Objective: Hyperkalemia is one of the reversible causes of cardiac arrest in children. The Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support guidelines have specific recommendations on the choice and sequence of medications for treatment of life-threatening hyperkalemia. However, the Pediatric Advanced Life Support guidelines have no specific treatment recommendations. The objective of this study was to measure the extent to which opinions diverge among pediatricians on the choice and sequence of medication administration in the management of hyperkalemia during cardiac arrest.
Design: Scenario-based survey.
Setting: A hypothetical hospital area covered by the pediatric rapid response team.
Patients: A hypothetical scenario of a 7-year old child receiving a blood transfusion who is suddenly unresponsive and found to be in pulseless ventricular tachycardia with stat labs revealing a potassium level of 8.3.
Interventions: A scenario-based survey of PICU fellows and attendings at a PICU Fellows Boot Camp.
Measurement And Main Results: Eighty-four fellows and 24 attendings responded to the survey. The response rate was 89%. Calcium was chosen most frequently as the first drug to be administered (calcium chloride, 40/115 [34.8%]; calcium gluconate, 62/115 [53.9%]) while 38 of 115 respondents (33%) chose a drug other than calcium. Only 17 of 115 respondents (15%) would use calcium, sodium bicarbonate, insulin, and dextrose in the advanced cardiovascular life support-recommended sequence. PICU attendings were significantly more likely to administer the advanced cardiovascular life support-recommended sequence than fellows (attendings, 8/24 [33%] vs fellows, 9/84 [11%]; p = 0.007).
Conclusion: This survey revealed notable variability in the choice and sequence of medications for treatment of life-threatening hyperkalemia with surprisingly few participants in compliance with the advanced cardiovascular life support hyperkalemia guidelines. A standardized approach for pediatric life-threatening hyperkalemia is recommended to improve resuscitation quality.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PCC.0000000000000384 | DOI Listing |
Curr Cardiol Rep
January 2025
Hasselt University, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences / Limburg Clinical Research Centre, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Purpose Of Review: This review aims to explore the complex interplay between atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR), atrial fibrillation (AF), and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The goal is to define these conditions, examine their underlying mechanisms, and discuss treatment perspectives, particularly addressing diagnostic challenges.
Recent Findings: Recent research highlights the rising prevalence of AFMR, now accounting for nearly one-third of significant mitral regurgitation cases.
JACC Cardiovasc Imaging
January 2025
National Amyloidosis Centre, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, United Kingdom.
Cardiac amyloidosis represents a unique disease process characterized by amyloid fibril deposition within the myocardial extracellular space. Advances in multimodality cardiac imaging enable accurate diagnosis and facilitate prompt initiation of disease-modifying therapies. Furthermore, rapid advances in multimodality imaging have enriched understanding of the underlying pathogenesis, enhanced prognostication, and resulted in the development of imaging-based markers that reflect the amyloid burden, which is of increasing importance when assessing the response to treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJACC Cardiovasc Imaging
January 2025
Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Electronic address:
Background: Implementation of semaglutide weight loss therapy has been challenging due to drug supply and cost, underscoring a need to identify those who derive the greatest absolute benefit.
Objectives: Allocation of semaglutide was modeled according to coronary artery calcium (CAC) among individuals without diabetes or established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Methods: In this analysis, 3,129 participants in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) without diabetes or clinical CVD met body mass index criteria for semaglutide and underwent CAC scoring on noncontrast cardiac computed tomography.
JACC Clin Electrophysiol
December 2024
Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute and Research Foundation, Kansas City, Kansas, USA. Electronic address:
Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) has become an important therapeutic target for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Over the past 2 decades, several advancements in LAAO devices (percutaneous and surgical) have been made for stroke prevention and arrhythmia therapy. However, there are several unanswered questions regarding optimal patient selection, the preferred LAAO approach and device, the management of periprocedural and postprocedural complications, including pericardial effusion, device-related thrombus, and device leaks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJACC Heart Fail
January 2025
Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address:
Background: Growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine that is associated with appetite-suppressing effects and weight loss in patients with malignancy.
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationships between GDF-15 levels, anorexia, cachexia, and clinical outcomes in patients with advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
Methods: In this observational, retrospective analysis, a total of 344 patients with advanced HFrEF (age 58 ± 10 years, 85% male, 67% NYHA functional class III), underwent clinical and echocardiographic examination, body composition evaluation by skinfolds and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, circulating metabolite assessment, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, and right heart catheterization.
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