Ambiguous Clinical Presentations and Imaging Findings in Genetic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

This case series underscores the crucial role of genetic testing and a multidisciplinary approach to the management of genetic dilated cardiomyopathy. It also highlights the importance of distinguishing dilated cardiomyopathies from other cardiomyopathies to personalize patient care.

Heart failure and cardiomyopathy mortality trends and disparities among obese populations: A 20-year United States study.

Objective: Our study aimed to assess the heart failure/cardiomyopathy-related population-level mortality trends among patients with obesity in the United States and disparities across demographics.

Methods: We queried the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database among adults aged ≥25 from 1999 to 2019. Heart failure/cardiomyopathy were listed as the main causes of death, with obesity as a contributing cause.

Predicting Survival of End-Stage Heart Failure Patients Receiving HeartMate-3: Comparing Machine Learning Methods.

HeartMate 3 is the only durable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) currently implanted in the United States. The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model for 1 year mortality of HeartMate 3 implanted patients, comparing standard statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms. Adult patients registered in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (STS-INTERMACS) database, who received primary implant with a HeartMate 3 between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, were included.

Physician Radiation Exposure During Endomyocardial Biopsy and Right Heart Catheterization.

Background: Cardiologists performing coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at risk of health problems related to chronic occupational radiation exposure. Unlike during CA and PCI, physician radiation exposure during right heart catheterization (RHC) and endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) has not been adequately studied. The objective of this study was to assess physicians' radiation doses during RHC with and without EMB and compare them to those of CA and PCI.

Decreased frequency of transplantation and lower post-transplant survival free of re-transplantation in LVAD patients with the new heart transplant allocation system.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the new heart transplant (HT) allocation system in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) supported patients listed as bridge to transplantation (BTT).

Methods: Adult patients who were listed for HT between October 18, 2016 and October 17, 2019, and were supported with an LVAD, enrolled in the UNOS database were included in this study. Patients were classified in the old or new system if they were listed or transplanted before or after October 18, 2018, respectively.

Increased frequency of heart transplantation, shortened waitlist time and preserved post-transplant survival in adults with congenital heart disease, on the new heart transplant allocation system.

Historically, adult congenital patients have longer waitlist time and worse outcomes on the heart transplant waitlist as well as poorer early post-transplant survival. A new heart transplantation allocation system was implemented in the United States on October 18, 2018. The effect of the new allocation system on adult congenital patients is unknown.

Changes in heart transplant waitlist and posttransplant outcomes in patients with restrictive and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with the new heart transplant allocation system.

Historically, patients with restrictive (RCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) experienced longer wait-times for heart transplant (HT) and increased waitlist mortality. Recently, a new HT allocation system was implemented in the United States. We sought to determine the impact of the new HT system on RCM/HCM patients.

Prevention and Treatment of Thrombotic and Hemorrhagic Complications in Patients Supported by Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to describe the current knowledge in prevention and treatment of thrombotic (pump thrombosis and ischemic stroke) and bleeding (gastrointestinal and hemorrhagic stroke) complications in patients supported by continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVAD).

Recent Findings: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are now widely used for the management of end-stage heart failure. Unfortunately, in spite of the indisputable positive impact LVADs have on patients, the frequency and severity of complications are limitations of this therapy.

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels Predict Ventricular Arrhythmia Post Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been shown to predict ventricular arrhythmia (VA) and sudden death in patients with heart failure. We sought to determine whether BNP levels before left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation can predict VA post LVAD implantation in advanced heart failure patients. We conducted a retrospective study consisting of patients who underwent LVAD implantation in our institution during the period of May 2009-March 2013.

Incremental prognostic value of echocardiography in patients with prior mitral valve surgery.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Patients with prior mitral valve surgery are at increased risk for events late after surgery. The study aim was to investigate the value of assessing clinical variables, and left and right heart anatomy and function, to predict outcome in these patients.

Methods: Two-dimensional echocardiography, Doppler echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) were performed in 84 patients at a mean of 7.