Publications by authors named "Brittany A Zwischenberger"

Article Synopsis
  • * Her CHADS-VASc score of 6 indicates a high risk for stroke, typically necessitating anticoagulation treatment.
  • * However, the use of anticoagulants is not recommended for patients on lecanemab, leading to a management dilemma that requires careful consideration and potential alternative solutions.
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  • The study compares the survival rates and durability between porcine and pericardial prostheses used in tricuspid valve replacement over a period from 1975 to 2022.
  • Results show no significant differences in 10-year survival rates, cumulative incidence of structural valve deterioration, or reoperation rates between the two types of valves.
  • The findings suggest that both valve types are equally effective, indicating that the choice of valve may be based on other factors rather than survival or durability outcomes.
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Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening cardiac infection usually associated with cardiac valves. Left atrial (LA) mural endocarditis is rarely seen and occurs in isolation or in conjunction with mitral valve endocarditis. We present a case of a 61-year-old male with no prior cardiac history who presented with melena and fevers.

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Objectives: Use of radial artery as a second arterial graft, compared to a saphenous vein, in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can improve late outcomes. However, the radial artery remains underutilized. We initiated a quality improvement (QI) initiative to increase the usage of radial artery grafts.

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Background: Debate continues regarding the superiority of porcine vs pericardial bioprostheses, and data relevant to this comparison are scant. This study compared late survival and structural valve deterioration of porcine and pericardial mitral valve prostheses.

Methods: Adults undergoing mitral valve replacement with 1 first-generation porcine valve model and 1 pericardial valve line were reviewed from a prospectively maintained institutional database between 1976 and 2020.

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  • This document is the first in the ASNC I series focusing on the role of radionuclide imaging for diagnosing cardiovascular infections, notably infective endocarditis, using a detailed consensus-based approach.
  • It highlights the rising incidence of cardiovascular infections, which present high risks and complications, and discusses the limitations of current diagnostic methods like echocardiography.
  • Advanced imaging techniques such as FDG PET/CT and SPECT/CT can improve diagnostic accuracy by revealing infection in cardiac devices and surrounding areas, emphasizing the need for better imaging strategies in complex cases.
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  • Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is a less invasive option for treating mitral regurgitation but carries higher long-term mortality and reintervention risks compared to surgery.
  • A survey of 201 patients showed a clear preference for TEER over surgery, even if it meant accepting greater risks of reintervention and hospitalizations.
  • For patients to prefer surgery over TEER, they would require significant functional improvement, equivalent to moving from class III to class I of the New York Heart Association classification over 5 years.
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  • * A thorough consensus was reached using a modified Delphi method to outline clinical indications, diagnostic criteria, and a structured algorithm for diagnosis due to the rising incidence and high risks associated with these infections.
  • * Advanced imaging techniques, such as F-FDG PET/CT, can improve the evaluation and management of cardiovascular infections, particularly in complicated cases involving prosthetic valves and cardiac devices, while also highlighting the need for further research to optimize these applications.
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This document on cardiovascular infection, including infective endocarditis, is the first in the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Imaging Indications (ASNC I) series to assess the role of radionuclide imaging in the multimodality context for the evaluation of complex systemic diseases with multi-societal involvement including pertinent disciplines. A rigorous modified Delphi approach was used to determine consensus clinical indications, diagnostic criteria, and an algorithmic approach to diagnosis of cardiovascular infection including infective endocarditis. Cardiovascular infection incidence is increasing and is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

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Article Synopsis
  • This document is the first in a series by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology focusing on the use of radionuclide imaging for diagnosing cardiovascular infections, particularly infective endocarditis, in a comprehensive healthcare context.
  • A modified Delphi method was used to establish clinical indications, diagnostic criteria, and a structured approach for diagnosing these infections, which are increasingly common and associated with significant health risks.
  • Advanced imaging techniques, such as 18F-FDG PET/CT and SPECT/CT leukocyte scintigraphy, can significantly boost diagnostic accuracy and guide treatment decisions, especially for patients with complex cardiovascular issues or unclear initial imaging results.
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Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has emerged as a viable alternative to conventional sternotomy CABG in select patients requiring coronary revascularization. Specific techniques vary, but minimally invasive CABG (i.e.

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Background: The long-term effectiveness of minithoracotomy over redo median sternotomy for reoperative mitral operation is not well described. Here we present long-term survival after reoperative mitral operation based on operative approach.

Methods: Adults undergoing mitral valve operation with previous sternotomy by redo sternotomy and minithoracotomy were reviewed from our prospectively maintained institutional database from 1997 to 2022.

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Background: Percutaneous mechanical aspiration (PMA) of intravascular vegetations is a novel strategy for management of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) who are at high risk of poor outcomes with conventional cardiac surgery. However, clear indications for its use as well as patient outcomes are largely unknown.

Objectives: To conduct a scoping review of the literature to summarize patient characteristics and outcomes of those undergoing PMA for management of IE.

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Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare but important nonatherosclerotic cause of acute coronary syndrome. Indications for revascularization and long-term outcomes of SCAD remain areas of active investigation. We report our experience with initial management strategy and long-term outcomes in SCAD.

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Septal myectomy is currently the gold standard treatment for symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). The procedure needs to be tailored and performed in a personalized fashion, taking into consideration the anatomic and physiologic heterogeneity of this disease. The extent and location of surgical myectomy will depend on the location of the hypertrophy, with the goal of widening the outflow tract and improve the function of the mitral valve.

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Surgical planning for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can be enhanced with the use of computed tomographic (CT) imaging to better understand the surgical field for optimal conduct of the case as well as risk assessment for outcomes. CABG via primary sternotomy, redo sternotomy, and minimally-invasive thoracotomy each pose unique surgical considerations and risks that can be better characterized with a preoperative CT scan. CT and CT angiographic (CTA) techniques with or without intravenous (IV) contrast can provide a noninvasive assessment of the vascular and bony structures and direct surgical planning techniques.

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Background: Public interest in stratifying hospital performance has led to the proliferation of commercial, consumer-oriented hospital rankings. In cardiac surgery, little is known about how these rankings correlate with clinical registry quality ratings.

Methods: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was queried for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary artery bypass grafting/valve patients at hospitals among the top 100 U.

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The 2021 Coronary Artery Disease revascularization guidelines of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) provide recommendations for managing nonculprit arteries in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Although staged revascularization is preferred, at times same-setting intervention, coronary artery bypass surgery, or medical therapy may be preferable. These cases exemplify clinical scenarios for treating nonculprit arteries in STEMI.

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Biological and sociocultural differences between men and women are complex and likely account for most of the variations in the epidemiology and treatment outcomes of coronary artery disease (CAD) between the 2 sexes. Worse outcomes in women have been described following both conservative and invasive treatments of CAD. For example, increased levels of residual platelet reactivity during treatment with antiplatelet drugs, higher rates of adverse cardiovascular outcomes following percutaneous coronary revascularization, and higher operative and long-term mortality after coronary bypass surgery have been reported in women compared with in men.

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Background: Coronary endarterectomy (CE) is an uncommon and often unplanned technique used to approach difficult targets during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We evaluated the outcomes of CABG with CE (CE-CABG) using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database.

Methods: All isolated, first-time, elective or urgent CABG cases from July 2011 to September 2019 in the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database were retrospectively reviewed.

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Aim: The executive summary of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions coronary artery revascularization guideline provides the top 10 items readers should know about the guideline. In the full guideline, the recommendations replace the 2011 coronary artery bypass graft surgery guideline and the 2011 and 2015 percutaneous coronary intervention guidelines. This summary offers a patient-centric approach to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with significant coronary artery disease undergoing coronary revascularization, as well as the supporting documentation to encourage their use.

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Aim: The guideline for coronary artery revascularization replaces the 2011 coronary artery bypass graft surgery and the 2011 and 2015 percutaneous coronary intervention guidelines, providing a patient-centric approach to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with significant coronary artery disease undergoing coronary revascularization as well as the supporting documentation to encourage their use.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 2019 to September 2019, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, CINHL Complete, and other relevant databases. Additional relevant studies, published through May 2021, were also considered.

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Aim: The executive summary of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions coronary artery revascularization guideline provides the top 10 items readers should know about the guideline. In the full guideline, the recommendations replace the 2011 coronary artery bypass graft surgery guideline and the 2011 and 2015 percutaneous coronary intervention guidelines. This summary offers a patient-centric approach to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with significant coronary artery disease undergoing coronary revascularization, as well as the supporting documentation to encourage their use.

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