP/cefazolin are the most effective treatment to reduce the duration of bacteraemia.•Aminoglycosides use was not associated with shorter duration of bacteraemia.•Third generation cephalosporins are ...associated with longest duration of bacteraemia.•The duration of bacteraemia was similar between patients treated by cefazolin or ASP.•Empirical treatment for MSSA IE should include cefazolin or ASP.
The empirical treatment of infective endocarditis is still debated. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of empirical treatment with antistaphylococcal penicillin (ASP) or cefazolin vs. other treatments in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) endocarditis.
A post hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study of patients hospitalized in a French reference centre with MSSA endocarditis was conducted between 2013 and 2022. The primary outcome was the duration of bacteraemia under treatment.
Of the 208 patients included, 101 patients (48.6%) were classified in the reference group (ASP or cefazolin) and 107 (52.4%) in the non-reference group. Empirical treatment with ASP/cefazolin was associated with a shorter duration of bacteraemia compared to other treatments (3.6 d vs. 4.6 d, P = 0.01). This difference was not corrected by the addition of an aminoglycoside (3.6 d vs. 4.7 d, P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, empirical treatment with ASP/cefazolin was associated with a duration of bacteraemia ≤72 h (P = 0.02), whereas endocarditis on native valves (P = 0.01), and intracardiac abscess were associated with longer duration of bacteraemia (P = 0.01).
Empirical treatment of endocarditis with ASP or Cefazolin is more effective than other treatments in MSSA endocarditis, even when the other treatments are combined with aminoglycosides.
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Intra-axial pumps are increasingly used to support cardiogenic shock. The occurrence of electrical storms in this setting is a rising issue, and data remain scarce about optimal management. We report ...the feasibility of ventricular tachycardia ablation in the presence of a recent surgically inserted Impella 5.0 device (Abiomed, Danvers, Massachusetts). (
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.
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Structural valve deterioration (SVD) is a major flaw of bioprostheses. Early SVD has been suspected in the last models of Mitroflow bioprosthesis. We sought to assess the incidence, mode, and impact ...of SVD on outcome in a large series of Mitroflow aortic valve replacement.
Six hundred seventeen consecutive patients (aged 76.1±6.3 years) underwent aortic valve replacement with a Mitroflow prosthesis (models 12A/LX) between 2002 and 2007. By echocardiography, 39 patients developed early SVD (1.66% per patient-year), with stenosis as the main mode (n=36). Mean delay to SVD was only 3.8±1.4 years, and 5-year SVD-free survival was 91.6% (95% confidence interval CI, 88.7-94.7) for the whole cohort and 79.8% (95% CI, 71.2-89.4) and 94.0% (95% CI, 90.3-97.8) for 19- and 21-mm sizes, respectively. Among the 39 patients with SVD, 13 patients (33%) had an accelerated SVD once the mean gradient exceeded 30 mm Hg. Valve-related death was 46.2% in this SVD subgroup. Five-year overall survival was 69.6% (95% CI, 65.7-73.9). In multivariable analysis, SVD was the strongest correlate of overall mortality (hazard ratio=7.7; 95% CI, 4.4-13.6).
Early SVD is frequent in Mitroflow bioprosthesis (models 12A/LX), especially for small sizes (19 and 21 mm), and reduces overall survival. An unpredictable accelerated pattern of SVD constitutes a life-threatening condition. In view of the large number of Mitroflow valves implanted worldwide, one can expect an epidemic of SVD and valve-related deaths, which represents a major public health issue, especially in the elderly. Hence, a close follow-up with yearly echocardiography after Mitroflow implantation is advisable. An urgent reoperation should be discussed in patients with severe SVD even though they are still asymptomatic.
Abstract
Background
In the management of infective endocarditis (IE), the presence of extracardiac complications has an influence on both diagnosis and treatment. Current guidelines suggest that ...systematic thoracoabdominal-pelvic computed tomography (TAP-CT) may be helpful. Our objective was to describe how systematic TAP-CT affects the diagnosis and the management of IE.
Methods
In this multicenter cohort study, between January 2013 and July 2016 we included consecutive patients who had definite or possible IE according to the Duke modified criteria, validated by endocarditis teams. We analyzed whether the Duke classification and therapeutic management were modified regarding the presence or the absence of IE-related lesion on CT and investigated the tolerance of this examination.
Results
Of the 522 patients included in this study, 217 (41.6%) had 1 or more IE-related lesions. On the basis of CT results in asymptomatic patients, diagnostic classification was upgraded from possible endocarditis to definite endocarditis for only 4 cases (0.8%). The presence of IE-related lesions on CT did not modify the duration of antibiotic treatment (P = .55), nor the decision of surgical treatment (P = .39). Specific treatment of the lesion was necessary in 42 patients (8.0%), but only 9 of these lesions (1.9%) were asymptomatic and diagnosed only on the TAP-CT. Acute kidney injury (AKI) within 5 days of CT was observed in 78 patients (14.9%).
Conclusions
The TAP-CT findings slightly affected diagnosis and treatment of IE in a very small proportion of asymptomatic patients. Furthermore, contrast media should be used with caution because of the high risk of AKI.
Thoracoabdominal-pelvic computed tomography (CT) frequently leads to the finding of embolic event or metastatic foci. However, when patients are asymptomatic, scans rarely change the diagnosis or therapeutic management. Moreover, the risk of acute kidney injury after contrast CT is significant.
•Prediction of outcomes remains an unmet need in LVAD candidates. In this endeavor, right ventricular function is key, because this cardiac chamber will not be assisted by the device.•Right ...ventriculo-arterial coupling surrogates, such as TAPSE/sPAP, PAPi and RAP/PCWP investigate right ventricular function more holistically than indices of systolic performance by integrating afterload.•Only RAP/PCWP was associated with all-cause mortality in both univariate and multivariate analyses.•Even after taking RAP/PCWP into account, tricuspid regurgitation severity and pulmonary vascular resistances remain significantly and independently associated with all-cause mortality.
Prediction of outcomes remains an unmet need in candidates for LVADs. The development of right-heart failure portends an excess in mortality rates, but imaging parameters of right ventricular systolic function have failed to demonstrate a prognostic role. By integrating pulmonary pressure, right ventriculoarterial coupling could fill this gap.
The ASSIST-ICD registry was used to test right ventriculoarterial coupling as a surrogate parameter at implantation for the prediction of all-cause mortality.
The ratio of the tricuspid annular-plane systolic excursion over the estimated systolic pulmonary pressure (TAPSE/sPAP) was not associated with long-term survival in univariate analysis (P = 0.89), nor was the pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) (P = 0.13). Conversely, the ratio of the right atrial pressure over the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (RAP/PCWP) was associated with all-cause mortality (P < 0.01). After taking tricuspid regurgitation severity, LVAD indication, LVAD model, age, blood urea nitrogen levels, and pulmonary vascular resistance into account, RAP/PCWP remained associated with survival (HR 1.35 1.10 – 1.65; P < 0.01).
Among pre-implant RVAC surrogates, only RAP/PCWP was associated with long-term all-cause mortality in LVAD recipients. This association was independent of established risk factors.
▪Among several baseline right ventriculoarterial coupling surrogates, after adjustment for potential confounders, RAP/PCWP is associated with survival after LVAD implantation. In addition, TR severity strongly correlated with all-cause mortality.
Temporary circulatory support (TCS) as a bridge-to-left ventricular assist device (BTL) in cardiogenic shock patients has been increasing, but limited data exists on this BTL strategy. We aimed at ...analyzing the outcome of BTL patients in a population of cardiogenic shock patients compared with those without TCS at the time of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery and identify predictors of postoperative mortality in this specific population.
A multicenter retrospective observational study conducted in 19 centers from 2006 to 2016.
Nineteen French centers.
A total of 329 cardiogenic shock patients at the time of LVAD implantation were analyzed. Patients were divided in three groups: those under TCS at the time of LVAD implantation (n = 173), those with TCS removal before LVAD surgery (n = 24), and those who did not undergo a bridging strategy (n = 152). Primary endpoint was 30-day mortality.
None.
Among the BTL group, 68 (39.3%), 18 (10.4%), and 15 (8.7%) patients were under venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Impella, and IABP support alone, and 72 patients (20.6%) were under multiple TCS support. BTL patients presented similar 30 days survival compared with the TCS removal and non-BTL groups. However, BTL group had a significantly longer ICU duration stay, with two-fold duration of mechanical ventilation time, but the three groups experienced similar postoperative complications. Multivariate analysis identified three independent predictors of mortality in the BTL group: combined surgery with LVAD, body mass index (BMI), and heart failure (HF) duration. BTL strategy was not an independent predictor of mortality in cardiogenic shock patients who underwent LVAD.
BTL strategy is not associated with a lower survival among cardiogenic shock patients with LVAD implantation. Predictors of mortality are combined surgery with LVAD, higher BMI, and HF duration.
At our centre, the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t) (SynCardia Systems, LLC, Tucson, AZ, USA) is used to provide long-term support for patients with biventricular failure as a ...bridge to a transplant. However, a heart transplant (HT) after such support remains challenging. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the immediate and long-term results following an HT in the cohort of patients who had a TAH-t implant.
A total of 73 patients were implanted with the TAH-t between 1988 and 2019 in our centre. Of these 73 consecutive patients, 50 (68%) received an HT and are included in this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.
In the selected cohort, in-hospital mortality after an HT was 10% (n = 5). The median intensive care unit stay was 33 days (range 5-278). The median hospital stay was 41 days (range 28-650). A partial or total pericardiectomy was performed during the HT procedure in 21 patients (42%) due to a severe pericardial reaction. Long-term survival rates after an HT at 5, 10 and 12 years were 79.1 ± 5.9% (n = 32), 76.5 ± 6.3% (n = 22) and 72.4 ± 7.1% (n = 12), respectively, which was similar to the long-term survival for a primary HT without TAH-t during the same period (n = 686). An HT performed within 3-6 months post-TAH-t implantation appeared to provide the best survival (P = 0.007). Eight (16%) patients required chronic dialysis during the subsequent follow-up period, with 3 patients requiring a kidney transplant.
The long-term outcomes with the SynCardia TAH-t as a bridge to transplant in patients with severe biventricular failure are very encouraging. Our review noted that an HT following TAH-t can be technically challenging, especially in the case of a severe pericardial reaction, with potential pitfalls that should be recognized preoperatively.
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