Peak oxygen consumption by smartwatches compared with cardiopulmonary exercise test in complex congenital heart disease.

Objective: To evaluate for correlation between exercise capacity as assessed by peak oxygen consumption (pVO) measurement during a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and smartwatches reporting this parameter in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) complex lesions.

Methods: A prospective study that included patients with ACHD either a Fontan circulation or a right ventricle supporting the systemic circulation who underwent two separate CPETs at least 1 year apart. Generalised estimating equations linear regression was performed to identify factors associated with correlation between smartwatch and CPET-derived pVO.

Sudden cardiac death as a consequence of Cor triatriatum sinistrum in an adult.

Unlabelled: Cor triatriatum sinistrum (CTS) is a rare congenital cardiac malformation in which the left atrium is divided by a fenestrated membrane, which can restrict blood flow and cause symptoms of congestive heart failure. Rarely, the condition can present in adulthood. This case report illustrates a case of sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to the sequelae of untreated CTS.

Echocardiographic imaging of temporary percutaneous mechanical circulatory support devices.

Cardiogenic shock is a state of end-organ hypoperfusion due to primary cardiac dysfunction and portends a poor prognosis. Shock refractory to inotropic and vasopressor support is often an indication for mechanical circulatory support. When mechanical support device complications or malfunction arise, echocardiography offers rapid assessment of device position and function.

Right ventricular function and cardiopulmonary performance among patients with heart failure supported by durable mechanical circulatory support devices.

Background: Patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) experience limitations in functional capacity and frequently, right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. We sought to characterize RV function in the context of global cardiopulmonary performance during exercise in this population.

Methods: A total of 26 patients with CF-LVAD (aged 58 ± 11 years, 23 males) completed a hemodynamic assessment with either conductance catheters (Group 1, n = 13) inserted into the right ventricle to generate RV pressure‒volume loops or traditional Swan‒Ganz catheters (Group 2, n = 13) during invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Electrocardiogram interpretation in college athletes: Local institution versus sports cardiology center interpretation.

Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) screening in athletes enhances the detection of conditions associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD), but concerns remain for false positive results when conducted outside of specialized centers. This study compared ECG interpretation in college athletes between local physicians and a sports cardiology center (SCC).

Methods: Screening ECGs in athletes from eight Pacific-12 Conference institutions performed between 2010 and 2016 were included.

Subendocardial stress in pre-eclampsia.

A primigravida 26-year-old woman who had developed pre-eclampsia with malignant hypertension at 30 weeks of gestation suffered acute myocardial infarction two days postpartum. Electrocardiogram demonstrated diffuse ST-segment depression suggestive of subendocardial ischemia. Echocardiography demonstrated focal asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy, with a characteristic "basal septal bulge", and a left ventricular mid-cavitary gradient of 51 mmHg.

New insights into resting and exertional right ventricular performance in the healthy heart through real-time pressure-volume analysis.

Key Points: Despite growing interest in right ventricular form and function in diseased states, there is a paucity of data regarding characteristics of right ventricular function - namely contractile and lusitropic reserve, as well as ventricular-arterial coupling, in the healthy heart during rest, as well as submaximal and peak exercise. Pressure-volume analysis of the right ventricle, during invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing, demonstrates that that the right heart has enormous contractile reserve, with a three- or fourfold increase in all metrics of contractility, as well as myocardial energy production and utilization. The healthy right ventricle also demonstrates marked augmentation in lusitropy, indicating that diastolic filling of the right heart is not passive.

Man versus machine? Acquired long QT syndrome in a patient with anorexia nervosa.

Computer-generated Bazett-corrected QT (QTcB) algorithms are common in clinical practice and can rapidly identify repolarization abnormalities, but accuracy is variable. This report highlights marked rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation not detected by the computer algorithm. A 26-year-old woman with anorexia nervosa was admitted with severe hypokalemia and ventricular ectopy.