Maternal Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) remains the most common major cardiovascular complication arising in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Mothers who develop HF have been shown to experience an increased risk of death as well as a variety of adverse cardiac and obstetric outcomes. Recent studies have demonstrated that the risk to neonates is significant, with increased risks in perinatal morbidity and mortality, low Apgar scores, and prolonged neonatal intensive care unit stays.

Reduced cardiac function is associated with cardiac injury and mortality risk in hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Cardiac injury is common in COVID-19 patients and is associated with increased mortality. However, it remains unclear if reduced cardiac function is associated with cardiac injury, and additionally if mortality risk is increased among those with reduced cardiac function in COVID-19 patients.

Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to assess cardiac function among COVID-19 patients with and without biomarkers of cardiac injury and to determine the mortality risk associated with reduced cardiac function.

Risk Factors and Timing of Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated With Pregnancy: Insights From the National Inpatient Sample.

Background Pregnancy increases the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The purpose of this study was to examine timing and risk factors for AMI in pregnancy and poor outcome. Methods and Results National Inpatient Sample (2003-2015) was screened in pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum.

COVID-19 Presenting as Major Thromboembolic Events: Virchow's Triad Revisited and Clinical Considerations of Therapeutic Anticoagulation.

This case series describes clinical course of three COVID-19 patients who presented with major thromboembolic events. Patient 1 is a 57-year-old male with asymptomatic COVID-19 who presented with a large left ventricular thrombus. His hospital course was complicated with a stroke.

TAVR in a 65-Year-Old Man With a Bicuspid Aortic Valve With Extremely Large Annulus and Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

This case illustrates that transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement is safe and feasible in patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis with extremely large annulus and concomitant severe left ventricular dysfunction.

Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve-in-Valve Replacement Via Right Internal Jugular Vein Access in a 39-Year-Old Woman.

Transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-valve replacement via right internal jugular is safe and feasible for failed bioprosthetic valve implantation. Challenging aspects include stiff wire advancement into the pulmonary artery for rail establishment and multiple push-pull manipulations for balloon and valve advancement.

Postpartum Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Women With Heart Disease from A Nationwide Study.

There is limited data on postpartum maternal postpartum major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) among women with heart disease (HD) in the US. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of MACCE in the US. The Nationwide Readmissions Databases (2010 to 2014) were screened for patients with and without HD undergoing delivery.

Sex-Specific Predictors of Mortality Following Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty.

Background: A differential impact of sex has been observed in balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) outcomes from small observational studies. Accordingly, we sought to compare mortality in men and women undergoing BAV and identify sex-specific predictors of mortality.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was screened for hospitalizations involving adults who underwent BAV between 2006 and 2014.

Disparities in death rates in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy between advanced and developing countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is limited information about differences in maternal deaths from peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) between advanced and developing countries. To review the literature to define the global prevalence of death from PPCM, and to determine the differences in PPCM mortality rates and risk factors between advanced and developing countries. Studies in the English language reporting mortality data on patients with PPCM were included from searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus from 01 January 2000 to 11 May 2016.

Neonatal and Maternal Outcomes in Pregnant Women With Cardiac Disease.

Background Pregnant women with underlying heart disease ( HD ) are at increased risk for adverse maternal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes. Methods and Results Inpatient maternal delivery admissions and linked neonatal stays for women with cardiomyopathy, adult congenital HD, pulmonary hypertension ( PH ), and valvular HD were explored utilizing the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (New York), January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2014, with the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). Maternal major adverse cardiac events, neonatal adverse clinical events ( NACE ), and obstetric complications were recorded.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy-diagnosis, management, and long term implications.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a potentially life-threatening pregnancy-associated disease that typically arises in the peripartum period. While the disease is relatively uncommon, its incidence is rising. It is a form of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, defined as pregnancy-related left ventricular dysfunction, diagnosed either towards the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery, in women without any other identifiable cause.

Pregnant women with heart disease: Placental characteristics and their association with fetal adverse events.

Background: Pregnant women with heart disease (HD) have higher rates of adverse fetal outcomes. We describe placental pathologic characteristics and their association with fetal events.

Methods: In pregnant women, known HD were categorized into: (1) cardiomyopathy (CM) or (2) other HD (congenital, coronary, arrhythmia, or valvular).

Pulmonary Hypertension and Pregnancy Outcomes: Insights From the National Inpatient Sample.

Background: Pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension (PH) are at risk for adverse cardiac outcomes, particularly at the time of labor and delivery. The purpose of this study is to define the impact of PH on pregnancy outcomes and the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Methods And Results: The National Inpatient Sample was screened for hospital admissions of women delivering during the years 2003 to 2012.

National Trends and In-Hospital Outcomes in Pregnant Women With Heart Disease in the United States.

Investigation of trends and outcomes in heart disease (HD) and pregnancy has been limited. We chose to identify the prevalence, trends, and outcomes of pregnant women with different forms of HD in the United States. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample was screened for hospital admissions for delivery in pregnant women with HD from 2003 to 2012.

Quality of Life in Survivors of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

Little data exist with regard to the effect of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) on quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of PPCM on quality of life and emotional well-being. We sought to determine the feasibility of using social media to perform quality of life research.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes in pregnant women with Ebstein anomaly at the time of delivery in the USA: 2003-2012.

Background: Ebstein anomaly is an uncommon congenital cardiac lesion that may be associated with cyanosis, arrhythmias and right heart dysfunction. Investigation into patient characteristics and outcomes in pregnant women with Ebstein anomaly has been limited.

Aims: To characterize patient characteristics and clinical events for pregnant women with Ebstein anomaly during hospitalization for delivery in the USA; also, to determine the effect of Ebstein anomaly on maternal clinical outcomes and individual predictors of poor outcome at time of delivery.

Impact of Heart Disease on Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Pregnant Women.

Pregnant women with underlying heart disease (HD) are at increased risk for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. In this study, we sought to identify the risk and risk factors for adverse maternal and fetal events in pregnant women with underlying HD. Pregnant women referred for echocardiogram with known or suspected HD were categorized into those with (1) cardiomyopathy, (2) other HD (congenital, coronary, arrhythmia, or valvular), and (3) no HD.

Association of cardiomyopathy with adverse cardiac events in pregnant women at the time of delivery.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of adverse events in pregnant women with cardiomyopathy (CDM) and CDM subtypes at the time of delivery.

Background: Investigation of patients' characteristics and outcomes in women with CDM at the time of delivery has been limited.

Methods: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample was screened for hospital admissions for delivery in pregnant women with CDM from 2006 to 2010.

Genotype-guided vs clinical dosing of warfarin and its analogues: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Importance: Significant variations in dose requirements of warfarin and its analogues (acenocoumarol and phenprocoumon) make selecting the appropriate dose for an individual patient difficult. Genetic factors account for approximately one-third of the variation in dose requirement. The clinical usefulness of genotype-guided dosing of warfarin has been previously assessed in randomized clinical trials that were limited by lack of power and inconsistent results.