Patient comfort with sexual orientation and gender identity questions in adult congenital cardiology clinics.

Background: Lack of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data creates barriers for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people in health care. Barriers to SOGI data collection include physician misperception that patients do not want to answer these questions and discomfort asking SOGI questions. This study aimed to assess patient comfort towards SOGI questions across five quaternary care adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) centres.

A Case of Multifocal Ectopic Purkinje-related Premature Contractions…While Pregnant.

Multifocal ectopic Purkinje-related premature contractions are a unique electrophysiological finding that can be characteristic of a rare sodium channelopathy. We describe the medical management of this rare channelopathy in a patient who was pregnant.

Prognostic implication of hemoglobin reduction with and without clinical bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Bleeding events are associated with higher mortality rates in patients with cardiovascular diseases, including patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing coronary revascularization. We aimed to determine whether a reduction in hemoglobin (Hgb) from pre- to postpercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), with or without evidence of clinical bleeding, is a correlate of in-hospital mortality for patients presenting with ACS who underwent primary PCI.

Methods: We divided 33816 consecutive patients with ACS who underwent PCI into three categories: (1) target group (defined as Hgb reduction without overt bleeding [n = 112]); (2) Hgb reduction with overt bleeding (n = 48); and (3) control group (defined as no Hgb reduction and no overt bleeding [n = 3156]).

Gender disparities related to clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing transseptal procedures.

Purpose: Explore gender disparities in patients undergoing transseptal puncture (TSP) for selected transcatheter cardiac intervention procedures.

Methods: Patients who underwent TSP from January 2015 through September 2021 were reviewed. Primary outcomes were procedural and in-hospital major adverse events.

Review of Pathophysiology of Cardiogenic Shock and Escalation of Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices.

Purpose Of Review: Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a complex clinical entity that continues to carry a high risk of mortality. The landscape of CS management has changed with the advent of several temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices designed to provide hemodynamic support. It remains challenging to understand the role of different temporary MCS devices in patients with CS, as many of these patients are critically ill, requiring complex care with multiple MCS device options.

Randomized Trials of Percutaneous Microaxial Flow Pump Devices: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

The use of mechanical circulatory support devices in cardiovascular practice has risen exponentially over the past decade. These devices are currently used for hemodynamic support in patients with cardiogenic shock, high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention, left ventricular unloading, protection of kidneys, and right ventricular failure. The Impella (Abiomed) percutaneous microaxial flow pump devices are rapidly gaining popularity.

Incidence and Outcomes of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients With Percutaneous Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices.

Percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) devices are increasingly used in patients with cardiogenic shock as a bridge to recovery or bridge to decision to advanced heart failure therapies. Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common complication that can be catastrophic. Because of the paucity of data describing the association of GIB with pMCS, we analyzed this population using the United States National Inpatient Sample database.

Assessing race and ethnicity differences in outcomes based on GDMT and target NT-proBNP in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: An analysis of the GUIDE-IT study.

Background: The GUIDE-IT trial was, a multicenter, randomized, parallel group, unblinded study that randomized patients to having heart failure therapy titrated to achieve an NT-proBNP <1000 pg/mL or to usual clinical care.

Methods And Results: We performed pre-specified subgroup analysis to look for the race and ethnicity-based differences in clinical outcomes of patients who were able to achieve GDMT or target NT-proBNP concentration of ≤1000 pg/mL at 90 days of follow-up. There were 894 patients enrolled in GUIDE-IT study.

Device profile of the Impella 5.0 and 5.5 system for mechanical circulatory support for patients with cardiogenic shock: overview of its safety and efficacy.

Introduction: Trans-valvular micro-axial flow pumps such as Impella are increasingly utilized in patients with cardiogenic shock [CS]. A number of different Impella devices are now available providing a wide range of cardiac output. Among these, the Impella 5.

Lactate Clearance Is Associated With Improved Survival in Cardiogenic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prognostic Factor Studies.

Objective: Elevated blood lactate levels are strongly associated with mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock. Recent evidence suggests that the degree and rate at which blood lactate levels decrease after the initiation of treatment may be equally important in patient prognosis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the usefulness of lactate clearance as a prognostic factor in cardiogenic shock.

Contemporary coronary artery bypass graft surgery and subsequent percutaneous revascularization.

Patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are susceptible to bypass graft failure and progression of native coronary artery disease. Although the saphenous vein graft (SVG) was traditionally the most-used conduit, arterial grafts (including the left and right internal thoracic arteries and the radial artery) have improved patency rates. However, the need for secondary revascularization remains common, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become the most common modality of secondary revascularization after CABG surgery.

Alcohol Consumption and Systemic Hypertension (from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey).

Epidemiological studies have established the association between excessive alcohol consumption and systemic hypertension (SH). However, there are conflicting reports of the association of low to moderate alcohol consumption with SH. The objective of the study was to examine the associations of alcohol consumption and blood pressure categories using the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association high blood pressure guidelines.

Comparing surgical thoroughness and recurrence in thyroid cancer patients across race/ethnicity.

Background: For patients with differentiated thyroid cancer who will receive postoperative radioactive iodine, thyroid remnant uptake can be calculated and may point to the thoroughness of the surgical resection. In the United States, outcome disparities exist among ethnic/racial minorities with differentiated thyroid cancer. Data about surgical thoroughness and recurrence rates across races/ethnicities do not exist.

Right Ventricular Pressure-Volume Analysis During Left Ventricular Assist Device Speed Optimization Studies: Insights Into Interventricular Interactions and Right Ventricular Failure.

Background: Interventricular interaction, which refers to the impact of left ventricular (LV) function on right ventricular (RV) function and vice versa, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of RV failure in LV assist device (LVAD) recipients. We sought to understand more about interventricular interaction by quantifying changes in the RV systolic and diastolic function with varying LVAD speeds.

Methods And Results: Four patients (ages 22-69 years, 75% male, and 25% with ischemic cardiomyopathy) underwent a protocolized hemodynamic ramp test within 12 months of LVAD implantation where RV pressure-volume loops were recorded with a conductance catheter.

Rupture of Papillary Muscle and Chordae Tendinae Complicating STEMI: A Call for Action.

Papillary muscle rupture (PMR) or chordae tendinae rupture (CTR) is a rare but lethal complication after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Due to the rarity of this condition, there are limited studies defining its epidemiology and outcomes. This is a retrospective study from Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2002 to 2014 of patients with STEMI and PMR/CTR.

Cross-Sectional Assessment of Burn Center and Nonburn Center Patient Care: A Multi-Database Comparison.

The practice of burn care is complex and continues to be a rapidly evolving field. To assess how differences in management affect hospital stay characteristics and outcomes, the authors sought to compare outcomes data from two sources, such as burn center and nonburn center data. The National Burn Repository (NBR, version 8) and the 2014 Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) were compared based on ICD-9 948-series burn-related diagnosis codes, generating a total of 83,068 and 14,131 burn patients from the NBR and NRD, respectively.

Randomized control trial of opioid- versus nonopioid-based analgesia after thyroidectomy.

Background: Opioid-based analgesia is the most common method for pain control in the postoperative period. Limited data exist to compare the adequacy of pain control in the post thyroidectomy period with nonopioid-based analgesia. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of nonopioid-based, postoperative analgesia.

Red cell transfusion in chronic kidney disease in the United States in the current era of erythropoiesis stimulating agents.

Anemia is a major complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that leads to many symptoms of this disease and worsens cardiovascular health. Treatment of this condition was revolutionized three decades ago by the commercial availability of recombinant human erythropoietin which held the promise of completely eliminating the need for red blood cell transfusion (RBCT). Despite specific therapy now available for anemia in CKD, clinical data accumulated in the last 2 decades suggests that there is a continued need for RBCT, which, we surmise, is due to underutilization of Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents (ESA) or clinical settings such as active bleed, bone marrow resistance such as myelofibrosis or infections where ESAs are ineffective.

Atypical Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy with Hypokinetic Left Mid-ventricle and Apical Wall Sparing: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TTC) is an uncommon cause of acute reversible ventricular systolic dysfunction in the absence of obstructive Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Typically manifesting as apical wall ballooning, TTC can rarely present atypically with apical wall sparing.

Case Report: A 62-year-old female presented with complaints of chest pain and features mimicking acute coronary syndrome.

Evaluation of Thyroid Hormone Replacement Dosing in Overweight and Obese Patients After a Thyroidectomy.

Initiation of thyroid hormone replacement (THR) after a total thyroidectomy has traditionally relied on the weight of the patient, regardless of the patient's body mass index (BMI). Current literature suggests that THR in obese patients differs from nonobese patients. This can lead to overdosing of levothyroxine (LT4) and delay in achievement of euthyroid state.