Safety and Clinical Outcomes of a Complete "Minimalist" Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Pathway.

The standard approach to catheter based left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) involves trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) guided screening and placement, and procedural general anesthesia requiring overnight stay. In pursuit of improved patient experience and reduced cost, streamlined approaches in each phase of care have been explored. However, the safety and clinical outcomes for a completely protocolized minimalist approach utilizing computed tomography angiogram (CTA), intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), conscious sedation, and same-day discharge are lacking.

First Description of Novel End-Organ Effects by Speed Modulation Using the Aortix™ Device.

Aortix™ is a novel percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device designed to facilitate diuresis in patients with cardiorenal syndrome. We describe for the first time the development of end-organ hypoperfusion from excess blood acceleration at the nominal setting and demonstrate through temporal-perfusion marker curves, the potential for speed modulation to optimize results. This will inform future device development and investigation of patient-specific device titration.

Cerebral Protection in Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Review and Contemporary Assessment of Randomized Trial Data.

As the population has aged and as aortic valve therapies have evolved, the use of trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has grown dramatically over the past decade. A well-known complication of percutaneous cardiac intervention is embolic phenomena, and TAVR is among the highest risk procedures for clinical and subclinical stroke. As indications for TAVR expand to lower-risk and ultimately younger patients, the long-term consequences of stroke are amplified.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Migration During Vascular Access Closure.

We present a novel complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) involving prosthetic migration due to entanglement by a standard guidewire during non-large bore vascular access closure, followed by successful bail-out using a second transcatheter prosthesis. To our knowledge, this mechanism of prosthesis migration has not been previously described.

Correction: Referral for Cardiac Amyloidosis in Patients Who Underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Results of the Quality Outcome Project.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45024.

Safety and Performance of the Aortix Device in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Cardiorenal Syndrome.

Background: Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) complicates 33% of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) admissions, and patients with persistent congestion at discharge have high 30-day event rates.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel catheter-deployed intra-aortic entrainment pump (IAEP) in patients with ADHF with CRS and persistent congestion.

Methods: A multicenter (n = 14), nonrandomized, single-arm, safety and feasibility study of IAEP therapy was conducted.

First description of atrial fibrillation and congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura treated by left atrial appendage occlusion.

Given an increased risk of both thrombosis and bleeding, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) presents a unique challenge when anticoagulation is required for comorbid disease, particularly in the setting of major bleeding events. We present for the first time a patient with TTP and atrial fibrillation, presenting with recurrent stroke, but unable to tolerate anticoagulation due to prior intra-cerebral hemorrhage. To address both issues concomitantly, we describe the successful application of a novel management approach to facilitate left atrial appendage occlusion, there by offering a non-pharmacologic means of stroke prevention without added bleeding risk.

Impact of Opioid Epidemic on Infective Endocarditis Outcomes in the United States: From the National Readmission Database.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with marked morbidity and mortality in the United States and parallels the opioid pandemic. Few studies explore this interaction and its effect on clinical outcomes. We analyzed contemporary patients admitted with IE to determine predictors of readmission in the United States.

Characteristics and clinical outcomes in patients with prior chest radiation undergoing TAVR: Observations from PARTNER-2.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the viability of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) in patients with prior chest radiation therapy (cXRT).

Background: Since patients with prior cXRT perform poorly with surgical aortic valve replacement, TAVR can be a viable alternative. However, clinical outcomes after TAVR in this patient population have not been well studied.

Novel use of the Sentinel cerebral protection device during thrombosed septal occluder explant and Atriclip appendage closure.

Background: Our case demonstrates a novel use of the Sentinel™ cerebral protection device (SCPD) for prevention of stroke during removal of a thrombus-adherent atrial septal occluder.

Case Presentation: A 45-year-old male with multiple strokes and ostium secundum atrial septal defect closed ten years prior using an Amplatzer Septal Occluder presented with recurrent neurologic symptoms. Over the ensuing year, serial transesophageal echocardiography revealed persistent and worsening device-adherent thrombus despite trial of different anticoagulants.

Supine-Related Pseudoanemia in Hospitalized Patients.

A patient's supine posture redistributes plasma into the vascular space, leading to dilution of blood constituents. The extent to which posture may influence identification of hospital-acquired anemia is unknown. Patients in this quasi-experimental study had blood obtained for hemoglobin measurement while recumbent for at least 6 hours, and then again after sitting upright for at least 1 hour.

Erratum to: Efficacy of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography for the De Novo Detection of Chronic Total Occlusion Prior to Coronary Angiography: A Preliminary and Retrospective Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716328.].

Managing thromboembolic risk from atrial fibrillation in patients with cancer: a role for nonpharmacologic approaches.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) in the setting of malignancy poses a unique challenge given the confluent pathologies and risks of current treatments. Oral anticoagulation is recommended to reduce the risk of systemic thromboembolism in high-risk individuals with AF. The 'Watchman' device for left atrial appendage closure has shown comparable efficacy compared with anticoagulation with warfarin; however, patients with cancer were not included in trials testing Watchman safety and efficacy.

Caution regarding potential changes in AVR practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To improve resource allocation in face of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals around the country are restricting the performance of elective surgery to preserve ventilators, operating rooms, ICU beds and protect anesthesiologists. For patients with severe aortic stenosis, efforts to bring treatment to symptomatic patients amid this pandemic might lead to favored use of catheter based management using minimalist techniques that do not require these elements. In this context, some patients with well tested surgical indications for valve replacement may be treated by catheter-based methods.

Isolated surgical left atrial appendage closure: Revisiting utility and indications in a burgeoning era of percutaneous therapy.

Background And Aim: Oral anticoagulation (AC) and percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion are the primary treatment modalities for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF), but there remains a subset of patients in whom these approaches present excess risk and isolated surgical LAA excision should be considered. We describe a 63-year-old female with AF and recurrent thromboembolic events who presented with an acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage and was found to have an intracardiac thrombus.

Methods: Given contraindications to AC and LAA occlusion, an isolated LAA surgical excision was pursued.

The importance of surgical therapy with expansion of TAVR to low-risk patients.

Despite the landmark release of recent transcatheter aortic valve replacement data, the gold standard of surgical therapy is here to stay. Surgery remains vital in patient populations with low coronary height raising risk of coronary occlusion, aneurysmal ascending aorta, isolated aortic regurgitation, noncalcific disease, bicuspid valves, and multivessel coronary disease, or other structural abnormality requiring cardiac surgery. Consideration of these issues highlights the ongoing importance of multidisciplinary consideration of individual patient cases, careful review of imaging, and preservation of a robust surgical program to complement transcatheter development.

Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy Complicated by Dynamic Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction, Cardiogenic Shock, and Ventricular Septal Rupture.

We describe the case of a 68-year-old woman presenting with stress cardiomyopathy (SCM), with concomitant cardiogenic shock, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and ventricular septal rupture. These complications have not simultaneously been reported in a single SCM case. The importance of early diagnosis of serial complications of SCM and using mechanical circulatory support as a treatment strategy are highlighted.

Dual versus triple antithrombotic therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention or acute coronary syndrome in patients with indication for anticoagulation: an updated meta-analysis.

Background: For patients who have an indication for anticoagulation, it is controversial whether dual therapy with an oral anticoagulant and single antiplatelet agent can be used after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) instead of triple therapy with an oral anticoagulant and dual antiplatelet therapy.

Participants And Methods: Twelve observational studies and four clinical trials were identified from three electronic databases from their inception to December, 2017. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random-effects model for meta-analysis.

Management of ischemic coronary disease in patients receiving chemotherapy: an uncharted clinical challenge.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) coinciding with active malignancy presents a unique clinical challenge given intersecting pathophysiology and treatment-related effects. There is little established clinical guidance on management strategies, rendering most treatment approaches anecdotal. We present a case highlighting the complexity of managing a patient being treated for malignancy who concurrently suffers from ACS.

Preventive stenting in acute myocardial infarction.

Current practice guidelines advocate culprit vessel intervention alone in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) found to have multivessel coronary disease during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The debate on the timing of noninfarct artery intervention has recently been reinvigorated by the PRAMI (Preventive Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial, in which patients undergoing preventive PCI of significant nonculprit lesions at the time primary PCI for STEMI had reduced rates of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and refractory angina. Given that previous literature has cautioned against multivessel PCI during STEMI, this raises the question of whether technical and pharmacological advances in PCI may have opened the door to safely revisit this issue with additional clinical rigor.

Controversies regarding the new oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Increasing use of the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) - dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban - has prompted considerable discussion in the medical community even as warfarin remains the mainstay of therapy. This article raises 10 controversial issues regarding the use of NOACs for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, and offers a review of the latest available evidence. We provide a brief overview of the mechanism and dosing of these drugs, as well as a summary of the key clinical trials that have brought them into the spotlight.