Cardiogenic Shock

In-hospital outcomes of cardiogenic shock patients: A propensity score-matched nationwide comparative analysis between intra-aortic balloon pump and percutaneous ventricular assist devices

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVAD) and intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP) are mechanical circulatory support options for patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). While pVADs provide greater hemodynamic support, their impact on mortality and hospital outcomes compared to IABP remains unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a propensity score-matched analysis of 65,858 CS admissions from the national inpatient sample (2016-2020), evenly divided between IABP and pVAD groups. Admissions, where ECMO or both IABP and pVAD were used during the same admission, were excluded. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included complication rate, length of stay, and total hospitalization costs. Sensitivity analyses were performed using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and subgroup analyses were conducted based on the different etiologies of CS.

RESULTS

The overall in-hospital mortality rate in the matched cohort was 34.3 %, with significantly higher mortality in the pVAD group compared to the IABP group (40.7 % vs. 28 %, p < 0.001) (OR = 1.77; 95 % CI [1.71, 1.83]). pVAD use was also associated with higher odds of acute kidney injury, ventricular arrhythmia, ischemic stroke, and major bleeding, access site complications like arterial thrombosis and aneurysms. Although the pVAD group had a marginally shorter length of stay, hospitalization costs were higher.

CONCLUSION

In this nationwide cohort, pVAD use was associated with higher in-hospital mortality, increased complication rates, and higher costs compared to IABP. These findings suggest that while pVADs may offer advanced support, they are linked to substantial risks and costs, warranting careful patient selection.

Development of an Acute Coronary Syndrome-Cardiogenic Shock Risk Score for 30-day Mortality From the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes Registry (VCOR ACS-CS Risk Score)

INTRODUCTION

Acute coronary syndrome-cardiogenic shock (ACS-CS) confers a 30-day mortality rate of ~50%. A simple bed-side risk score for 30-day all-cause mortality may aid in rapid prognostication in these high-risk patients.

METHODS

We analyzed data from consecutive patients with ACS-CS enrolled in the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes Registry (VCOR), a state-wide procedure-based clinical quality registry, between 2013 and 2021. Internal validation was performed in 1000 bootstrapped samples to derive variables that were in > 60% of models for the prediction of 30-day mortality. Model performance was evaluated using C-statistic, and Hosmer Lemeshow (HL) statistic.

RESULTS

Of 1564 patients with ACS-CS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 1403 presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 161 with non-STEMI. Age was 66 ± 13 years, and 74% were males. In-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were 42% and 45%. Selected predictors of 30-day mortality included age (odds ratio (OR) 1.4 [1.3, 1.6] per 10 year increase), female sex (OR 1.4 [1.1, 1.8]), diabetes (OR 1.5 [1.2, 2.0]), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR 2.2 [1.3, 3.5]), <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR 1.5 [1.1, 2.0], left ventricular ejection fraction < 35% (OR 4.6 [3.5, 6.1]), out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OR 2.3 [1.8, 3.1]), pre-procedural intubation (OR 2.1 [1.6, 2.7], mechanical circulatory support (OR 1.5 [1.1, 2.1]), STEMI (OR 2.6 [1.7, 3.8]), and multivessel PCI (OR 1.5 [1.1, 2.1], all p < 0.01). Internal validation of 1000 bootstrapped samples resulted in 15 clinical and procedural variables, which demonstrated excellent fit and performance (C-statistic = 0.8, HL p = 0.44) for the prediction of 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

A risk score incorporating only peri-procedural (clinical and procedural) variables accurately stratified 30-day mortality risk among patients with ACS-CS who underwent PCI. Further studies are required to externally validate the VCOR ACS-CS risk score, however, its simplicity potentially facilitates translation into clinical practice.

Comparison between norepinephrine plus epinephrine and norepinephrine plus vasopressin after return of spontaneous circulation in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

There is insufficient evidence regarding the use of second-line vasopressors following norepinephrine administration in the post-resuscitation management of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the survival outcomes between norepinephrine plus epinephrine and norepinephrine plus vasopressin as vasopressor combinations after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in patients with OHCA. This retrospective observational study included data from a prospective multicenter registry. Adult patients with OHCA who achieved sustained ROSC and received vasopressor combinations of norepinephrine plus epinephrine or norepinephrine plus vasopressin were included in the study. The variable of interest was the vasopressor combination either norepinephrine plus epinephrine or norepinephrine plus vasopressin within 24 h from sustained ROSC. The primary outcome was survival to discharge. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. Between October 2015 and June 2024, 901 patients were analyzed. Survival to discharge and good neurological outcome were significantly higher in the group with norepinephrine plus epinephrine than in the group with norepinephrine plus vasopressin (17.0% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.001, and 8.1% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.002, respectively). Norepinephrine plus vasopressin was independently associated with worse survival to discharge and neurological outcome compared to norepinephrine plus epinephrine, after adjusting for potential confounders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.454, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.277-0.746, p = 0.002 and aOR 0.346, 95% CI 0.150-0.794, p = 0.012, respectively). These findings were maintained in multiple regression models and sensitivity analyses. Norepinephrine plus epinephrine administration within 24 h from sustained ROSC showed better survival to discharge than norepinephrine plus vasopressin in patients with OHCA.

From Escalate to Elevate: A New Paradigm for Comprehensive Cardiogenic Shock Management

Patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) present with critical hemodynamic compromise with low cardiac output (CO) resulting in end-organ dysfunction. Prognosis is closely related to the severity of shock, and treatment of patients with CS is resource intensive. In this review, we consider the current treatment paradigms alongside the evidence that underpins them. The current standard of treatment relies on a feedback mechanism, where small changes in treatment are assessed to see if clinical improvement occurs. This leads to delays that increase time in the shock state. The novel approach described proposes immediate treatment to ameliorate the shock state to "break" the shock spiral as quickly and decisively as possible, suggesting new metrics to measure performance.

Definition, Classification, and Management of Primary Noncardiac Causes of Cardiogenic Shock

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a complex syndrome, presenting with a critical state of cardiac output insufficient to support end-organ perfusion requirements. Contemporary CS classification recognizes broad categories of primary cardiac etiologies of CS, such as acute myocardial infarction and heart failure. Primary noncardiac etiologies of CS, however, are poorly described in literature and have not been captured by any contemporary classification, leading to challenges in diagnosing and managing these cases. In this review, we propose that primary noncardiac causes of CS be recognized as its own category that builds on the original Shock Academic Research Consortium classification with its own additional modifiers. We present a detailed framework that groups each noncardiac cause by its underlying disease mechanism (vascular, infectious, inflammatory, traumatic, toxic, cancer related, endocrine, metabolic) and review available literature on their respective management strategies. We expect that the ability to classify primary noncardiac causes of CS will help with early identification and targeted management of the primary noncardiac insult, support patients through their shock state, and may lead to improvement of in-hospital CS mortality rates in clinical practice. Moreover, this new framework can further assist clinical trial classifications to properly phenotype CS for clinical research purposes.

Predictors of Mortality in Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Regardless of Early Left Ventricular Unloading: A National Experience

OBJECTIVE

The use of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been suggested to unload the left ventricle while on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for cardiogenic shock (CS), leading to possibly improved in-hospital mortality. However, the predictors of mortality on dual mechanical circulatory support have not yet been evaluated, especially in real-world clinical settings. Therefore, a case-control study was conducted to determine the rate of all-cause mortality associated with VA-ECMO use regardless of left ventricular (LV) unloading, and with early LV unloading in the setting of CS, and to identify the predictors of mortality associated with VA-ECMO, with concurrent early LV unloading.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational case-control study.

SETTING

National tertiary cardiology center.

PARTICIPANTS

All patients with CS requiring VA-ECMO cannulation during the index admission between January 06, 2016, and January 0, 2022.

INTERVENTION

VA-ECMO with or without IABP MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patient- and disease-related characteristics associated with in-hospital 30-day mortality following VA-ECMO with and without IABP support were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Results are presented as odds ratio (OR), and a p-value < 0.05 indicates statistical significance. A total of 110 patients were included. Most were male (90%) with a mean age of 53 ± 11 years. Around 67% were Asian. The majority of patients were admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (87%), with 26% presenting with left main disease. In-hospital 30-day mortality occurred in 42.7% of those who received VA-ECMO support regardless of IABP use, while it was 46.9% among those receiving early LV unloading with IABP. Significant positive predictors of mortality with VA-ECMO regardless of IABP in CS were cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) >20 minutes (adjusted OR 14.74, 95% confidence interval 2.02-107.41, p-value = 0.008), older age (ie, >55 years) and left main disease of more than 50% stenosis were associated with a fourfold increase in the odds of mortality while on VA-ECMO. Conversely, CPR >20 minutes (adjusted OR 12.45, 95% confidence interval 1.79-86.36, p-value = 0.011) was the only significant positive predictor of mortality with VA-ECMO and IABP.

CONCLUSION

The mortality rate in CS requiring VA-ECMO, regardless of IABP use, remains high. However, only one predictor (ie, prolonged CPR) was found to increase the likelihood of 30-day mortality with early LV unloading, suggesting that concomitant IABP use might minimize the effect of mortality predictors.

Clinical Prediction Score for Successful Liberation from Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support in Cardiogenic Shock Patients

BACKGROUND

In cardiogenic shock (CS) patients requiring temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS), assessing cardiac recovery vs the need for heart replacement therapy is critical. We developed and validated a new clinical score aimed at predicting successful tMCS liberation.

METHODS

A cohort of 80 CS patients treated with Impella support between January 2018 and December 2020 was analyzed. Hemodynamic, echocardiographic, and laboratory data were collected at baseline, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 96 hours after device insertion. Patients were classified as successfully or unsuccessfully liberated from tMCS, based on recovery vs progression to death, left ventricular assist device implantation, or heart transplant. The W score, derived using independent predictors of successful liberation, was validated in 2 cohorts: 86 CS patients at our center and 23 patients from an external center.

RESULTS

Among the 80 patients (mean age 62.5 ± 11.8 years, 63.7% acute myocardial infarction CS), 47.5% achieved successful tMCS liberation. Independent predictors included left ventricular ejection fraction, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and inotropic score at 24 hours, along with creatinine and lactate at 96 hours (area under the curve [AUC] ≥ 0.7, P < 0.05). The W score, using a cutoff of ≥7, demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0.92, sensitivity 80%, specificity 85%, P < 0.001). In validation cohorts, a score ≥7 predicted successful liberation with AUCs of 0.80 (P < 0.001) and 0.72 (P < 0.015) at the internal and external centers, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The W score, based on key parameters at 24 and 96 hours post-tMCS, effectively supports clinicians in identifying CS patients likely to achieve successful tMCS liberation.

Organ perfusion pressure predicts outcomes in cardiogenic shock patients

AIMS

The diagnosis of cardiogenic shock (CS) relies upon signs and/or symptoms of end-organ hypoperfusion. The combination of hypoperfusion and systemic congestion identifies patients at particularly high risk. This study evaluated organ perfusion pressure (OPP), calculated as mean arterial pressure minus invasive central venous pressure, as a predictor of outcomes in CS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction-related CS (AMI-CS) or acutely decompensated heart failure-related CS (ADHF-CS) enrolled in the multicentre Altshock-2 registry between January 2020 and November 2023 were included. The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Overall, 316 patients were included (mean age: 64 ± 13 years, 62 [20%] female, median left ventricular ejection fraction: 22% [interquartile range, IQR 15-30%], 261 [85.9%] SCAI stage C or worse, median OPP at presentation: 57.0 mmHg [IQR 47.0-69.8 mmHg]). A total of 117 (37%) patients died during the hospitalization. Low OPP (i.e. <57.0 mmHg) was associated with significantly higher in-hospital all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.757, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.208-2.556, p = 0.003), whereas low mean arterial pressure alone was not (HR 1.323, 95% CI 0.901-1.941, p = 0.153). After multivariable adjustment for significant clinical data available at first bedside assessment (age and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score), low OPP still predicted significantly higher in-hospital all-cause mortality (HR per mmHg decrease: 1.016, 95% CI 1.004-1.029, p = 0.010). Low OPP appeared particularly powerful in predicting higher in-hospital all-cause mortality among ADHF-CS patients (HR 3.172, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

In this multicentre, observational, prospective study on patients hospitalized for CS, lower OPP on admission was associated with significantly higher in-hospital all-cause mortality.

Pregnancy-Associated Takotsubo Syndrome: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a clinical syndrome defined most typically by transient systolic dysfunction and dilatation of the apex of the left ventricle or other regional areas in the documented absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Although more commonly presented in postmenopausal women, there are reports in the literature of TTS during the peripartum and postpartum periods. Early TTS diagnosis in pregnancy is of great importance in improving both maternal and fetal mortality. Although TTS involves many pathogenetic pathways, the imbalance between declining estrogen and arising sympathetic nervous system tone plays an important role. This review aims to provide recent published evidence of TTS in pregnancy and delve into the epidemiology of TTS in pregnancy, the pathophysiological mechanisms involved, the prognosis of TTS for the mother and the fetus, and its therapeutic multi-disciplinary management.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound elevates blood pressure for shock

Fluid replacement is the primary treatment for life-threatening shock but is challenging in harsh environments. This study explores low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) as a resuscitation strategy. Cervical LIPUS stimulation effectively elevated blood pressure in shocked rats. It also improved cerebral and multiorgan perfusion. Mechanistically, LIPUS activated pathways related to sympathetic nerve excitation and vascular smooth muscle contraction, increasing plasma catecholamines and stimulating blood pressure-regulating neural nuclei. Partial sympathetic nerve transection reduced LIPUS efficacy, while complete inhibition of these nuclei abolished the response. Preliminary clinical trials demonstrated LIPUS's ability to raise blood pressure in shock patients. The findings suggest that LIPUS enhances sympathetic nerve activity and activates blood pressure-regulating nuclei, offering a noninvasive, neuromodulation-based approach to shock treatment. This method holds potential for improving blood pressure and organ perfusion in shock patients, especially in resource-limited environments.

Surgical versus percutaneous closure of post-infarction ventricular septal rupture; review of literature and single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Post-infarction ventricular septal rupture (PIVSR) is a rare mechanical complication, characterized by a dismal prognosis. Despite the widespread timely reperfusion and recent advances in management, short-term mortality of PIVSR remains high. The complexity of the hemodynamic profile, confusing evidence for the optimal timing for intervention, and lack of head-to-head trials, all make the management of such a condition very challenging.

METHODS

The database of a tertiary cardiac center was retrospectively analyzed for PIVSR cases through the period from April 2015 to April 2023. Clinical, echocardiographic, and interventional data were explored. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality that was contrasted for surgical versus percutaneous repair.

RESULTS

A total of 32 patients with PIVSR were identified. The median age was 65 years, 50% were males, 56% had diabetes, and 50% had cardiogenic shock (CS) on presentation, with a median time of 3 days from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to PIVSR diagnosis. The median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 38%. Culprit vessel patency was acutely restored in 26 patients (81%), while intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was inserted in 25 (78%). Upfront insertion of IABP (in the absence of CS) showed a trend towards improved survival (43% vs. 9%). PIVSR was surgically repaired in 15 patients (47%), while 9 (28%) underwent percutaneous device closure, with no significant difference in outcomes and with a median time to intervention of 21 days for both groups. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 44%. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was a significant predictor for 30-day mortality (odds ratio 7.5, 95%CI: 1.3 - 43.7, p = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

PIVSR still carries a grave prognosis. Early surgical or percutaneous intervention seems associated with higher mortality, while upfront insertion of IABP for a safe deferral of repair beyond the acute phase may lead to better outcomes. Larger randomized studies are required to dictate the best management.

Association of Hypokalemia With Mortality in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Potassium imbalance, particularly hypokalemia, is a critical risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). However, the association between hypokalemia and mortality is unclear.

METHODS

For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed the association between hypokalemia and mortality in patients undergoing HD. We performed a systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus) to identify relevant studies published up to April 2024. Eligible studies were prospective or retrospective cohort studies reporting hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality in association with the presence of hypokalemia among patients undergoing HD. We used the assessed study Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess quality of the selected studies.

RESULTS

We carried out both qualitative and quantitative assessments. For the meta-analysis, we pooled the HRs for all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. The overall pooled HR for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were 1.34 (95% CI, 1.15, 1.55) and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.12, 1.98), respectively, indicating significant associations between hypokalemia and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing HD. Additionally, we conducted subgroup analyses based on study design, geographical location, type of dialysis, and serum potassium levels.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide robust evidence of a significant association between hypokalemia and mortality in patients undergoing HD. Early detection and proactive management of hypokalemia are crucial for improving outcomes and reducing mortality risk in these patients.

Device-related adverse events and flow capacity of percutaneous ventricular assist devices

AIMS

Complication management is crucial in patients receiving mechanical circulatory devices. However, there are limited data on the association between the risks of complications and device type in patients with percutaneous ventricular assist devices (PVAD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Japanese registry for PVAD (J-PVAD) is a nationwide ongoing registry that enrols consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock treated with PVAD. We analysed 5717 patients in the J-PVAD from 1 February 2020 to 31 December 2022, to compare the incident risks of device-related problems and all-cause mortality within 30 days after PVAD introduction based on flow capacities of first-line PVAD (low: Impella 2.5/CP, n = 5375; high: Impella 5.0/5.5, n = 342). The overall incidence of major device-related problems, including haemolysis, major bleeding, kidney injury, sepsis, and pump stop, was 13%, 21%, 7%, 3%, and 1%, respectively. The all-cause mortality rate was 34%. The incident risks of haemolysis [hazard ratio (HR) 0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24-0.58], kidney injury (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.18-0.57), and pump stop (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.16-0.91) were lower in patients with high-flow PVAD compared with those with low-flow PVAD. The risks of major bleeding or sepsis did not differ significantly between groups. The risk of all-cause mortality was lower in patients with high-flow PVAD compared with those with low-flow PVAD (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65-0.96).

CONCLUSION

Compared with those with low-flow PVAD, patients with high-flow PVAD had lower incident risks of device-related problems, including haemolysis, kidney injury, and pump stop, as well as lower risk of all-cause mortality.

Higher vasoactive usage despite hemodynamic goals is associated with higher mortality in acute myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock

Background

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a severe complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with high mortality. Few studies have examined the selection and subsequent choice of vasoactive agents in CS. This study investigates the impact of vasoactive drug use and in-hospital outcomes among AMI-CS.

Materials and methods

A total of 309 patients who underwent pulmonary artery catheterization between 2006 and 2021 were categorized by the number of vasoactive drugs used (0-1, 2, or >2). Clinical and 24 h hemodynamic data were analyzed. Primary outcomes explored the correlation between vasoactive use and in-hospital mortality. Secondary analyses assessed hemodynamic changes and estimated mortality probabilities at different intervals using logistic regression.

Results

In total, 57 patients received 0-1, 76 received 2, and 176 received >2 vasoactive drugs. The median age was 61 years; most were men (82%), and 82.8% had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. End-organ function showed progressive deterioration with escalating vasoactive use. Survival analysis revealed an increased mortality in the >2 vasoactive group [HRadj = 4.62 (2.07-10.32)], achieving ≥5/6 hemodynamic goals that did not mitigate mortality [HRadj = 7.18 (1.59-32.39)]. Subgroup analyses within patients who reached different hemodynamic goals reiterated adverse outcomes associated with >2 vasoactives (P < 0.05). Further analysis showed that vasopressin was associated with the highest mortality in a time-dependent fashion [HRDay1, 8.77 (6.04-12.75) → HRDay30, 1.23 (0.8-1.87)], and levosimendan had similar behavior [HRDay1, 2.67 (1.82-3.91) → HRDay30, 0.66 (0.42-1.03)].

Conclusions

A significant association between the number of vasoactives and in-hospital mortality was found in AMI-CS, which requires future long-term studies to explore the role of vasoactive drug therapies and early temporary mechanical circulatory support.

The Heart of Transformation: Exploring Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Disease

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in medicine and healthcare has been extensively explored across various areas. AI and ML can revolutionize cardiovascular disease management by significantly enhancing diagnostic accuracy, disease prediction, workflow optimization, and resource utilization. This review summarizes current advancements in AI and ML concerning cardiovascular disease, including their clinical investigation and use in primary cardiac imaging techniques, common cardiovascular disease categories, clinical research, patient care, and outcome prediction. We analyze and discuss commonly used AI and ML models, algorithms, and methodologies, highlighting their roles in improving clinical outcomes while addressing current limitations and future clinical applications. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the transformative potential of AI and ML in cardiovascular practice by improving clinical decision making, reducing human error, enhancing patient monitoring and support, and creating more efficient healthcare workflows for complex cardiovascular conditions.

The Impact of Age in Patients Undergoing Impella-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

BACKGROUND

Short-term percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices provide hemodynamic support in cardiogenic shock or during high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

AIMS

To assess the impact of age on the clinical and angiographic characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of all patients undergoing PCI with the Impella MCS.

METHODS

Data on all patients that underwent PCI with an Impella was divided into three groups according to age: < 65, 65 to < 75 years, and ≥ 75 years. In-hospital mortality, stroke, and major bleeding complications were assessed.

RESULTS

Between 2010 and 2018, 245 patients underwent PCI with Impella support. Almost half of all patients were < 65 years old and 32% were ≥ 75 year old. Clinical characteristics varied significantly among the three groups. Almost half of younger patients were in the midst of an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared with 9% of patients ≥ 75 years (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, 57% of younger patients were in cardiogenic shock, compared with 21% of those ≥ 75 years (p = 0.002). In-hospital mortality was highest in the 65 to < 75 years group (17%) compared with 9% and 10% in the < 65 and ≥ 75-year-olds groups, respectively. Major bleeding complications were not significantly different among the three age groups. Multivariable analysis for in-hospital mortality showed that STEMI on presentation and ages 65 to < 75 years compared to those < 65 years were associated with an increased odds of in-hospital death.

CONCLUSION

Clinical characteristics and indications for Impella MCS use in patients undergoing PCI varied significantly according to age. However, in-hospital outcomes were not significantly different among the three groups.

In-Hospital Mortality Predictors in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock Using Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

BACKGROUND

Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) have a high risk of death. New types of mechanical devices have limited availability in Brazil. The use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), although new guidelines downgraded its recommendation, is the most widely used mechanical support strategy. However, little is known about the clinical predictors of its effectiveness in reducing mortality in this group of patients.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the predictors of IABP effectiveness in reducing in-hospital mortality in patients with STEMI and CS.

METHODS

This observational, retrospective, descriptive, single-center study involved 98 patients with STEMI and CS treated with IABP, in an intensive care unit. We compared patients who survived (42 men and 13 women) and those did not (30 men and 13 women) using clinical predictors of IABP effectiveness in reducing in-hospital death, considering a statistical significance level of 5% (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

The use of IABP in patients less than 1 day after infarction (odds ratio [OR]: 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02 to 0.85; p = 0.034) was a factor that increased the risk of in-hospital death. Younger age (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.16; p = 0.010) and dyslipidemia (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.81; p = 0.024) were predictors of reduced in-hospital mortality. For each additional year of age, the risk of death increased 1.07-fold.

CONCLUSION

In patients with STEMI and CS, the use of IABP reduced in-hospital mortality when it was used for 2 or more days, as well as in younger patients and those with dyslipidemia. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Early Enteral Nutrition May Improve Survival in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock

Background and Aim: International guidelines recommend early enteral nutrition (EEN) for critically ill patients. However, evidence supporting the optimal timing of EN in patients diagnosed with cardiogenic shock (CS) is lacking. As such, this study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and safety of EEN versus delayed EN in patients diagnosed with CS. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV version 2.2 database. Patients who received EN within 2 days of admission were assigned to the EEN group. A 1:1 propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was performed to control for bias in baseline characteristics and ensure the reliability of the results. To exclude the impact of confounders, an adjusted proportional hazards regression model was used to verify the independence between EEN and survival outcomes. Results: Of 1846 potentially eligible patients, 1398 received EEN and 448 received delayed EN. After 1:1 PSM, 818 patients were assigned to the EEN (n = 409) and delayed EN (n = 409) groups. Regarding cumulative survival, patients with CS receiving EEN experienced better 30-, 90-, and 180-day survival outcomes than the delayed EN group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.803 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.647-0.998], p=0.045; HR 0.729 [95% CI 0.599-0.889], p=0.001; and HR 0.778 [95% CI 0.644-0.938], p=0.008, respectively). After adjusting for confounders, EEN was found to be independently associated with survival outcomes. Moreover, EEN did not increase the risk(s) for ileus, aspiration pneumonia, or gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients who received delayed EN experienced longer hospital stays than those receiving EEN (17 days [interquartile range [IQR] 10-25] versus 12 days [IQR 7-19 days], respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusion: EEN was not associated with harm, but rather with improved survival outcomes in patients diagnosed with CS. Further studies are required to verify these findings.

Emerging Modalities for Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support in Cardiogenic Shock

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life-threatening medical condition that requires prompt recognition and treatment. The use of standardized CS criteria, such as the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions criteria, can categorize patients and guide therapeutic strategies. Temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have become valuable tools in the treatment of CS, as they can provide cardiovascular support as a bridge to recovery, cardiac surgery, or advanced therapies such as cardiac transplant or durable ventricular assist devices. The use of MCS should be tailored to each individual patient, focused on a stepwise escalation of circulatory support to support both end-organ perfusion and myocardial recovery. As newer MCS devices reduce myocardial oxygen demand without increasing ischemia, the possibility of recovery is optimized. In this review, we discuss the different modalities of MCS focusing on the mechanism of support and the advantages and disadvantages of each device.

Predictive models of in-hospital deterioration of Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention shock stage in patients with acute myocardial infarction initially presenting with stable hemodynamic condition

Background

The Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) has defined 5 stages of cardiogenic shock (CS). In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who initially present in stable hemodynamic condition (SCAI CS stage: A or B), CS stages could deteriorate despite therapeutic management. However, deterioration of SCAI CS stages after AMI remains to be fully characterized. Therefore, the current study sought to investigate the frequency and clinical characteristics about deterioration of SCAI CS stages after AMI.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 347 patients in a derivation cohort and 163 patients in a validation cohort who had AMI (SCAI shock stage upon arrival: A/B) and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan (enrolment period of study subjects: 2019.07.01-2022.09.30). Deterioration of CS (D-CS) was defined as SCAI shock stage C-E after PCI. Clinical characteristics and in-hospital mortality were compared according to D-CS status. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for in-hospital mortality were calculated with multivariate Cox proportional hazards models that included variables with P<0.10 in univariate models. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of D-CS.

Results

D-CS occurred in 17.3% (60/347) of the derivation cohort. Patients with D-CS had lower systolic blood pressure (BP) (P<0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (P<0.001) upon arrival with a higher proportion of initial Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade flow 0 or 1 (P=0.002). During hospitalization (13.9±9.4 days), D-CS was associated with higher in-hospital mortality [adjusted HR, 12.95; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46-114.97; P=0.02]. Initial systolic BP, LVEF, and TIMI grade flow 0 or 1 independently predicted D-CS. The D-CS risk score including these variables satisfactorily predicted D-CS [area under the curve (AUC), 0.749; 95% CI: 0.651-0.848] and in-hospital mortality (AUC, 0.961; 95% CI: 0.914-1.000) in the validation cohort.

Conclusions

D-CS occurred in 17.3% of patients with AMI initially presenting in stable condition and increased the risk of in-hospital mortality. Our D-CS risk score (initial systolic BP, LVEF, and TIMI grade flow) could be helpful to predict D-CS.

Treatment of Cardiogenic Shock: Inotropes, Vasopressors and Machines

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with significant mortality. Advances in pharmacological therapies and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have markedly improved the therapeutic approach to CS, though treatment efficacy and safety vary. The recent DanGer shock trial showed a significant reduction in 6-month mortality for CS patients due to acute myocardial infarction. Future randomised trials should evaluate a phenotype-guided pharmaco-MCS approach to the management of CS. This paper summarises contemporary pharmacological and MCS treatments for patients with CS.

Closed-Loop Automated Control System of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Left Ventricular Assist Device Support in Cardiogenic Shock

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) benefits patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) but can increase left ventricular afterload and exacerbate pulmonary edema. Adding a percutaneous left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to VA-ECMO can optimize the hemodynamics. Because managing VA-ECMO and LVAD simultaneously is complex and labor-intensive, we developed a closed-loop automated control system for VA-ECMO and LVAD. Based on the circulatory equilibrium framework, this system automatically adjusts VA-ECMO and LVAD flows and cardiovascular drug and fluid dosages to achieve target arterial pressure (AP, 70 mm Hg), left atrial pressure (PLA, 14 mm Hg), and total systemic flow (Ftotal, 120-140 ml/min/kg). In seven anesthetized dogs with CS, VA-ECMO significantly increased AP and PLA from 24 (23-27) to 71 (63-77) mm Hg and 20.1 (16.3-22.1) to 43.0 (25.7-51.4) mm Hg, respectively. Upon system activation, PLA was promptly reduced. At 60 min postactivation, the system-controlled AP to 69 (65-74) mm Hg, PLA to 12.5 (12.0-13.4) mm Hg, and Ftotal to 117 (114-132) ml/min/kg while adjusting VA-ECMO flow to 59 (12-60) ml/min/kg, LVAD flow to 68 (54-78) ml/min/kg, and cardiovascular drug and fluid dosages. This system automatically optimizes VA-ECMO and LVAD hemodynamics, making it an attractive tool for rescuing patients with CS.

Cardiogenic Shock: Focus on Non-Cardiac Biomarkers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To examine the evolving multifaceted nature of cardiogenic shock (CS) in the context of non-cardiac biomarkers that may improve CS management and risk stratification.

RECENT FINDINGS

There are increasing data highlighting the role of lactate, glucose, and other markers of inflammation and end-organ dysfunction in CS. These biomarkers provide a more comprehensive understanding of the concurrent hemo-metabolic and cellular disturbances observed in CS and offer insights beyond standard structural and functional cardiac assessments. Non-cardiac biomarkers both refine the diagnostic accuracy and improve the prognostic assessments in CS. Further studies revolving around novel biomarkers are warranted to support more targeted and effective therapeutic and management interventions in these high-risk patients.

Relaxin agonists under preclinical and early clinical investigation for the treatment of heart failure

INTRODUCTION

Acute failure is a critical condition, encompassed by the sudden or progressive onset of symptoms or signs of congestion. The treatment strategies available are mainly supportive and do not improve mortality or long-term outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for alternative novel treatment strategies. In this narrative review, we explore the role of relaxin agonist as a potential therapeutic strategy in acute heart failure.

AREAS COVERED

We aim to provide an overview of the evidence of preclinical and clinical studies on relaxin as a treatment strategy for acute heart failure. Papers collected in this review are from original research and systematic reviews which have been filtered following Medline and Cochrane Library searches.

EXPERT OPINION

Relaxin has shown great potential in both preclinical and clinical studies due to its antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory effect on the heart. However, there has been mixed evidence from clinical trials involving relaxin which could be due to patient groups, investigation sites, trial design, and chance. Further studies should focus on developing biomarkers to identify specific population groups who are most likely to benefit from relaxin.

A profile of the impella 5.5 for the clinical management of cardiogenic shock and a review of the current indications for use and future directions

INTRODUCTION

The Impella 5.5 device is a surgically inserted, trans-valvular, microaxial flow device capable of providing 5.5 L/min of continuous, antegrade flow from the left ventricle (LV) to the aorta. The ability of the Impella 5.5 to fully pressure and volume unload the dysfunctional LV while allowing for mobilization and rehabilitation has rapidly expanded its use. Clinical use scenarios include escalation of support for acute myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock (AMICS), transition from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to mobile support, bridge to transplantation or durable MCS in acute decompensated heart failure, or perioperative use in post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS).

AREAS COVERED

This review provides a profile of the Impella 5.5 device, summarizes the current literature surrounding clinical applications, reviews active and upcoming clinical trials, and projects future applications for the device through an expert review.

EXPERT OPINION

The development of the Impella 5.5 has allowed for monitoring of left-heart recovery, optimizing right ventricular function, and rehabilitating patients to meet bridging endpoints. The 2018 heart transplant allocation system modifications have expanded the use of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) on the transplant waitlist, increasing the number of patients transplanted on support. With increased safety and durability, an expanding frontier is used in perioperative support for PCCS in high-risk cardiac surgery.

Prevalence and risk factors for in-hospital mortality of adult patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To synthesize quantitative research findings on the prevalence and risk factors for in-hospital mortality of patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted for the period from May 2008 to December 2023 by searching the five electronic databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane library. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The meta-analysis estimated the pooled odds ratio or standard mean difference and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

A total of twenty-five studies with 10,409 patients were included in the analysis. The overall in-hospital mortality of patients on VA-ECMO was 56.7 %. In the subgroup analysis, in-hospital mortality of VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest was 49.2 % and 75.2 %, respectively. The number of significant factors associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality in the pre-ECMO period (age, body weight, creatinine, chronic kidney disease, pH, and lactic acid) was greater than that in the intra- and post-ECMO periods. Renal replacement, bleeding, and lower limb ischemia were the most significant risk factors for in-hospital mortality in patients receiving VA-ECMO.

CONCLUSION

Early detection of the identified risk factors can contribute to reducing in-hospital mortality in patients on VA-ECMO. Intensive care unit nurses should provide timely and appropriate care before, during, and after VA-ECMO.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Intensive care unit nurses should be knowledgeable about factors associated with the in-hospital mortality of patients on VA-ECMO to improve outcomes. The present findings may contribute to developing guidelines for reducing in-hospital mortality among patients considering ECMO.

Necrotizing fasciitis resembled acute coronary syndrome: A case report

Chest pain is a frequent complaint in emergency departments, with various differential diagnoses from benign to life-threatening. Hereby, we described a 60-year-old man presented with chest pain and hypotension who initially misdiagnosed as acute coronary syndrome, but was ultimately diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. This case highlights the importance of considering rare causes of chest pain.

MI2AMI-CS: A meta-analysis comparing Impella and IABP outcomes in Acute Myocardial Infarction-related Cardiogenic Shock

BACKGROUND

Cardiogenic Shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) poses a significant mortality risk, suggesting the opportunity to implement effective mechanical circulatory support strategies. The comparative efficacy of Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) and Impella in managing CS-AMI remains a subject of investigation.

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of Impella and IABP in managing CS-AMI, exploring mortality and adverse events.

METHODS

A systematic search of major databases from inception to November 2023 identified eight studies, comprising 10,628 patients, comparing Impella and IABP in CS-AMI. Retrospective studies (preferably Propensity-matched) and Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) were included.

RESULTS

Impella use exhibited significantly higher mortality (57% vs. 46%; OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.29-1.60; p < 0.001) and major bleeding (30% vs 15%; OR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.67-5.13; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In unselected CS-AMI patients, Impella usage is associated with significantly higher mortality and major bleeding.

Pharmacotherapy of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and the pharmacist's role, part 2: Complications, postrevascularization care, and quality improvement

DISCLAIMER

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

PURPOSE

Key pharmacotherapeutic modalities and considerations for the patient with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) across the later phases of inpatient care are reviewed.

SUMMARY

Published descriptions and validation of clinical pharmacist roles specific to the acute management of STEMI are limited. This high-risk period from presentation through revascularization, stabilization, and hospital discharge involves complex pharmacotherapeutic decision points, many operational medication needs, and multiple layers of quality oversight. A companion article reviewed STEMI pharmacotherapy from emergency department presentation through revascularization. Herein we complete the pharmacotherapy review for the STEMI patient across the inpatient phases of care, including the management of peri-infarction complications with vasoactive and antiarrhythmic agents, considerations for postrevascularization antithrombotics, and assessments of supportive therapies and secondary prevention. Key guideline recommendations and literature developments are summarized from the clinical pharmacist's perspective alongside suggested pharmacist roles and responsibilities. Considerations for successful hospital discharge after STEMI and pharmacist involvement in associated institutional quality improvement efforts are also provided. We aim to support inpatient pharmacy departments in advancing clinical services for this critical patient population and call for further research delineating pharmacists' impact on patient and institutional STEMI outcomes.

Differential Effects of Pharmacologic and Mechanical Support on Right-Left Ventricular Coupling

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous ventricular assist devices are increasingly relied on to maintain perfusion for cardiogenic shock patients. Optimal medical management strategies however remain uncertain from limited understanding of interventricular effects. This study analyzed the effects of pharmacologic and left-sided mechanical support on right ventricular function.

METHODS

A porcine model was developed to assess biventricular function during bolus pharmacologic administration before and after left-sided percutaneous ventricular assist and in cardiogenic shock.

RESULTS

The presence of mechanical support increased right ventricular load and stress with respect to the left ventricle. This shifted and exaggerated the relative effects of commonly used vasoactive agents. Furthermore, induction of cardiogenic shock led to differential pulmonary vascular and right ventricular responses.

CONCLUSIONS

Left ventricular ischemia and mechanical support altered interventricular coupling. Resulting impacts of pharmacologic agents indicate differential right heart responses and sensitivity to treatments and the need for further study to optimize biventricular function in shock patients.

Bupropion Toxicity Causing Refractory Cardiogenic Shock Successfully Treated With Mechanical Circulatory Support: A Case Report

Bupropion is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor that is commonly used as an antidepressant and for smoking cessation. Bupropion overdose can lead to serious side effects which include seizures, status epilepticus, and fatal arrhythmias. Managing bupropion toxicity is challenging as there is no effective antidote and treatment is largely supportive. In this article, we present a case of bupropion toxicity causing profound cardiogenic shock which was treated successfully with mechanical circulatory support.

Cardiac Failure and Cardiogenic Shock: Insights Into Pathophysiology, Classification, and Hemodynamic Assessment

Heart failure is defined as increased intracardiac pressures, either alone or combined with reduced cardiac output. Clinically, it is presented with signs and symptoms of congestion and compensated perfusion. Cardiogenic shock, on the other hand, is the spectrum of hemodynamic disturbances that lead to hypoperfusion or need for circulatory support, due to cardiac disease. Both entities affect millions of people worldwide, have a dismal prognosis, and constitute a severe socioeconomic burden. Heart failure can be the aftermath of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, arrhythmias, or cardiomyopathies. It undergoes multiple classifications, facilitating its investigation and treatment. The pathogenetic mechanisms differ in various types of heart failure, regarding the affected ventricles, the duration of symptoms, and their primary/secondary onset. These mechanisms reflect the complex interactions between cardiopulmonary, vascular, and hepatorenal systems. Acute deterioration of cardiac function can lead to cardiogenic shock. Myocardial infarction accounts for 81% of such cases. Healthy lifestyle and timely management of coronary artery disease are paramount, as they can prevent this life-threatening situation and reduce mortality and the economic burden for healthcare systems. Irrespective of the etiology, cardiogenic shock is interpreted using the pressure-volume loop. This can be modified for each ventricle, the underlying pathophysiology, and the time since symptoms' onset. It therefore provides valuable information about the native circulation and the expected alterations under mechanical or pharmacological support, facilitating the decision-making progress. In 2019, given the phenotypical heterogeneity of cardiogenic shock, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions introduced a classification system. According to this, patients are stratified in five stages proportionally to the severity of their condition. Aside from this classification, various biochemical, imaging, and hemodynamic monitoring indices are used to assess coagulation pathway and cardiac, hepatorenal, and pulmonary function, enabling the heart team to tailor therapy. Additionally, the prognostication progress is facilitated by scores, such as the Observatoire Regional Breton sur l'Infarctus (ORBI) score, the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) SHOCK-II score, and the CardShock score, indicating suitable escalation or de-escalation strategies. Despite the current progress, there are several areas of advancement regarding the role of vasoactive drugs in cardiogenic shock, revascularization options, mechanical ventilation patterns, hypothermia treatment, and mechanical circulatory support protocols.

The use of perioperative Impella 5.5 support in high-risk cardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Although the Impella device has an established role in high-risk percutaneous intervention and cardiogenic shock, its role in open cardiac surgery remains unclear. We undertook this study to better understand the role of Impella support in cardiac surgical intervention.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery with surgically placed Impella 5.5 device support from October 2020 through June 2023. Patient charts were identified and systematically reviewed for relevant information. The primary outcome for this study was patient survival to discharge. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative survival, 30-day survival and 1-year survival.

Results

From 2020-2023, ten patients underwent open cardiac surgery with Impella 5.5 support. Five patients were male and the median age was 56.5 years [interquartile range (IQR), 52-63.8 years]. Three patients (30%) presented for isolated revascularization, 3 patients (30%) presented for single valve surgical intervention, 3 patients (30%) presented for revascularization and valve intervention, and 1 patient (10%) presented for multivalve intervention. The median ejection fraction (EF) of patients was 25% (IQR, 21.25-32.5%), the median Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score was 4.32% (IQR, 1.73-11.06%). Of the patients, 40% underwent axillary cannulation while 60% had central cannulation. Intraoperative survival was 100%, survival to discharge was 90% and 30-day survival was 80%.

Conclusions

Our study suggests the use of surgical Impella in high-risk cardiac surgical patients is associated with acceptable survival regardless of site or timing of cannulation. However, Impella usage is associated with significant morbidity. Further investigation is warranted to better understand which patients benefit perioperative Impella support.

Blood Urea Nitrogen to Left Ventricular Ejection Ratio as a Predictor of Short-Term Outcome in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock

INTRODUCTION

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is the most critical complication after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with mortality above 50%. Both blood urea nitrogen and left ventricular ejection fraction were important prognostic indicators. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of admission blood urea nitrogen to left ventricular ejection fraction ratio (BUNLVEFr) in patients with AMI complicated by CS (AMI-CS).

METHODS

268 consecutive patients with AMI-CS were divided into two groups according to the admission BUNLVEFr cut-off value determined by Youden index. The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality and the secondary endpoint was the composite events of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Cox proportional hazard models were performed to analyze the association of BUNLVEFr with the outcome.

RESULTS

The optimal cut-off value of BUNLVEFr is 16.63. The 30-day all-cause mortality and MACEs in patients with BUNLVEFr≥16.63 was significantly higher than in patients with BUNLVEFr<16.63 (30-day all-cause mortality: 66.2% vs. 17.1%, p < 0.001; 30-day MACEs: 80.0% vs. 48.0%, p < 0.001). After multivariable adjustment, BUNLVEFr≥16.63 remained an independent predictor for higher risk of 30-day all-cause mortality (HR = 3.553, 95% CI: 2.125-5.941, p < 0.001) and MACEs (HR = 2.026, 95% CI: 1.456-2.820, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses found that the effect of BUNLVEFr was consistent in different subgroups (all p-interaction>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The admission BUNLVEFr provided important prognostic information for AMI-CS patients.

Investigation of outcomes following transcatheter edge to edge repair of the mitral valve versus medical management alone in patients with cardiogenic shock and mitral regurgitation

Study objective

Assessing if Transcatheter Edge to Edge Repair (TEER) with Mitraclip™ in patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and cardiogenic shock (CS) improves outcomes compared to medical management alone.

Design

A single-center, retrospective study was performed in an urban tertiary referral center.

Setting

Rush University Medical Center, United States.

Participants

Adult patients presenting with CS and moderate to severe MR between 2012 and 2021 were included.

Interventions

Undergoing Mitral TEER with Mitraclip versus medical management alone.

Main outcome measures

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as cardiovascular death, heart failure admission, stroke, and myocardial infarction assessed at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year. The secondary outcome was a change in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification at 30 days and 6 months.

Results

There were 28 patients included in the medical management and 33 in the mitral valve TEER groups. There was a decreased MACE in the intervention group at 30 days (24.2 % vs. 46.4 %, p ≤0.001) and 6 months (27 % vs. 75 %, p = 0.002), though not at 1 year (29.4 % vs. 41.7 %, p = 0.42). At 30 days, more patients in the mitral valve TEER group improved to NYHA classes I/II compared to medical management alone (10 [35.7 %] vs. 16 [50 %], p = 0.043). There were no differences in NYHA classes I/II at 6 months (7 [43.7 %] vs. 13 [54.2 %], p = 0.63).

Conclusion

Mitral valve TEER using the Mitraclip™ system improves mid-term cardiovascular compared to medical management alone in patients with CS but does not improve mortality.

Cardiogenic shock-sex-specific risk factors and outcome differences

Cardiogenic shock (CS) remains a high-mortality condition despite technological and therapeutic advances. One key to potentially improving CS prognosis is understanding patient heterogeneity and which patients may benefit most from different treatment options, a key element of which is sex differences. While cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have historically been considered a male-dominant condition, the field is increasingly aware that females are also a substantial portion of the patient population. While estrogen has been implicated in protective roles against CVD and tissue hypoxia, its role in CS remains unclear. Clinically, female CS patients tend to be older, have more severe comorbidities and are more likely to have non-acute myocardial infarction etiologies with preserved ejection fractions. Female CS patients are more likely to receive pharmacotherapy while less likely to receive mechanical circulatory support. There is increased short-term mortality in females, although long-term mortality is similar between the sexes. More sex-specific and age-stratified research needs to be done to fully understand the relevant pathophysiological differences in CS, to better recognize and manage CS patients and reduce its mortality.

Treatment of Cardiogenic Shock and Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation: Pulling Out All the Stops

We report the case of a 62-year-old woman who presented with an acute inferior wall myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock and refractory ventricular fibrillation. Following prolonged resuscitation in the emergency room, she was transferred to the cardiac catheterization laboratory where, as a first step, mechanical circulatory support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was established. Next, a right heart catheterization study was performed, followed by coronary angiography and angioplasty of the infarct-related artery. Promptly on transfer to the intensive care unit, a hypothermia protocol was initiated. By postprocedure day 1, the patient's ventricular fibrillation had resolved, mean arterial pressure was >65 mm Hg, and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure was 10 mm Hg. Echocardiography demonstrated complete recovery of left ventricular systolic function. Lactate levels had fallen from 11.0 mmol/L (pre-ECMO) to 1.2 mmol/L. The patient was successfully weaned off pressor and ECMO support within 24 hours of the percutaneous coronary intervention procedure. She was extubated on postprocedure day 2 and discharged home on day 6. At 26-month follow-up, she remains well, angina free, neurologically intact, and without evidence of heart failure. The treatment algorithm used in this case should be considered favorably in the management of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock and refractory ventricular fibrillation.

Rest, replace, and recover: TandemHeart to transcatheter aortic valve replacement-a case report

Background

Severe aortic stenosis (AS) can present insidiously, with the end stages resulting in significant valvular-induced cardiomyopathy and can lead to cardiogenic shock (CS). Such cases result in a myriad of complex manifestations and are often associated with a poor prognosis. These patients require emergent cardiac evaluation and valvular intervention. Unfortunately, the immediate nature of the CS provides little time for a detailed valvular evaluation. Possible management involves use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) prior to urgent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Case summary

The patient was a 70-year-old female who developed refractory CS, and acute decompensated heart failure was complicated by AV block secondary to severe AS. Due to progressively worsening haemodynamics, the need for MCS for cardiovascular support and eventual valve replacement resulted in the decision to pursue TandemHeart® (TH; LivaNova Inc, Pittsburgh, PA, USA). We discuss the novel implementation of the TH as a means of bridging to TAVR.

Discussion

TandemHeart system provides the benefits of improving haemodynamic support in CS while allowing unencumbered access to the stenotic valve for balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) or TAVR. In our evaluation, we discuss the utilization and benefits associated with TH to TAVR in allowing for cardiac rest, replacement of the valve, and recovery of left ventricular function.

Myocardial Recovery in the Systemic Context: A Philosophic Shift for the Heart Failure Subspecialty to Optimize Patient Care

Heart failure poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems and society at large, mainly due to its increasing prevalence among the aging population and its association with frequent hospitalizations with high mortality rates. At its core, heart failure management seeks to emphasize myocardial recovery across the spectrum of disease, from acute cardiogenic shock to ambulatory heart failure, with care ranging from consideration of mechanical circulatory support to medication optimization. In this review, we propose a definition of "recovery" that extends beyond the restoration of normal myocardial dynamics to the entire human organism, ultimately improving functional capacity and clinical outcomes. Prioritizing this more holistic definition of "recovery" allows a broader representation of the spectrum of disease and corresponding management that falls under the "heart failure" umbrella. In so doing, a more synchronized delivery of care across settings and disciplines may be feasible for the modern patient living with heart failure.

Management of Post-cardiotomy Shock

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery experience significant physiologic derangements that place them at risk for multiple shock phenotypes. Any combination of cardiogenic, obstructive, hemorrhagic, or vasoplegic shock occurs commonly in post-cardiotomy patients. The approach to the diagnosis and management of these shock states has many facets that are distinct compared to non-surgical cardiac intensive care unit patients. Additionally, the approach to and associated outcomes of cardiac arrest in the post-cardiotomy population are uniquely characterized by emergent bedside resternotomy if the circulation is not immediately restored. This review focuses on the unique aspects of the diagnosis and management of post-cardiotomy shock.

Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular volumes: a comparison of different methods in athletes

BACKGROUND

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) is considered the gold standard for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function. However, discrepancies have been reported in the literature between LV volumes assessed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cMRI. The objective of this study was to analyze the differences in LV volumes between different echocardiographic techniques and cMRI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 64 male athletes (21.1 ± 4.9 years), LV volumes were measured by TTE using the following methods: Doppler echocardiography, anatomical M-Mode, biplane/triplane planimetry and 3D volumetry. In addition, LV end-diastolic (LVEDV), end-systolic (LVESV), and stroke volumes (LVSV) were assessed in 11 athletes by both TTE and cMRI. There was no significant difference between LVEDV and LVESV determined by biplane/triplane planimetry and 3D volumetry. LVEDV and LVESV measured by M-Mode were significantly lower compared to 3D volumetry. LVSV determined by Doppler with 3D planimetry of LV outflow tract was significantly higher than 2D planimetry and 3D volumetry, whereas none of the planimetric or volumetric methods for determining LVSV differed significantly. There were no significant differences for LVEDV, LVESV, LVSV and LVEF between cMRI and TTE determined by biplane planimetry in the subgroup of 11 athletes.

CONCLUSION

The choice of echocardiographic method used has an impact on LVSV in athletes, so the LVSV should always be checked for plausibility. The same echocardiographic method should be used to assess LVSV at follow-ups to ensure good comparability. The data suggest that biplane LV planimetry by TTE is not inferior to cMRI.

Impact of symptom duration and mechanical circulatory support on prognosis in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Mortality rates in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMICS) remain high despite advancements in AMI care. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of prehospital symptom duration on the prognosis of AMICS patients and those receiving mechanical circulatory support (MCS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study with data registered in the Netherlands Heart Registration. A total of 1,363 patients with AMICS who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention between 2017 and 2021 were included. Patients presenting after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were excluded. Most patients were male (68%), with a median age of 69 years (IQR 61-77), predominantly presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (86%). The overall 30-day mortality was 32%. Longer prehospital symptom duration was associated with a higher 30-day mortality with the following rates: < 3 h, 26%; 3-6 h, 29%; 6-24 h, 36%; ≥ 24 h, 46%; p < 0.001. In a subpopulation of AMICS patients with MCS (n = 332, 24%), symptom duration of > 24 h was associated with significantly higher mortality compared to symptom duration of < 24 h (59% vs 45%, p = 0.029). Multivariate analysis identified > 24 h symptom duration, age and in-hospital cardiac arrest as predictors of 30-day mortality in MCS patients.

CONCLUSION

Prolonged prehospital symptom duration was associated with significantly increased 30-day mortality in patients presenting with AMICS. In AMICS patients treated with MCS, a symptom duration of > 24 h was an independent predictor of poor survival. These results emphasise the critical role of early recognition and intervention in the prognosis of AMICS patients.

Electrocardiographic patterns and clinical outcomes of acute coronary syndrome cardiogenic shock in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention - A propensity score analysis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the influence of presenting electrocardiographic (ECG) changes on prognosis in acute coronary syndrome cardiogenic shock (ACS-CS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angiography (PCI).

BACKGROUND

The effect of initial ECG changes such as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) versus non-STEMI among patients ACS-CS on prognosis remains unclear.

METHODS

We analysed data from consecutive patients with ACS-CS enrolled in the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes registry between 2014 and 2020. Inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis (IPTW) was used to assess the effect of ECG changes on 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Of 1564 patients with ACS-CS who underwent PCI, 161 had non-STEMI and 1403 had STEMI on ECG. The mean age was 66 ± 13 years, and 74 % (1152) were males. Patients with non-STEMI compared to STEMI were older (70 ± 12 vs 65 ± 13 years), had higher rates of diabetes (34 % vs 21 %), prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (14 % vs 3.3 %), peripheral arterial disease (10.6 % vs 4.1 %, p < 0.01), and lower baseline eGFR (53.8 [37.1, 75.4] vs 65.3 [46.3, 87.8] ml/min/1.73m2), all p ≤ 0.01. Non-STEMI patients were more likely to have a culprit left circumflex artery (29 % vs 20 %) and more often underwent multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (30 % vs 20 %) but had lower rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (21 % vs 39 %), all p ≤ 0.01. Propensity score analysis with IPTW confirmed that non-STEMI ECG was associated with lower odds for 30-day all-cause mortality (OR 0.47 [0.32, 0.69], p < 0.001), and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (OR 0.48 [0.33, 0.70]).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing PCI, Non-STEMI as compared to STEMI on index ECG was associated with approximately half the relative risk of both 30-day mortality and 30-day MACCE and could be a useful variable to integrate in ACS-CS risk scores.

Lactate Monitoring in Intensive Care: A Comprehensive Review of Its Utility and Interpretation

Lactate monitoring is critical in managing critically ill patients in intensive care settings. Elevated lactate levels often signify underlying metabolic disturbances such as tissue hypoxia, anaerobic metabolism, or impaired lactate clearance, which are prevalent in conditions like sepsis, shock, and trauma. Understanding the physiological basis of lactate production and its significance in clinical practice is essential for interpreting its diagnostic and prognostic value. This comprehensive review aims to explore the utility of lactate monitoring across various critical care scenarios. It provides an overview of lactate's metabolic pathways, methods of measurement, and the clinical implications of interpreting lactate levels in different contexts. Additionally, the review discusses current evidence on lactate-guided therapeutic interventions and highlights challenges and limitations to their application. By synthesizing the existing literature and clinical insights, this review aims to enhance the understanding of the role of lactate monitoring in assessing disease severity, guiding treatment strategies, and predicting outcomes in critically ill patients. Ultimately, this review underscores the importance of integrating lactate monitoring into routine clinical practice to optimize patient care and improve clinical outcomes in intensive care settings.

Intra-aortic balloon pump is associated with the lowest whereas Impella with the highest inpatient mortality and complications regardless of severity or hospital types

Impella and intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP) are commonly utilized in patients with cardiogenic shock. However, the effect on mortality remains controversial. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of Impella and IABP on mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock the large Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to study any association between the use of IABP or Impella on outcome. ICD-10 codes for Impella, IABP, and cardiogenic shock for available years 2016-2020 were utilized. A total of 844,020 patients had a diagnosis of cardiogenic shock. A total of 101,870 patients were treated with IABP and 39645 with an Impella. Total inpatient mortality without any device was 34.2% vs only 25.1% with IABP use (OR = 0.65, CI 0.62-0.67) but was highest at 40.7% with Impella utilization (OR = 1.32, CI 1.26-1.39). After adjusting for 47 variables, Impella utilization remained associated with the highest mortality (OR: 1.33, CI 1.25-1.41, p < 0.001), whereas IABP remained associated with the lowest mortality (OR: 0.69, CI 0.66-0.72, p < 0.001). Separating rural vs teaching hospitals revealed similar findings. In patients with cardiogenic shock, the use of Impella was associated with the highest whereas IABP was associated with the lowest in-hospital mortality regardless of comorbid condition.

Isoproterenol improves hemodynamics and right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling after heart transplantation

Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a major cause of early mortality after heart transplantation (HT). Isoproterenol (Iso) has chronotropic, inotropic, and vasodilatory properties, which might improve right ventricle function in this setting. We aimed to investigate the hemodynamic effects of isoproterenol on patients with post-HT RVF. We conducted a 1-yr retrospective observational study including patients receiving isoproterenol (Iso) and dobutamine for early RVF after HT. A comprehensive multiparametric hemodynamic evaluation was performed successively three times: no isoproterenol, low doses: 0.025 µg/kg/min, and high doses: 0.05 µg/kg/min (henceforth, respectively, called no Iso, low Iso, and high Iso). From June 2022 to June 2023, 25 patients, median [interquartile range (IQR) 25-75] age 54 [38-61] yr, were included. Before isoproterenol was introduced, all patients received dobutamine, and 15 (60%) were on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Isoproterenol significantly increased heart rate from 84 [77-99] (no Iso) to 91 [88-106] (low Iso) and 102 [90-122] beats/min (high Iso, P < 0.001). Similarly, cardiac index rose from 2.3 [1.4-3.1] to 2.7 [1.8-3.4] and 3 [1.9-3.7] L/min/m2 (P < 0.001) with a concomitant increase in indexed stroke volume (28 [17-34] to 31 [20-34] and 33 [23-35] mL/m2, P < 0.05). Effective pulmonary arterial elastance and pressures were not modified by isoproterenol. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) tended to decrease from 2.9 [1.4-3.6] to 2.3 [1.3-3.5] wood units (WU), P = 0.06. Right ventricular ejection fraction/systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) evaluating right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling increased after isoproterenol from 0.8 to 0.9 and 1%·mmHg-1 (P = 0.001). In conclusion, in post-HT RVF, isoproterenol exhibits chronotropic and inotropic effects, thereby improving RV-PA coupling and resulting in a clinically relevant increase in the cardiac index.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study offers a detailed and comprehensive hemodynamic investigation at the bedside, illustrating the favorable impact of isoproterenol on right ventricular-pulmonary arterial coupling and global hemodynamics. It elucidates the physiological effects of an underused inotropic strategy in a critical clinical scenario. By enhancing cardiac hemodynamics, isoproterenol has the potential to expedite right ventricular recovery and mitigate primary graft dysfunction, thereby reducing the duration of mechanical support and intensive care unit stay posttransplantation.

In Patients with Cardiogenic Shock, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Is Associated with Very High All-Cause Inpatient Mortality Rate

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock excluding Impella and IABP use. Method: The large Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to study any association between the use of ECMO in adults over the age of 18 and mortality and complications with a diagnosis of cardiogenic shocks. Results: ICD-10 codes for ECMO and cardiogenic shock for the available years 2016-2020 were utilized. A total of 796,585 (age 66.5 ± 14.4) patients had a diagnosis of cardiogenic shock excluding Impella. Of these patients, 13,160 (age 53.7 ± 15.4) were treated with ECMO without IABP use. Total inpatient mortality without any device was 32.7%. It was 47.9% with ECMO. In a multivariate analysis adjusting for 47 variables such as age, gender, race, lactic acidosis, three-vessel intervention, left main myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, systolic heart failure, acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, chronic renal disease, etc., ECMO utilization remained highly associated with mortality (OR: 1.78, CI: 1.6-1.9, p < 0.001). Evaluating teaching hospitals only revealed similar findings. Major complications were also high in the ECMO cohort. Conclusions: In patients with cardiogenic shock, the use of ECMO was associated with the high in-hospital mortality regardless of comorbid condition, high-risk futures, or type of hospital.

Limiting Overdistention or Collapse When Mechanically Ventilating Injured Lungs: A Randomized Study in a Porcine Model

Rationale: It is unknown whether preventing overdistention or collapse is more important when titrating positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Objectives: To compare PEEP targeting minimal overdistention or minimal collapse or using a compromise between collapse and overdistention in a randomized trial and to assess the impact on respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, inflammation, and hemodynamics. Methods: In a porcine model of ARDS, lung collapse and overdistention were estimated using electrical impedance tomography during a decremental PEEP titration. Pigs were randomized to three groups and ventilated for 12 hours: PEEP set at ⩽3% of overdistention (low overdistention), ⩽3% of collapse (low collapse), and the crossing point of collapse and overdistention. Measurements and Main Results: Thirty-six pigs (12 per group) were included. Median (interquartile range) values of PEEP were 7 (6-8), 11 (10-11), and 15 (12-16) cm H2O in the three groups (P < 0.001). With low overdistension, 6 (50%) pigs died, whereas survival was 100% in both other groups. Cause of death was hemodynamic in nature, with high transpulmonary vascular gradient and high epinephrine requirements. Compared with the other groups, pigs surviving with low overdistension had worse respiratory mechanics and gas exchange during the entire protocol. Minimal differences existed between crossing-point and low-collapse animals in physiological parameters, but postmortem alveolar density was more homogeneous in the crossing-point group. Inflammatory markers were not significantly different. Conclusions: PEEP to minimize overdistention resulted in high mortality in an animal model of ARDS. Minimizing collapse or choosing a compromise between collapse and overdistention may result in less lung injury, with potential benefits of the compromise approach.