Outcomes With Ultrafiltration Among Hospitalized Patients With Acute Heart Failure (from the National Inpatient Sample).

Acute heart failure (HF) management is a complex and often involves a delicate balance of both cardiac and renal systems. Although pharmacologic diuresis is a mainstay of the pharmacologic management of decompensated HF, ultrafiltration (UF) represents a nonpharmacologic approach in the setting of diuretic resistance. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2009 through 2014 hospitalization data from the National Inpatient Sample.

Trends and Predictors of Palliative Care Referrals in Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

Objective:: To determine the rate and predictors of palliative care referral (PCR) in hospitalized patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Introduction:: The PCR is commonly utilized in terminal conditions such as metastatic cancers. There is no data on trends and predictors from large-scale registry of general population regarding PCR in patients with AHF.

Incidental Finding of the Anomalous Origin of Left Main Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery in an Adult Presenting with Arrhythmia-Induced Myocardial Ischemia.

Anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital coronary anomaly with high mortality. It is associated with cardiovascular complications and is usually diagnosed soon after birth. Those who survive into adulthood can present with signs of myocardial infarction, heart failure, mitral regurgitation, severe pulmonary hypertension, or sudden cardiac death.

Cardiotoxicity of Anticancer Therapies.

Cardiovascular diseases and cancer continue to remain major causes of mortality and morbidity. However, overall cancer death rates have declined 20% from their peak in 1991. These declines reflect changing patterns in smoking, prevention, earlier diagnosis, and better treatment options in chemotherapy.

National Trends in Utilization, Mortality, Complications, and Cost of Care After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation From 2005 to 2011.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have shown survival benefit in end-stage heart failure patients. LVAD technology has evolved considerably with the development of continuous-flow devices.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried from 2005 to 2011 using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition procedure code 37.

Impact of Annual Hospital Volume on Outcomes after Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Implantation in the Contemporary Era.

Introduction: There are few data in the literature regarding impact of annual hospital volume on outcomes such as mortality and length of stay (LOS) post-LVAD implantation.

Methods: We queried the nationwide inpatient sample from 2008 to 2011 using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision procedure code 37.66.

Atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure: Role of catheter ablation therapies.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in patients with heart failure (HF). AF in HF patients is associated with worsening of symptoms and also results in a substantial increase in mortality. Although HF patients in sinus rhythm have a better outcome than patients with AF, several randomized studies investigating pharmacological rhythm control versus rate control have shown no advantage of one strategy over the other in terms of patient outcomes.

Utility of virtual crossmatch in sensitized patients awaiting heart transplantation.

Background: Organ transplant candidates with serum antibodies directed against human leukocyte antigens (HLA) face longer waiting times and higher mortality while awaiting transplantation. This study examined the accuracy of virtual crossmatch, in which recipient HLA-specific antibodies, identified by solid-phase assays, are compared to the prospective donor HLA-type in heart transplantation.

Methods: We examined the accuracy of virtual crossmatch in predicting immune compatibility of donors and recipients in heart transplantation and clinical outcomes in immunologically sensitized heart transplant recipients in whom virtual crossmatch was used in allograft allocation.