ANZACS-QI Heart Failure Registry: a new approach using age-stratified sampling of hospital discharges to guide quality improvement (ANZACS-QI 79).

Heart failure is a major healthcare problem in New Zealand. The Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) Registry was introduced in 2015, and has identified the need for quality improvement strategies to improve care of patients hospitalised with heart failure. In this paper, we describe the implementation of the revised ANZACS-QI Heart Failure Registry, which has a primary aim to support evidence-based management of and quality improvement measures for patients who are hospitalised with heart failure in New Zealand.

Hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) safely and effectively extends acceptable donor heart preservation times: Results of the Australian and New Zealand trial.

Background: Cold static storage preservation of donor hearts for periods longer than 4 hours increases the risk of primary graft dysfunction (PGD). The aim of the study was to determine if hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) could safely prolong the preservation time of donor hearts.

Methods: We conducted a nonrandomized, single arm, multicenter investigation of the effect of HOPE using the XVIVO Heart Preservation System on donor hearts with a projected preservation time of 6 to 8 hours on 30-day recipient survival and allograft function post-transplant.

Outcome following heart transplantation in New Zealand Maori.

Background: Disparities in health care access and outcomes between Maori (M) and Non-Maori (NM) New Zealanders have been reported but little is known about access to and outcomes following heart transplantation (HT).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of M and NM who underwent HT in New Zealand. Demographic, clinical and outcome data were collected.

A Case of Breathlessness during Pregnancy: The Difficulty in Diagnosing Heart Failure.

We present the case of a 33-year-old woman in her second pregnancy who was transferred to our unit following a one-month history of worsening fatigue and a three-day history of worsening symptoms of heart failure. Shortly after presentation she developed ventricular fibrillation and arrested. At an emergency caesarean section a placental abruption was noted and the baby was stillborn, unable to be resuscitated.

Understanding changing patterns of survival and hospitalization for heart failure over two decades in New Zealand: utility of 'days alive and out of hospital' from epidemiological data.

Aims: To describe changes in heart failure (HF) epidemiology in New Zealand between 1988 and 2008 using the number of days alive and out of hospital after a first hospitalization for HF, and to use these data to evaluate the overall impact of changing patterns of hospitalization and survival.

Methods And Results: We performed a population analysis of all HF hospitalization and mortality data from 1 January 1988 to 31 December 2008 in New Zealand. The main outcome measures were: days alive and out of hospital, age standardized hospitalization rates, and mortality after an index hospitalization for HF.

Changes in tissue-Doppler echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular filling during NT-proBNP guided heart failure treatment titration: a pilot study.

Background: Although brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and E/Ea are closely related in heart failure (HF) patients and may be helpful to guide HF therapy, the response of E/Ea to changes in BNP over several weeks of intensive HF treatment optimisation is unknown. This study was designed to investigate this relationship.

Methods And Results: In 17 patients with decompensated HF, treatment was titrated to reduce the NT-proBNP level to <200pg/mL over 10 weeks.

The relationship between BNP and E/Ea in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure.

BNP and echocardiographic E/Ea are variables helpful in the management of patients with heart failure (HF). The response of E/Ea to treatment for acute decompensated HF remains uncertain. This pilot study aimed to explore this relationship.

Does rhythm matter? The prognostic importance of atrial fibrillation in heart failure.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and congestive heart failure (HF) often coexist, but there is conflicting data regarding the association of AF with outcome in HF. To examine this further we have evaluated the prognostic effect of AF in two complementary CHF populations; a population based data set of 55,106 patients admitted to hospital with CHF, and a cohort of 197 patients recruited after a hospital admission with HF into a management clinical trial.

Methods: Firstly, data for all hospital admissions in New Zealand from 1988 to 1997 were obtained.

Sirolimus for Kaposi's sarcoma.

The risk of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is increased after organ transplantation. Management of KS in the cardiac transplant population may be difficult because reduction of immunosuppression is often not practical. This report describes a case of KS occurring in the early post-transplant period.

Coronary sinus and ascending aortic levels of aldosterone, angiotensin II, and B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with aortic stenosis and in patients with coronary heart disease.

Demonstration that aldosterone synthesis occurs in the myocardium would suggest that the clinical benefits of aldosterone receptor antagonists may extend to patients with normal circulating plasma levels of aldosterone. Previous studies have reported myocardial aldosterone synthesis in patients with heart failure. This study determined whether myocardial aldosterone and angiotensin II release occurs in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and/or coronary heart disease (CHD) with normal left ventricular ejection fractions and no clinical heart failure.

Extended follow up after isolated aortic valve replacement in the elderly.

The present paper reviews the extended follow up of all patients aged >/=70 who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement at our institution in the 1980s. Patients were identified from the surgical database and clinical information was gathered. Long-term follow up information was obtained from the patient, their family, or doctor.

Brain natriuretic peptide in the contemporary management of congestive heart failure.

Brain natriuretic peptide is a cardiac neurohormone that is secreted by the left ventricle in response to an increase in wall stress. Brain natriuretic peptide has emerged as a neurohormone with multiple roles in heart failure management. This review will discuss the role of brain natriuretic peptide in heart failure diagnosis, prognostic assessment, screening for asymptomatic left-ventricular dysfunction, and in the treatment of heart failure.

Role of echocardiography in the contemporary management of chronic heart failure.

Echocardiography is an excellent noninvasive tool for the assessment of ventricular size and both systolic and diastolic function, and it is routinely used in patients with heart failure. This review will discuss the role of echocardiography in heart failure diagnosis, prognostic assessment and in the management of heart failure patients.