Perioperative management of a double valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft in a patient with carcinoid syndrome; a case report and literature review.

Introduction: Carcinoid tumors are rare neuroendocrine tumors; about 5% of patients develop the carcinoid syndrome. We present the case of a patient with carcinoid syndrome undergoing cardiac surgery.

Case Report: A 74-year-old patient with carcinoid heart disease and hepatic metastases underwent double valve replacement and CABG.

Post-Operative Thoracic Epidural Analgesia and Incidence of Major Complications according to Specific Safety Standardized Documentation: A Large Retrospective Dual Center Experience.

(1) Background: Thoracic epidural analgesia is considered the gold standard in post-operative pain management following thoracic surgery. This study was designed to explore the safety of thoracic epidural analgesia and to quantify the incidence of its post-operative complications and side effects in patients undergoing thoracotomy for major surgery, such as resection of lung malignancies and lung transplantation. (2) Methods: This is a retrospective, dual-center observational study including patients that underwent major thoracic surgery including lung transplantation and received concurrent placement of thoracic epidural catheters for post-operative analgesia.

Temporal Trends in Diagnostic Hemodynamics and Survival of Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension: A Single-Center Study.

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) have gradually improved the disease course. This retrospective cohort study aims to explore the diagnostic hemodynamic profile and survival of PH patients and their temporal changes, as well as investigate potential prognostic factors. Overall, 257 adult patients were diagnosed with PH following right heart catheterization (RHC) from January 2008 to June 2023 according to the hemodynamic cut-off values proposed by the corresponding ESC/ERS guidelines at the time RHC was performed.

Right Ventricular Myocardial Work Characterization in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension and Relation to Invasive Hemodynamic Parameters and Outcomes.

Noninvasive evaluation of indexes of right ventricular (RV) myocardial work (RVMW) derived from RV pressure-strain loops may provide novel insights into RV function in precapillary pulmonary hypertension. This study was designed to evaluate the association between the indexes of RVMW and invasive parameters of right heart catheterization and all-cause mortality. Noninvasive analysis of RVMW was completed in 51 patients (mean age 58.

The impact of cardiovascular comorbidities associated with risk for left heart disease on idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: Data from the Hellenic Pulmonary Hypertension Registry (HOPE).

Whereas younger female patients were diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) in 1980s, it is now frequently encountered in elderly patients with cardiovascular comorbidities (CVCs) associated with increased risk for left heart disease. We present data until November 2019 regarding specific features and clinical outcomes of IPAH population from the Hellenic Pulmonary Hypertension Registry (HOPE). Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of ≥ or <3 CVCs, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, presence of coronary artery disease, or atrial fibrillation.

Right Ventricular and Right Atrial Function Are Less Compromised in Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary to Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Comparison With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension With Similar Pressure Overload.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a prevalent disorder for which no effective treatment yet exists. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right atrial (RA) and ventricular (RV) dysfunction are frequently observed. The question remains whether the PH with the associated RV/RA dysfunction in HFpEF are markers of disease severity.

Right atrial function is associated with right venticular diastolic stiffness: RA-RV interaction in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients have altered right atrial (RA) function and right ventricular (RV) diastolic stiffness. This study assessed the impact of RV diastolic stiffness on RA-RV interaction.

Methods: PAH patients with low or high end-diastolic elastance (E) (n=94) were compared with controls (n=31).

Prediction Models and Scores in Pulmonary Hypertension: A Review.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious disease with increased morbidity and mortality. The need for an individualized patient treatment approach necessitates the use of risk assessment in PAH patients. That may include a range of hemodynamic, clinical, imaging and biochemical parameters derived from clinical studies and registry data.

Rationale and design of a prospective, observational, multicentre study on the safety and efficacy of apixaban for the prevention of thromboembolism in adults with congenital heart disease and atrial arrhythmias: the PROTECT-AR study.

Introduction: The risk for stroke in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is increased, especially in the setting of commonly ensuing atrial arrhythmias (AA), namely atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia. Data are limited regarding treatment with non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants in long-term studies involving patients with ACHD and AA.

Methods And Analysis: PReventiOn of ThromboEmbolism in Adults with Congenital HearΤ disease and Atrial aRrhythmias is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, non-interventional cohort study designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of apixaban for the prevention of thromboembolism in ACHD with AA in a 'real-world' setting.

Right Atrial Function Predicts Clinical Outcome in Patients with Precapillary Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Although the primary role of right atrial (RA) size in the diagnosis and risk stratification of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been studied, little is known about the clinical significance of RA function. In line with studies assessing left atrial function in heart failure, the aim of this study was to introduce the RA function index (RAFi) and to explore its prognostic power in precapillary PH.

Methods: RA emptying fraction was calculated as (RA end-systolic volume - RA end-diastolic volume) × 100/(RA end-systolic volume).

Epidemiology and management of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: experience from two expert centers.

Objectives: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare, distinct pulmonary vascular disease, and therefore, there is a lack of data regarding its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management at a national basis. We aimed to describe the demographics and management of patients with CTEPH in Northern Greece.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational study by a joint collaboration between two pulmonary hypertension expert centers in Greece, and the study included patients diagnosed with CTEPH.