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The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 outbreak has rapidly reached pandemic proportions and has become a major threat to global health. Although the predominant clinical feature of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory syndrome of varying severity, ranging from mild symptomatic interstitial pneumonia to acute respiratory distress syndrome, the cardiovascular system can be involved in several ways. As many as 40% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have histories of cardiovascular disease, and current estimates report a proportion of myocardial injury in patients with COVID-19 of up to 12%. Multiple pathways have been suggested to explain this finding and the related clinical scenarios, encompassing local and systemic inflammatory responses and oxygen supply-demand imbalance. From a clinical point of view, cardiac involvement during COVID-19 may present a wide spectrum of severity, ranging from subclinical myocardial injury to well-defined clinical entities (myocarditis, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and heart failure), whose incidence and prognostic implications are currently largely unknown because of a significant lack of imaging data. Integrated heart and lung multimodality imaging plays a central role in different clinical settings and is essential in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of patients with COVID-19. The aims of this review are to summarize imaging-oriented pathophysiological mechanisms of lung and cardiac involvement in COVID-19 and to provide a guide for integrated imaging assessment in these patients., (Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Left ventricle (LV) unloading during VenoArterial ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) reduces the risk of LV distention, stagnation and pulmonary congestion resulting from the increased afterload. Lacking direct comparisons between unloading strategies we used network meta-analysis to indirectly compare different unloading approaches., Methods: A literature research was performed to include all studies on VA-ECMO reporting data on mechanical LV unloading. The pre-specified outcome was in-hospital death., Results: Literature search identified 389 studies: 16 were included in the analysis (3930 patients). Two strategies of mechanical LV unloading were compared: afterload reduction (IABP) and preload reduction (Impella pump, right upper pulmonary/trans-septal catheters, LV surgical vents). Any LV unloading strategy was associated with mortality reduction with overall OR = 0.54; 95% CI 0.42-0.70; p < .001. Targeting afterload was associated with reduced mortality (OR = 0.61 95% CI 0.46-0.81; p < .001; I 2  = 61%), as targeting preload (OR = 0.34 95% CI 0.21-0.55; p < .001; I 2  = 0%). Significant between group difference was observed (p = .04): to further explore this we performed a network meta-analysis. Indirect comparisons between afterload and preload reduction were estimated. Any unloading technique was confirmed better than none but preload targeting resulted better than afterload targeting., Conclusion: Any unloading strategy in VA-ECMO patients was associated with lower mortality as compared to no-unloading. Preload reduction strategies resulted superior to afterload reduction., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Three-dimensional multiplanar reconstruction was used to diagnose recurrence of mitral regurgitation after MitraClip implantation in a 71-year-old man. Subsequent mitral valve surgery in such a case is high risk, and repeat MitraClip intervention could be feasible but is technically challenging. This imaging series demonstrates that LVAD implantation may be a solution to address MitraClip failure.

Introduction:: Despite significant technical advancements in the design and manufacture of Left Ventricular Assist Devices, post-implant thrombotic and thromboembolic complications continue to affect long-term outcomes. Previous efforts, aimed at optimizing pump design as a means of reducing supraphysiologic shear stresses generated within the pump and associated prothrombotic shear-mediated platelet injury, have only partially altered the device hemocompatibility., Methods:: We examined hemodynamic mechanisms that synergize with hypershear within the pump to contribute to the thrombogenic potential of the overall Left Ventricular Assist Device system., Results:: Numerical simulations of blood flow in differing regions of the Left Ventricular Assist Device system, that is the diseased native left ventricle, the pump inflow cannula, the impeller, the outflow graft and the anastomosed downstream aorta, reveal that prothrombotic hemodynamic conditions might occur at these specific sites. Furthermore, we show that beyond hypershear, additional hemodynamic abnormalities exist within the pump, which may elicit platelet activation, such as recirculation zones and stagnant platelet trajectories. We also provide evidences that particular Left Ventricular Assist Device implantation configurations and specific post-implant patient management strategies, such as those allowing aortic valve opening, are more hemodynamically favorable and reduce the thrombotic risk., Conclusion:: We extend the perspective of pump thrombosis secondary to the supraphysiologic shear stress environment of the pump to one of Left Ventricular Assist Device system thrombosis, raising the importance of comprehensive characterization of the different prothrombotic risk factors of the total system as the target to achieve enhanced hemocompatibility and improved clinical outcomes.

Objectives: Aim of the study was to assess in-hospital survival rate and the degree of myocardial recovery after MCS treatment (IABP or IMPELLA) at discharge and at 6 months in patients with AMI-CS and planned early percutaneous revascularization., Background: All studies on MCS for acute myocardial infarction related cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) focused on its impact on in-hospital mortality; however, few data about its role on myocardial recovery are available., Methods: Retrospective study on 64 patients: 36 patients (56%) received IABP and 28 (44%) Impella 2.5/CP., Results: Patients treated with Impella were sicker compared to those treated with IABP as shown by a higher need of catecholamines (93% Impella vs 57% IABP, P = 0.002) and higher inotropic score before procedure: 8 (5-15) versus 4.5 (0-9), P = 0.02. In-hospital survival and MCS-related complications were comparable; hemolysis was more frequent in the Impella group (32% vs 0%, P < 0.0001). Myocardial damage was lower in those patients who were implanted with IMPELLA before PCI: lower troponin peak [3831 ng/dL (1441-8436) vs 16 581 (7802-23 675), P = 0.004] and lower CPK peak [893 UI/L (584-4082) vs 5797 (2483-9292) P = 0.04]. Impella patients had higher LVEF at 6 months [45 (38-52) vs 40 (33-45)%, P = 0.04]. LVEF increase at 6 months was statistically significant in both groups (P < 0.0001), with higher myocardial recovery in patients supported with Impella (absolute delta-LVEF increase 20% vs 10% P = 0.005)., Conclusions: Cardiac unloading with IMPELLA in ACS-CS, especially if implanted before PCI, might provide lower myocardial damage and improved myocardial recovery which translates into significantly higher LVEF at 6 months., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: Weaning from venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) usually is performed without clear guidelines; yet, patients still die after removal of extracorporeal circulation because of inadequate heart or end-organ recovery. The aim of the study was to address the weaning procedure, analyzing the hemodynamic and echocardiographic picture of patients weaned and to identify predictors of poor outcome among this population., Design: Observational study., Setting: University hospital., Participants: One hundred twenty-nine VA ECMO cases., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: Forty-nine patients (38%) were weaned, 7 (5.4%) were bridged to a ventricular assist device, and 6 (5.2%) were listed for heart transplantation. Weaned patients showed a significant increase of pulse pressure (35 [0-50] mmHg before ECMO, 59 [53-67] mmHg at weaning, 61 [51-76] mmHg after ECMO (p<0.001]) and reduction of dose of inotropes (inotropic score [as defined in the text] 20 [14-40] before ECMO, 10 [3-15] at weaning, and 10 [5-15] after ECMO, p<0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from 19 (0-22.5)% before ECMO to 35 (22-55)% after ECMO (p<0.001). A significant improvement of right ventricular (RV) function was observed in weaned patients (RV dysfunction from 52% to 21%, p<0.001). Among weaned patients, 15 (31%) died. Patients who died after weaning had longer ECMO duration compared to discharged patients (8 [5-11] v 4 [2-6] days, p = 0.01) and more transfusions (22 [10-37] v 7 [0.5-15] units, p = 0.02); survival was lower in patients with central ECMO (postcardiotomy) compared to peripheral ECMO (p = 0.045). Mortality was higher in those with persistence of RV failure, continuous venovenous hemofiltration, higher inotropic score, lower systolic pressure, or higher leucocyte count at weaning., Conclusions: Successful weaning from ECMO is a multifaceted process, which encompasses consistent recovery of myocardial and end-organ function; LVEF, though improved, is still low at weaning. Hospital survival is correlated significantly to the duration of ECMO support and to bleeding complications., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Afterload mismatch, defined as acute impairment of left ventricular function after mitral surgery, is a major issue in patients with low ejection fraction and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Safety and efficacy of MitraClip therapy have been assessed in randomized trials, but limited data on its acute hemodynamic effects are available. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and prognostic role of afterload mismatch in patients affected by FMR treated with MitraClip therapy. We retrospectively analyzed patients affected by FMR and submitted to MitraClip therapy from October 2008 to December 2012. Patients were assigned to 2 groups according to the occurrence of the afterload mismatch: patients with afterload mismatch (AM+) and without afterload mismatch (AM-). Of 73 patients, 19 (26%) experienced afterload mismatch in the early postoperative period. Among preoperative variables, end-diastolic diameter (71 ± 8 vs 67 ± 7 mm, p = 0.02) and end-systolic diameter (57 ± 9 vs 53 ± 7 mm, p = 0.04) were both significantly larger in AM+ group. An increased incidence of right ventricular dysfunction (68% vs 31%, p = 0.049) and pulmonary hypertension (49 ± 10 vs 40 ± 10 mm Hg, p = 0.0009) was found in AM+ group. Before hospital discharge, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) became similar in both groups (31 ± 9% vs 33 ± 11%, p = 0.65). Long-term survival was comparable between the 2 groups (p = 0.44). A low LVEF in the early postoperative period (LVEF <17%) was significantly associated with higher mortality rate in long-term follow-up (p = 0.048). In conclusion, reduction of mitral regurgitation with MitraClip can cause afterload mismatch; however, this phenomenon is transient, without long-term prognostic implications., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Levitronix CentriMag is approved in Europe for 30 days as uni- or biventricular support in acute heart failure as a bridge to recovery, bridge to heart transplantation or to a long-term left ventricular assist device (LVAD). We report the case of a patient who was supported with the same Levitronix CentriMag pump for 119 days without changing any components of the circuit or the pump head because of an anatomical condition which precluded the feasibility of pump exchange and who did not experience any mechanical failure of the impeller but eventually died due to the rupture of the cannulae. This is the first report of failure of paracorporeal short-term LVAD due to disruption of one cannula with a properly functioning pump., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: The authors conducted a review of randomized studies to show whether there are any increases or decreases in survival when using milrinone in patients undergoing cardiac surgery., Design: A meta-analysis., Setting: Hospitals., Participants: Five hundred eighteen patients from 13 randomized trials., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: BioMedCentral, PubMed EMBASE, the Cochrane central register of clinical trials, and conference proceedings were searched for randomized trials that compared milrinone versus placebo or any other control in the setting of cardiac surgery that reported data on mortality. Overall analysis showed that milrinone increased perioperative mortality (13/249 [5.2%] in the milrinone group v 6/269 [2.2%] in the control arm, odds ratio [OR] = 2.67 [1.05-6.79], p for effect = 0.04, p for heterogeneity = 0.23, I(2) = 25% with 518 patients and 13 studies included). Subanalyses confirmed increased mortality with milrinone (9/84 deaths [10.7%] v 3/105 deaths [2.9%] with other drugs as control, OR = 4.19 [1.27-13.84], p = 0.02) with 189 patients and 5 studies included) but did not confirm a difference in mortality (4/165 [2.4%] in the milrinone group v 3/164 [1.8%] with placebo or nothing as control, OR = 1.27 [0.28-5.84], p = 0.76 with 329 patients and 8 studies included)., Conclusions: This analysis suggests that milrinone might increase mortality in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The effect was seen only in patients having an active inotropic drug for comparison and not in the placebo subgroup. Therefore, the question remains whether milrinone increased mortality or if the control inotropic drugs were more protective., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Most-Care (powered by the pressure-recording analytic method [PRAM]; Vytech HealthTM, Padova, Italy) is a minimally invasive cardiac output monitoring. This system already has been studied and validated in cardiac surgery and in children. It already showed a correlation with thermodilution methods in hemodynamically unstable patients. The purpose of this study was to confirm the reliability of cardiac index determinations by Most-Care in unstable patients with atrial fibrillation., Design: A prospective study., Setting: A teaching hospital., Participants: Forty-nine patients., Interventions: Simultaneous cardiac index measurements by bolus thermodilution and by PRAM from a standard arterial access (radial and femoral) were obtained. The thermodilution cardiac index was calculated as the mean of 3 separate measurements. Because PRAM is a beat-to-beat monitoring system, the mean cardiac index of 12 consecutive beats was considered for the analysis. Correlations were calculated and differences compared by Bland-Altman analysis., Measurements: Eight patients were excluded because the signal was altered by the arterial catheter resonance so that the study described the remaining 41 patients. The overall estimates of cardiac index measured by PRAM did not show agreement with the reference cardiac index by thermodilution (mean difference = 0.136 L/min/m(2) [0,43 L/min/m(2)-0.15 L/min/m(2)], with an upper limit of agreement of 1.94 L/min/m(2) and a lower limit of agreement of -1.665 L/min/m(2), respectively). The median (interquartile) value of cardiac index assessed by thermodilution was 2.42 L/min/m(2) (2.21-2.98 L/min/m(2)), and by PRAM it was 2.48 L/min/m(2) (1.80-3.00 L/min/m(2), p = 0.6)., Conclusions: The authors concluded that PRAM did not compare well with thermodilution in unstable patients with atrial fibrillation., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Doppler of mitral and pulmonary vein flows are used to estimate left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. Mitral regurgitation (MR) makes unreliable these parameters by inducing changes of both mitral inflow and pulmonary vein flow., Objectives: To evaluate whether Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) diastolic indices obtained at the level of LV lateral mitral annulus can provide accurate estimation of LV filling pressure in patients with MR., Methods: Forty-three patients (age 55 +/- 11 years) with severe MR and mean LV ejection fraction (EF) 58 +/- 13 were enrolled, 10 (23%) with LV EF < 50% and 33 (77%) with LV EF > 50%. Doppler signals from the mitral inflow, pulmonary venous flow, and DTI indices of the lateral mitral annulus were obtained. LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was measured invasively with fluid-filled catheter., Results: In the overall population, the majority of standard Doppler and DTI indices correlated with LVEDP, but the multivariate analysis showed that the ratio of mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/Em ratio) (beta = .87, P = .0001) was independent predictor of LVEDP (R2 = 0.74, SE = 4, P = .0001). An E/Em ratio > 10 predicted an LVEDP > 15 mm Hg (sensitivity 90%, specificity 83%). In both groups with LV EF > 50% (beta = .77, P = .005; cumulative R2 = 0.73, SE = 2.5, P = .0001) and < 50% (beta = .89, P = .002; cumulative R2 = 0.77, SE = 2.1, P = .002), multivariate analysis underscored again only E/Em ratio as independent predictor of LVEDP., Conclusions: The combination of DTI indices of the mitral annulus and mitral inflow velocities provides reliable parameters to predict LV filling pressure in patients with MR both in patients with LV EF > 50% and < 50%.

Although the mechanism of ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) is understood, the echocardiographic picture of ischemic MR is not homogeneous. Ninety-two consecutive patients with chronic ischemic MR due to restricted motion were divided into two groups according to tethering pattern: the asymmetric group with predominant posterior tethering of both leaflets (54 patients) and the symmetric one with predominant apical tethering of both leaflets (38 patients). The mitral deformation indexes, LV global (volume, function and sphericity) and local (papillary muscle displacements and regional wall motion score index) remodeling were evaluated. All indexes of global LV remodeling were significantly higher in the symmetric than asymmetric group (all p < 0.0001), such as the posterior and lateral displacement of the anterior papillary muscle (both p < 0.04), the papillary muscle separation and the anterior papillary muscle wall motion index (both p < 0.0001). The origin as well as the direction of the jet was central in all patients of the symmetric group. In the asymmetric one the origin was central in 78% of the cases and arising from the medial commissure in 22% whereas the jet direction was posterior and central in 83% and 17% of patients, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish at least two subgroups of patients with ischemic MR due to restricted motion on the basis of tethering pattern, different degree of local and global LV remodeling and characteristics of the regurgitant jet.

Transesophageal echocardiography has been widely used as a diagnostic tool during the past two decades to detect cardiac abnormalities that are not visible or poorly visible with transthoracic echocardiography. At present, transesophageal echocardiography is a cornerstone of modern diagnosis of several cardiac diseases, providing diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic information. In this review, the present status of transesophageal echocardiography not only as a diagnostic tool, underlining its effects on clinical decision making, but also as a monitoring adjunct for many interventional cardiac procedures is examined.