Life-Saving Cooperative Function of a Subcutaneous Cardioverter-Defibrillator and a Pacemaker in Dextrocardia With Heart Failure.

A 47-year-old man with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, dextrocardia, heart failure, and pacemaker-dependency presented with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. He underwent a right-sided transmuscular cardioverter-defibrillator insertion after appropriate testing. One year later, life-saving antiarrhythmic therapy was applied by the subcutaneous defibrillator while the appropriate pacemaker functioning supported heart rhythm.

End-organ protective effect of serelaxin in patients hospitalized for heart failure: Results of the biomarker substudy of Relaxin in Acute Heart Failure-2 (RELAX-AHF-2).

Aims: Serelaxin is recombinant human relaxin-2, a hormone responsible for haemodynamic adaptations and organ protection in pregnancy. In the RELAX-AHF trial, serelaxin demonstrated reductions in cardiac, renal and hepatic damage. In RELAX-AHF-2, organ damage-related biomarkers were assessed in a biomarker substudy.

Decongestion and Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure: Insights From the RELAX-AHF-2 Trial.

Background: The prognostic importance of residual congestion after acute heart failure (AHF) hospitalization is still debated.

Objectives: The authors aimed to assess the impact of residual congestion in a large cohort of patients with AHF enrolled in the RELAX-AHF-2 (Relaxin in Acute Heart Failure 2) trial.

Methods: Residual congestion was assessed at day 5 after admission among hospitalized patients using an established composite congestion score (CCS) based on the presence of orthopnea, peripheral edema, and increased jugular venous pressure, ranging from 0 to 8 points.

Hospitalized Advanced Heart Failure With Preserved vs Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Global Perspective.

Background: Outcomes of hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) and characteristics of advanced HF stage may vary across left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and world regions.

Objectives: This study sought to analyze characteristics of hospitalized advanced HF patients across LVEF spectrum, world regions, and country income.

Methods: Among 18,553 hospitalized patients with acute HF (7,902 new-onset HF and 10,651 decompensated chronic HF) enrolled in the global registry REPORT-HF (International Registry to Assess Medical Practice With Longitudinal Observation for Treatment of Heart Failure), we analyzed characteristics and outcomes of patients with advanced HF, defined as previously diagnosed HF; severe symptoms before current admission (NYHA functional class III/IV); and ≥1 HF-related hospitalization in the preceding 12 months, excluding the current.