Search

Background Injury to the cardiac venous structures can complicate left ventricular lead placement for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Little is known about the outcomes of coronary sinus (CS) dissection with or without perforation. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the outcomes in patients who had a CS injury during CRT implantation. Methods All patients undergoing procedures for CRT implantation at the Cleveland Clinic (2001–2018) were enrolled in a prospectively maintained registry for procedural profiles and complications. All patients with cardiac venous injuries during the procedures were included. Results CS injury occurred in 35 of 5011 patients (0.7%; 6 perforations (17.1%), 29 dissections without perforation (82.9%)). In patients with dissection in the absence of perforation, attempts at CS lead placement after dissection were successful in 21 of 29 patients (72.4%). In those with perforation (n=6, 17.1%), CS lead placement was successful in one of them (16.7%). Cardiac tamponade occurred in 2 patients (5.7%), and the procedure was aborted in both of them. Overall, CS lead placement failed in 13 patients (37%) but 9 (25.7%) underwent subsequent CRT with CS lead placement (n=6, 17.1%; median 58 days later) or epicardial leads (n=3, 8.6%). Three of the remaining 4 patients (8.6%) refused to undergo further procedures, and the fourth (2.9%) died of a complicated course. Conclusion CS injury is not common during CRT implantation procedures and did not preclude successful lead placement in 23 of 35 patients (65.7%) during the index procedure and 6 of 6 (100%) during the subsequent attempted procedures. A low rate of mortality was observed in such patients, but CS injury was associated with increased morbidity.

We recount a single-center experience with cardiac immunity-related adverse effects in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Of 2,830 patients, 9 patients (0.3%) developed cardiac immunity-related adverse effects (4 cases of cardiomyopathies, 2 of myocarditis, 2 of acute pericarditis, and 1 of large pericardial effusion). Disease profiles, hospital courses, and outcomes are reported. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.), Graphical abstract, This report recounts a single-center experience with cardiac immunity-related adverse effects in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors…

Radial artery access for angiography has matured over the past two decades and is now the preferred point of access for most patients. Lower bleeding rates in clinical randomized trials have translated into lower mortality prompting change in the guidelines. Advances in technique with use of ultrasound for access to properly size the sheath, proper dosing of anticoagulation and new techniques for sheath removal have dramatically lowered radial artery occlusion rates. Radial artery spasm has improved with vasodilators and proper sedation. Advances in support boards and sheath extension have opened up left radial access. Advances in lower profile sheaths and sheathless systems allow larger catheters in smaller arteries. Advances in longer balloons and sheaths have opened up radial access for peripheral interventions. Areas of clinical research include use of ulnar artery compared to radial, left versus right radial access, use of radial artery for a surgical conduit after angiography, radiation exposure and advantage of radial approach in the elderly.

Concomitant heart failure (HF) and mitral valve disease (MVD) portend significant morbidity and mortality. Although associated Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common occurrence in this scenario, it is not well known whether there are additional prognostic implications. We sought to assess whether coexistent TR is associated with higher readmission rates or increased mortality in patients with HF and MVD. We identified 1,520,871 encounters with a primary diagnosis of HF in the 2013 to 2014 Nationwide Readmission Database. We excluded patients without MVD, patients18 years old, those with rheumatic heart disease and infective endocarditis. We also excluded patients who were discharged in December, hospital transfers, and cases where follow-up or outcomes were missing. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between baseline characteristics (including the presence of tricuspid valve disease), mortality as well as 30-day readmission rates. A total of 221,127 admissions with HF and MVD were identified. Median age was 79 years (IQR, 67 to 87), 55% were female, 2.7% died during hospitalization, and the 30-day readmission rate was 20.3%. Nearly 1/3 had concomitant TR (n = 78,356, 35%). The presence of TR was neither associated with elevated risk of mortality (hazard ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.93 to 1.04) nor 30-day readmission rate (odds ratio 1.01, 95% confidence interval 0.98 to 1.03). HF accounted for 33% of 30-day readmissions, while combined cardiac causes accounted for 54%. In conclusion concomitant TR in patients with HF and MVD was not associated with worse short-term outcomes in terms of inpatient hospital mortality and 30-day readmission rates.

Hypothyroidism is a well-known cause of pericardial effusion (with an incidence of 3%–37%) and can cause cardiac tamponade in severe cases. In this review, we present the current knowledge on the epidemiology of hypothyroid-induced pericardial diseases, the mechanism through which low thyroid hormone levels affect the pericardium, the associated clinical manifestations, diagnostic tests and management options. Hypothyroidism causes pericardial effusion through increased permeability of the epicardial vessels and decreased lymphatic drainage of albumin, resulting in accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space. Interestingly, autoimmunity does not seem to play a major role in the pathophysiology, and a majority of effusions are asymptomatic due to slow fluid accumulation. The diagnosis is generally made when the pericardial disease is associated with an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone level, and other secondary causes are excluded. Management consists of thyroid replacement therapy, along with pericardial drainage in case of tamponade.In conclusion, hypothyroidism-induced pericardial diseases are underdiagnosed. Initiating treatment early in the disease process and preventing complications relies on early diagnosis through systematic screening per guidelines.

Background The incidence of cardiovascular disease among pregnant women is rising in the United States. Data on racial disparities for the major cardiovascular events during pregnancy are limited. Methods and Results Pregnant and post‐partum women hospitalized from January 2007 to December 2017 were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The outcomes of interest included: in‐hospital mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and peripartum cardiomyopathy. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the independent association between race and in‐hospital outcomes. Among 46 700 637 pregnancy‐related hospitalizations, 21 663 575 (46.4%) were White, 6 302 089 (13.5%) were Black, and 8 914 065 (19.1%) were Hispanic. The trends of mortality and stroke declined significantly in Black women, but however, were mostly unchanged among White women. The incidence of mortality and cardiovascular morbidity was highest among Black women followed by White women, then Hispanic women. The majority of Blacks (62.3%) were insured by Medicaid while the majority of White patients had private insurance (61.9%). Most of Black women were below‐median income (71.2%) while over half of the White patients were above the median income (52.7%). Compared with White women, Black women had the highest mortality with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.45, 95% CI (1.21–1.73); myocardial infarction with aOR of 1.23, 95% CI (1.06–1.42); stroke with aOR of 1.57, 95% CI (1.41–1.74); pulmonary embolism with aOR of 1.42, 95% CI (1.30–1.56); and peripartum cardiomyopathy with aOR of 1.71, 95 % CI (1.66–1.76). Conclusions Significant racial disparities exist in major cardiovascular events among pregnant and post‐partum women. Further efforts are needed to minimize these differences.

Despite the monumental advances in the diagnoses and therapeutics of malignancy, several cancer patients have presented with pericardial involvement, including acute pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis, and pericardial effusion. Multiple factors can contribute to acute pericarditis, including direct metastasis to the heart, pericardial hemorrhage, infections due to immunosuppression, and cancer therapies that include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation. Pericardial effusion, either due to cancer invasion or cancer treatment, is one of the most common incidental findings in cancer patients, which significantly worsens morbidity and mortality. If left untreated, pericardial effusion is known to cause complications such as pericardial tamponade. Constrictive pericarditis can be due to radiation exposure, chemotherapy, or is a sequela of a previous episode of acute pericarditis. In conclusion, early detection, prompt treatment, and understanding of pericardial diseases are necessary to help improve the quality of life of cancer patients, and we aim to summarize the knowledge of pericardial involvement in patients with cancer.

Several studies designed to augment high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels have so far been unsuccessful in reducing rates of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). In this study, we report the effect of HDL-C levels on overall survival outcomes and rates of MACCE following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We reviewed patients who underwent PCI at the Cleveland Clinic from 2005 to 2017 and followed them through the end of 2018. Restricted cubic splines incorporated into Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to assess the outcomes. The HDL-C level associated with the lowest mortality was used as a reference value.15,633 patients underwent PCI during the study period, of which 70% were male, 81% were white, and 73% were on statins. The mean age at the time of procedure was 65.8 ± 11.8 years. After adjusting for demographics, co-morbidities, lipid profile, statin use, and date of procedure, our model demonstrated a U-shaped association between HDL-C and overall mortality, with HDL-C levels of 30-50 mg/dl associated with the most favorable outcomes, and HDL-C levels30 mg/dl or50 mg/dl associated with worse outcomes. A sensitivity analysis in men yielded a similar U-shaped association. In conclusion, our study shows that both low and high levels of HDL-C are associated with worse overall survival, with no effect on rates of MACCE in PCI patients. Further studies are required to understand the mechanism of this association between elevated HDL-C levels with increased overall mortality in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Treatment of resistant hypertension is a challenge, especially in patients who have chronic kidney disease. The choice of medications may be limited in this group, making the possibility of device-based therapies attractive. We explore 4 devices and procedures available to treat this vexing issue.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a very rare neoplasm of the non-Langerhans cell histiocytes. Pericardial involvement is uncommon, and we aim to review the current knowledge on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and management of recurrent pericarditis due to ECD. We also aim to raise awareness of the importance of considering ECD as a differential diagnosis for recurrent pericarditis in the appropriate clinical settings. The prevalence of pericardial involvement in ECD is estimated to be 40% and is getting more recognized recently. Up to 68% of patients carry the BRAFV600E mutation, and targeted treatment with vemurafenib, an inhibitor of BRAF kinase, showed an excellent response in those who carry this mutation. Pericardial disease appears to be the most common cardiac presentation (in 80% of cases). Although pericardial involvement is frequently asymptomatic, patients with ECD can present with typical pericarditis chest pain and signs of right heart failure if constriction is present. The diagnosis of ECD requires a biopsy of the pericardium or another affected organ. If BRAFV600E mutation is absent, limited data exist, and many medications have been tried, like interferon alfa, anakinra, and infliximab.

We describe contraception for two groups of women: (1) women with heart failure and (2) women with cardiac transplantation. Medical Eligibility Criteria for contraceptive agents address women with peripartum cardiomyopathy and women with valvular heart disease (Curtis et al. MMWR Recomm Rep 65:1–103, 2016). Recommendations for women with other forms of heart failure are extrapolated from these populations. Recommendations for women with cardiac transplantation have shifted since the 1980s: use of long-acting reversible contraception has increased, and there is a better understanding of the interactions between contraceptive and immunosuppressive regimens. Women with heart failure may utilize long-acting reversible contraception and permanent sterilization. Modifications should be made according to the specific etiology of the heart failure. In women with cardiac transplantation, pregnancy is high risk and should be avoided altogether for 1–2 years after transplantation. In uncomplicated transplantation, almost all forms of contraception are allowable. In complicated transplantation, combined hormonal contraceptives are contraindicated, and de novo IUD insertion is not recommended.

Background Breast cancer bears considerable morbidity and mortality and is well known to increase the risk of major depression, whereas religiosity has been reported to be protective. We searched for an association between depression and religiosity in breast cancer patients. We also sought to find an association between depression and various sociodemographic and disease variables. Methods One hundred two patients were interviewed. Sociodemographic, cancer profile, and religiosity questionnaires were administered. We screened for depressive disorders by using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results Most of our participants (n = 79; 77.4%) had high religiosity score. The prevalences of lifetime major depression, current major depression, and major depression after cancer diagnosis were 50.9%, 30.1%, and 43.1%, respectively. We could not find a correlation between religiosity and current depression, while the association with depression after cancer diagnosis was close to but did not reach statistical significance (P = .055) and in favor of a deleterious role of religiosity. Depression was only linked to marital status and insurance coverage. No association was found with disease-related variables. Conclusions Religiosity does not seem to be protective against depression development. The stress of cancer appears to be the main culprit in increasing the risk of depression.

Background There has been an increase in the prevalence of drug abuse ( DA ) in the national opioid epidemic. With increasing DA , there is an increased risk of infective endocarditis ( IE ). There are limited recent data evaluating national trends on the incidence and geographical distribution of DA ‐ IE . We aim to investigate those numbers as well as the determinants of outcome in this patient population. Methods and Results Hospitalized patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of IE based on the International Classification of Diseases , Ninth and Tenth Revisions (ICD‐9, ICD‐10) were included. We described the national and geographical trends in DA ‐ IE . We also compared DA ‐ IE patients’ characteristics and outcomes to those with IE , but without associated drug abuse (non‐ DA ‐ IE ) using Poisson regression models. Incidence of DA ‐ IE has nearly doubled between 2002 and 2016 All US regions were affected, and the Midwest had the highest increase in DA ‐ IE hospitalizations (annual percent change=4.9%). Patients with DA ‐ IE were younger, more commonly white males, poorer, had fewer comorbidities, and were more likely to have human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C, concomitant alcohol abuse, and liver disease. Their length of stay was longer (9 versus 7 days; P P P Conclusions DA ‐ IE is rising at an alarming rate in the United States. All regions of the United States are affected, with the Midwest having the highest increase in rate. Young‐adult, poor, white males were the most affected.

Currently, the number of patients on oral anticoagulation is increasing. There is a paucity of data regarding maintaining oral anticoagulation (especially novel oral anticoagulants) around the time of specific dental procedures. A dentist has three options: either to stop anticoagulation, to continue it, or to bridge with heparin. A systematic review of 10 clinical trials was conducted to address this issue. It was found that continuing anticoagulation during dental procedures did not increase the risk of bleeding in most trials. Although none of the studies reported a thromboembolic event after interruption of anticoagulation, the follow-up periods were short and inconsistent, and the heightened thromboembolic risk when stopping anticoagulation is well known in the literature. Heparin bridging was associated with an increased bleeding incidence. We recommend maintaining oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists and novel oral anticoagulants for the vast majority of dental procedures along with the use of local hemostatic agents.

Background Cardiac monitoring (telemetry) is a common over-utilized hospital resource in the United States. Previous studies have shown that telemetry does not improve outcomes for low-risk patients. Inappropriate utilization occurs because of lack of awareness of guideline-based indications or non-adherence to known indications. Objective A quality improvement study was conducted to reduce telemetry overutilization during the transition of care from the intensive care unit (ICU) by 15% through increasing awareness of indications for telemetry. Methods The study cohort included patients originally admitted to the ICU for sepsis who had improved and were stable for transfer to a non-ICU setting. Subjects were identified and included during pre-intervention (six weeks) and intervention (six weeks) periods. Resident physicians and nurse practitioners were targeted using multiple modalities of education: didactic lectures during week one, poster demonstrations during week three, and video presentations during week five. Results A total of 246 study subjects during the pre-intervention and 94 study subjects in the intervention period were studied; 187 of the 246 subjects in the pre-intervention arm (76%) and 58 of the 94 subjects in the intervention arm (61.7%) were transferred with telemetry. Telemetry utilization dropped by 23.1% at the end of the intervention period. Conclusion Educating the caregivers about the indications for telemetry led to a decrease in over-utilization of telemetry on the transition of care from the ICU to the regular nursing floor. Repetitive and multi-modality educational interventions were effective tools and associated with increased adherence to established guidelines for telemetry usage.

Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD) is a rare multisystemic non-Langerhans cell histiocytic neoplasm. The rarity of the disease and heterogenous clinical presentations often leads to delayed diagnosis. Historically, ECD lacked effective treatment and the prognosis was poor. Following the recent discovery of frequent BRAF-V600E mutation in patients with ECD, vemurafenib, a selective BRAF V600 kinase inhibitor has been approved for BRAF-mutated ECD patients. The prognosis of ECD has dramatically improved with early recognition of the disease and available treatment. ECD affects nearly every organ system. Cardiac involvement with pericardial effusion is common but rarely with constrictive physiology or requiring pericardiectomy. We present a case of a 56-year-old woman with recurrent pericarditis with constrictive physiology along with pleural effusion and interstitial lung disease that was diagnosed with ECD 3 years after initial presentation. The patient’s symptoms were relieved with pericardiectomy and targeted therapy.

Complete heart block (CHB) is an unfortunate complication of an anterior and inferior myocardial infarction (MI). We present a case of an atherosclerotic occlusion of the first septal perforator leading to CHB requiring permanent pacemaker placement in a young patient. A 33-year-old healthy white male presented to the emergency department with an episode of syncope. His vitals were stable, and his physical exam was unremarkable. His electrocardiogram (EKG) showed CHB and ST elevations in V1, V2, and V3 suggestive of septal MI. He underwent emergent left heart catheterization which revealed significant stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery, proximal diagonal artery, and the first septal perforator. An intervention was done with stent placement in the LAD and insertion of a temporary pacemaker. After removal of the temporary pacemaker two days later, the patient developed asystole with alternating bundle branch block which prompted immediate reinsertion of the temporary pacemaker which was replaced later with a permanent pacemaker. The patient was stable afterward and discharged. The persistent atherosclerotic occlusion of the first septal perforator prevented adequate perfusion of the conduction system, even after revascularization of the proximal LAD. In conclusion, it is essential to acknowledge that difficulty to revascularize an occluded septal perforator raises the need for a permanent pacemaker to prevent a CHB.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the mainstay in the treatment of patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis. However, little is known about the outcomes of TAVR in transplant recipients. Patients who underwent TAVR and transplant were compared to a control group of TAVR patients who did not have a transplant, between 2014 and 2017. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and the onset of prosthetic valve endocarditis. The secondary endpoints were based on the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) criteria. Propensity score matching, based on age, race, and gender, was used to compare the outcomes between transplant and non-transplant patients. 35 patients underwent TAVR as well as organ transplants (26 solid organ and 9 bone marrow). Compared to non-transplant patients (n = 1,366), transplant patients underwent TAVR at a younger age. After matching, transplant patients (n = 34) were more likely to develop prosthetic valve endocarditis compared to non-transplant patients (n = 68) (p = 0.04); however, the majority were on immunosuppressive agents. Transplant patients had a higher 3-year mortality rate, but not 30-day and 1-year mortality (p p = 0.04). There was no significant difference in other outcomes based on VARC-2 criteria. Transplant patients undergo TAVR at a younger age, yet are at an increased risk of post-TAVR complications. In transplant patients, survival is similar to non-transplant patients at 30 days and 1-year. TAVR is a viable treatment option for patients with organ transplantation and severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. AR: Aortic Regurgitation; AS: Aortic Stenosis; AVR: Aortic Valve Replacement; CHF: congestive heart failure; IQR: Interquartile Ranges; NYHA: New York Heart Association; PVR: Paravalvular Regurgitation; TAVR: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; VARC: Valve Academic Research Consortium

We thank Drs. Besola and Colli for their letter regarding our paper on the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with mixed aortic valve disease (aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation) ([1][1]). The authors want to take our observation further to understand what

Acute aortic dissection is a deadly disease that should be recognized promptly. We report an exceptional case of a 44-year-old African American female who presented with a rapidly progressing severe frontal headache. Initial computed tomography of the brain was negative. The following day, she developed uncontrolled hypertension and worsening headache. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was therefore done and showed evidence of acute/subacute ischemic infarcts. The patient was managed as having an ischemic stroke. For that reason, an echocardiogram was done the next day that showed a dilated aortic root and moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation. This was followed by a computed tomography angiography which showed ascending aortic dissection involving bilateral common carotid arteries. After an urgent surgical intervention, the patient recovered without any sequelae. Patients with an acute dissection can present with atypical clinical features, such as an isolated rapidly progressive headache, which might delay the diagnosis and jeopardize their lives. Hence, high-risk patients with rapidly progressive unexplained severe headaches should be considered for imaging of the aorta.

Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm, which is characterized by sustained peripheral leukocytosis with neutrophilia, hepatosplenomegaly, and hypercellularity of the bone marrow, with less than 5% myeloblasts along with normal neutrophil maturation and no dysplasia. In 2016, World Health Organization (WHO) included activating mutations in the gene for colony-stimulating factor 3 receptor (CSF3R) as one of the diagnostic criteria with CSF3RT618I being the most common mutation. We report a rare case of CNL (JAK2V617F negative, BCR-ABL1 negative, CSF3RT618I positive) in an elderly female who had an aggressive clinical course of the disease.