Low birth weight associations with cardiac structure and function in adults after arterial switch for transposition of the great arteries.

Background And Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the associations of birth weight with cardiac structure and function in adults with dextro-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) who underwent the arterial switch operation (ASO).

Methods And Results: Thirty-nine ASO patients (age 24.4 ± 3.

ECMO Alone Versus ECPELLA in Patients Affected by Cardiogenic Shock: The Multicenter EVACS Study.

The objective was to investigate the outcomes of concomitant venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and left ventricular unloading with Impella (ECPELLA) compared with ECMO alone to treat patients affected by cardiogenic shock. Data from patients needing mechanical circulatory support from 4 international centers were analyzed. Of 438 patients included, ECMO alone and ECPELLA were adopted in 319 (72.

Impact of epicardial adipose tissue on cardiac function and morphology in patients with diastolic dysfunction.

Aims: This study aimed to identify the impact of increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and its regional distribution on cardiac function in patients with diastolic dysfunction.

Methods And Results: Sixty-eight patients with exertional dyspnoea (New York Heart Association ≥II), preserved ejection fraction (≥50%), and diastolic dysfunction (E/e' ≥ 8) underwent rest and stress right heart catheterization, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). EAT volumes were depicted from CMR short-axis stacks.

Prognostic and diagnostic implications of impaired rest and exercise-stress left atrial compliance in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Insights from the HFpEF stress trial.

Background: With emerging therapies, early diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) comes to the fore. Whilst the reference standard of exercise-stress right heart catheterisation is well established, the clinical routine struggles between feasibility of exercise-stress and diagnostic accuracy of available tests.

Methods: The HFpEF Stress Trial (DZHK-17) prospectively enrolled 75 patients with exertional dyspnoea and echocardiographic signs of diastolic dysfunction (E/e' > 8) who underwent simultaneous rest and exercise-stress echocardiography and right heart catheterisation (RHC).

Mitral Valve Repair of the Anterior Leaflet: Are We There Yet?

Mitral regurgitation is one of the most prevalent valvulopathies with a disease burden that incurs significant healthcare costs globally. Surgical repair of the posterior mitral valve leaflet is a standard treatment, but approaches for repairing the anterior mitral valve leaflet are not widely established. Since anterior leaflet involvement is less common and more difficult to repair, fewer studies have investigated its natural history and treatment options.

Assessment of the cardiac output at rest and during exercise stress using real-time cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in HFpEF-patients.

This methodological study aimed to validate the cardiac output (CO) measured by exercise-stress real-time phase-contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). 68 patients with dyspnea on exertion (NYHA ≥ II) and echocardiographic signs of diastolic dysfunction underwent rest and exercise stress right heart catheterization (RHC) and CMR within 24 h. Patients were diagnosed as overt HFpEF (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) ≥ 15mmHg at rest), masked HFpEF (PCWP ≥ 25mmHg during exercise stress but < 15mmHg at rest) and non-cardiac dyspnea.

Combined Computed Tomography Angiography-Computed Tomography Perfusion in the Identification and Prognostic Assessment of Myocardial Bridging from the CORE320 Study: 5-Year Follow-Up.

Our objective is to use computed tomography angiography (CTA) and computed tomography perfusion (CTP) to identify the ischemic significance of myocardial bridging (MB). We also seek to determine the long-term prognostication of MB in the presence or absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The CORE320, a prospective, multicenter study including 381 patients with known or suspected CAD clinically referred for invasive coronary angiography who underwent combined (CTA-CTP) and single-photon emission computed tomography before conventional coronary angiography.

Knowledge of Child Abuse and Neglect among General Practitioners and Pediatricians in Training: A Survey.

Child abuse and neglect is a common, underreported, and worldwide problem. Health care providers play an important role in detecting and reporting this problem. This study examined the knowledge on the clinical signs and mimickers of child abuse among Belgian trainees in family medicine and pediatrics.

Coronary artery disease grading by cardiac CT for predicting outcome in patients with stable angina.

Background: The coronary atheroma burden drives major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD). However, a consensus on how to grade disease burden for effective risk stratification is lacking. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of common CHD grading tools to risk stratify symptomatic patients.

Impact of Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 (VARC-3) minor access site vascular complications in patients undergoing percutaneous transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 minor access site vascular complications (VCs) in patients who underwent percutaneous transfemoral (TF) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: This single-centre retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous TF-TAVI from 2009 to 2021. A propensity score-matched analysis was performed to compare early and long-term clinical results between patients with VC and without VC (nVC).

Outcomes of concomitant surgical ablation in patients undergoing surgical myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Studies investigating the efficacy of concomitant surgical atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) patients undergoing myectomy are scarce and limited in terms of sample size. We aim to summarize current outcomes of concomitant surgical AF ablation in HOCM patients undergoing surgical myectomy.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Long-term outcomes of concomitant suture bicuspidization technique to treat mild or moderate tricuspid regurgitation in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term outcomes of concomitant suture bicuspidization to treat mild or moderate tricuspid regurgitation at the time of mitral valve (MV) surgery.

Methods: Data from patients who underwent MV surgery for degenerative MV regurgitation with mild or moderate tricuspid regurgitation and annular dilatation between January 2009 and December 2017 were analysed. The cohort was divided into 2 groups: mitral valve surgery alone (MVA) and MV surgery with concomitant tricuspid valve (TV) repair.

Coronary computed tomography plaque-based scores predict long-term cardiovascular events.

Objectives: Coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA) scores based on luminal obstruction, plaque burden, and characteristics are used for prognostication in coronary artery disease (CAD), such as segmental stenosis and plaque extent involvement and Gensini and Leaman scores. The use of coronary CTA scores for the long-term prognosis remains not completely defined. We sought to evaluate the long-term prognosis of CTA scores for cardiovascular events in symptomatic patients with suspected CAD.

Thromboprophylaxis in Patients With Fontan Circulation.

Background: The optimal strategy for thromboprophylaxis in patients with a Fontan circulation is unknown.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of aspirin, warfarin, and nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in a network meta-analysis.

Methods: Relevant studies published by February 2022 were included.

Association between insomnia phenotypes and subclinical myocardial injury: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Study Objectives: To assess whether the association between insomnia and subclinical myocardial injury, as measured by cardiac troponin T (cTnT), differs across insomnia phenotypes.

Methods: We measured cTnT in 2188 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis study who had completed sleep questionnaires and undergone unattended polysomnography (PSG) and 7-day actigraphy. Insomnia symptoms were defined as reporting at least one of the following ≥5 nights/week over the past 4 weeks: trouble falling asleep, waking up several times a night, having trouble getting back to sleep after waking up too early, or taking sleeping pills to help falling asleep.

Cardiovascular Risk Prediction Using Machine Learning in a Large Japanese Cohort.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) screening entails precise event prediction to orient risk stratification, resource allocation, and insurance policy. We used random survival forests (RSF) to identify markers of incident CVD among Japanese adults enrolled in an employer-mandated screening program. We examined biomarker, health history, medication use, and lifestyle data from 155,108 adults aged ≥40 years.

Preterm Birth Is Associated With Adverse Cardiac Remodeling and Worse Outcomes in Patients With a Functional Single Right Ventricle.

Objective: To assess the effects of preterm birth on cardiac structure and function and transplant-free survival in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and associated anomalies throughout the staged palliation process.

Study Design: Data from the Single Ventricle Reconstruction trial were used to assess the impact of prematurity on echocardiographic measures at birth, Norwood, Stage II, and 14 months in 549 patients with a single functional right ventricle. Medical history was recorded once a year using medical records or telephone interviews.

Machine learning-based prediction of mortality after heart transplantation in adults with congenital heart disease: A UNOS database analysis.

Background: Machine learning (ML) is increasingly being applied in Cardiology to predict outcomes and assist in clinical decision-making. We sought to develop and validate an ML model for the prediction of mortality after heart transplantation (HT) in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD).

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was queried from 2000 to 2020 for ACHD patients who underwent isolated HT.

Somatic growth in single ventricle patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To map somatic growth patterns throughout Fontan palliation and summarise evidence on its key modifiers.

Methods: Databases were searched for relevant articles published from January 2000 to December 2021. Height and weight z scores at each time point (birth, Glenn procedure, Fontan procedure and >5 years after Fontan completion) were pooled using a random effects meta-analysis.

Long-Term Consequences of Acute Kidney Injury After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the available data on long-term kidney dysfunction, hypertension, and mortality after cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) in the pediatric population.

Study Design: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and reference lists of relevant articles were searched for eligible studies published from inception through March 2022. Long-term outcomes after pediatric cardiac surgery complicated by AKI and those without were investigated.

Technical Considerations for Dynamic Myocardial Computed Tomography Perfusion as Part of a Comprehensive Evaluation of Coronary Artery Disease Using Computed Tomography.

Dynamic myocardial computed tomography perfusion (DM-CTP) has good diagnostic accuracy for identifying myocardial ischemia as compared with both invasive and noninvasive reference standards. However, DM-CTP has not yet been implemented in the routine clinical examination of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease. An important hurdle in the clinical dissemination of the method is the development of the DM-CTP acquisition protocol and image analysis.

Pericardiectomy and Pericardial Window for the Treatment of Pericardial Disease in the Contemporary Era.

Purpose Of Review: To summarize the contemporary practice of pericardiectomy and pericardial window. We discuss the indications, preoperative planning, procedural aspects, postprocedural management, and outcomes of each procedure.

Recent Findings: Surgical approaches for the treatment of pericardial disease have been around even before the emergence of cardiopulmonary bypass.

The role of antiaggregant agents and anticoagulants in the prevention of aortic valve endocarditis: A double-cohort retrospective study.

Objective: Antiaggregants (Ag) could prevent infective endocarditis (IE) in preclinical studies. In this study we investigated whether Ag or anticoagulants (Ac) were also protective in humans.

Methods: In part I we determined the incidence of IE of bioprosthetic aortic valves (PVE) in 333 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement for noninfective aortic insufficiency between 2009 and 2019.