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Background--Pathological early Q waves (QW) are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may therefore be less beneficial in patients with QW than in patients without QW. Myocardial salvage index and microvascular obstruction (MVO) are markers for reperfusion success. Thus, to clarify the benefit from primary PCI in STEMI patients with QW, we examined the association between baseline QW and myocardial salvage index and MVO in STEMI patients treated with primary PCI. Methods and Results--The ECG was assessed before primary PCI for the presence of QW (early) in 515 STEMI patients. The patients underwent a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging scan at day 1 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-1) and again at day 92 (IQR, 89-96). Early QW was observed in 108 (21%) patients and was related to smaller final myocardial salvage index (0.59 [IQR, 0.39-0.69] versus 0.65 [IQR, 0.46-0.84]; P<0.001) and larger MVO (1.4 [IQR, 0.0-5.4] versus 0.0 [IQR, 0.0-2.4]; P<0.001) compared with non-QW. QW remained associated with both final myocardial salvage index (β=-0.12; P=0.03) and MVO (β=0.18; P=0.001) after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusions--Patients presenting with their first STEMI and early QW in the ECG had smaller myocardial salvage index and more extensive MVO than non-QW despite treatment within 12 hours after symptom onset. However, final myocardial salvage index in patients with QW was substantial, and patients with QW still benefit from primary PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several cardiac imaging modalities are able to visualize the left atrium (LA) and, therefore, allow for quantification of both structural and functional properties of this cardiac chamber. In echocardiography, only the maximal LA volume is included in the assessment of diastolic function at the current moment. Numerous studies, however, have shown that functional measures may be superior to the maximal LA volume in several aspects and to possess clinical value even in the absence of structural abnormalities. Such functional measures could prove particularly useful in the setting of predicting atrial fibrillation, which will be a point of focus in this review. Pivotal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging studies have revealed high correlation between LA fibrosis and risk of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation, and subsequent multimodality imaging studies have uncovered an inverse relationship between LA reservoir function and degree of LA fibrosis. This has sparked an increased interest into the application of advanced imaging modalities, including both speckle tracking echocardiography and tissue tracking by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Even though increasing evidence has supported the use of functional measures and proven its superiority to the maximal LA volume, they have still not been adopted in clinical guidelines. The reason for this discrepancy may rely on the fact that there is little to no agreement on how to technically perform deformation analysis of the LA. Such technical considerations, limitations, and alternate imaging prospects will be addressed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background—The atrial switch operation, the Mustard or Senning operation, for the transposition of the great arteries (TGA) was introduced in the late 1950s and was the preferred surgery for TGA until the early 1990s. The Mustard and Senning operation involves extensive surgery in the atria and leaves the right ventricle as the systemic ventricle. The Mustard and Senning cohort is now well into adulthood and we begin to see the long-term outcome. Methods and Results—All the 6 surgical centers that performed Mustard and Senning operations in Sweden and Denmark identified all operated TGA patients. Information about death was obtained in late 2007 and early 2008 from the Danish and Swedish Centralised Civil Register by using the patients' unique national Civil Registration Numbers. Four hundred sixty-eight patients undergoing the atrial switch operation were identified. Perioperative 30-day mortality was 20%, and 60% were alive after 30 years of follow-up. Perioperative mortality was significantly increased by the presence of a ventricular septal defect, left ventricular outflow obstruction, surgery early in the Mustard and Senning era. However, only pacemaker implantation is predictive of long-term outcome (hazard ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.46, P=0.04), once the TGA patient has survived the perioperative period. The risk of reoperation was correlated to the presence of associated defects and where the first Mustard/Senning operation was performed. Conclusions—The long-term survival of patients with Mustard and Senning correction for TGA appears to be primarily determined by factors in the right ventricle and tricuspid valve and not the timing of or the type of surgery in childhood. Cardiac function necessitating the implantation of a pacemaker is associated with an increase in mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is characterized by excessive trabeculations of the LV and may be associated with reduced systolic function or severe adverse outcomes. Several aspects remain to be elucidated; there is controversy to whether LVNC cardiomyopathy is a distinct cardiomyopathy caused by failure of the spongy fetal myocardium to condense during fetal development or acquired later in life as a morphological trait associated with other types of cardiomyopathy; the prevalence in unselected populations is unknown and the distinction between normal variation and pathology remains to be defined. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of LVNC and the association to LV systolic function in a large, population-based cohort of neonates. In addition, we assessed the normal ratio of noncompact to compact (NC:C) myocardium in 150 healthy neonates. Methods: Echocardiographic data were prospectively collected in the population study Copenhagen Baby Heart Study. The ratio of NC:C was measured in 12 ventricular segments. LVNC was defined as NC:C ≥2 in at least one segment. Neonates with LVNC were matched 1:10 to controls on sex, gestational age, and weight and age at the examination day. Results: In total, 25 590 neonates (52% males, median age 11 [interquartile range, 7–15] days) underwent echocardiography. Among 21 133 with satisfactory visualization of ventricular segments, we identified a prevalence of LVNC of 0.076% (95% CI, 0.047–0.123). LV ejection fraction was lower in neonates with LVNC compared with matched controls (median 49.5 versus 59.0%; P <0.0001). In neonates with otherwise healthy hearts, the median NC:C ratio ranged from 0.0 to 0.7 and the 99th percentiles from 1.0 to 1.9 for each of the 12 segments. Conclusions: The prevalence of LVNC based on neonatal echocardiography was 0.076%. LVNC was associated with lower LV systolic function. The findings in normal newborns support the cutoff NC:C ≥2 as an appropriate diagnostic criterion. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02753348. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study which hypothesized that the effect of exenatide is more pronounced in patients with short system delay. Patients 18 years old and above and presented within 12 hours from the onset of symptoms and signs of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were eligible. It suggests an association between exenatide treatment with a 30% decrease in final infarct size in patients with short system delay.

The article evaluates the effect of ischemic postconditioning applied during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCCI) on the final infarct size using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). It is hypothesized that viable cardiomyocytes will benefit from postconditioning as long as they exist in the ischemic myocardium at the time of reperfusion. It is also suggested that myocardial damage during PCCI in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction is reduced by postconditioning.

Background: In patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention, reperfusion injury accounts for a significant fraction of the final infarct size, which is directly related to patient prognosis. In animal studies, brief periods of ischemia in noninfarct-related (nonculprit) coronary arteries protect the culprit myocardium via remote ischemic preconditioning. Positive fractional flow reserve (FFR) documents functional significant coronary nonculprit stenosis, which may offer remote ischemic preconditioning of the culprit myocardium. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between functional significant, multivessel disease (MVD) and reduced culprit final infarct size or increased myocardial salvage (myocardial salvage index [MSI]) in a large contemporary cohort of STEMI patients. Methods: Cardiac magnetic resonance was performed in 610 patients with STEMI at day 1 and 3 months after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were stratified into 3 groups according to FFR measurements in nonculprit stenosis (if any): angiographic single vessel disease (SVD), FFR nonsignificant MVD (functional SVD), or FFR-significant, functional MVD. Results: A total of 431 (71%) patients had SVD, 35 (6%) had functional SVD, and 144 (23%) had functional MVD. There was no difference in final infarct size (mean infarct size [%left ventricular mass] SVD, 9±3%; functional SVD, 9±3%; and functional MVD, 9±3% [ P =0.82]) or in MSI between groups (mean MSI [%left] SVD, 66±23%; functional SVD, 68±19%; and functional MVD, 69±19% [ P =0.62]). In multivariable analyses, functional MVD was not associated with larger MSI (P =0.56) or smaller infarct size (P =0.55). Conclusions: Functional MVD in nonculprit myocardium was not associated with reduced culprit final infarct size or increased MSI following STEMI. This is important knowledge for future studies examining a cardioprotective treatment in patients with STEMI, as a possible confounding effect of FFR-significant, functional MVD can be discarded. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01435408 (DANAMI 3-iPOST and DANAMI 3-DEFER) and NCT01960933 (DANAMI 3-PRIMULTI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Guidelines recommend primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presenting ≥12 hours of symptom onset in the presence of ongoing ischemia. However, data supporting this recommendation are limited. We evaluated the effect of primary PCI on reperfusion success, using cardiac magnetic resonance, in STEMI patients with signs of ongoing ischemia presenting 12 to 72 hours after symptom onset compared with STEMI patients presenting <12 hours. Methods and Results: We included 865 STEMI patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance just after index PCI and 3 months later. Despite equal area at risk (34±12% versus 33±12%; P =0.370), patients presenting late (n=58) had larger final infarct size (13% [interquartile range, 9–24] versus 11% [interquartile range, 4–19]; P =0.037) and smaller myocardial salvage index (0.58 [interquartile range, 0.39–0.71] versus 0.65 [interquartile range, 0.49–0.84]; P =0.021) compared with patients presenting <12 hours after symptom onset (n=807). However, 65% of late-presenting patients achieved substantial myocardial salvage ≥0.50, and area under the curve for symptom onset to PCI as predictor of a myocardial salvage index ≥0.50 was poor (0.58 [95% CI, 0.53–0.63]; P <0.001). In addition, final infarct size, salvage index and left ventricular function correlated weakly with duration from symptom onset to primary PCI (R 2 values <0.05). Conclusions: STEMI patients with signs of ongoing ischemia treated with primary PCI 12 to 72 hours after symptom onset had less myocardial salvage and developed larger infarcts. However, a large proportion achieved substantial myocardial salvage indicating a benefit from primary PCI in late-presenting patients. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT01435408 and NCT01960933. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]